By Dashnor Kaloçi
Part nine
Memorie.al / It was the morning of September 1, 1976, when the workers of the Fishing Enterprise who were the first to arrive at their workplace located on the shore of Lake Shkodra near the village of Shiroka, found that the guard of the enterprise of that sector was surprisingly missing, as well as the office staff, something that had never happened before?! This is because, among other things, there was also the pier where all the fishing boats were anchored, which, tied with chains and locked with a key, were considered objects of special importance and were under the control and double guard, both by the fishing enterprise and by the Border Post located in the village of Zogaj, where the state border with Montenegro, at that time part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of Marshal Tito, was also located.
Although a torrential and stormy rain continued to fall, which had started since midnight, the fishermen began to look for the guard and the foreman of their company, calling them by name, but in vain, because no one answered? But after a while, they were stunned and terrified, when just a few meters away from the fish warehouse, they saw a corpse lying on the ground with no signs of life…! It was the 50-year-old guard, Fadil Rizaj, who had been serving in that position for several years. No one dared to touch him with their hands, because not only was he bloody and with visible marks on his head and body, but his hands were tied with rope from behind his body and also his respiratory organs, tied with a cloth behind his head…! Which clearly meant that he had been killed…?
After that scene of horror, some of the fishermen ran to the offices to call the heads of their company and the Internal Affairs Branch as well, but the telephone line was cut and the connection to Shkodra could not be established…! Meanwhile, from other checks to find the company’s wreck, it was also found that one of the boats (fishing boats) was missing from the pier on the lake shore, precisely the one known as; “Health Boat”, and the safe that held their keys, was broken with a crowbar!
Meanwhile, the alarm was given and there were some of the officers and main chiefs of the Shkodra Internal Affairs Branch, who immediately determined that not only were they dealing with a serious crime, but also with an escape by boat across the lake, which, among other things, would also aggravate their position before their superiors at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tirana. Meanwhile, the news spread and the investigative group with the relevant experts immediately began work to uncover the crime that had occurred and unravel the entire event, which a few days later would shock not only the city and district of Shkodra, but also Tivar, Titograd and Ulcinj in Montenegro!
But what had really happened, who and why had killed the fishing guard Fadil Rizaja? How many people had escaped and what had happened at midnight on August 31, as September 1, 1976 dawned, as a heavy rain fell with thunder and lightning, which was said to have never been remembered, even by the oldest residents of those parts? Why were several dead bodies found on the shore of the lake on the Yugoslav side and another corpse on our side of the border, near the border post in the village of Zogaj? How was the main author of that escape able to swim to the part of the lake that belonged to the border of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, on that dark night with rain, waves and storm?
Who was Hamit Arif Myrto and what did he initially say to the residents of that area, when they saw him completely naked in the alleys of their village, as well as to the competent Yugoslav authorities, regarding the reasons for his escape? What did the UDB authorities ask Hamit during the investigation process in several separate offices in Tivar, Titograd and Ulcinj, where they sent him, frequently changing his location, his “cellmates” and the investigators who interrogated him? What did he testify to when they asked him about the military bases and units, the missile unit and other installations that were located at that time in the Shkodra district, as well as the tracts that were dropped in that city those days, against the Party of Labor and Enver Hoxha?
What did Hamit tell the UDB bodies, regarding his brother-in-law, a minister in the government headed by Mehmet Shehu, and also one of the closest people to the dictator Enver Hoxha, who remained in that position until the collapse of the communist regime? Who was the “photographer” from Shkodra who had escaped to Yugoslavia a few years ago and why were all the investigators asking Hamit about that person? Why did the Yugoslav UDB authorities decide to return Hamit Myrto to Albania, handing him over to the Albanian State Security bodies, even though they were convinced that he had not been sent on a secret mission?
What did Hamit testify during the investigative process, such as the reasons that had forced him to undertake that dangerous adventure, and also everything he had told the UDB? What did Hamit write in the letter addressed to Enver Hoxha to the Minister of Defense Beqir Balluku and how was it possible to find that letter in his house in Shkodra? What did Hamit’s family members, relatives, neighbors, work colleagues, the brigadier, the director of the Fishing Enterprise, the chairman of the People’s Council of the “Partizani” Neighborhood where he lived, and other people who were called to testify against him, testify during the investigation process, in the fall of 1976?
Why was the trial of Hamit Myrtos held in the village of Shiroka, how much was he convicted by the Shkodra District Court, the Criminal College of the Supreme Court and why did the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, leave their decisions in force, for his death sentence (by hanging) even after that terrible tragedy that had happened to him; where he lost his entire family? What were Hamit’s last words before the firing squad and why, to this day, has his grave not yet been found?!
Regarding these and other of the most serious and tragic events that the Shkodra region and Montenegro experienced in those years, we are informed by the archival documents of the voluminous relevant file that Memorie.al has provided, which we are publishing in several issues (with the relevant facsimiles and photos), with the sole purpose of shedding light and making known the monstrous crimes that occurred at that time, where Albanians, in order to escape the communist hell, were forced to undertake the most dangerous adventures towards the state border, just like the main character of this event, Hamit Arif Myrtja!
Continued from the previous issue
ARCHIVE DOCUMENT WITH THE MINUTES OF THE INTERROGATION OF THE WITNESS HAXHI SEIT MIRAKU, BY THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE SHKODRA INTERNAL BRANCH, JAKE TEFIKU
MINUTES
(Of questioning the witness)
Today, on September 1, 1976, in the city of Shkodra, I, the investigator of the Internal Affairs Branch, Jake Tefiku, questioned as a witness Haxhi Seit Miraku, born in 1923, with 7 years of education, place of residence “Skënderbeg”, “Tregtari” Street, no. 112 Shkodra, guard duty, party member, unconvicted, ID card number, was identified.
The investigator warned me of criminal liability under Article 220 of the Criminal Code, for false testimony.
Haxhi Miraku
Regarding the matter, I can say the following:
On 31.9.1976, at 14.00, I took over as a guard in Peshkim, while Kolec Filipi was the watchman and stayed until 20.00 and left because he complained that he was sick, without handing over the service to the next watchman. Meanwhile, I stayed with Hamzai until 21.50, at which time the next guard, Fadil Rizai, arrived, I handed over the duties to Fadil, as is the rule, and I, together with the steam worker, Hamzai, the foreman and the dynamite guard, Nezir Jonuzi, set off for home, riding our bicycles.
Until I went home, I did not see Hamit Myrto on the road, to come and pick up the watchman. I learned from the brigadier, Qazim Ulkonja, that Hamit Myrtoja would take the dezhurn, although Qazim himself was in line. I met Qazim around 18:00, on the street here, in front of Peshkim, who was with a friend of his. Qazim told me that; it is my turn, but I will go somewhere and on my own foot, Hamit Arif Myrtja will come. On the morning of 1.9.1976, around 6:00, I came to take the service, again in Peshkim. I looked for the guard and the dezhurn and I could not find them, I went to the guard and the dezhurn’s place, I opened the door that was closed, I saw inside, there was no one, I went around and looked for them, but I could not find them.
I immediately went to the boats, counted them and realized that I was missing a boat. I shouted in the name of the guard and the dezhurn, but no one answered me. Then I went to call about the disappearance of the guard and the guard, there I found that the phone had been cut, the wire connecting it. In the guard’s room the guard’s mattress was missing, the guard’s rifle and cartridges were missing, the box for holding the keys to the ships, broken and the keys taken. Continuing on the steps of the pier, I found a black canvas bag with items inside, I saw that near the ships I found and saw a new pair of pliers on the ground.
I saw near the building a hammer which I looked at and moved, last night this hammer was not there and I am sure. On the side of the stairs in front of the guard’s place, there was 1 meter or more, like a rope from those of the nets, pink in color that I had not left this last night, and it struck me that this piece of net was new, unused. Later, 20-30 meters away, the workers found the guard Fadil Rizaj dead, with his hands tied behind him with that pink net that I explained above, completely similar. They had tied a white embroidered scarf around his mouth, all the way to the back of his head. That’s all I know about the incident.
Question: When guard Fadil came to take office, did he have a hat on his head?
Answer: I don’t remember and I don’t remember having one.
I read the process and signed it.
The witness Investigator
Haxhi Miruku Jake Tefiku
ARCHIVE DOCUMENT WITH THE MINUTES OF THE INTERROGATION OF THE WITNESS HAMZA RIZA BAZDARI, BY THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE SHKODRA INTERNAL BRANCH, JAKE TEFIKU
MINUTES
(Of questioning the witness)
Today, on September 1, 1976, in Shkodër, (Shiroka), I, the investigator of the Internal Affairs Branch, Jake Tefiku, questioned as a witness Hamza Riza Bazdari, born in 1935, with 7 years of education, place of residence “Liria”, “Tuneli” Street, no. 82 Shkodër, job as a worker in Fishing, non-party, unconvicted, ID No., was identified.
The investigator warned me of criminal liability based on Article 220 of the Criminal Code, for false testimony.
Hamza Bazdari
Regarding the case, I can say the following:
I have been working after-hours in the ice production workshop for a month and a half now. On 31.8.1976, in the afternoon, while I was continuing my work as a guard, from 2 to 10 pm, on the same date, Haxhi Miruku was the guard, Filip Kolec the off-duty guard. Kolec left around 9:00 because he complained that he was sick. No one replaced me. Meanwhile, the on-duty guard, even when I left, had not arrived – guard Fadil Rizaja had arrived and I saw him go and took the rifle from the armor and took over the duty from the other guard.
Haxhiu and I left, leaving only Fadil Riza as a guard. By the time we left, Hamit Myrtja had not arrived. With Haxhiu, I went as far as the Flour Factory and then we separated. We did not meet Hamit on the way. Both of us, like Haxhiu and I, were riding bicycles. Fadil arrived before 10 p.m., but I can’t say how long.
I read the process and signed it.
The witness Investigator
Hamza Bezdari Jake Tefiku
ARCHIVE DOCUMENT WITH THE MINUTES OF THE INTERROGATION OF THE WITNESS AVDULLA TESHAT SPAHIU, BY THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE SHKODRA INTERNAL BRANCH, JAKE TEFIKU
MINUTES
(Of questioning the witness)
Today, on 4.9.1976, in Zogaj, I, the investigator of the Internal Affairs Branch, Jake Tefiku, questioned as a witness Avdulla Teshat Spahiu, born in 1953, with secondary education, place of residence soldier, duty soldier, A.B.R.P.SH., unconvicted, ID No., identified, relationship to the convicted person, Indifferent
The investigator warned me of criminal liability based on Article 220 of the Criminal Code, for false testimony.
Avdulla Spahiu
Regarding the case, I can say the following:
At 10:10 on 4.9.1976, I was on duty near the Zogaj border post, I saw something black by the lake, I talked with my fellow soldiers, Petrit Zhupa and Bardhyl Karaulli, and we immediately went to the lake. When we got closer, we saw that it was a minor girl, whom we caught and took out to the lake, tied her with a wire and immediately informed the command. The drowned girl was wearing a red sweater with stripes, a sky-green sweater, a white shirt, white underwear, beige sandals, and white socks.
I read and signed the process.
The witness Investigator
Abdulla Spahiu Jake Tefiku
ARCHIVE DOCUMENT WITH THE MINUTES OF THE INTERROGATION OF THE WITNESS QAZIM BRAHIM ULKONJA, BY THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE SHKODRA INTERNAL BRANCH, JAKE TEFIKU
MINUTES
(Of questioning the witness)
Today, on 1.9.1976, in Shiroka, I, the investigator of the Internal Affairs Branch, Jake Tefiku, questioned as a witness Qazim Brahim Ulkonja, born in 1940, with 7 years of education, place of residence Shiroka, duty brigadier in Peshkim, without Party, unconvicted, ID No., Identification.
The investigator warned me of criminal liability based on Article 220 of the Criminal Code, for false testimony.
Qazim Ulkonja
Regarding the case, I can say the following:
I have been a brigadier in Peshkim for years. On 31.8.1976, I was working in Dajla together with other fishermen friends, Hamit Arif Myrtja was also a fisherman in my brigade and in a conversation with him he told me: I had intended to come and say that, to do the dezhurn one night before, since I have a family need. I told him that tonight I am the dezhurn, he said to me; do I have to stay in the directorate offices today? I told him that I stay today (the word for yesterday) and we look back at the work of the permit.
We have built the dezhurn in the enterprise directorate with a brigade and the brigadier assigns one of its members for each time. He left work at 2:00, until 2:30 and I have not seen him again. Hamit has replaced Kolec Hublina. Hamiti was drunk at 10:00 PM yesterday, to take office. I don’t know what happened to him later, did he go to work or not? Today Hamiti didn’t show up for work! Hamiti, whether with me as a brigadier, or with his brigade comrades, had no concerns. He lives in the city, in Shkodra.
I read and signed the process.
The witness Investigator
Qazim Ulkonja Jake Tefiku
The witness Qazim Ulkonja was asked again and said: In the conversation with Hamit, in addition to what I stated in the first trial of the day, we want to say this: Hamit told me that he wanted to do the dezhurni and for this he wanted a day off, because according to him, he had family needs, I told him; well, do the dezhurni, we will see about permission later, and tomorrow, for today, you can go to work. Ay has not had any concerns and no change in his appearance. After yesterday and around 6 pm, I went to the Fishing Center and took the key to the boat no. 92, throwing it in the safe and I ran home. There I met Haxhi Miruku and Hamza Bezdar.
When we left work, we went to the Buna bridge with Hamit, just the two of us, there he separated and went towards the city of Shkodër on his bicycle, while I went to Peshkim, to buy a kg. of fish. I did not meet him again. When we left work, he was wearing a pair of velvet pants, like black and blue in good condition, and a jacket like country cloth in white. He was not wearing boots but shoes, I do not remember the color, he had an umbrella without a handle with him. As for the victim, I can say that we fishermen, we went in an excellent way, he was a very polite and educated man, a man who did not mess with anyone. I do not know anything else, as I said I take responsibility and after I read them, I signed them.
The witness Investigator
Qazim Ulkonja Jake Tefiku
ARCHIVE DOCUMENT WITH THE MINUTES OF THE INTERROGATION OF THE WITNESS BUKURIE XHEMAL XHAFERI, BY THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE SHKODRA INTERNAL BRANCH, JAKE TEFIKU
MINUTES
(Of questioning the witness)
Today, on 9.10.1976, in the city of Shkodra, I, the investigator of the Internal Affairs Branch, Jake Tefiku, questioned as a witness Bukuri Xhemal Xhaferi, born in 1957, with 7 years of education, place of residence “Partizani” neighborhood, “Lek Dukagjini” Street, no. 113 Shkodra, laborer at Metalike, A.B.R.P.SH., unconvicted, ID card no., Identification, relationship to the defendant, brother-in-law.
The investigator warned me of criminal liability under Article 220 of the Criminal Code, for false testimony.
Bukuri Seferi
Regarding the case, I can say the following:
I considered Hasija my sister, and Hamit my sister’s husband. We always got along well, we never had any disagreements with her. I remember the day they left the house, I don’t remember the date, I myself didn’t see them and I didn’t meet them. I was at a friend’s house who has a neighbor to get some work done. I stayed there for a few hours, she invited me to stop by, because there was a movie in the evening, I told her that I had my sister’s TV, Hasije, and I was going there.
When I left the house in the afternoon, I left my sister at her house, that is, Hasije. When I went to Bukurie’s house to watch the movie, I found the door locked. I asked my sister and she told me that they had gone to the doctors for dinner with the children and Hamit. I went to my house. So I didn’t meet either Hamit or my sister, Hasije, at the time they left the house. That night and from that day on, they disappeared and never came home again.
I read the process and signed it. Memorie.al
The witness Present Investigator
Bukurie Seferi Ndue Gjini Jake Tefiku
Continues next issue
