Shemsi Ahmeti (8 June 1969 – 26 April 1999) also known with nickname Komandant Shemi, was an Albanian commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), an ethnic Albanian paramilitary organization that sought the independence of Kosovo from Serbia.[1][2] After the war, he was declared Hero of Kosovo.[3]
Shemsi Ahmeti | |
|---|---|
 Statue of Shemsi Ahmeti Mitrovica, Kosovo | |
| Nickname(s) | Komandant Shemi |
| Born | 8 June 1969 Kodër, Mitrovica, AP Kosovo, SFR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo) |
| Died | 26 April 1999 (aged 29) Melenicë, Kosovo, Kosovo, FR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo) |
| Allegiance |  Yugoslavia Kosova |
| Service |  Yugoslav People's Army
 Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK) ZOSH (1998–1999) |
| Years of service | 1990–1999 |
| Rank | Military Commander |
| Unit | 141th Brigade |
| Commands | Kosovo Liberation Army (UÇK) ZOSH Special Units |
| Battles / wars | Croatian War of Independence
|
| Awards | Hero of Kosovo (posthumously) |
Biography
editEarly life
editShemsi Arif Ahmeti was born on 8 June 1969 in the village of Kodër (Zasella), Mitrovica in the region Shala e Bajgorës. He was born into large and poor Albanian family having six siblings.[4] He finished his school in the neighboring village Shupkovc.[4] In 1982, he became part of military high school in Beograd and finished it 1984 in Sarajevo.[5][4] In 1990, he finished the artillery school in Zadar.
Activity in the Croatian and Bosnian war
editDuring the Croatian War of Independence he served for the Yugoslav People's Army in the Battle of Vukovar. He also was involved in the Bosnian War. In those years, Ahmeti became an experienced soldier and artillery commander. In 1992, he decided to leave the Yugoslav Army because he understood the Yugoslav plans and tactics so he would rather help his own people instead of fighting against his ideology.[4] He lived in the exile in Kosovo until the Kosovo War.
Kosovo War
editOn 22 June 1998, he was mobilized by the UÇK in the region Shala e Bajgorës. On 26 April 1999, he was named as the commander of the special units in the ZOSH (Zona Operative e Shalës).[4] He commanded several operations like in Mazhiq, Trepçë, Melenicë, Rahovë or Majdan. The most notable operation was in Kutlloc on the 21–22 March 1999 where he succeeded to capture a Serbian military base with plenty munition and weapons. Only four days later he was killed by the Serbian Army in the battle of Melenicë.[4] The battle lasted more than 46 days and was one of the most notable UÇK battles.[6]
Legacy
editAfter the Kosovo War, a statue of him was built in the center of his hometown.[7][1] In addition, one of the main streets in Mitrovica bears his name and the primary school in Shupkovc.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b "Fear stalks Kosovo's divided Mitrovica city". RTL. 14 February 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
The Albanian side is adorned with the flags of Europe's youngest state and near the great mosque stands a bronze statue of Shemsi Ahmeti, a Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) guerrilla with a Kalashnikov assault rifle across his back.
- ^ "Kujtohet Jeta dhe Lufta e Heroit Shemsi Ahmeti". Kallxo (in Albanian). 25 April 2015.
- ^ "Te dekoruarit me urdhrin Hero i Kosovës". president-ksgov.net (in Albanian).
- ^ a b c d e f g "Shemsi Arif Ahmeti (8.6.1969 – 26.4.1999)". Radio Kosova e Lirë (in Albanian). 26 April 2024. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Goran Braunović, 1.vod" (in Bosnian).
Ahmeti Šemsi
- ^ "24 vjet nga rënia heroike e Komandant Shemit". RTV Mitrovica (in Albanian). 26 April 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ Marzena Maciulewicz. "Divided Cities. A Case Study of Mitrovica" (PDF). Retrieved 12 August 2024.