nr. 92 / 8 qershor 2006

Political and parliamentary factorization of Demo-Christians

In its political way the Albanian politics in general, but especially the right wing, besides falling in fractions and creating other little parties as their appendixes, haven’t learned anything within the “think different” frame and a reform useful to the renewal of the party life. It had to come out in this background Nikollë Lesi and the reformatory deputy Nard Ndoka, who gave a lesson with their political movement, to the politics of agreement, the good student and the obedient child. They placed a stone on the foundation of a courageous initiative, as it is one of the political challenges tending to factorize politically the Demo-Christian Party.

The right winged politics was the witness of one of the most unusual movement. The reformatory deputy Nard Ndoka accepted the invitation of Nikollë Lesi, to be at the head of the Demo-Christian Party. After a rumor on media for this movement, Ndoka confirmed that “he decided to accept to be a candidate to lead the DCP” admitting to have “had a contact with the leadership of this party”. According to him “there are negotiations in course even with people who left this party during the years, to make them join this movement”. With this we understand that Ndoka wants to open the party for all the demo-christians, most of whom left the leading forums and the membership, as a result of a tepid life and a torpid politics of the DCP.

Nard Ndoka, after the rumor for making up a new parliamentary group, didn’t reject the possibility of making up, not only with Demo-Christians, but also with deputies of the DP. According to him, this group, although it might have the number needed, is not going to ask to set up a new government. Until now, the forming of a parliamentary group was made known to the public as one of the beginnings of this political reformation within the right camp. What is considered as very positive in the continuity of the political developments of this party is the placing of the Demo-Christian philosophy on the honoring platform in the rank of the political parties, with their authority and personality. The DCP, until now, played the role of a satellite going around the Democratic Party. There are chances for it to be a very important political factor. It will have back its power of decision, what comes out from the new position and the aims it has.

The fact that around this movement there wasn’t noticed any opposing attitude, shows that the steps of Nard Ndoka are cautious and this caution is crystallized also with the declaration of this one: “Our movement will give a maximal support to the government of Berisha even if the numbers will change for good for Demo-Christians, we’re not going to ask to set up the government once more”. Berisha didn’t stop to comment this political fact, although in his political consciousness he is convinced that the DCP won’t be anymore just a hand raising, a vote in favor, but real political decision-makers. Although Ndoka doesn’t except the possibility of putting obligations to Berisha, in a possible case of setting up the government, this is automatically a condition that the leader of the executive institution has no reason to ignore. Respecting the game rules is the same for everyone and depending on the numbers on Parliament.

The coming of Ndoka in this political and media’s articulation isn’t quite occasional. His tendency emerges in elections where he clearly wins. Afterwards, with his independent attitudes, very accurate and with an admirable political maturity, will place very soon Nard Ndoka on the platform of the having his own speech of the day in media and politics. Not his opinion against Berisha or the tendency to say always the contrary would dominate him as a pure and vivid political actor. During the course of the Albanian reality, while the majority didn’t dare to come out of the orchestra, he stood up over this political small-mindness and showed his attitude. Step by step his name would be mentioned every time more in the frame of the right winged politics, to end up in taking from him the leadership of the Demo-Christian Party.

Dedë Smakaj

1376 families living locked-in in Albania

Blood-feud is a very heavy wound for the Albanian society. Today in the little Albania of 3.700.000 inhabitants, there are 1376 families living locked-in in 23 regions. There are 711 children locked, from whom 282 are 1 to 10 years old and 429 are 11 to 18 years old. Shkodra is on top of the list of the country for blood-feud. There are 460 families locked-in and 108 children do not attend school and neither come out of their locked houses, for according to the Canon, there’s a bullet waiting for them. The State has no chance to avoid the tragedy of the 1376 Albanian families living locked-in. This is the published number, but it’s even a greater number indeed. One of these families is that of Zef Margjini in Shkodra. They have five months closed in their home, for a nephew of Zef, in self-defense circumstances, hit to the death the citizen Zenel Muhamet Brahimi, from Koplik of Malësi e Madhe. Since that day, the family of Zef is locked-in, for the family of the victim, according to the Canon, wants its revenge. Zef Margjini indeed, and his sons, Marsel and Armand, had no guilt or conflict with the family of Muhamet Brahimi, yet they had to lock-in likewise the nephew of Zef, who committed the murder. The ancient Canon of Lekë Dukagjini, standing over the law, determines the living locked-in not only for the murderer, but for the whole family and tribe, that’s why today there are so many families deprived from freedom. Activists of the Mission of Nationwide Reconciliation made their attempts for reconciliation, but without succeeding, for the family of Zef Margjini is still locked-in or hiding. The bullet waits for their entire family, though innocent. After investigations, according to an evidence of the Catholic Church in Shkodra, we could have in our hands a document where it is declared that Armand Margjini was in danger even from Islamic terrorists. In Shkodra, indeed it was pulled down a Catholic cross, there were objections on placing the monument of Mother Theresa, the cross of a tomb in Shkrel was broken, etc. However, what we’re trying to say is that the life of many people is in serious danger; especially the Catholic community which is provoked and when it’s time to execute the Canon, forgiveness is very hard.

Vasel Gilaj

A life through violence

The Albanian history is one of the most painful ones not only in the Balkans, but unique in almost the entire world. In various times of history, it was determined by violence in various times and shapes. The only cause was and still is the anarchy, what seems to be traditional for the Albanians.

One of the most tragic histories is that of Violeta Kercunga, who continued living the “Calvary” of her family. While talking about this with Mr. Ndok Nika, President of the Politically Persecuted Institute for the Prefecture of Shkodra, we came to know that her grandfather, in 1950 was detained for political motives and their belongings were confiscated. In 1985, the “Calvary” of their sufferings continued on Violeta’s father, who was sent in the re-educational camps of Vau i Dejes, for 6 months. After he was set free, until 1990, he had to appear every month by an agent of the ill-famed Security of the State, as he was identified as an anticommunist. The persecution increased over this family, as it was considered a traditional family defending Catholicism. Even the young members of this family were deprived from the most elementary education, says Mr. NIka, even though their results at the school were evident.

With this background with such a deep anticommunist and democratic feelings rose Violeta Kercunga. According to the Mayor of the Commune of Velipoje, Mr. Ded Kacaj, from 2000 until 2006, Violeta was charged in this Commune of treating the problems of the citizens, and she did this very well. Her reports in the Communal Council were so many in order to solve the problems citizens had. During her work, Violeta faced reports from citizens for structures of the State and even police structures, especially in the years 2005 and 2006. According to the lawyer Lulzim Karini, he helped Violeta to make her report to the Lawyer of People in Tirana, for her civil rights were overlooked.

As a consequence of doing her job with devotion and honesty, Violeta Kercunga was a victim of violence toward her. According to the pathologist Age Zekaj, in the Health Center Velipoja 2, she looked Violeta who was injured on January 8, 2004. She was looked in her own house. The official diagnosis, proved by dr. Zekaj, was haematomas in various parts of the body, dark signs on her neck and the upper limb, she also had dizziness, vomiting, vaginal hemorrhage and torn. For all of these, Violeta was cured even with antibiotics.

All this made the life unsafe in her own country for Violeta Kercunga, for the simple reason that she was a devoted defender of the citizens even against the State and the police structures. For all of these she had to go the hard way of emigrations, toward another country, where her life could be safer.

Fatime Kulli

Mira Vataj

Goodness and peace, near or far for Albania

The strange things that happen in northern Albania are moving us away from our way toward the occident. We don’t know how far will bring us the associations or individuals who cry out as representatives of the Muslim community and opposing the placement of the monument of Mother Theresa, who got the “Nobel” prize in the name of peace and goodness. But news spread fast and you hear of a Catholic cross blown up with explosive in Bushat, another in Kastrat was sawn up and a woman, an economist in a northern village, M.K., was tortured in her office by four men, who used violence on her saying that “we don’t want to be led by a Christian woman and in the name of Allah you’re fired or will kill you”. According to our sources, that we should keep anonymous, as their lives could be in danger, M.K., a graduated intellectual, was beaten hard, as that area is dominated by over 95% of Muslims, and it’s hard for them to accept a Catholic in an office, as a leader. M.K. is a Roman Catholic and she was menaced even one month ago, to quit her job. Though menaced, she had to continue her work as she is alone and has to feed her orphan children. Our sources say that the police was called but there was nothing done to make her life safe. Because of the hard beats of two days ago, M.K. endured fractures and is being cured hidden. Those who asked us to publish this case want to remain anonymous, but they say that they too feel seriously threatened. Nevertheless, the harmony of life seems to be a difficult enterprise and everything might occur, when it happens that even the monument of Mother Theresa is openly opposed.

Vasel Gilaj, Zog Hysenaj