By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Part One
Memorie.al / Exactly 35 years ago, in mid-February 1991, thousands of Albanians from various cities and districts across the country flocked in massive crowds toward the ports of Durrës, Shëngjin, Vlorë, Himarë, Sarandë, etc. After forcibly seizing every maritime vessel available – ranging from the smallest motorboats, fishing vessels, and tugboats to large heavy-tonnage transport ships belonging to the Albanian and foreign merchant fleets, and even warships – they sailed into the open sea toward the Italian coasts and ports. These unprecedented events, which had never occurred during the entire 45-year period of Enver Hoxha’s communist regime and that of his successor, Ramiz Alia, made headlines across the globe on most television channels. Their arrival at the ports and shores of the Apennine Peninsula was filmed and broadcast live by major Italian television stations, such as RAI, and subsequently by the most prestigious media outlets across various European nations.
While the entire world watched in astonishment as apocalyptic scenes bordering on madness unfolded on their screens (people were clinging to every part of the ships, like bees in a hive), scenes unseen since World War II, the communist regime led by Ramiz Alia, which was in its death throes, did not see fit to broadcast them on the news programs of the only television channel at the time, Albanian Radio-Television (RTSH). They feared that reflecting such news would further fuel the biblical exodus toward the neighboring country. At least, this was the commonly rumored “official version” at the time and thereafter; in reality, the primary reason Albanian Radio-Television did not cover those events was the parliamentary elections to be held on March 31 of that year! Furthermore, there was the fact that alongside the thousands of citizens who had seized those ships, there were also dozens of military personnel – sailors, officers, police, and civilian employees from military enterprises and installations, such as Pashaliman – which would have severely compromised the position of the Party of Labour, not only domestically but also in the international arena.
These events, which for nearly 35 years have been commonly known as the “first March exodus” (as the event was repeated in August of that year), have remained almost entirely unknown. To this day, no one has accurate information on exactly how many Albanian citizens managed to leave for Italy, which ships and other maritime vessels were forcibly taken by them, how many people lost their lives or drowned attempting to reach their decks and boards, and who were the individuals arrested by the police and military forces.
All of the above has remained shrouded in mystery, as from that time until today, with rare exceptions, no archival documents reflecting the events of February-March 1991 have been published. Given this fact, in this article, we are publishing several archival documents labeled “Secret,” sourced from the Archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. These contain the operative communiqués of the General Branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of that time. Alongside other extraordinary events occurring in all districts of the country, these documents detail the “ship exodus,” which originated on February 15, 1991, with the fishing vessels “Hajdar Dushi” and “Jonufra” – the first to be seized from the port of Vlorë – continuing with other ships through the first ten days of March. Memorie.al is publishing all of these and more, along with the respective facsimiles, in two consecutive articles.
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 16 FEBRUARY 1991, CONCERNING THE HIBACK OF THE SHIPS “HAJDAR DUSHI” AND “JONUFRA” FROM THE PORT OF VLORA AND THEIR DEPARTURE TO ITALY
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 16.2.1991
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 38
VLORA
– On 15.2.1991, the fishing vessels “Hajdar Dushi” and “Jonufra” set out in the late hours of the 14th for fishing. Radars determined that they were leaving the fishing zone. The vessels arrived in Brindisi on the 15th.
The captain of the vessel “Jonufra” was contacted by radio and it turned out that the two vessels had been forcibly seized by 15 people who had taken the “Jonufra” with its crew and by 6 others the “Hajdar Dushi”. On the same date, a motorboat was seized, which indicates that the persons who had gone with the vessels were transported with it. The vessel “Jonufra” sank.
MANAGEMENT GROUP RESPONSIBLE
ANDREA OPARI
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 16 FEBRUARY 1991, CONCERNING THE HIBACK OF THE SHIPS “HAJDAR DUSHI” AND “JONUFRA” FROM THE PORT OF VLORA AND THEIR DEPARTURE TO ITALY
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 23.2.1991
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 44
VLORA
– On 22.2.1991, in the new port, 14 people armed with pistols, knives and dynamite, attempted to force their way onto the ship “Mujo Ulqinaku”, but were stopped by the forces of the border ship. When someone attempted to enter, the guard opened fire. At this time, the people fled.
– On 25.2.1991, during the evening until around 23.00, there was a rush of people to the port of Vlora, to board the ship and go to Italy. With the intervention of the law enforcement agencies, the situation calmed down and the ships were pulled into line.
At around 03.00 on 26.2.1991, the Durrës merchant ship, “Lezha”, left the line in the direction of Brindisi, with its lights off. Despite the direction of the BUD, it headed for Italy. Two boats taken from the new port were also found.
MANAGEMENT GROUP RESPONSIBLE
KOSTANDIN BOZO
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 16 FEBRUARY 1991, CONCERNING THE HIBACK OF THE SHIPS “HAJDAR DUSHI” AND “JONUFRA” FROM THE PORT OF VLORA AND THEIR DEPARTURE TO ITALY
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 1.3.1991
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 50
VLORA
– On 28.2.1991, a group of about a thousand people broke through the siege of the old port, at the time when the ship “Kanina” was anchored in the port. Despite the efforts made by the border forces and the police, who opened fire in the air, about 200 people boarded the ship and set off for Italy.
– On 28.2.1991, near the ports in Vlora, there are gatherings of people waiting to cross the border illegally. Many young people boarded a broken ship detached from the port and sailed out to sea at the mercy of the waves and wind.
In the new port, about 30–35 people boarded a broken ship and are trying to repair it. In the new port, 15 people attacked the border post and after firing at them, they left. At the Rradhima point, 30 people went to repair and retrieve a damaged and out of fuel ship.
DURRËSI
– On 28.2.1991, the ship “Dalip Lala” of the Fishing Enterprise was hijacked by 6 people, crews of various ships in the port, and left the port without checking. During the journey to the beach of Durrës, where they were going to pick up about 30-40 family members, it was stopped by our forces and remained on the sand. The captain and 14 people who wanted to cross the border were caught.
– On 28.2.1991, at 01.00, the fishing ship “Kanina” left the fishing bridge without checking. It was pursued by the border forces with another fishing ship to a depth of 6 miles, but was not caught, since both ships had the same speed. There is no information about the people the ship may have.
MANAGEMENT GROUP RESPONSIBLE
HAKI LIÇAJ
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 16 FEBRUARY 1991, CONCERNING THE HIBACK OF THE SHIPS “HAJDAR DUSHI” AND “JONUFRA” FROM THE PORT OF VLORA AND THEIR DEPARTURE TO ITALY
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 4.3.1991
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 52
VLORA
– On 2.3.1991, a corpse was found in the village of Poro, missing its head and left arm. About 150 m. away, a fire was found, where clothes and the head were burned.
– On 2.3.1991, the stone-carrying ship named “Currila”, which was hijacked by 600 people, fled towards Italy.
– On 3.3.1991, the fishing boat that was anchored on Sazan Island, fled towards Italy with 23 active soldiers of the island, 6 sailors, 4 civilians, 3 fishermen and two visitors. They took 2 machine guns and 3 rifles with them.
– On 3.3.1991, many people gathered in the new port and boarded a broken ship that they are trying to repair.
– On 3.3.1991, in the port of Rradhimë, 3-4 cars transport people. They shoot with dynamite on land and at sea.
– On 3.3.1991, during the night, crowds of people tore down the doors of 5 administration offices in the new port, set fire and burned documents.
DURRESI
– On 3.3.1991, the tugboat “Dyrrahu” was seized by part of the crew and some port workers, a total of 10 people, and fled towards Italy.
– On 3.3.1991, at 22:00, unknown persons fired guns and attempted to enter the port, where they attempted to seize the tugboat “Debatiku”. Fatmit Xhemal Tonuzi, a port worker, was arrested for this.
MANAGEMENT GROUP HEAD
ALI MËZYRI
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 16 FEBRUARY 1991, CONCERNING THE HIBACK OF THE SHIPS “HAJDAR DUSHI” AND “JONUFRA” FROM THE PORT OF VLORA AND THEIR DEPARTURE TO ITALY
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 5.3.1991
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 53
VLORA
– On 4.3.1991, the ship “Kozma Nushi” of Pashaliman with about 200 soldiers, sailors and officers, the army tanker that supplies Sazan with about 250 people, sailors, officers and workers, as well as the tugboat loaded with people, left for Italy.
– On 4.3.1991, 4 ships that had been hijacked by various citizens and that went to Italy were returned. During the inspection, it was found that 5 citizens had returned.
DURRES
– On 4.3.1991, the ship of the Durrës naval expedition, accompanied by two motorboats with 22 people, crossed the territorial waters to the West. The departure from the port was made in accordance with the rules.
– On 4.3.1991, the ship of the naval expedition “Heronjtë e Linas” illegally left. It is not known if there were any persons.
MANAGEMENT GROUP RESPONSIBLE
QEMAL HAJDARI
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 16 FEBRUARY 1991, CONCERNING THE HIBACK OF THE SHIPS “HAJDAR DUSHI” AND “JONUFRA” FROM THE PORT OF VLORA AND THEIR DEPARTURE TO ITALY
POPULLAR SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 6.3.1991
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 54
VLORA
– On 5.3.1991, the tanker returned with 21 civilian and military personnel. On this ship, 60 Albanian citizens, 3 officers, 1 non-commissioned officer and 4 sailors left for Italy, not 250 citizens as stated in the communiqué of 4.3.1991. The Albanian citizens were taken to Italy by a Soviet ship, which they asked for help from on the high seas. The tanker did not enter Italy at all.
– On 5.3.1991, the fishing boat “Fadil Dauti” left for Italy, filled with 20-30 workers from the Pashaliman plant.
– On 5.3.1991, 4 unknown persons appeared at the operational guard of the Soda-PVC Plant and told him; We swam from the barge that was left in the quay in front of the plant. There are women, children and elderly people there who are in a bad condition. Tell the government to take us to Italy, otherwise we will blow up the electrolysis department of the plant with dynamite. The appropriate measures have been taken.
DURRESI
– On 5.3.1991, the fishing vessel “Panajot Papa”, of the Vlora Fishing Enterprise, which was undergoing repairs in Durres, left for Italy with 30 people.
– On 5.3.1991, 11 inland vessels of various tonnages, from fishing vessels to 500 tons, left the seaport for Italy with a considerable number of Albanian citizens, as well as a Romanian vessel waiting in line loaded with sugar, which went to help the ship “Lezha”, which had signaled for help and was forcibly taken towards Italy.
Also, the ship “Teuta” loaded with explosives for export, where about 1000 people had boarded, suffered a defect, and consequently did not move. Most disembarked voluntarily, while others did not accept. While the ship “Skënderbeu” with about 2000 people, collided at the exit of the port, suffered a defect and remained there. There is a rush of Albanian citizens to board the ship in the port of Durrës. On 5.3.1991, Adriatik A…P…., 16 years old, was arrested for being caught….in the mess of the ship “Teuta”.
– On 6.3.1991, at 03.40, a fire broke out on the 3000-ton ship “Iliria”, where Albanian citizens were on board. The ship “Teuta” was nearby, loaded with explosives. With the measures taken, the fire was extinguished./Memorie.al
LEADERSHIP GROUP RESPONSIBLE
ARTILLERI SHEHU
