nr. 48 / 26 gusht2003

numrat

The tragedy of an Albanian family

The little Albania is the country of the big crimes, such as no writer is able to write them down. Behold a typical example of dictatorship crime. The family of Valter Prela is a victim of dictatorship, although always distinguished for democratic traditions, loving the liberty and the nation. Prela, Valter’s grandfather, contested the communist ideas since the first years after liberation, perceiving the danger for his people. Segments of the state of Enver Hoxha burned their house and the family was interned to Berat. During the 46 years of dictatorship they were discriminated, despised and persecuted. At the beginning of 1990, while Albania smelled the democracy, Valter’s father, Lush Prela, was like many others involved in democratic movements, spending and contributing for an Albania without violence, with the freedom of religion and speech, without discrimination and differences between people, giving his contribution as the leader of the DP for Mamurras. The communists had noticed his activity. Lush Prela was killed during a peaceful meeting of DP in Ishëm of Durrës, in 1993. Valter and Arjan, the two sons of this democrat hero, carried on helping for democracy, being so distinguished in the activities of the DP. In 2000, an incident was staged for him and he died in a car crash. This is one of the numerous ways used by the dictators on power today. Valter was the only one left from this family who carried on in his efforts to create a state of law in Albania, without violence and medieval revenge. He participates, as an activist of the DP, in all the protests against the injustices of this government and this state, as one of the most bastards in the world. During the parliamentary elections of June 24, 2001, Valter faced great violence, as a member of the elections commission in his area, representing the DP. Because of the long pressures to eliminate him, he couldn’t stand anymore and decided to depart. He is not in Albania today, in the anniversary of the murder of his father. This is a little piece of the life of the Albanian democrats, who have their chance on the local elections of October 12, to move away these dictators yet not through violence but through their votes.

Sokol Pepushaj

Haxhi Skënderaj, victim and accusation

Haxhi Ramadan Skënderaj is a good Albanian, a good democrat. As coming from a family persecuted by the regime of Enver Hoxha, he was one of the first, after the fall of the Wall of Berlin, when the wind of democracy was blowing even in Albania, to align with those participating in the funeral of the first martyr of the Albanian democracy, Pëllumb Pëllumbi, on June 16, 1990, in the attempts to throw down the bust of Stalin, on January 14, 1990, on throwing down the bust of Enver Hoxha in Shkodra, on December 13, 1990, in the funeral of Azem Hajdari, on September 14, 1998, as well as in all the protests against the state of dictatorship that unfortunately is still today on power. He was arrested and kept in prison for two days in inhuman tortures, during the protests of November-December 2000 against the manipulations of the results of the local elections of October 1 of that year. On February 10, 2001 he received death threats, while in these last days a conflict based on the Canon was fabricated by the communists. His father had worked as a driver before 1990 and had crashed dead a man in an incident. The family of the victim, incited or maybe even paid by certain segments of the security of the state, want to revenge and so to kill Haxhi or his family.

Haxhi Skënderaj is forced to live shut in along with his family, fearing the coming bullet, in these conditions when the state is responsible.

Behold, this Albanian is not only a victim but an accusation too.

Albert Vataj

Durrës. Why did Avni Mustafa escape?

We have generally used the term “escape” for illegal departures during the dictatorship times, and it is true; people do always escape from dictatorships, whatever their color. It is no wonder that this phenomenon still exists in Albania. We can only mention the long line of the rubber dinghies recurring every night.

This time I want to tell about why did Avni Mustafa, escape from Albania. He was a tall young man with moustaches, known by everyone as one of the most actives for the anticommunist aspiring in the city of Durrës. I came to know by chance that Avni had left Albania forever. The very first question I asked was whether he was fine, and I was pleased to hear that he was OK; because I knew his life in Albania was hanging by a thread.

He has a very long story and I am sure it’s not the only, but I will try to tell it briefly so that you can answer the question “Why???” opening the title of this writing.

Avni was one of the first to align in the protests against communism, as well as one of the first to fight with the policemen of the time. He was one of the arrested and put in the prison cells of the police station, where he stayed for 90 days. He could organize a starving protest in prison, though in indescribable conditions of terror, tortures and psychological pressure. After two weeks of protests all the prisoners of the protests came out and Avni was one of them.

A new wind blew with the coming of the democrats on power. People were going back at work in order to change the hard economical situation in the country. His fellow workers say good words for their hard working colleague. One of them said some time ago that they would never be able to find another good welder like him.

There wasn’t the chance for the democracy to flourish in Albania. The moderated communists got the power back in 1997. Dictatorship was back, along with tortures, genocide and red terror. Many democrats were prey of firing and political persecution, even in political murders. The case of Azem Hajdari wasn’t the only at the time.

Avni Mustafa, the zealous anticommunist, was one of those who faced the police, which are led by ordinary people, who know nothing but violence. Avni was several times attacked by people in civilian dress, who wanted to eliminate him, and close everything with the known phrase: “the authors left in unknown direction”.

Unpleased with this, the dictators, not respecting any customs or traditions, dared to put their hands on his wife too. She was pregnant when she was beastly beaten by plainclothes detectives and was close to lose her child. Why this all??? This was all because of the anticommunist activity of Avni Mustafa. Mustafa was unbearable to those who used to live by innocent blood, making their plans in dark corners led by the centuries-old enemies of the Albanian nation, those “singing” the Slav and Hellenic “song”.

Avni decided, after all this, to leave definitely his country, to look for the basic right of every human being: a quiet, secure life, without violence. He is not the only to who left, for the number of those like him is increasing. What do you think you would do if you were in his same position? Is it loyal to judge Avni because he escaped? This is to be decided by all of you who read these lines. One thing I am sure of is that you already know the answer, if anyone was to ask you “Why did Avni escape”.

Rifat Ymeri

Violence on children

The neo-communist Albanian state is using violence even on children. The young Bledar Gëzim Harapej, born in Shkodra on July 19, 1981, living now in Tirana, is a victim of this violence.

For many years now, this young man has participated with his father in protests against those who have established in Albania an incomparable dictatorship. He was beaten and violated by sinister segments of political background. His family was also persecuted for decades during the totalitarian regime of Enver Hoxha.

Bledar Harapej chose as his only way to save his life, to leave Albania, while many of his fellow aged friends have been killed.

Vasel Gilaj

Unlimited violence on people

Albania is the country where the bestial violence on people, on those who spent for freedom and rights, is unlimited. Rikard Shpori, his wife Marjeta and their sons Bepardo and Alejandro, an entire family from Shkodra, are missing and none knows either they’re alive or dead, as the violence of political background was harshly on them. Rikard Shpori participated since the beginning of1990, in peaceful anticommunist protests. Rikard was at the head of sacrifices against the dictators on January 14, 1990, when the bust of Stalin was pulled down, on December 13, 1990, when the bust of Enver Hoxha was pulled down too, in April 2, 1991, when the people of Shkodra protested against the stealing of votes by communists during the parliamentary elections of March 21, 1991, when four were killed and 163 wounded, and where Rikard faced violence like many others. In the parliamentary elections of June 24, 2001, this democrat was member of the electoral team in the area No. 5 and secretary of the Voting Center No. 14, where the social-communists made attempts to manipulate the free will of the voters. Though he had to suffer violence, he was committed in his sacrifices and the candidate of the DP, Astrit Bushati, won and now is deputy in the Albanian Parliament. At 4 a.m. of June 26, 2001, three people, one of whom was an officer of NIS, went to the house of Rikard and pressured him to sign a false report for the benefit of the socialist candidate. As he didn’t agree at any price, all the windows of his house were broken and then the house was all burned. On September 29, 2001, two persons attempted to kidnap his son, Bepardo, at the kindergarten. On October 2, 2001, explosive was put to his vehicle “Scoda 105”. The attempts to kill this honest man and well-known democrat are not over yet. On November 8, 2001, in the evening at about 22:30, two persons tried to take him forcedly, while he was going home, with the excuse to bring him at the police station to “make some things clear”. As they realized they cannot reach their goal, dark as their souls, knocked him with the back of their revolvers and left. This was very hurting and Rikard with his family, although innocent, have no evidence either they’re alive, dead or somewhere around the world, just to stay alive.

Zog Hysenaj