By Prof. Dr. Sabile Keçmezi-Basha
Memorie.al / The National-Democratic Committee “Free Albania”, which was formed on the initiative of Mit’hat Frashëri, on August 26, 1949, in Paris, was an organization that in the following years would play an important role in the diaspora and the world for the Albanian cause. At this gathering of the Albanian diaspora, its leadership council was also elected, consisting of: Mid’hat Frashëri (chairman), Abas Kupi, Zef Pali, Said Kryeziu and Nuçi Kota (all members). These well-known personalities of the time, throughout the Second World War, developed activities and belonged to various political organizations.
It was precisely Mit’hat Frashëri’s political goal that the newly formed Committee “Free Albania” would include representatives of all organizations and political groups operating in emigration. The highest body of the National-Democratic Committee “Free Albania” was designated as the National Council, which consisted of 11 members from different parties, but who operated outside of London Albania. As members of the Council at the meeting of August 26, 1949, Eqrem Telhai (“Country League”), Hysni Mulleti (“Agrarian League”), Muharrem Bajraktari (“Independent Fighting Group”), Ihsan Toptani (independent), Gaqo Gogo (Zogist), Myftar Spahiu and Gani Tafilaj (Legaliteti), Halil Maçi, Vasil Andoni and Abaz Ermenji (“National Front”).
Meanwhile, on September 6, 1949, the Chairman of the “Free Albania” Committee, through Radio London, the BBC, informed all Albanians living in the Free World about the formation of the Committee.
In addition, the well-known patriot Mit’hat Frashëri had also organized a press conference, where he had spoken extensively about the unequal position of the Albanians of Kosovo, with other peoples in Yugoslavia and had denounced the manner of Kosovo’s secession from the mother country. At this conference, the much-talked-about scandal had also occurred, as friends of Yugoslavia had intervened and had demanded that he interrupt the conference, informing him that he could only speak on behalf of Albania and not for Albanian territories, which were not under the administration of Tirana.
After this bitter event, the tireless patriot of the Albanian cause, Mit’hat Frashëri, even more vigorously developed patriotic activities, in all four corners of the world. He was also known as the initiator of the establishment of the political organization “Kosovo League”. But life did not give him that chance, because on October 3, 1949, he passed away from a heart attack, and died at the age of 69 in the “Winthrop” hotel in New York. Although its Chairman died, the “Free Albania” Committee continued its work even more vigorously, and had developed numerous activities and was constantly on the side of the Albanians, wherever they were, but it should be mentioned that it gave the issue of Kosovo a great impetus in the international arena, until the end of the war in Kosovo (1999).
Within the framework of the “Free Albania” Committee, many commissions, groups and subgroups operated that transmitted to the exiles the same goal: a Democratic Albania and united with all its parts, Kosovo and Chameria. The “Free Albania” Committee also had its main information organ, “Albanian Stability”, which was published in several issues and had a great impact on raising awareness of political issues, both in Albania and in occupied Kosovo.
THE MAIN INFORMATION ORGAN OF THE “FREE ALBANIA” NATIONAL-DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE, “ALBANIAN STABILITY”
The newspaper “Albanian Stability” was the main information organ of the political organization, the “Free Albania” National Democratic Committee. This newspaper was mainly published in Paris and was led by the great patriot in exile, Abas Ermenji. The newspaper, which was published in exile, mainly published articles that dealt with the political situation in Albania, but also in Kosovo and all Albanian lands under the former Yugoslavia. In it, you can find various articles from the entire region, but also about the problems that plagued our exile.
I have researched and obtained many issues of this informative organ. But what impresses me and makes me feel good is that, in the pages of the newspaper, the fate of the occupied Albanian lands and the great violence that was used against the innocent Albanian population in the state of Yugoslavia were largely addressed.
In this paper, as a topic of treatment, I have taken to what extent the issue of Kosovo has found a place in the pages of this newspaper that was published in exile. I was surprised that the newspaper “Albanian Resistance”, which was published in Paris, had special columns in each of its issues that dealt with the problems of Kosovo, which included violence, terror, mistreatment, the numerous and elementary injustices that were done to the innocent Albanian people.
I obtained the newspaper “Albanian Resistance”, from two friends who have spared neither the work nor the effort that they have put into this paper. Mr. Emin Fazlija has made available to me almost his entire personal archive, which I can say is very rich. Also, several issues of “ Resistance…”, were provided to me by the researcher and scientist Riza Sadiku, who deals with the study of the Albanian diaspora. I have obtained several of its issues, starting from issue 19, which was published on May 6, 1956, up to issue 124, which was published on June 14, 1989.
Persecutions of Kosovo Albanians in Yugoslavia
In issue 19, of the third year of publication of the newspaper “Albanian Resistance”, dated May 6, 1956, among many articles, was the article “Persecutions of Kosovo Albanians in Yugoslavia”. I have already mentioned that this newspaper, throughout its entire publication, as it was published in exile, paid special attention to the Albanian issue in Yugoslavia. But with the intensification of violence and terror that had taken off in the post-war years, and especially after the breakdown of relations between Yugoslavia and the Socialist Bloc, they continued to increase even more against Albanians who had remained in Yugoslavia against their will.
Violence and terror against them became even more pronounced during the years 1953-1966, when the Yugoslav government applied a variety of methods to expel as many Albanians as possible from their ancestral lands. The most violent measures were applied during the process of the weapons collection action, only against Albanians and the pressure on Albanians to declare themselves Turks and to move as much as possible to Turkey, based on a gentleman’s agreement, between the two states of Turkey and Yugoslavia. Therefore, the article written in this issue is mainly dedicated to the pressures and persecutions that are being carried out against them in the former Yugoslavia.
All the articles, which talk about the violence and terror that was used, are mainly taken from the people themselves who experienced these events. From those who fled and came from Yugoslavia and took refuge in various Western countries. Either the data was taken from the writing of the Yugoslav press itself or, even through various channels, but above all they were very reliable. In the years 1955-56, mainly the members of the National Democratic Committee “Free Albania” had contacted many people who, under the great pressure exerted on them, had been forced to flee Kosovo.
The newspaper writes that; “even the Kosovars who have recently left Yugoslavia and arrived in Turkey, confirm and describe very sadly the persecution and terror that the Belgrade Government is using against a million Albanians in Kosovo. To continue further, many international organizations and associations, as well as well-known personalities of the Free World, have addressed the National Democratic Committee “Free Albania”, asking for more detailed explanations about the tragedy of Kosovo.
Regarding the events taking place in Kosovo, the National Democratic Committee “Free Albania”, seeing the great interest of the Albanian diaspora but also of the international factor, had taken a series of measures to make the issue fair. It had not stood idly by and the Secretary of the United Nations, Mr. Dag Hammarskjöld, who was visiting Rome at the time, had sent Professor Vasil Andoni, Secretary General of the “Ball Kombëtar” a telegram on April 9, 1956 with the following content:
“The very inhuman persecutions that have begun and continue by the Yugoslav authorities against a million Albanians of Kosovo, for absurd reasons and with the aim of extermination, force us to address your Excellency and ask you to intervene with the full weight of your authority, to stop this barbarism against an innocent people, thus protecting the most basic human rights”, concluded Professor Vasil Andoni’s telegram.
On the first page, on the front page, this newspaper has a format similar to other newspapers published by our exiles, A-4 format, with average quality paper and on the front page was drawn a double-headed eagle, black, without any ideological sign. It read: “Free Albania, for Free Albanians”, continuing with announcements such as, address: Rue Brunel 26 Paris 17, France; 639 Lafayette st., Easton, Pa., U.S. America; 78-84 Rivingston St., New York 2, N.Y., U.S. America.
In the article “Persecutions of Kosovo Albanians”, the newspaper again continues to inform the wider public in the free world, but also by making various protests and reactions. Seeing that the Yugoslav state pressures and violence were gaining momentum, the exiles and various Albanian political organizations operating in the foreign world had begun to write protest letters to the Yugoslav government. In the West, 87 Kosovars had gathered and reacted through a letter, speaking on behalf of a million Albanians in Yugoslavia, and hundreds of thousands more who were in Turkey.
Initially, in the protest letter, they thanked the National Democratic Committee “Free Albania” for the efforts it was making against the persecutors who were being made of the Albanian people.
All these Albanian patriots and personalities who were in exile, gathered, wrote and sent a letter of thanks to Mr. Prof. Abaz Ermenji, who was the Chairman of the National Democratic Committee “Free Albania”, which was operating in Paris. They wrote:
Letter:
Honorable Mr. Chairman,
The undersigned, Kosovars of the Albanian Colony of Istanbul and the refugees of those regions, feel it our duty to express our deepest admiration and gratitude to the National Democratic Committee “Free Albania”, which you lead with Albanian honor and manliness, for the exemplary patriotic activity shown with lightning speed before the UN, the Great Powers, International Organizations for Freedom and Unity and Institutes for the Protection of Human Rights, against the terror that the Yugoslav authorities unleash on the heads of our brothers under the pretext of gathering weapons.
In these cases, we inform you that people who were able to save their lives and found refuge in the generous country of democratic Turkey, prove to us that terror has not ceased, and consequently the demands of Kosovars, to escape the horror by leaving their homes and homes, are increasing. There is a great fear, therefore, that with this departure Kosovo may remain a historical Albanian cemetery. With the hope that you will not spare all your efforts with international states and institutions, for a human intervention, we wish you full success in your efforts, for the salvation of the entire Nation and we greet you fraternally with all our hearts.
The letter is signed by: 1. Rexhep Mitrovica, 2. Shaqir Kastrataj-Gjakova, 3. Veli Domi-Gjakova, 4. Sadik Vokshi-Gjakova, 5. Zenel Bobi-Peja, 6. Dem Alija-Gjakova, 7. Zija Kosova, 8. Aziz Vojnashi-Ferizaj, 9. Hasan Ballanca-Gjilan, 10. Ahmet Drenica-Skenderaj, 11. Nazif Varoshi-Ferizaj, 12. Nuredin Azemi-Prishtina, 13. Ramë Kadrija-Skenderaj, 14. Mehmet Drenica-Skenderaj, 15. Dervish Hoxha-Manastir, 16. Reshit Qyqalla-Vuçiternë, 17. Selim Gashi-Prishtina, 18. BesimHoxha-Manastir, 19. Hysen Bollo-Manastir, 20. Ajet Bollo-Manastir, 21. Mevlud Hoxha-Manastir, 22. Zenel Shala- Pristina, 23. Jetish Azemi-Prishtina, 24. Hamdi Gashi-Prishtina, 25. Rexhep Azemi –Prishtina, 26. Abdi Azemi-Prishtina, 27. Abdullah Zeçiri-Skenderaj, 28. Mehmet Zeçiri-Prishtina, 29. Nexhat Gara-Gostivar, 30. Hysen Xhelili-Gostivar, 31. Xhelë Xhelili-Gostivar, 32. Hysen Xhelili-Gostivar, 33. Abdyl Xhelili-Gostivar, 34. Ramazan Zajazi-Kërqovë, 35. Monish Osmani- Tetovo, 36. Rexhep Kolmoni-Vuqiternë, 37. Arif Kolmoni –Vuqiternë, 38. Nexhip Musa-Mitrovicë, 39. Ali Shahsivari-Prishtina, 40. Salih Mala-Peja, 41. Salih Kolludra-Prishtina, 42. Beqir Simnica-Prishtina, 43.Isak Ahmeti-Prishtina, 44. Shaqir Murseli-Prishtina, 45. Ymer Murseli-Prishtina, 46. Beqir Bajrami-Prishtina, 47. Haki Dervishi-Prishtina, 48. Muharrem Shabani-Prishtina, 49. Rahman Shabani-Prishtina, 50. Ramadan Isufi-Prishtina, 51. Nuredin Babushi-Prishtina, 52. Arif Laho-Prishtina, 53. Rrustem Sadrija-Rahovec, 54. Bajram Tetova, 55. Hamdi Tetova, 56. Halil Gjinovci-Prizren, 57. Esat Rashiti-Skup, 58. Mehmet Rashiti-Skup, 59. Hafiz Shabija-Skopje, 60. Shuaip Kumanova, 61. Tefik Tomishofci-Skopje, 62. Halil Jashari-Prizren, 63. Halil Kajolli-Skopje, 64. Selim Ramadani-Skopje, 65. Murat Pllana-Prishtina, 66. Hasan Gjikolli-Prishtina, 67. Halil Konxholi-Prishtina, 68. Hazir Bllaca-Skopje, 69. Azem Remniku-Gjilan, 70. Rifat Remniku-Gjilan, 71. Qazim Varoshi-Ferizai, 72. Isak Isufi-Prishtina, 73. Ymer Rrustemi-Prishtina, 74. Bejte Pozhorani-Gjilan, 75. Myrteza Pozhorani- Gjilan, 76. Ali Kolmoni-Prishtina, 77. Qazim Sofa –Prishtina, 78. Muhamet Sofa-Prishtinë, 79. Isuf Dubova-Gjilan, 80. Hydajet Arifi-Gjilan, 81. Bajram Sinani-Prishtinë, 82. Nebi Miftari-Prizren, 83. Kamber Bilalli-Prizren, 84. Nazif Vata-Ferizaj, 85. Selim Ahmeti –Podujev, 86. Bejtë Pozhorani-Gjilan and 87. Isa Dauti- Podujevë.
Albanians also raised their voices at international gatherings
The newspaper “Albanian Resistance”, on page 3 of the same issue, wrote the article; “News of the emigrants”, with special emphasis on the Second Congress of the “Free Youth of Central and Eastern Europe”, where the broad international opinion was informed that from June 1-3, the “Free Youth” of Central and Eastern Europe had gathered in Paris to hold its Second Congress.
This organization consisted of 11 countries that were still under communist rule, such as: Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Czechoslovakia, Yugoslavia and Ukraine, as well as representatives of 10 international organizations, such as the Christian Democrats, the Peasants and the Liberals.
The Albanian delegation, which represented the democratic youth of Albania, consisted of 8 people, coming from Italy, England, as well as representatives who were in France.
There was also an Albanian member in the delegation of the International Peasants’ League. At the congress, the representative of the Albanian delegation, Mr. Kostë Xhajanka, also took the floor, who, among the many problems he had addressed, added that if for the peoples of the West, the European Union is a necessary condition for the preservation of freedom and their democratic institutions, for our enslaved nations this union is the only path to salvation.
The path that will lead them towards liberation and the regaining of national and human rights. Among other things, he added that in the past many political regimes inspired the youth of their countries with national, ideological hatred, etc., which in the past manifested itself with tragic consequences for Europe and the results of that policy are still present today, while communist regimes continue to inspire the youth with even more ferocious hatred by further deepening social, cultural and national approaches. Today, the so-called formula of European or world unity, which is an invention of the communists and brutally implemented, is nothing more than a tyrannical tool to conquer, oppress and subjugate peoples under Soviet rule and under the orders of the Kremlin.
The representative of the Albanian Youth living in exile, before those present, had brought to mind the many differences and persecutions that Tito’s Yugoslavia inflicted on Albanians living under Yugoslav occupation, although the Yugoslav regime constantly tried to present itself as a type of socialism on the international communist front and made noise about so-called peaceful coexistence and European unification. But, he added, saying that: “the news that comes to us from Yugoslavia, describes in the most tragic colors the horrors and persecutions that the Yugoslav authorities are carrying out on the Albanian people of Yugoslavia, in the Province of Kosovo, where there are more than a million Albanians.
So far, hundreds of deaths from torture have been recorded, hundreds more have been left crippled, and the entire intellectual youth of this people, who think and feel like they have been imprisoned and are suffering the most inhuman tortures and torments. This operation or persecution, which began in mid-February, is still ongoing. Therefore, we ask the Congress of Free Youth to coexist with the suffering of the Albanian youth in Yugoslavia and to make an appeal to the United Nations Organization, for an intervention near the Yugoslav government, to stop the persecutions and persecutions”.
In continuation, Mr. Xhajanka, adds this, saying that; “The Albanian delegation of the Democratic Youth participates in this congress, inspired by the highest ideals of European cooperation and human progress, and strongly believes in the effect of the joint work undertaken by the Free Youth of Central and Eastern Europe.
After numerous debates and the great commitment of the Albanian delegation to the Congress, the Albanian youth made an appeal and call, begging them to convey their thoughts to the thousands of victims of the Albanian people in Yugoslavia, who since February have been suffering from the most terrible persecutions by the Yugoslav authorities, and to request from the United Nations an intervention with the Yugoslav Government, to stop the persecutions.
After discussions and the request of the Albanian delegation, and after having examined the delegation’s call, it had taken this decision: “The Second Congress of the Youth of Central and Eastern Europe receives notice of the persecutions that the Albanian minority is suffering in Yugoslavia. The Congress denounces these abuses against the elementary laws written in the Charter of Human Rights and instructs the Steering Council to protest to the United Nations Organization”, it was stated in the decisions taken by the Second Congress of the Free Youth of Central and Eastern Europe.
The delegation of the Albanian Democratic Youth, its members were also proposed and elected to the various committees of the congress. A member of the Albanian delegation, Mr. Alfred Andoni, was elected chairman of the Statutes Committee, and later this member was also elected a member of the Steering Council of the Youth Organization. Meanwhile, Mr. Ramazan Turdiu participated in the Refugee Commission and made several important proposals regarding the refugee problem in Yugoslavia and Greece. / Memorie.al
