Kosovo/Kosova As Seen, As Told as this unit managed to worry even the local Serb population. In the attempt to control the volunteers, the unit was broken up, which only led to smaller "gangs" who went their various ways - causing problems in a number of other villages in the region. While the authorities managed to punish some members, others went unpunished. VJ and police units began to wear coloured cords on their arms in order to distinguish themselves from this renegade unit (as also appears in descriptions given by refugees). Equipment. The main VJ equipment in Kosovo comprised: T-55, M-84 tanks (The T-55 was by far the most common, the M-84 only deployed latterly) M-80 (armoured fighting vehicle), M-60 (armoured personnel carrier), BRDM-2 (wheeled reconnaissance vehicle) and BOV M-86 (wheeled reconnaissance vehicle) 2S1 (122mm) self propelled gun, D-30 (122mm), M-1 (155mm) and M-84 (152mm) towed howitzers M-63 (128 mm) and M-77 (128mm) multiple-rocket launchers, M-69 (82mm), M-74/75 (120mm) mortars. M-53/59 Praga (armoured truck with a twin mounted 30mm cannon) VJ activities. Prior to spring 1998, the VJ was not used in actions against the UCK. The situation changed when the VJ became actively involved in supporting the Ministry of the Interior (MUP) forces. Following the arrival of the OSCE-KVM in October 1998, the VJ initially restricted their involvement in operations against the UCK, although VJ forces were present during some MUP operations. With the 7 exception of the border region, the MUP retained primacy for the security of Kosovo. VJ exercises were not restricted to any particular area within Kosovo. As described to the OSCE-KVM, "The training areas we use vary throughout the area and are subject to constant change. Warning signs or 8 sentries are posted where live firing takes place." This led to the VJ establishing positions outside their barracks - notably west of Vucitrn/Vushtrri - on "winter exercises" which in turn led to clashes with the UCK. 9 Paramilitaries Armed men who appeared to have been neither VJ nor police were described to the OSCE-KVM Human Rights Division by Kosovo Albanian refugees as "paramilitaries". Among those paramilitaries in Kosovo, the structure and task of the various groups are likely to have differed.However, the difference between a "paramilitary" and a volunteer was simply the chain of command - the latter often operated http://www.osce.org/kosovo/documents/reports/hr/part1/ch3.htm (4 of 16)12/5/2003 11:48:47 AM