On January 6, 1999, in the difficult terrain of Shala of Bajgora, Brigade 141 “Mehë Uka” of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) carried out a highly significant operation, capturing eight Serbian soldiers.
Despite continuous international pressure to release them, the Zone Command remained firm. Meanwhile, following negotiations, an agreement was reached to exchange the eight Serbian soldiers, in return for the release of nine KLA fighters who had previously been taken captive by the Serbian army.
Former KLA commander Hysni Ahmeti recounts the day the incident occurred. He notes that it took place on January 6 and emphasizes that Brigade 141 bore a very large responsibility within its area of operation.
Ahmeti describes the location where the ambush and disarmament took place
He continues by explaining that the captives surrendered and were disarmed under the vigilant supervision of the command. Regarding the prisoners, Ahmeti says the command respected every rule of the conventions of war.
“We had no intention of releasing them without an exchange,” says Ahmeti
Of those captured, seven were soldiers and one was a non-commissioned officer, according to Ahmeti, they were treated in accordance with the conventions of war.
As a result of this agreement, nine members of the KLA were exchanged—fighters who had been captured earlier by Serbian forces at the Albanian–Albanian border.
Former commander Hysni Ahmeti also stated that the prisoners captured by Brigade 141 were held at different bases, where they were inspected by international observers. He added that the non-commissioned officer and the soldiers were treated differently.
He concluded his account by explaining that the exchange was carried out at the very place where the prisoners had been captured. Under the supervision of international observers, eight members of the Serbian Army were released.
The KLA’s Shala Operational Zone captured eight Serbian soldiers on January 6, 1999, who on January 13 were exchanged for nine KLA soldiers.
