By Dashnor Kaloçi
The fifth part
Memorie.al / Based on the special specificity that Albanian Radio-Television had, as one of the most important information and propaganda institutions of the communist regime, until the end of the 80s, it was not only under the subordination and supervision of of the secretariat of the Central Committee of the PPSh, but also of the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and State Security, which as an “ORV” (Object of Special Importance), kept it under strict control, not only from the physical security side of that institution, but to the “cleanliness and moral and political figure” of its employees, whose biography was looked at in detail for several generations, passing them through the “sieves” year after year.
Not only that, but the State Security bodies, through the agency they had recruited within that institution, had and kept Radio-Television under constant and strict control, penetrating all its links, such as; directorate, relevant newsrooms, editing points, broadcasting studios, sound recording studio, archives, film production groups, warehouses, backstage, drivers and their vehicles, up to the physical control of employees and guests, to the doors they came in and out. All these, among others, are revealed by a series of archival documents, which are part of a file belonging to this very important institution, from its creation in 1961, until the collapse of the communist regime in in 1991.
From this file extracted from the Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (the fund of the former State Security, which are now part of the Authority for the Information of Files of the former State Security), we have selected some documents belonging to the 70s -’80s, starting their publication with three documents from the period of 1978, 1980 and 1981, where the directors of the Directorate of Internal Affairs of Tirana, namely Nustret Dauti and Zef Loka, inform the Central Committee of the ALP, on all the problems of this institution.
For more about this, we know the documents in question, where, in addition to a large number of employees of that institution, who have been followed and monitored by the State Security over the years, there are also some very well-known names, which have been considered as ” icons” of Albanian Radio-Television, before and after the 90s, such as; Robert Shvarc, Gaspë Çurçia, Alfon Gurashi, Gjon Simoni, Qemal Xhomo, Viktori Xhaçka, Meropi Xhai, Shpresa Musliu, Gjergj Pekmezi, Alfred Papuchiu, Xhezair Abazi, Shpëtim Gina, Edmond Dilaveri, Merkur Bozgo, Agron Aranitasi, Jochen and Irene Blanke, Muhamet Oseku, Arben Xoxe, Janka Selimi, Timo Luto, Xhuni Taylor, Arjan Bakiri, Gazmor Halilaj, Mond Lako, up to Vera Grabocka, etc. These documents are published for the first time in several numbers exclusively by Memorie.al
Continues from last issue
SECRET DOCUMENT WITH THE REPORT-INFORMATION COMPILED BY THE STATE SECURITY OPERATIVE WORKER, MIKEL GJIKA, WHICH COVERED THE ALBANIAN RADIO-TV, WITH DATA OF THE RESIDENT OF THE SECURITY WITH THE PSEUDOMONATION “KALAJA”
Taken from P.Op. Mikel Gjika
Given: Resident “Castle”
In nature
Report of dt. 20.9.1984
The source announces that on Sunday, September 16, 1984, a defect occurred in Television, which was called a “big political scandal”. Instead of the show dedicated to the 22nd Assault Brigade, a children’s show of a scientific nature was broadcast. As the TV announcer talked about the 22nd Brigade, the figure showed other plans. This took about 2 minutes.
According to the reports received from various friends, the defect in question occurred due to the confusion of the film box and the two programming editors, Arian Bakiri and Zhani Gostivishti, as well as the technicians Bashkim Lleshi and Njazi Bandi, as well as the editing which did not make the relevant note at the beginning and end of the show.
The source is of the opinion that the defect has not been assessed properly, the causes have not been analyzed and no stance has been taken against the culprits. The directorate, since the collegium did not meet at all, was satisfied with only a note in the documents of Arian Bakiri, while for the others, advice. There are doubts about Njazi Bandi, to whom various defects have occurred on other occasions. However, such omissions pave the way for even bigger scandals.
“THE CASTLE”
Assessment: The report has operational value, as it informs us, it reflects the causes of the defect in the TV, dated 16.9.1984, which came as negligence and carelessness of upper employees, but which have political consequences.
Clarification: Arjan Bakiri and Zhani Gostivishti, as well as the two technicians, are recognized by us as persons of good political composition and attitude. According to them, we did not have any material.
Task: B.p., was ordered to talk with employees of this sector, as well as with the authors themselves, to find out further details about the origin and real causes of the defect, if there was a violation of the work rules, which person is specifically responsible, for this carelessness, etc.
Operational Measures: The report should be printed for the ORV file. To talk with the colleagues of the Directorate, to inform the Directorate of RTV, regarding these and other problems, to take measures and to avoid such defects.
Operative Workshop
Mikel Gjika
SECRET DOCUMENT WITH THE REPORT-INFORMATION COMPILED BY THE STATE SECURITY OPERATIVE WORKER, MIKEL GJIKA, WHICH COVERED THE ALBANIAN RADIO-TV, WITH DATA OF THE RESIDENT OF THE SECURITY WITH THE PSEUDOMONATION “KALAJA”
Taken from P.Op. Mikel Gjika
Given: Resident “Castle”
In nature
Report of dt. 23.9.1984
In continuation of the previous information, the source informs that the defect of 16.9.1984, on Tv, as it has been announced, happened due to “confusion” of the reels and the “big scandal”, was closed with a remark of the editor, Arjan Bakiri and with one advice each, to editors Zhani Gostivishti and technicians Bashkim Lleshi and Njazi Bandi.
Such an analysis, such a sentimental and liberal attitude, continues to infuriate all employees who feel sorry for the screen, especially since it was violated on the historic day of the anniversary of the Peza Conference. The source is of the opinion that even in this case, elementary rules have been flagrantly violated:
- After finishing the editing, including the mixing, you put a so-called “tail” on the show, which shows the beginning and end of the show. Who was responsible for this and why was it not done? Here is an answer, which can be obtained from the accompanying sheet of the show.
- The editor of the show, after checking, submits the show in a box, cardboard or metal to the programming. If so, who messed it up?! What was the reason? This problem is also easily solved, through documents.
- After taking over from programming, put the show in a safe place, even if it’s best to wax it and get it ready for broadcast. Has this been done? Even this question is not being answered correctly?
- Before the broadcast, the show must be checked, at least initially by the editor and the technician on duty. Has this check been done? Of course not. That if this had been done, the “confusion” would have been eliminated earlier.
- Usually, such problems, even for small problems, the collegium meets, the collective is notified. In this case, it was not done so. Why? There is room to suspect personal sympathies, to reveal weaknesses, to round things up, to distribute responsibilities. Not without reason, there are employees who say that; this was a grave mistake and it could not be swallowed by one man alone.
The tendency to distribute responsibilities can be seen in this case as well: As early as March of this year, director Vera Grabocka broke the reel of Kruja’s group at the Gjirokastra National Festival. No compensation measures are being taken for this. Vera herself, speaks up and down, mocking and saying that; “They have nothing to do with me”!
“THE CASTLE”
Assessment: From the report it appears that there are violations of regulations and negligence and liberalism in analyzing various defects and problems in RTV.
Task: B.p. he was warned not to make suggestions, but with concrete facts and data. He was ordered to talk with other employees if there are other cases of violation of rules in other workplaces, if there is negligence or liberalism, especially during the broadcast and in the respective studios.
Operational Measures: The report should be printed for the file of the ORV. To verify on site, the assembly work procedure, and determine the concrete responsibilities and the true nature of the defect in question. Talk to the General Director of RTV, to analyze these and other problems, and take measures to prevent defects of this nature.
OPERATIONAL WORKSHOP
MIKEL GJIKA
Note: We verified on the spot, talking with comrade Milto Baka, secretary of the basic organization of the Television party, and comrade Ylli Pepo, deputy director and Zhani Gistivishti, editor, regarding this event. It turned out that the problem was deeply analyzed there, the real causes, related to carelessness and underestimation of duties by the editor Arjan Bakiri, were discussed. I know this name closely; he comes from a family with good political standing and he himself is known as a good boy and there is no negative material available for him. There were no other cases of defects at work. My opinion, as with the above-mentioned comrades, was that the defect did not happen with any specific purpose, but it was for the above reasons, for which, Arjan Bakirin, we took the relevant measures.
30.9.1984 Operative Workshop
Mikel Gjika
THE SECRET DOCUMENT WITH THE REPORT-INFORMATION COMPILED BY THE STATE INSURANCE OPERATIVE WORKER, MIKEL GJIKA, WHO COVERED THE ALBANIAN RADIO-TV, WITH DATA OF THE INSURANCE AGENT WITH THE PSEUDONATION “PENA” FROM THE “ROZAFAT” BASE
Received: Mikel Gjika
Given: “pen”
Base: “Rozafati”
Report of dt. 2.10.1984
The source informs that from the observations made and from the conversations with employees of the Foreign Radio, several problems emerge that hinder the work in this sector:
- There is a decrease in the number of letters from foreign listeners, which is explained by several reasons:
- a) There is no systematic work organized with letters, starting from their translation, up to the answers sent directly to the listeners, or through broadcasts prepared for them.
- b) The shows are not always well-constructed and with content and do not contain well-processed and quality materials.
- c) In some languages, the translation is done with defects, this is due to the improper qualification of the translator, as well as the lack of dictionaries and other necessary materials. This happens especially in the Czech sector, about which the source has informed before.
“PEN”
Evaluation: The report is of operational value, it shows us some flaws and weaknesses in Foreign Radio, which hinder its work in propagating the Party’s line and our state’s policy in the international arena.
Task: B.p. was ordered to increase vigilance, especially now on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the liberation of the homeland, to observe violations of rules and work norms, in the various editorial offices, but also in the technical sector, if the rules for entering the studio are strictly applied transmission, etc.
Operational Measures: Print the report for the ORV operational file, issue problems to prepare information for RTV, and talk with superiors about how to consume it.
Operative Workshop
Mikel Gjika
THE SECRET DOCUMENT WITH THE REPORT-INFORMATION COMPILED BY THE STATE INSURANCE OPERATIVE WORKER, MIKEL GJIKA, WHO COVERED THE ALBANIAN RADIO-TV, WITH DATA OF THE INSURANCE AGENT WITH THE PSEUDONATION “PENA” FROM THE “ROZAFAT” BASE
Received: Mikel Gjika
Given: “pen”
Base: “Rozafati”
Report dated 1.11.1984
The source announces that he had a conversation with a radio technician named…! During the conversation…he told the source that the needle head of a disc worth $670 was damaged in the Radio. …he said that the engineer of this institution, Dhimitër Kekezi, is to blame for this. The latter, together with the chief engineer of this institution, Flutra Muftiu, compiled a report, where it was said that the disc was damaged during work. These two ask the technician to sign the minutes, but he refuses, saying that he was not present when such a thing happened and was not present when the minutes were compiled. The cause of the broken disc needle head, which according to the technician…is Dhimitër Kekezi, had tried to weld the broken needle head, but damaged it worse. In a meeting of the technical sector, this problem was on the agenda, but during the meeting the agenda was completely changed and the author of this breakdown was not found. The technician…. persisted to find the culprit, finally saying that he would call the investigative bodies for this problem.
“PEN”
Evaluation: The report is of operational value, as it shows us the damage to the devices that have great value by engineer Dhimitër Kekezi, and the efforts of chief engineer Flutura Muftiu, to cover the past damage with ease.
Task: He was ordered to talk again with the technician…….. and for other problems of this nature, if there were other cases of covering things, to talk with other Radio technicians and, gets well into these problems, if there are violations of the rules of transmission, etc.
Operative Measure: Print the report for the ORV file, verify this event on the spot, clarify what engineer Dhimitër Kekezi represents, and if there have been other cases of this nature.
Operative Workshop
Mikel Gjika
The report was seen by friend Ropi Postoli and Pelivan Luçi who score respectively
Comrade Ropi: “Verify the event that happened through the agency and the line of measures, including… from whom the head of the needle was torn off, how much the damage is, and what economic and political consequences it has brought. the stay of Dhimitër Kekezi and Flutura Mufti until 20.11.1984 is also verified”.
Comrade Pelivan notes that he agrees with all the tasks and evaluations received. Memorie.al
Brought
Operative Workshop
Mikel Gjika
The next issue follows
