Date: Fri 11-Jun-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Behluli-Serbia-human-interest

Full Text:

A Family's Flight From War Leads To Newtown

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Ten ethnic Albanian family members arrived in Newtown earlier this week

looking to start a new life here in the United States. On Wednesday, they

spent their first night in America, thousands of miles away from the terror

and strife that has rocked their war-torn homeland.

Able to speak little English, they arrived at JFK International Airport after

an all-night flight from the Macedonian capital of Skopije. For now, they will

stay in the small home of their relatives, Nasser and Hidajete Behluli of

Hundred Acres Road. Three other family members arrived late last week. Over

the next week or so, 17 people will live in the two-bedroom home on the farm

owned by Robert and Judy Holmes.

A year ago, Yugoslavian President Slobodan Milosevic, the former head of the

Serbian Communist party, launched a crackdown on Kosovo in an effort to rout

the Muslim Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and disperse the region's population

of ethnic Albanians. The Serbian government's "ethnic cleansing" policy has

brought death or displacement to hundreds of thousands of Kosovars.

For Hidajete, this is the first time she has seen her younger brother, Ylber,

in seven years. Her mother also arrived, still tired from the long journey.

Just a few weeks ago, Hidajete still feared her family members might be dead.

Today, they celebrate a special reunion.

Unlike many refugees who fled from homes in Kosovo, the family's journey began

several months ago when they evacuated their homes in Serbia, the home state

of Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic. Many Albanians in Serbia had been

rounded up and forced to serve in the Serbian Army. The Behluli's family

members headed for the mountains and after a horrifying 20-hour journey,

finally arrived in Macedonia, where they were taken in by strangers.

Nasser and Hidajete filled out sponsorship papers in an effort to bring their

family members to the US. They used their two cars to pick their new guests up

in Bridgeport Wednesday afternoon. Famished from their trip, the group

celebrated their arrival with pizza.

"It's exciting and worrisome together at the same time, but I'm so happy,"

Hidajete said.

The tranquility of Hundred Acres Road might help to soothe the pain of having

lives turned upside down, but it is still not home. Many in the community are

already trying to provide support for these family members in this transition

period; the 13 newcomers have much to overcome as they rebuild their lives.

Rev Steve Gordon of the Newtown Congregational Church believes this is a great

opportunity for the community to come together to make a difference.

"This is an opportunity for Newtown people to respond with our hearts to these

people in any way we can," he said. "There are a lot of people who are going

to want to help. This should remind people of how much they have -- how

fortunate they really are."

Many Newtowners have already offered apartments, jobs and clothing. Anyone

wishing to lend a hand is asked to call the Congregational Church at 426-9024.