By Dashnor Kaloçi
The first part
-The mystery of the highly secret medical file of special importance, in Albanian and French, of the former number two of the communist regime, who died in Paris on September 23, 1979-
Memorie.al / On September 23, 1979, 45 years ago, Hysni Kapo, member of the Political Bureau and secretary of the Central Committee of the PPS, passed away in a Paris medical clinic, who since the mid- The 50s, (when Enver Hoxha physically eliminated or imprisoned and exiled some of his closest collaborators), was considered figure no. 2 of the communist regime, after Enver Hoxha. Hysni Kapo, or “Party Loyal”, as Enver liked to call him in his books and works, (mainly after his death), in September 1979, was hospitalized for visits and treatment at the Paris clinic, accompanied by Ramiz Alia, while a year ago, in the period October-December 1978, when he was in Paris for visits and treatment, Kadri Hazbiu accompanied him. The death of Hysni Kapo was the second to happen in the ranks of the senior leadership of PPSh, (after that of Gogo Nushi in 1970), and that death has been talked about for a long time, even since those days, when Vito Kapo, the wife his, told the Minister of the Interior, Kadri Hazbiu: “…They killed Hysnia…”?! And Hazbi immediately replied: “Why are you telling me…, address him”, – beckoning him with his hand, from Enver Hoxha’s villa.
This fact, or this evidence regarding the conversation of Vito Kapos with Kadri Hazbiu, has been made public, by the former senior staff of the Albanian Discovery, Hasan Luçi (who covered the Albanian political exile in the West), in an interview (at the beginning of the 2000s, in “Gazeta Shqiptare”), where he has cast his doubts, that Hysni Kapo’s death was not natural, from what was officially said, “pancreatic cancer”! It is not known precisely if Vito Kapo had discussed with someone else what Kadri Hazbi said, but two or three days later, she was called to a meeting by Enver Hoxha, where he (Enveri) then told her knowing once again to Vito, the official version of Hysniu’s death, he asked him that; “to have faith in the Party” and; “not to believe the words spread by the enemy”! So; “that there should be no doubt about Hysniu’s death, for which the Party did everything possible”!
The meeting he had with Vito Capo, Enveri brought up in a meeting of the Political Bureau, informing the “fellows of the Bureau”, “regarding the words that the enemy was spreading about Hysnia, which unfortunately, they took for granted, even his family members, even his friend Vito”! In the same way, doubts or reservations about the death of Hysni Kapo have also been cast by some of the members of his escort group, who were in Paris. They have given their doubts in writing and orally to the special operative group headed by Zylyftar Ramizi, (Director of State Security and at the same time Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs at the time), which was established in 1982, immediately after the arrest of the “Hostile Group” of Kadri Hazbiu and Feçor Shehu. For example, Nexhip Pajo, the companion of Hysni Kapo, who in the letter addressed to the Minister of the Interior, Hekuran Isai, on October 29, 1982, among other things, wrote: “I am Nexhip Pajo, former officer of the Second Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, now retired. In 1979, when comrade Hysni Kapo was in Paris (France) to be cured, I was part of the group of officers accompanying him.
After his death, when we returned from there, I informed the Committee of the Party of the Ministry, the former secretary of that Committee, Bato Karafili, about some shortcomings and reprehensible actions in the direction of serving the leader Hysni Kapo and his family of him, who was there in Paris, by the former deputy director of the Second Directorate, for our service there, Servet Backa, to Fejzo Bijo, deputy director of the Reception Directorate, to Llambi Ziçishti, responsible for Health. On the last day of the conclusions that we were going to make in Feçor Shehu’s office, I was called on the phone from my friend Hysni Kapo’s house, Kadri Hazbiu, who had asked me urgently, leaving an order for the staff of the house, so that I answering the phone. When he informed me, I took Kadri on the phone and he immediately addressed me: “Listen; today you have that last meeting, related to your service in Paris, so be careful and be more reasonable and more partisan, for the ones you raised, because you inflated them too much and in a tendentious manner”.
Then I answered him on the phone: – How did you verify these, that they are not true? “I know this very well, I know Servet Backa very well, that he is an honest and experienced communist and on the other hand, that son of the world (i.e., Servet), has become like a madman and comes to he cries in the office like a child”, he answered. – It would be good if he did not cry there in your office, but cried there in Paris, where we all cried, for the misfortune that had befallen us, but we cried and drank tears there, while Servet Backa, Feçor Shehu, Fejzo Bijo and Llambi Ziçishti drank brandy and ate chops”.
All of the above, (as well as Nexhpip Pajo’s letter that was published in full by Memorie.al), or other evidence where Hysni Kapo’s death is discussed or made known, are known from the archive documents of the former Committee Central PPSh, (found in the Central State Archive, fund 14, apparatus and governing bodies), which were published in the press after the 90s and among the only things that have not been made public until today , are Kadri Hazbiu’s letter to Enver Hoxha, (25 typewritten pages), for the service he had done in Paris near Hysni Kapo, as well as the voluminous file with the relevant medical record of Hysni Kapo, considered and circulated, as; “Top secret, of special importance” which begins on May 16, 1959 and ends on September 23, 1979, the day he died.
While Kadri Hazbiu’s letter, sent to Enver Hoxha in January 1979, after returning from France together with Hysni Kapo (at the end of it, among others, he wrote: “Some things from my service in France, by order of superiors, I have reflected them in this report-information…”!), it is said that it is not found in the State Archives, Memorie.al, has secured and has the complete (in French and Albanian) Hysni Kapo’s medical file, of which we are partially publishing, in several numbers, together with the corresponding facsimiles, where there are medical records and reports, from Albanian and foreign doctors, various notes, epi-crisis, electrocardiogram, results and answers of tests, doctor’s consultations, etc., etc.
Also, Enver Hoxha’s notes are there, which we are publishing together with the relevant facsimiles and photos, which are stored in the Central State Archive, both those made in Paris and those made at Rinas airport, when he was brought the coffin with his body, as well as his burial, which was attended by Enver Hoxha and the entire senior leadership of the ALP.
LETTERS FROM FOUR DOCTORS OF THE SPECIAL POLYCLINIC IN TIRANA, ON THE HEALTH CONDITION OF HYSNI KAPOS, FROM 1954 TO 1959
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Tirana 16 /V/ 1959
MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR
SPECIAL POLYCLINIC
MEDICAL REPORT
Comrade HYSNI KAPO, at the end of 1954, was diagnosed with the disease ‘DIABETES MELITUS’, mild form. He was put on a suitable regime and only with the help of diet; he was kept in balance, until April 1959. During the last two years, there have been fluctuations in this balance, this is caused by periods of intensive work, but there have been cases of deterioration, even when he did not properly respect the regime.
Lately, the disease has caused slight disturbances in the heart. From time to time, it presents sleep disorders. From the stemmatological side (of the mouth), it presents chronic ‘alveolar pyorrhea’, with periods of worsening, for which they took cures from time to time. It presents contractures in the palms of both hands.
On 24/ IV/1959, there was a ‘PLEURITIS EXUDATIVA BASALIS DEX’ in China. And a pulmonary shadow, for which it was treated with antibiotics and now the phenomena have been absorbed and the patient is in the convalescence period. This condition caused the worsening of Diabetes, for which treatment with insulin was started; the patient had lost two kg. weight.
Considering the importance of the disease that passed in a diabetic area, we are of the opinion that the patient should rest until the end of this month; In case the disease will have a favorable course, as so far, we think that after a consultation, limited work will begin, no more than four hours of work per day. It is necessary to spend the months of July and August in a holiday home in the Soviet Union.
(Dr. S. Agalliu) d.v., (Dr. Xh. Gjata) d.v., (Dr. F. Hoxha) d.v.(Dr. G. Daiu)
SPECIAL POLYCLINIC
SECRETARIAT OF K.Q. FOR P.P. SH
Tirana
As it is known, friend Hysni Kapo has been suffering from ‘Diabetes Mellitue’ (sugar disease) for a long time. Until April of this year, the disease was mild and stabilized without insulin, only with diet.
During the trip to China, he fell ill with exudative pleurisy, which caused his diabetes to worsen, so he had to start insulin there. Immediately after his arrival from China, his health condition was checked and appropriate recommendations were given regarding the work and living regime, the secretariat was informed about this with a report.
At that time, we predicted that the situation would improve and we hoped that after a short time, we would gradually remove the insulin, but the fact is otherwise. Not only has the insulin (15-20 Units) protamine zine not been stopped, but also the sugar content in the patient’s urine showed pronounced oscillations (up and down), which shows that the condition is not even slightly balanced.
We have noticed that the figures rise when the patient has been occupied with intensive work and the lifestyle is disordered – he ate late lunch, slept late, while the figures were satisfactory, when the urine was taken on Monday, or after some day holidays, or even in periods where there was no intensive work.
It should be emphasized that for the cure of Diabetes, diet and insulin alone are not enough; tears and a regular, recommended lifestyle play a big and important role.
Therefore, in order not to aggravate the disease and to have good results and a longer and safe perspective of the health of comrade Hysni Kapo, we recommend as necessary:
- Reduced working hours – 6 hours of work per day.
- When there are exceptional and unavoidable cases of intensive work, it is necessary to follow it with a break, even for 3-4 days.
- Regular living schedule – eating, sleeping.
- In the middle of the year take 15 days off in addition to the usual summer vacation.
(Dr. F. Hoxha), (Dr. Xh. Gjata) d.v., (Dr. Gr. Daiu)
ENVER HOXHA’S NOTE IN HIS WRITING ON THE DOCTORS’ LETTER IN THE REPORT ON THE HEALTH CONDITION OF HYSNI KAPOS, IN THE YEAR 1959
I agree that friend Hysni should strictly implement the decisions of the doctors, just as they informed me. I will talk to Hysnia myself.
THE NOTE FROM THE CHIEF OF THE CABINET OF ENVER HOXHA
Comrade Haki was also informed about Comrade Enver’s note.
a-a (signature)
- XI. 1959
LETTER OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE SPECIAL CLINIC, DR. PAVLLO MILO, IN 1960, TO THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PPS, ON THE HEALTH CONDITION OF HYSNI KAPOS
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Tirana, on 31/XII/1960
SPECIAL POLYCLINIC
No._____ Secret
TO THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF P.S.H.
TIRANA
Comrade Hysni Kapo, these last two years, continues to have an increase in blood pressure, especially these last six months of 1969.
Despite antihypertensive therapy, blood pressure remains high.
Considering that he also suffers from diabetes, a disease that predisposes to sclerosis of the arteries, the medical commission, with Prof. F. Hoxha, Dr. Y. Popen, Dr. N. Shurbanin, recommends as necessary prophylactic measures:
- To take 2 vacations a year, from 1 month. Start the winter break now immediately.
- To work only before the day.
- After any intensive work, take 3-4 days off.
- After the day, rest for 1.5 hours and take regular walks.
Directory
(Pavlo Milo)
LETTER FROM THE SPECIAL POLYCLINIC IN TIRANA, ADDRESSED TO THE POLITICAL BUREAU, REGARDING THE HEALTH CONDITION OF HYSNI KAPOS
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Tirana, 23.5.1961
SPECIAL POLYCLINIC
No._____ Prot.
POLITICAL BUREAU OF K. Q. P. P. ALBANIA
TIRANA
Recently, friend Hysni Kapo, has shown a hypoglycemic state with dizziness, strong hunger, heat in the body and emptiness in the head, accompanied by marked weakness.
He presented this condition to you 2 weeks ago, when he was in Lushnja, as well as a few days ago, at his home in Tirana. These shows are subtle and dangerous.
To avoid these, urine tests should be done every 2-3 days, except for cases where they should be done every day.
Urine examinations are necessary, because on the basis of these examinations, the dosage of the insulin cure is made; why the amount of insulin is determined according to the sugar in the urine. An amount of insulin that is made today, after a few days, may not be appropriate.
In addition to urine tests, in order to receive a regular treatment, the patient must follow the appropriate diet and strictly respect the hours of food and rest (after having eaten a little at 11:00 a.m., he must eat lunch, no later than 14.00)
Must take at least 2 vacations per year.
FOR THE POLYCLINIC COMMISSION
PROFESSOR F. HOXHA PROFESSOR XH. DURATION Dr. PAVLLO MILO
P.S. The commission recommends the advice given in the previous reports to the other comrades. Memorie.al
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