Tahir Zemaj

Kosovar general (1951–2003)

Tahir Zemaj
Born	(1951-12-28)28 December 1951 Strellc, Gjakova, SFR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo)
Died	4 January 2003(2003-01-04) (aged 51) Peja, Kosovo under UN administration
Nationality	Kosovo Albanian
Known for	Yugoslav People's Army officer Chief commander of Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosovo (FARK) Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA)
Children	Enes Zamaj (Son)
Relatives	Hasan Zemaj (Nephew)

Tahir Zemaj (28 December 1951 – 4 January 2003), born in Strellc region, Gjakova, SFR Yugoslavia (now Kosovo) was an officer in the Yugoslav People's Army, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosova (FARK) and general of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the Kosovo War (1998–1999).

Former Prime Minister, Isa Mustafa, stated on the 13th anniversary of his death that Tahir Zemaj "was a brave warrior and professional, a true strategist, who diligently fought for the liberation of Kosovo". Tahir Zemaj was victorious in the first half of the Battle of Lođa. He earned the Order "Hero of Kosovo" by the President and Medal "Honor of the Nation" by the president of Albania.^[1]

Death

On 4 January 2003, Tahir was murdered in a drive-by shooting at 53-years-old, along with his 22-year-old son, Enes Zemaj, and his 24-year-old nephew, Hasan Zemaj, in the city of Peja.^[2] His nephew, Hasan Zemaj, also headed a youth movement in Deçan. ^[3] According to news reports, the attackers were in two cars, one of which had an Albanian license plate and used an AK-47.^[3]

References

^ Prime Minister Mustafa commemorated the prominent commander of the liberation war, Colonel Tahir Zemaj, Zyra e Kryeministrit
^ "U.S. Office Condemns Murder of Tahir Zemaj (6 January 2003) - U.S. Embassy Pristina, Kosovo". pristina.usembassy.org. 2003-01-06. Retrieved 2010-04-01.
^ ^a ^b Yugoslavia: Former Rebel Commander Killed In Kosovo, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty