Čaglavica Explained

Čaglavica
Official Name:Čaglavica
Native Name:Çagllavicë
Native Name Lang:sr
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:Kosovo
Subdivision Type:Location
Subdivision Type1:District
Subdivision Name1:Pristina
Subdivision Type2:Municipalities
Subdivision Name2:Pristina, Gračanica
Population Footnotes:[1]
Population As Of:2011
Utc Offset:+1
Coordinates:42.62°N 21.1469°W

Čaglavica (Albanian: Çagllavicë, Serbian: Чаглавица) is a village near Pristina, Kosovo.

History

2004 unrest in Kosovo

See main article: 2004 unrest in Kosovo.

During the unrests in March 2004 that occurred throughout Kosovo, 12000 Kosovo Albanian rioters tried to storm the Serb-populated areas of Čaglavica. Norwegian and Swedish peacekeepers from KFOR created a blockade by using tear gas, rubber bullets, and stun grenades, in order to keep the two groups apart. A truck was driven by a Kosovo Albanian at full speed towards the barricade in an attempt to penetrate the line. After firing warning shots at the truck, the Norwegians had to use deadly force to avoid friendly casualties, and shot the driver. 16 Norwegian peacekeepers were injured, and 13 of them had to be evacuated.[2] Another KFOR unit consisting of mostly Swedish soldiers also participated in defending Čaglavica that day, supported by people from the barracks who normally worked with non-military tasks. Lieutenant Colonel Hans Håkansson, who commanded 700 people during the unrest, reported that the fighting went on for 11 hours, and that many collapsed due to dehydration and broken limbs while struggling to fend off waves of rioters.[3] In total, 35 people were injured while defending the town.[3] Hans Håkansson was awarded with a medal for his actions by the Royal Swedish Academy of War Sciences in 2005.[4]

Notes and References

  1. http://pop-stat.mashke.org/kosovo-ethnic-loc2011.htm 2011 Kosovo Census results
  2. Kjell-Olav Myhre . 2014 . Kosovo 2004: 12000 kosovoalbanerne angriper den kosovoserbiske landsbyen Caglavica . Kosovo 2004: 12000 Kosovo Albanians assault the Kosovo Serb village of Caglavica . Norwegian . 2014-05-09 . Forsvaret (Norwegian Armed Forces) .
  3. News: Zaremba. Maciej. Mandom, mod och landstingstossor. 9 May 2014. Dagens Nyheter. 15 June 2007.
  4. News: Gotländsk militär får belöningsmedalj. 11 January 2015. Sveriges Radio. P4 Gotland. 8 November 2005.