Prewar period (Kosovo)

Declaration of independence of the Republic of Kosova

In late June 1990, Ethnic Albanian members of the provincial assembly proposed a vote on whether to form an independent republic. The ethnic Serbian president of the assembly would shut it down, however he would promise to reopen the assembly on 2, but this was later postponed.

On 2 July, the vast majority of Ethnic Albanian members of the Provincial Assembly returned to the Assembly which had been locked; so in the street outside they voted to make Kosovo a republic within the Yugoslav federation.^[7] In response, the Serbian government dissolved the Assembly and government of Kosovo, removing all of its remaining autonomy, before passing a law on labour relations which dismissed 80,000 Albanians.^[8]

The ethnic Albanian members of the dissolved Kosovo Assembly met in secret in Kaçanik on 7 September and formed the "Republic of Kosova" in which laws from Yugoslavia would only be accepted if they were compatible with the Republic's constitution. The "Republic of Kosova" was then declared an independent state on 22 September 1991.^[9] This declaration was endorsed by 99% of the voters in an unofficial referendum held several days later.^[10] The first country that recognized the Republic of Kosova was Albania^[6] Serbian authorities rejected the election results, and attempted to capture and prosecute the voters.^[11]

Training of Kosovars in Albania

During the year of 1991, a group of ethnic Kosovars would flee to Albania where they would complete a secret military training course with help from the Albanian army and government. The training was also supported by then Albanian president Ramiz Alia. Among these fighters, 50 would illegally cross the border into Yugoslavia. This group, led by Adem Jashari, Hamëz Jashari and Ilaz Kodra would later become the founding members of the KLA.^[12]

Siege of Prekaz

On 29 December, Adem Jashari received a call that warned him about an approaching MUP convoy with armored vehicle's and helicopters. In response, Adem and his brother Hamëz gathered four of their friends and relatives and sought refuge in the neighboring street of Kodra.^[13][14] Believing it was safe, they returned home in the early hours of December 30, however they were met with gunfire from Serbian police officers. During the ensuing shootout, a crowd of both armed and unarmed Kosovo Albanians converged on the Jashari home, breaking the siege and forcing the MUP unit to retreat and declare Prekaz a "no-go area".^[15][16][17]

Skenderaj–Drenas attacks

Between the years of 1991–1994, Adem Jashari led multiple attacks on Yugoslav police stations and patrols in the towns of Skenderaj and Drenas. During these attacks his forces would be able to kill dozens of officers.^[12]

Lješane incident

On 26 May 1992, Serbian Police were planning to arrest Tahir Berisha, an art teacher from the village of Lješane, Peć. When they confronted him, Tahir shot at the officers and killed one of them while injuring the other, however he was shot and killed.^[21]

Arrest in Autumn 1994

During Autumn 1994, the Serbian Secret Service arrested Besim Rama, an Albanian from Prekaz i Epërm who was very close to Adem Jashari. During Rama's court trial, the Court of Pristina charged Albanian fighters Adem Jashari, Ilaz Kodra, Hashim Thaçi, Rexhep Selimi, Fadil Kodra, Zenun Kodra, Nuredin Lushtaku, Sami Lushtaku, Sahit Jashari, ldriz AsIlani, Ali Jonuzi and Jakup Nura in absentia.^[12]

Attacks in 1995

In 1995, KLA attacks intensified. A Serbian policeman was allegedly murdered in 1995 by the KLA.^[22] In 1995 the KLA began to ambush and murder Serbian policemen and soldiers hoping to destabilize the region so that NATO and the United States would intervene.^[23] The KLA would only take responsibility for these attacks the following year.^[22]