By Leonora Laçi
Part one
– The rare file of the trial of 10 priests; how 4 of them were shot and the first sentence of Father Zef Pllum, the last words before the execution-
Memorie.al For the first time, the complete court file of one of the most sensational processes of the communist dictatorship that of Monsignor Frano Gjin, is published. This process sentenced Monsignor Gjini and 3 other priests to death and 6 others to imprisonment and forced labor. The youngest among them, Father Zef Pllumi, received the first sentence in 1948, in this judicial process, sentencing him to 3 years of imprisonment and forced labor. The full minutes are taken from the court file of Mons. Frano Gjinit, found in the Archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The documents are described as they are in their original version in the relevant files.
Court decisions on the conviction of 11 Catholic clergy
The decision that was taken at the beginning of March 1948 was; For Monsignor Frano Gjinin, Dom Nikoll Deden, Father Mati Prendushin and Dom Tom Lacen, death sentence. For Father Gjon Karma with 20 years of deprivation of liberty and forced labor, for Dom Ndoc Sahatçi, with 15 years of deprivation of liberty and forced labor, for Father Mhill Miraj with 10 years of deprivation of freedom and forced labor. As for the defendant Zef Haxhia and Dom Nikoll Shelqeti, with 5 years of deprivation of liberty and forced labor. For That Zef Plumi, with 3 years of deprivation of liberty and forced labor.
This file contains the process, from the accusations of the military prosecutor Namik Qemali and the decision of the court, chaired by Misto Bllaca and the members; Anastas Koroveshi and Xhemal Bejtja. Through a process and baseless accusations, the minutes give the full dynamics of the criminal conviction of the Albanian Franciscans as well as their last word in court, against the political process against them.
Complete file;
Shkoder on 2/I/ 1948
Indictments
Military Court
Here
As it appeared from the attached documents, we are presenting the defendants:
- Monsignor Gjini,
- Dom Nikoll Deda,
- Father Mati Prendushi,
- Dom Tom Laca,
- Zef Haxhija,
- Dom Ndoc Sahatçija,
- Father John Karma,
- Dear Father Mhill,
- Jakojt; Zef Pllumbi and Dom Shelqeti are accused of:
They worked for the arrival of fascism and for the occupation of our country by Italian imperialism. Since before the occupation, they have been political and espionage agents of Italian imperialism. During the occupation, they worked for the country’s fascism.
They worked to legalize the enemy occupation. Through agitation and fascist propaganda, they have tried to extinguish the patriotic and national feelings of the people. They have been a serious obstacle to the National Liberation War.
They worked to eliminate this movement. They helped and cooperated with all the criminal organizations during the occupations. They have supported and helped all the quisling governments of the time of the occupations as well as their renegade politics. They have practiced all possible means and all kinds of methods to extinguish or prevent the people’s resistance to the end.
During the German occupation, they became agents of the Gestapo, denouncing in its secret offices, the militants of L.N.Ç. They helped the enemy guilds and formations, Bashibozuke when they went between the provinces, to fight the partisans.
After the liberation of Albania, terrified by the power in the hands of the people, they threw themselves with ferocity and fury against the people and the power. In order to hit the Government with more force, they start their organization, within the Catholic Clergy under the leadership of Monsignor Gjini, Dom Nikoll Deda, Father Mati Prendushi, Monsignor Volaj, etc., clerical heads.
They start their organization by transforming the entire Catholic clergy into a fascist organization, called Christian Democrats. They elect the Central Committee, with the aforementioned elements, such as; Monsignor Gjini, Monsignor Volaj, Dom Nikoll Deda, Father Mati Prendushi, etc., as well as civilians Zef Haxhija and his friends.
In the decisions of the Central Committee, they have specified the formation of Committees and N/Committees of this organization, among different parishes, among provinces. The connection with fugitives, inside and outside the country, as well as with any terrorist organization, inside the State. The connection with foreign imperialists and with every enemy of our country. Coordination of the fight against the Power, with every opponent of the Power. The preparation of an immediate armed uprising against the Government.
All these decisions, the defendants together with their friends, have put into practice, connecting with the fugitives, sending memoranda to foreign imperialists. They formed the Joint Committee of the terrorist organization for Shkodra, being represented in this terrorist organization for Shkodra, being represented in this organization, by Dom Nikoll Deda. They have developed extensive propaganda for the formation of the uprising, against the Government (characteristic), the attempt of September 9, ’46.
Of the defendants, Zef Haxhija, was a member of the Central Committee of Demokristiane. He betrayed the people’s trust, as a representative of the people, in the People’s Assembly, by associating with fascist and pro-fascist terrorist organizations, which were for the violent overthrow of the People’s Power. These faults, which provided from article 2,3, point 1,2,4,6,7, 8 and 14 and article 4 of Law No. 372, on criminal offenses against the State and the People.
The Military Prosecutor of Z.U.SH
Captain
Namik Qemali
Proces-Verbal
The Military Prosecutor’s Office of the Military Zone of Shkodra, with its indictment, with No. 2 dated 2/I/1948, brought to this court the investigative documents against the defendants: Monsignor Gjini, Dom Nikoll Deda, Father Mati Prendushi, Dom Tomë Laca, Zef Haxhija, Dom Ndoc Sahatçija, Father Gjin Karma, Father Mhill Miraj, Xhakoj, Zef Plumbi and Dom Shelqeti, for the guilt of:
They worked for the arrival of fascism and the occupation of our country by Italian imperialism. Since before the occupation, they have been political and espionage agents of Italian imperialism. During the occupation, they worked for the fascistization of the country.
They worked to legalize the enemy occupation. Through agitation and fascist propaganda, they tried to extinguish the patriotic and national feelings of the people. They have been serious obstacles to L.N.Ç. They worked to eliminate this movement.
They helped and cooperated with all criminal organizations during the occupations. They supported and helped all the Quisling governments during the occupations, as well as their renegade politics. They have practiced all possible means and all kinds of methods to extinguish or prevent the people’s resistance to the end.
During the German occupation, they became agents of the Gestapo, denouncing in its secret offices, the militants of L.N.Ç. They helped the enemy guilds and formations, when they went between the provinces to fight the partisans. After the liberation of Albania, terrified by the Power in the hands of the people, they threw themselves with ferocity and fury against the People and the Power.
With the aim of hitting the Government, with more force, they start their organization, within the Catholic Clergy, under the leadership of Monsignor Gjin, Dom Nikoll Deda, Father Mati Prendush, Monsignor Volaj, etc., clerical leaders. They start their organization by transforming the entire Catholic Clergy into a fascist organization called Demo-Christians.
They elect the Central Committee, with the aforementioned elements, such as Monsignor Gjini, Monsignor Volaj, Dom Nikoll Deda, Father Mati Prendushi, etc., as well as civilians Zef Haxhija, with friends.
In the decisions of the Central Committee, they have specified the formation of Committees and N/Committees of this organization, among different parishes in the provinces. The connection with fugitives, inside and outside the country, as well as with any terrorist organization, inside the country. The connection with foreign imperialists and with every enemy of our country. Coordination of the fight against the Power, with every opponent of the Power.
The preparation of an immediate armed uprising against the Government. All these decisions, the defendants together with their friends, have implemented, connecting with the fugitives, sending memos to foreign imperialists.
They formed the Joint Committee of the terrorist organization for Shkodra, being represented in this organization by Dom Nikoll Deda.
They have developed extensive propaganda for the formation of the uprising against the Government (characteristic of the attempt on September 9, 1946). Of the defendants, Zef Haxhija, was a member of the Central Committee of Demo-Kristjana.
He betrayed the people’s trust, as a representative of the people in the People’s Assembly, by associating with fascist and pro-fascist terrorist organizations, which were for the violent overthrow of the People’s Power.
These offenses, provided by articles 2,3 (points 1,2,4,6,7,8 and 14) and article 4 of Law No. 372, on criminal offenses against the State and the People.
After these acts were registered under No. 17 in the Basic Registry, the date of trial was set for January 6, 1948, Tuesday, 10 a.m., Shkodër, on 2/I/ 1948.
On the above day and time, the jury was formed as follows:
Chairman First Captain Misto Bllaca
Antar N/Lieutenant Anastas Koroveshi
Antar N/Lieutenant Xhemal Beitja
Being the Prosecutor, Captain Namik Qemali and the Secretary of the Court, Shaban Qamil Dautaj.
The defendants were released from prison:
They were asked their identity and they said their names are:
Monsignor, Frano Pjeter Gjini, son of Peter and Drana, 62 years old, Albanian, unmarried, unconvicted, poor, graduated from Theology, profession Ipeshkv, born in Shkodër and resident in Shkodër, dated 15 /XI/ 1946.
Dom Nikoll Zef Deda, son of Zefi and Age, 58 years old, unmarried, not convicted, poor, graduated from Theology, parish priest, has a brother in prison and a brother executed, born in Shkodër and resident in Hajmel , aligned with the date 13/X/1946.
Father Mati Prendushi, son of Kola and Prendashi, 66 years old, unmarried, unconvicted, poor Albanian, priest, graduated from Theology in Austria, in prison is his nephew Paolin Prendushi, born and resident in Shkodër , aligned with the date 15 /XI/1946.
Dom Tom Laca, son of Paloka and Drana, 51 years old, unmarried, unconvicted, from a medium economic situation, graduated from Theology in Rome, priest by profession, has sister’s son Zef Palin, from Shkodra, in prison dated 14/X/1946.
Zef Kol Haxhija, son of Kola and Gjysta, 58 years old, married with 8 children, poor, graduated from the Trade Technical School, then went on to the Turkish Military High School, from Shkodra, unaffected by the reform, former deputy, enlisted dated 20/XI/1948.
Dom Ndoc Sahatçija, son of Rrok and Nushe, 41 years old, unmarried, not convicted, poor, graduated from Theology, profession Ipeshkv, born in Breg te Mata, dated 26/6/1947.
Father John Karma, son of Frano and Dila, 52 years old, graduated from Theology in Austria and Rome, unmarried, unconvicted, Albanian, priest by profession, born in Gur i Zi, dated 10/XI/1946.
Dom Nikoll Shelqeti, son of Hila and Dila, 55 years old, unmarried, not convicted, poor, graduated in theology and philosophy in Austria, priest and parish priest by profession, born in Shelqet, dated 20/XII /46.
Father Mhill Miraj, son of Pjetri and Prenda, 39 years old, unmarried Albanian, innocent, poor, graduated from Theology in Rome, former professor and deputy parish priest, from Shkodra, dated 20/X/1946 .
Zef Gjeto Pllumbi, son of Gjeto and Luke, 22 years old, unmarried, not convicted, born in Boga te Kopliku and resident of Mal te Renci, profession as a carpenter, completed the third Theological course, executed , Mark Mirin and Zef Mirin, and arrested, uncle’s son, poor, lined up on 15/X/1946.
The indictment of the Prosecution was filed, the content of which is described in the introduction to this process. Memorie.al
