nr. 41 / 18 mars 2003

numrat

Irritated politics

The last days are a mirror of the crash between the incomparable dictatorship and the constructive opposition. The Albanian Parliament has now turned in an arena, while the party on power is cutting even those tiny yarns that used to give a little hope of political concord. The Albanian communists, sons of their dictator fathers are neglecting the opposition’s requests to have a transparency on corruption, in particular for the mayor of Tirana, Edvin Rama, who is supposed to speculate with the offerings. The Albanian communists are using violence toward their political adversaries, threatening them with criminal courts, imprisonments, etc. Let’s not forget this was the method used to bring them on power during the dark spring of 1997, the same method by which many democrats were shot. The anarchy through violence is today obvious by everyone, yet the most touched are the democrats who became victims because of their convictions. If you see a document with Prot. Nr. 18/2 in the branch of the Democratic Party in the northern city of Shkodra, you will notice that the democrat Sander Ndue Qarri, born on January 12, 1978, active member of this party, since January 20, 1996 was seriously menaced, because of his right wing political convictions. Enver Hoxha had this same behavior! He used to condemn by law, differently from these ones who have no consideration even for the Constitution and give condemnations like in medieval times. Sander Qarri was distinguished as the leader of the Youth Forum of DP in Reç i Vjetër of Velipoja. He led the electoral team of the Youth Forum in this area during the parliamentary elections of June 29. Violence, imprisonments, murders, guns marked those elections, explosive. Many PD commissioners were imprisoned and many others suffered violence. Sander Qarri was one of those whom the police had hardly beaten and made menaces of death. This young Albanian gave a great contribution on defending the institutions while the fascist rebellion took place, led by those who are the deputies and ministers of today, starting from Vlora and Lushnja, setting all Albania in fire. His father Ndue Qarri had suffered the same, because of his devotion to a free and democratic Albania. Threats for him and his family were the reward, while he continuously was a commissioner of the DP during elections. Since the fall of the Wall of Berlin, he was organizing political activities in Albania, giving a great contribution, showing courage and political maturity. His forerunners too had suffered for their right wing political convictions. The ex dictators in Albania, are still on power as dictators, while those previously persecuted are still being persecuted. His son Sander Qarri is still in serious danger, his name is marked, while his only “guilt” is his anticommunist conviction. Just like Sandri, there are many Albanians either living hidden or forced to emigration.

Albert Vataj

Pains of Kosovo

The wounds of Kosovo are still hurting, and they seem to go on this way for a long time. There are such crimes that you can find no similar in the whole world. We present a very painful tragedy of a young couple. We are talking about Lela Selimi, born on Rajnica of Presheva on June 27, 1983 and her husband Arben Selimi, born in the same place on July 6, 1980. The population in Presheva is made of 60% Albanians, 30% Serbs and 10% gipsy. This couple had great problems because of this. Lela went thorugh hard traumas since a child. She was a pupil in the “Talat Baraku” school from September 1990, until March 1991, when the Serbs closed the school making the Kosovars rising in protests. We heard from reliable source in Presheva that she had private illegal instruction until 1994. One day, noticed by the Serb police, she was stopped and asked either she was attending any school. On May 1994, while she was 15, the Serb police had found out where the school was and had surrounded it with armed police officers. Ocular witnesses told us that the police officers were drug users. They destroyed and burned up the school and the instruction materials. The police arrested the teacher called Gezim (we were not told his second name as they wanted him safe), and took the names of pupils and their parents registered in that illegal school. This girl had another drama in her family. She grew up with her father Lin Maliqi, of Albanian origin and the stepmother Drita Maliqi, an Albanian gipsy, as well as the brother, from his father, Agron Maliqi. Lela’s mother, Lepe Maliqi was of Serb origin and had left her husband while Lela was one year old, so she doesn’t know her mother, as she’s never seen her. The years go on and the girl grows up, while the “incidents” become inhuman. On December 1998, while she was 16, a group of police officers breaks the door of the house and turn upside-down everything, as if they were looking for guns. They arrest her father and brother. Other four Serbs beastly rape Lela Selimi (Maliqi). Drita Celi, a gipsy neighbor, gave her the first aid. On July 1, 1999, Lela married the young Arben Selimi. The inhuman sort follows her even in his husband’s home. Her father in law Sel Selimi had Albanian origin while the mother in law Lie Selimi, was a gipsy woman, what meant troubles for them as both of them are not of good reputation amongst Albanians and even worse amongst Serbs. Their life is in serious danger even today, as their destiny is death. On January 20, 2000, the police murdered her brother, while she never met the father, arrested at the same day. On September 20, 2000, a group of Serbs, ten altogether, entered forcedly at their home and arrested her father in law, accused as collaborating with the Albanians. They left home mother in law, and raped her too. The most terrible thing was that they raped the young again. There is rumor that Lela Selimi suffered this for about four-five hours, and this to humiliate her. On September 27, 2000, her husband returns home very sick because of the beats and tortures suffered in the police station. With great pain, he told about his father, killed and thrown as rubbish somewhere outside the village. The next day they took the body and buried it. Arben Selimi suffers depression and headache still today because of the beats. This is one of the pains of Kosovo, revealed and made known by our journal, as we keep on doing, no matter the threats toward us.

Sokol Pepushaj

Immune crime

The organized crime is a great problem for Albania now more than ever. It is of great importance the pronunciation of the American Ambassador in Tirana, James Jeffrey, about the crush on human rights and liberties, the organized crime and corruption, reminding the Albanians their responsibility for the votes. The social-communists are united, in order to keep their positions. They have always been united. They have been hindering the democrats in their way with the most inhuman manners. Luigj Nilaj was born in the area of deep mountains in Vukel of Malësi e Madhe on August 22, 1966. He comes from an anticommunist family. Political gangs have many times put him on target to eliminate him. He suffered violence during the elections’ campaign of June 29, 1997, as an observer of the DP in Vukel. The police mistreated him for over five hours on September 23, 2000, during campaign for the elections of October 1, 2000, because he was a democrat. We want to make known that Luigj Nilaj had problems with the communists since July-August 1997, when he wrote slogans on the mountains, like “Down Communism”, “Down the dictatorship”, “Democracy shall win” etc. From September 23, 2000, until May 2001, he went in Greece to hide, but certain segments of the Albanian State in contacts with the Greek Mafia, found him and brought him forcedly in Albania. This member of the DP is again involved in political activities, as it was the campaign for the elections of June 24, 2001. Five masked people enter his home on June 20, 2001, using violence on him and his family. They set the democrat Nilaj forcedly with his feet in fire. His wife cries out and the destiny saved him from burning. This had happened only in Kosovo, where the Serbs have behaved with so much cruelty. Luigj Nilaj had a qualified treatment in the hospital of Tamara. His wife gave birth two months earlier because of the trauma and violence experienced. Having his life in danger, he had to emigrate, like many other Albanians who find emigration as the only safe way. We can truly say that the crime in Albania is immune.

Vasel Gilaj

New times, old conflicts

Old conflicts are a serious danger to many Albanians today. This is one of the greatest problems in the Albanian society. The Albanian state could never find or make a strategy to diminish this medieval phenomenon in these last twelve years of transition. The blood feud is everywhere, in villages as well as in cities. Many innocent lives are prey to this phenomenon. The northern Albania particularly, is greatly suffering the consequences of the old and new conflicts, because of the ancient mentalities of the Canon of Lekë Dukagjini. We stopped in a concrete case, as it is the family of Arben Zef Gjini, born on October 10, 1971, in the village of Vig in Vig-Mnelë, but resident in the “Mark Lula” quarter in Shkodra. The life of this innocent man is seriously menaced, though he is married and has two children. The only way to escape the unforgiving bullet of revenge is to live shut in with his family. You may ask “Why”. Ndue Gjini, Arben’s grandfather, in June 1974 had killed the citizen Prend Paloka from Laç of Vau-Dejës, for a conflict about the property. The years go on and the enmity is still there. The injured family tried to take revenge on the family Gjini on July 23, 2002, shooting their house. God was with them as none lost the life. Because of this conflict, three families Gjini should be living shut in. This is the case of an entire quarter in Shkodra. Arben Gjini should feel a lucky man, as he could leave Albania, to save his life, but revenge menaces many.

Zog Hysenaj

Blood feud, an unhealed wound in the Albanian society

Another tragic incident occurred on February 20 of this year, at 17³⁰, in Fier. The macabre incident terrified the entire Albanian society. The murder of three members of the family Shehaj in Fier on March 3, 2001, repeated two years later, on February 20, 2003. Another murder took place in Fier, on February 20, 2003, according to the local TV’s of Shkodra, connected this to the murder of Ilirjan, Florian and Guri Shehaj. This because of the missing justice in Albania and the organized crime, deeply fixed in the Socialist Party on power. The Court of Appeal in Fier decided on February 18, to set free as innocent the murderers of Ilirjan, husband of the Lindita Shehaj (Curri), from Shkodra. Completely innocent, the two brothers Arapi were free. The court decided only two year of imprisonment, also considering the day of the second arrest and the time of investigations in the police station. This made them the prey of the family Shehaj. According to reliable source, the two brothers Arapi were in the Bar-Restaurant “Shkelzeni” in that moment, while a white Mercedes stopped near there. Two masked people came of the car while the driver stood in. The two persons, obviously guided by someone in the Bar, went to the table where Altin and Vilson Arapi shooting on them. Though they could have died immediately, the two persons kept on shooting and right after that, escaped. The police of Fier was at the place 35 minutes after the incident and took information from some ocular witnesses. It is clear the link of this murder to that of the members of the family Shehaj and this will never end until the two families Arapi and Shehaj will go as far as possible from each other. What would happen if the state had not links to the organized crime? When will ever be healed the old wound of blood feud, now rapidly spreading over the south Albania?

Rifat Ymeri

The scaring gun of the avenger

His name is Gezim Rasim Hysaj and was born on February 24, 1971. He was married to Rudina, a girl of the family Lacaj and has a nice and healthy child, Erisnald, born on February 12, 2000. Hajrija is the mother living with them, and all of them have now 5 years living in the fear of revenge, as the gun is ready to shot on Gezim and his only son, Erisnald, born and growing in the terrible conditions of living shut in. The reason of conflict was Rasim, Gezim’s father, who died in 1999, leaving to his son and grandson (not yet born) the heavy shadow of revenge. The tragic incident occurred on March 17, 1998. It was a cold sunny day and the wind was blowing. Rasim woke up early placing the fence confining his land with that of his neighbors, the family Haxhiaj. Abruptly Fetah and Fatbardh, the two sons of Sejdin, came near insulting Rasim, as if he was fencing their land. After arguing for a few minutes, Rasim went home and came out with a gun shooting on the two sons of Sejdin Haxhija. Over twenty bullets shot on Fetah and Fatbardh, caused them immediate death, while the murderer was refuged to some his relatives. The peace is over for the family Hysaj, since that very moment, and they have to live shut in for the rest of their days. According to the terrible laws of the Canon of the mountains, there is no rest for the two victims until two others from the family Hysaj. Blood revenges blood, says the unwritten Canon, being the law of these last twelve years, also helped by the lack of the State. Though Rasim died, Gezim and his only son Erisnald have to pay for his crime. They are living shut in since five years now, and the state does not help them. There is no way to give an end to this phenomenon, either by the national mission of reconciliation, though it is destroying the life of the country and that of north, in particular. From the windows of their house, Gezim and his son look at the sun and the coming spring, while the avenging gun is ready to shoot them. They have a great desire to go out of there, but the killing gun is waiting them! This is a bitter reality a painful tragedy in the new century!

Rifat Ymeri

The family of Riza Hebaj from Drevar of Mitrovica,

is being extinguished!

-Folder of Serb crimes in Kosovo-

Five years ago, in a village in the mountains a few kilometers from the Albanian city of Mitrovica, lived the family Hebaj, though maybe none would remember them anymore.

As a journalist of “Shqipëria Etnike”, along with Nexhat Çoçaj, my colleague from Prizren, were there by chance while visiting Mitrovica, where we came to know about the crimes done by the Serb militaries during 1998. Another colleague in this city gives us some unanswered letters, sent by Eltion, who left Kosovo right before the war commenced. He wrote to his father Riza the mother Naxhije and his sister Armanda. He was born on June 17, 1980. The person in the picture is Eltion Riza Hebaj five years ago, smiling innocently, as he does not know what happened to his dear family. He left Drevar before the war started and since then he knew nothing about his family, though he wrote many letters. He is still hoping to meet someday the eyes filled with tears of Riza, his mother Naxhije and the dear sister Armanda, but…

It was a warm day of summer four years ago, a few months since the Serb army started the offensive against Albanians, forcing them to leave the land of their forerunners. One night attacked the inhabitants of Drevar with a great anger toward the Albanians. They killed, kidnapped, raped and destroyed everything. The three members of the family Hebaj was also prey of that beastly violence. Knifings rush on them, while their innocent bodies were dragged on the dusty roads of Drevar and the fire devoured their house. Someone buried the massacred victims. Even today, there are three tombs without names a few meters from the houses of Drevar… This was one of the macabre crimes performed by the Serbs on thousands of Kosovar families during the war. In the next editions of “Shqipëria Etnike”, we will bring other astonishing facts. When Eltion will come to know through the journal, the tragic story of his family, he will surely be sad and his eyes filled with tears, but at least he will not write anymore. He has none where to send his letters and none waiting for him. There are just three tombs a few meters from his burned house in his dear Drevar. Moreover, the story goes on. I came back in Albania to publish this testimony of crimes from the crimes’ folder of the Serbs against Albanians, while Nexhat returned to his Prizren.

Rifat Ymeri

The tragic destiny of the Albanians of Kosovo and Macedonia

The destiny of Albanians, wherever they are, either in Kosovo, in Macedonia or in Presheva, is tragic. There is not a definite solution to the problems yet. The Albanians had always to fight and shed their blood, to stay and live in their land, as they fought against Serbs to be free and independent. There is not a solution yet to the question of Albanians in Presheva of Macedonia, while there is still persecution and ill treatments in different ways. The Serb persecution forced some of them to leave their houses and find refuge in the world, yet many of them want to go back home to the land of their forerunners. The propaganda as if everything is quiet now, is just false, an intentional haze. The government of Belgrade is lying when it says the way the Albanians are treated has changed, and they enjoy their rights. We witnessed with our eyes the tragic truth and the journalists cannot publish the document, for their life might be in danger.

The Albanians, who left Presheva and Bujanovc, commenced their return, as they believed the propaganda of Beograd. Nevertheless, what happened to them? The Serb infidelity and the unexpected death were waiting for them. This is what happened to Mr. Emrush Veseli, who had left home in Presheva since the wartime, and found refuge in Macedonia. His son Gzim Veseli left Presheva to escape the Serb tyranny, and none knows his address or destiny, if he is alive or dead. Believing the Serb propaganda, Emrush decided to leave Macedonia and return to his home in Presheva, and was found dead near to his house on March 2, 2003. What is going to happen with the others who want to return to their land? Only God knows.

Sokol Pepushaj

The militaries that made sacrifices for a strong army,

forced to leave their country

The officer Nini Sanaj, born on January 20, 1956, is one of the many militaries that served in the Albanian Army. He served in different sectors from 1976 to 1995. His uncle Kol Kola, an officer with important duties in the army had to guarantee for him, on request from the totalitarian government. On December 13, 1990, he was arrested and set free within four days, by intercession from his uncle again. On August 1995, left wing political segments expelled him from the army, as he was an activist of DP, motivated this as the reform in the army.

On May 2, of this year, at 19⁰⁰, unknown left wing political extremists knifed him. They menaced to kill him if he would not leave the DP.

During the local elections of October 1, 2000, he was overseer for the DP in the voting center Nr. 56 and there he had a quarrel with unknown people who wanted to manipulate the elections, officially unaccepted by the commission. They knifed him, and this was the second time. Though the police knew who the authors were, they were not interested to identify them so the investigation process is still on. He was recovered in the Regional Hospital of Shkodra, where he stayed until October 6, 2000, to be then cured in his family, so that his life might be safe. His life was in danger again during the elections of June 24, 2001, as he was again overseer for the DP, in the alliance for victory, in the electoral area Nr. 7. He participated in all the democratic movements like those of April 2, 1991; September 14, 1998. In these circumstances, he was forced to leave his mother, his relatives and his country and emigrate with his family in a secure state.

Zef Nika