“Bektash Hamzai, resident of Vlorë, worker, invalid pensioner, from the poor class, family of a martyr, uneducated, married with 7 children…” / The list of 67 citizens from Vlorë whose internment measures were revoked in ’67.

By Dashnor Kaloçi

Part ten

Memorie.al / From 1944, when it came to power, until the end of 1990, the communist regime of dictator Enver Hoxha and his successor Ramiz Alia – based on the theory and “teachings of Marx, Engels, Lenin, and Stalin” as well as the ideology they devised and applied across nearly half the world – continuously waged class warfare, executing, imprisoning, or interning their political opponents. In this context, starting from December 1944, when Enver Hoxha and the government he headed descended from the mountains and took power, alongside executions with and without trial, the internment of tens and hundreds of families began. These were families they considered “overthrown classes” or accused of being “enemies of the people” – mainly wealthy or middle-class families, former officials of King Zog’s Monarchy, who during the occupation period had joined or supported the nationalist organizations “Balli Kombëtar” or “Legaliteti.”

This punitive “practice” of internment and deportation would also be applied to hundreds upon hundreds of communists (ranging from the simplest members to former members of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the APL), deputies, ministers, military officers, and high-ranking officials, along with their families, whom Enver Hoxha and the communist regime in power would declare “traitors, revisionists, enemies of the people,” etc. From 1944 until 1949, decisions for internment and deportation were made by the “Commission for Deportations and Confiscation of Assets,” which operated under the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In the following years, this commission changed its name several times until 1954, when it was placed under the jurisdiction of the Prime Ministry and named the “Internment-Deportation Commission,” which functioned regularly until 1990.

From 1954 until 1974, the chairman of that commission was Beqir Balluku, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the APL, who held the position of Minister of People’s Defense and simultaneously that of Deputy Prime Minister in the government headed by Mehmet Shehu. The vice-chairman of the commission was the Minister of Internal Affairs, Kadri Hazbiu, while the members included the Attorney General Dhori Panariti and the Chairman of the Supreme Court, Aranit Çela. (After the sentencing of Beqir Balluku in 1974, the role of Chairman of Internment-Deportations was taken by Deputy Prime Minister Manush Myftiu, and after the sentencing of Kadri Hazbiu, the role of vice-chairman was taken by Hekuran Isai).

During its entire period of existence and operation, this commission issued hundreds and thousands of decisions, deporting and interning thousands of persons who were forcibly removed from their places of residence and compelled to live in remote villages and areas of the country, from south to north. The villages containing internment camps were primarily designated by the government in the Myzeqe area of Lushnje and Fier (Savër, Çermë, Bedat, Grabian, Gradisht, Plug, Gjazë, Zhamë, Sulzotaj, Kryekuq, Karavasta, Shtyllas, etc.) – specifically in the central part of the country – to keep them as far as possible from the state borders to prevent escape from Albania.

Based on the relevant law under which the Internment-Deportation Commission operated, a person or a family was initially interned for five years, but these terms were repeated, being extended every five years. As a result, entire families – mainly from Northern Albania, such as the Gjonmarkaj of Mirdita; the Kaloshi, Sina, Alia, Dema, Dine, Mena, and Ndreu of Dibra; the Bajraktari and Kolgjini of Kukës; the Kola, Allamani, and Sulkurti of Mat; the Merlika, Kupa, and Bami of Kruja; the Mirakaj of Puka; the Radi and Gjekaj of Shkodra; the Pervizi of Kurbin; and the Mulleti and Petrela of Tirana; or those from the South of the country, such as the Dosti of Gjirokastra; the Frashëri and Çela of Përmet and Kolonja; the Staravecka of Skrapar, etc. – remained in internment locations until 1991, when the communist regime collapsed. In fact, some of them remained there for many years afterward, as they had nowhere else to go, having no corner left to shelter their heads!

Regarding the above, Memorie.al has secured a voluminous file from the Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (bearing the “Secret” stamp, but long since declassified), containing the decisions of the Internment-Deportation Commission, which we are publishing in full along with the relevant facsimiles. These include the names of the individuals and families who were deported and interned, as well as the specific charges against each of them.

                                        Continued from the previous issue…

DECISION NO. 36 OF THE COMMISSION FOR INTERNMENT AND EXPULSION

PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA                                                     Secret

COMMISSION ON INTERNMENT AND EXPULSION              Tirana, 24.6.1967

                                                        DECISION No. 36

The Internment-Expulsion Commission, convened on 24.6.1967, in support of the decree of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, No. 1906, dated 2.8.1954, after studying the materials and proposals submitted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs,

DECIDED:

To release from internment on the grounds that they do not pose a social danger, the following persons:

1. IDRIZ DERO DKROLIKA, born in 1905, born in the village of Vajzë, Vlorë district, by profession a retired worker, poor class, married with 6 children, unorganized and never convicted.
2. SADO LAME DKROLIKA, born in 1925, Idrizi’s wife.
3. VITORE IDRIZ DKROLIKA, born in 1947, daughter.
4. HAJREDIN HARIZ METODASHI, born in 1910, born in the village of Mesaplik, poor class, non-party member, unconvicted, married, has 6 children.
5. SELIME ALEM METODASHI, born in 1920, born in the village of Tërbac, by profession worker, wife of Hajredin.
6. TAIRE HAJREDIN MATODASHI, born in 1946, by profession worker, with 7 years of education, daughter.
7. HAMZA LILO KORKAJ, born in 1915. Born in the village of Velçë, Vlorë district, by profession carpenter, with primary education, poor class, unconvicted, married, has 5 children.
8. QERIBA MEHMET KORKAJ, born in 1931, born in the village of Ramicë, Vlorë district, by profession cook, wife of Hamza.
9. MASKË RESUL VESHAJ, born in 1910, born in the village of Lepenicë, poor class, by profession worker, with primary education, non-party, convicted once for……, married, has 5 children.
10. MRS. ALUSH VESHAJ, born in 1927, born in Lepenicë, Vlorë district, with primary education, by profession worker, wife of Maska.
11. DKROVI MASKE VESHAJ, born in 1948, with 7 years of education, by profession worker, unmarried, daughter.
12. NUH SALI DULE, born in 1917, born in Chameria, poor class, working class, illiterate, married, has 5 children, no criminal record.
13. XHEMILE HAJDER DULE, born in 1921, born in Chameria, wife of Nuh.
14. KOÇO LLAMBRO DARDHA, born in 1923, born in Dukat, Vlorë district, poor class, teacher by profession, with secondary education, unconvicted, married with 5 children.
15. THEODHORA MILO DARDHA, born in 1925, born in Vlorë, with primary education, unconvicted, wife of Koço.
16. ROLAND KOÇO DARDHA, born in 1948, with 6 years of education, convicted once for….., son.
17. VIOLETA KOÇO DARDHA, born in 1949, born in Vlorë, with two years of secondary education, daughter.
18. MEMORY IDRIZ DEROLIKAJ, born in 1948, son of Idrizi.
19. FERDI HAJREDIN METODASHI, born in 1949, with primary education, son of Hajredin.
20. KASTRIOT HAMZA KORKAJ, born in 1950, son of Hamzaj.
21. SHYQËRI MASKE VESHAJ, born in 1949, with 7 years of education, son of Maska.
22. HAMIT NUH DULE, born in 1950, with primary education, with occupation as a worker, unconvicted, son of Nuhi.
23. GODO RAKIP LIMAJ, born in 1920, born in the village of Vranisht, with occupation as a worker, poor class, married with 7 children, convicted twice…once for assaulting a government representative.
24. REFIJE FASLLI LAPAJ (LIMAJ), born in 1927, born in Zhulat, Gjirokastër district, poor class, illiterate, divorced from her husband, but they live together again.
25. MUHARREM HAXHI FARKAJ, born in 1909, born in Berat and living in Vlorë, poor class, working class, married, with 4 children.
26. NURIJE RIZA FARKAJ, born in 1917, working class, no education, Muharrem’s wife.
27. RESHAT MUHARREM FARKAJ, born in 1950, born and living in Vlorë, with 5th grade education, working class, son.
28. AGIM MUHARREM FARKAJ, born in 1944, born and residing in Vlora, with 7 years of education, no convictions, single, son.
29. MEHDI LELO ÇOBANI, born in 1936, born in the village of Risili and residing in the city of Vlora, middle class, driver by profession, married with 5 children, with 7 years of education, no convictions.
30. AFËRDITA NAZIF ÇOBANI, born in 1925, born and residing in Vlora, unemployed, with 7 years of education, no convictions, Mehdi’s wife.
31. ESMA BELUL LAZAJ, born in 1927, born in the village of Kallarat and residing in the city of Vlora, with a working profession, with primary education, no convictions, poor class, married with 4 children.
32. LAVDIE TAFIL LAZAJ, born in 1947, born in Zerqan, Dibra district and residing in the city of Vlora, with 7 years of education, with a working profession, no convictions, unmarried, daughter.
33. PAJTIM TAFIL LAZAJ, born in 1950, born and residing in Vlora, with 7 years of education, with a working profession, no convictions, son.
34. DHIMITËR STAVRI STOJA, born in 1937, born in Gjirokastra and resident in the city of Vlora, electrician by profession, with 7 years of education, poor class, married with two children.
35. KRISTINA THIMO STOJA, born in 1940, born in Çatistra, Gjirokastra and resident in the city of Vlora, with 7 years of education, unconvicted, wife of Dhimit.
36. HAMIT MUHARREM AGAÇI, born in 1925, born and resident in Vlora, worker by profession, middle-class peasant, unemployed, convicted three times for beatings and minor injuries.
37. DRITA HAMIT AGAÇI, born in 1949, with 7 years of education, worker by profession, daughter.
38. BEKTASH HASIM HAMZAI, born in 1908, born and residing in Vlora, by profession worker, invalid pensioner, poor class, unconvicted, martyr family, uneducated, married with 7 children.
39. RRAPE DEMO HAMZAI, born in 1920, by profession worker, born and residing in Vlora, wife of Bektashi.
40. HASIM BEKTASH HAMZAI, born in 1945, born and residing in Vlora, by profession worker, with 7 years of education, has been convicted once for……..single, son.
41. LUAN BEKTASH HAMZAI, born in 1947, born and residing in Vlora, with a mechanic profession, with 7 years of education, A.B.R.P.SH., son.
42. FETA BEKTASH HAMZAI, born in 1950, born and residing in Vlora, with primary education, with a worker profession, son.
43. MERSIN DAUT MERSINI, born in 1922, born in Ioannina and residing in the city of Vlora, poor class, worker in the Forestry Enterprise, unconvicted, married with 5 children.
44. HAVA RUSTEM MERSINI, born in 1931, born in Mazrek in Chameria and residing in the city of Vlora, unemployed, unconvicted, wife of Mersin.
45. HODO MERSIN MERSINI, born in 1950, born in Kolonjë and resident in the city of Vlorë, worker, with primary education, unconvicted, son.
46. XHEZO QERIM SEJDIRAJ, born in 1934, born and resident in the city of Vlorë, poor class, with profession as a plumber and working in the Cement Factory, convicted twice for…married with three children.
47. LIRI QATIP SEJDIRAJ, born in 1938, born and resident in the city of Vlorë, with primary education, convicted once for…wife of Xhezo.
48. MYRTO RRUSHIT YMERI, born in 1939, born in Çamëria and resident in the city of Vlorë, worker in the N.B.SH. Ullishte, middle-class peasant, unconvicted, illiterate, married with 6 children.
49. ZENELBI AZEM YMERI, born in 1941, born in Chameria and resident in the city of Vlora, with 7 years of education, unconvicted, married to Myrto Ymeri.
50. ZYBE MYRTO YMERI, born in 1947, born and resident in Vlora, with a worker’s profession, unconvicted, daughter.
51. MEHMET MYRTO YMERI, born in 1950, born and residing in Vlora, worker in the N.B.SH., with 7 years of education, no convictions, son.
52. HYSEN AVDUL SINANI, born in 1913, born in Gjirokastër and residing in Vlora, by profession nurse, working in the Vlora hospital, with primary education, wealthy class, no convictions, married with 7 children.
53. XHEVRIJE ISMAIL SINANI, born in 1920, by profession worker, never convicted, wife of Hysen.
54. AVDUL HYSEN SINANI, born in 1945, born and residing in Vlora, worker in the N.B.SH. Ullishte, with 7 years of education, no convictions.
55. FITIM HYSEN SINANI, born in 1956, born and residing in Vlora, with 7 years of education, by profession worker, no convictions, son.
56. SHYQËRI RAMADAN RAMADANI, born in 1921, born in Ferizaj, Yugoslavia and residing in the city of Vlora, by profession blacksmith, private, poor class, convicted three times for gambling, married with three children.
57. MITRE SELMAN RAMADANI, born in 1930, born in Lushnje and residing in Vlora, by profession worker, no convictions, wife of Shyqëri.
58. VASIL TRUSHI DIMO, born in 1913, born in Levan, Fier and residing in Vlora, by profession worker, working in the Caustic Soda factory, illiterate, unconvicted, poor peasant class, married, with 4 children.
59. MARIE SPIRO DIMO, born in 1913, born in the village of Topojë, Fier and residing in Vlora, unconvicted, wife of Vasili.
60. OLE VASIL DIMO, born in 1940, born in Fier and residing in Vlora, worker at the “Ernest Telman” Combine, with 7 years of education, unconvicted, daughter.
61. KOLI VASIL DIMO, born in 1943, born in Fier and residing in Vlora, worker at N.I.SH. Tulla, with 7 years of education, no criminal record, son.
62. ARISTIDH VASIL DIMO, born in 1950, born in Fier and residing in Vlora, with primary education, no convictions, son.
63. BRAHIM SADIK KANANI, born in 1915, born in the village of Qarr in Fier and residing in Vlora, by profession, illiterate, poor class, no convictions, married, has 6 children.
64. FERUZE HAMIT KANANI, born in 1915, born in the village of Nikollar in Kolonjës, and residing in Vlora, no convictions, wife of Brahim.
65. SABAUDIN BRAHIM KANANI, born in 1915, born and residing in Vlora, by profession mechanic at the N.SH.N. “Perlat Rexhepi”, with primary education, no convictions, married, son.
66. FETA BRAHIM KANANI, born in 1947, born and residing in Vlora, worker at N.SH.N. “Perlat Rexhepi”, with primary education, convicted in 1965, to two years of imprisonment for unworthy behavior in society, son.
67. FESTIM BRAHIM KANANI, born in 1945, born and residing in Vlora, with occupation worker, with primary education, unconvicted, currently a soldier, son. Memorie.al

VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION                 CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION

KADRI HAZBIU                                                                        ————————

                                                            MEMBERS

 PROSECUTOR GENERAL                                         PRESIDENT OF THE SUPREME COURT            

 DHORI PANARITI                                                                           ARANIT ÇELA

Continued in the next issue…