Kosovo/Kosova As Seen, As Told were more numerous, maintaining the blue camouflage uniforms with body armour and "police" written on it. They were more mobile than the militia and were there to maintain order. The SAJ was approximately 400-500 strong. Operating in Kosovo were believed to be two companies from the republican brigade, totaling approximately 200 policemen. Armoured with not only Praga, Pinzgauer and armoured vans, it is believed that they also had a number of T-55 tanks. They dressed in green camouflage uniforms. Within the towns, the SAJ were believed to operate in white Audis and black BMW cars. 14 Finally, refugees describe on a number of occasions the regular traffic police, who wore the more formal blue uniforms, peaked caps and white armbands. SDB (Sluzba Drzavne Bezbednosti) - state security The State Security Service (SDB) has not effectively existed on the federal level since the breakup of the 15 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1991. While the SDB remained in name, files and databases were moved across to the Republic of Serbia State Security Service, a branch of the Ministry of Interior. It is believed that just prior to the start of the NATO air campaign on 24 March 1999, up to 3,000 members of the SDB moved into Kosovo with a view to collecting information on UCK structures and support. This would account for the numerous statements by refugees claiming to have been questioned by the security apparatus often referring to one or more interrogators as having been "DB". The link between the SDB and the paramilitaries is understood to have been through "Frenki" Simatovic, Chief of Special Forces of State Security. Formerly of the SAJ, during the war in Kosovo, Simatovic was responsible for recruiting and organizing paramilitaries. The Kosovo Liberation Army (Ushtria Clirimtare e Kosoves - UCK) 16 Background. The early formation of the UCK was based on the small, village units often formed around a family and concerned with the defence of the village. Kosovo Albanian rural social structure has managed to remain relatively horizontal, with loyalty to the family and village and less than to a central authority. The UCK therefore developed with a localized structure with central command being imposed thereafter. Structure. Some regional structures of the UCK were developed from a political movement, others were harnessed from the village "gang". The flow of weapons from Albania (already occurring prior to, but considerably facilitated by the collapse of Albania into anarchy in 1997) provided impetus for the growth of the UCK. The General Staff was in existence by the end of 1998. Placing the UCK's organization into a standard military format can be misleading. "Companies" in some cases were larger in number than a "brigade"; UCK sub-units tended to be organized around a collection of villages of varying size and disposition. The size and shape of a unit was not fixed and boundaries http://www.osce.org/kosovo/documents/reports/hr/part1/ch3.htm (7 of 16)12/5/2003 11:48:47 AM