By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Memorie.al / Post-National Liberation War Albania, and especially the period of the communist dictatorship under the leadership of Enver Hoxha and his successor Ramiz Alia, often conceals profound and paradoxical stories that illustrate the true nature of the regime and its mechanisms for survival and cadre purges. This archival document sheds light on one such case: that of Ferhat Matohiti, a key and deeply controversial figure within the State Security (Sigurimi) structures for four decades, serving continuously from 1944 to 1983.
The inception of Matohiti’s career presents a strong and astonishing contrast to his later function. During the period of occupation, he had been one of the most active members of the Balli Kombëtar (National Front) Youth in the Fier region, signing tracts and proclamations that this nationalist organization occasionally distributed in that region, or in the areas of Mallakastra and Kurvelesh. Moreover, his biography was burdened by a staunchly anti-communist family background: his father had served in the fascist militia and was later a Balli Kombëtar exponent, and both had even posed for photos with the principal Balli leaders-photographs which were handed over to the Internal Affairs Branch after Liberation. His “harmful” connections did not end there, as he had an uncle in the fascist militia and two maternal uncles (dajë), one of whom was a Balli commander who fled to Italy, and the other was executed by the partisans before the war even ended.
Nevertheless, despite this heavy biographical background, Matohiti was immediately enlisted into the ranks of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the State Security after the war. For four decades, he became one of the chief investigators, engaging in the most notorious trials of the so-called “Enemy Groups,” starting from that of Koci Xoxe in 1949, Dali Ndreu and Liri Gega in 1956, the “Çam Group” led by Rear-Admiral Teme Sejko in 1961, the “Polish agents’ Group” in 1975, and culminating in the “Oil Saboteurs” case in 1975, led by Koço Plaku. All these military officers and “other enemy groups” would undergo “deconstruction” (zbërthimi) by investigator Ferhat Matohiti, who, as a reward for his loyal service to the “Dictatorship of the Proletariat,” even reached the post of lecturer at the Higher School of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in the early 1980s.
To answer these contradictions, this presentation makes available documents extracted from the Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (now part of the funds at the Authority for Information on Former State Security Documents – AIDSSH). These materials unveil the role of his family connection to Mustafa Matohiti, “Hero of the People,” as a key factor that enabled him to avoid cadre purges. Through them, critical questions arise: Was he truly the brother of the Hero of the People? Why were the reports and information from the First Secretary of the Fier Party Committee, Sokrat Bufi, or the denunciations made by Major General Shefqet Peçi, a famous former partisan commander and later Deputy Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, not taken into account? These archival documents, published for the first time (along with the corresponding facsimiles and photos), reveal the true nature of the Sigurimi’s operations and the dilemmas that weighed on its own hierarchy.
NOTE BY THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND DIRECTOR OF STATE SECURITY, ZYLYFTAR RAMIZI, TO HIS SUBORDINATE, ENVER ZENELI, AT THE TOP OF THE REPORT-INFORMATION SHEET REGARDING INVESTIGATOR FERHAT MATOHITI
To Enver Zeneli
I am surprised! With what respect I have regarded this man, thinking he is the brother of Mustafa Matohiti! This Ballist has come to Fier for the anniversaries we organized in Patos for Mustafa Matohiti. This must have been a vile figure. Draw up the questions we should ask him regarding the plots he investigated.
4.11.1983
Zylyftar Ramizi
NOTE BY THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, HEKURAN ISAI, AT THE TOP OF THE REPORT-INFORMATION SHEET CONCERNING STATE SECURITY INVESTIGATOR, FERHAT MATOHITI
This is a figure that I suspect of many manipulations of the trials. He was a pistol (kobure) for Kadri Hazbiu, etc.
Hekuran Isai SECRET
Tirana, 26.12.1982
INFORMATION
From the study of the file of former officer Ferhat Matohiti, it emerges that his political past was not sound:
He was an active member of the Balli Kombëtar Youth in Fier; he carried the Balli emblem, participated in the meetings of this organization, in weapons training conducted by its members, stood guard in the city, and took part in shows given by the Ballist youth. In the years 1942-1943, the shop he had opened was the center of the Ballist youth.
He was photographed with I.P., the former leader of this organization, and with other exponents of it. The photograph was handed over after the liberation to the Internal Affairs Branch in Fier. His name appeared on Balli’s proclamations and he signed tracts of this treacherous organization.
His father, Bajko Matohiti, was a staunch militiaman and Ballist, an informer for the SIM spy “Barba.” He extorted haraç (tribute) from people of the National Liberation Movement who wanted to cross into the liberated areas, was condemned by the Movement, and his brother, “Hero of the People,” Mustafa Matohiti, said that if he caught him, he would execute him (his name was in his notebook).
His Uncle S. Matohiti was a municipal police officer and in the fascist militia, whiles his maternal uncle, Ajaz Muho, was a Balli commander in Gjirokastra and fled to Italy as a war criminal.
Meanwhile, his other maternal uncle, M. Muho, was executed by the people’s power. His wife’s father was a court president in Korça, Berat, and Tirana before the liberation.
It is interesting that this man who “entered the Party and the Sigurimi by smuggling,” as comrade Shefqet Peçi calls him, was found by Mehmet Shehu as his assistant during the investigation of the enemy Koci Xoxe as early as 1949, despite the fact that he and his father carried out the above activities in Fier. This same Ferhat was later assigned to investigate important conspiracies uncovered by the Party.
In a note made on 5.2.1974 by Nustret Dauti, which is in the file of former officer Koçi J., among other things it is stated: “I know that a television set also arrived for comrade Ferhat Matohiti, former Deputy Branch Chairman, who comrade Koçi J. was subordinate to.”
The question arises: where did Ferhat get this TV from-from his maternal uncle, Ajazi, or from Koçi’s father, who was abroad as an émigré, an Intelligence Service spy with the rank of lieutenant, or from another source? This does not emerge, even though it was not related to his work, Ferhati went abroad to accompany the “Dinamo” women’s volleyball team!
The documents about his past are in the Cadre file. We quote some of them:
- In the letter from the Fier Party Committee, No. 0011-08, dated 11.7.1951, signed by comrade Sokrat Bufi, addressed to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, it is stated: “We inform you that the undersigned individuals, personnel of that ministry, appear in the tracts and proclamations of Balli Kombëtar, therefore they should be taken into account during the verification of documents… Ferhat Matohiti appears in the proclamation!”
- In the statement dated 21.4.1952, Sokrat Bufi, among other things, says that in December 1943, “Mustafa Matohiti said with his own mouth, in front of all comrades, ‘I also have a brother who is a policeman or gendarme, and if we catch him, we will execute him,’ and took out a notebook from his pocket, ‘here you have his name noted, he has eaten our soul.'”
- With letter No. 1293, dated 28.9.1953, comrade Shefqet Peçi, as chairman of the State Control Commission, addresses Kadri Hazbiu: “…Ferhat Matohiti’s father was a staunch Ballist, an opponent of Mustafa, and was shouting all around that Mustafa disgraced us…! Ferhati himself was a member of the Balli Youth until the end. He signed a tract against the Movement. His photograph, where he posed with I. P., the former head of the Balli Youth, and with other exponents like him, a photograph which, as far as I know, was handed over to the Internal Affairs Branch in Fier…! (Ferhati) recommended that the son of his aunt, whose father is in America, an Intelligence Service spy with the rank of lieutenant, be admitted to the ‘Skënderbej’ School. This person is smuggled into the Party and the Sigurimi.” (Regarding this notification, the enemy Kadri Hazbiu only made this note: Halil (it should be Halil Pulo), what do we know about these things, let’s look into them, 29.9.1953).
- Comrade Shefqet Peçi, on 29.9.1953, addresses another letter to Kadri Hazbiu, writing: “…Ferhat Matohiti, the son of Bajko Matohiti, who is the nephew of Mustafa Matohiti, but who had nothing in common with Mustafa, according to the information I have, was a member of the Balli Kombëtar Youth and if you ask in Fier, you will find information. And his father was vile and a militiaman until the liberation of Albania…! His presence in the Security service should be examined by you…”! (Kadri Hazbiu only made this note: “To Halil”).
- In the biography of Ferhat Matohiti, which must be a field report, dated 21.12.1953, it is stated:
“…In 1943, he was with the Balli Youth, he was photographed with the Balli Youth…! This fact is known by many people.
He signed the tract issued by the Balli Youth.
He actively participated in the Balli Youth.
He is the nephew of Ajaz Muho, who kept Ferhat in his house for a week in 1943.
His father was a policeman and an informer for the SIM spy, “Barba.” In Fier, everyone knows him as a collaborator of “Barba.”
Bajko extorted tribute from people of the Movement who came to Fier to allow them to cross into the liberated areas.”
- In the statement dated 17.2.1954, issued by N.L., secretary of the Tirana Party Committee, it is stated that Ferhat’s father “collaborated with the SIM spy ‘Barba’ during the occupation. The entire population of Fier knows this. He is now dismissed for poor political attitude. Ferhati opened a shop in Fier in 1942-1943… This was like a center for the Fier Balli Youth… Ferhati was organized with the Balli Youth; he actively participated with this youth, even taking part in Balli shows, along with the Balli youth.
He had the Balli emblem and was photographed as a Ballist, along with the youth organizers…! This photograph was handed over to former Captain M.N., former Chief of the Internal Affairs Section in Fier, 1948-1949…! Ferhat Matohiti has nothing in common with the ‘Hero of the People,’ Mustafa Matohiti, because the latter had boycotted him due to Bajko’s bad political attitude…! Ferhati is in the proclamation issued by Balli Kombëtar in Fier…! His comrades have been expelled from the Party.”
- M., in the statement dated 9.3.1954, adds: “…For his poor stance detrimental to the National Liberation Movement, Bajko was condemned even before the liberation. Ferhati, during the Balli period, was with the Balli Youth, whom the Balli trained with rifles, held meetings for, and assigned guards in the city. Ferhat Matohiti also did these things. His name also appears in the Balli Kombëtar communiqué, issued in January – February 1944.”
In the file there is also a note by Kadri Hazbiu: “…M… himself, the brother of Mustafa Matohiti, his son with us, the sister of H. M. (fugitive). This officer’s wife, the daughter of F.F.” On this sheet there is another note: “…D.M., officer in the People’s Army units.
E. G.
Note:
Comrade Hasan
Keep the original, and then pass it on to comrade Ylli./Memorie.al
13.1.1983
Enver Zeneli
