By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Part Seven
Memorie.al / When not even a week had passed since July 2, 1990, when thousands of Albanian citizens climbed over the railings and walls of foreign embassies in Tirana and entered their premises with the aim of leaving Albania, the high leadership of the PPSh (Party of Labour of Albania), headed by General Secretary Ramiz Alia, held the 11th plenum of the Central Committee, which conducted its proceedings on July 6 and 7. Although the agenda was predetermined in three main points, where the one on the development of education in Albania predominated, almost throughout the proceedings of that plenum (especially in point 4, “Miscellaneous”), the event of those days, otherwise known as “July 2 of the embassies,” was discussed and debated. In that plenum, in which all members and candidates of the Central Committee of the PPSh, the first secretaries of the party committees of the districts, ministers, main cadres of the sector of education, culture, science, economy, leaders of the organization of the Union of Working Youth of Albania, from the apparatus of the Central Committee of the PPSh, Radio-Television, ATSH, etc., were absent: Nimet Cani, Ali Vukatana, Reiz Malile, Shpëtim Çaushi, Zylyftar Ramizi, Qemal Lame, Zef Loka, Pirro Kondi and Hekuran Isai, who for several days had been “in the field,” “managing” the embassy event.
After the opening of the meeting by Ramiz Alia, the floor was given to the Minister of Education, Skënder Gjinushi, who also held the relevant report (“On the perfection of the educational system and the further qualitative strengthening of the school”). The main topic of that plenum was “the embassy event,” discussing and analyzing in detail how and why it happened (“the role of foreign agents”), to the tasks that emerged for managing that situation in those hot July days, when over five thousand Albanian citizens from all the districts of the country were located in the internal premises of some of the main embassies in Tirana, waiting to leave Albania.
Besides this, during that entire meeting, but mainly in point no. 4 of the agenda (which was discussed in the last session), several of the main events that had occurred in different districts of the country during that year were also taken into analysis, such as: the protests in Shkodra in January for the removal of Stalin’s bust; the events in the city of Kavaja where the people of that city clashed with police forces; the massive escapes from the state borders with Yugoslavia and Greece; the massive gatherings in holy religious places, such as the Church of Shën-Ndout in Laç of Kurbin; the legal permission of religious beliefs and the opening of cult objects; or other problems that were raised for solution, such as: the talks of the international factor for the restoration of diplomatic relations with the USA, the Soviet Union (the talks held with the Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister in Sofia by Sofokli Lazri); the Kosovo problem; international pressure for the opening of Albania with the world and its adherence to several international conventions; the privileges of the high leadership of the PPSh and their families who lived mainly in the “Block”; the words circulating among the people about Enver Hoxha’s family and Ramiz’s relations with Nexhmija; the change of legislation and penal code; the release of political prisoners; the stamping with passports of citizens who sought to go out as visitors to their relatives abroad; the new economic mechanism; housing and employment of many additions in all districts of the country; the giving of land and livestock to the cooperative peasantry; to the supply of the urban population with basic food products and various industrial goods.
As we will see also from archival documents belonging to the 11th plenum of the Central Committee of the PPSh, which we emphasize are published for the first time, besides the leadership and some of the high functionaries of that time, in that meeting several other high figures who continued their political careers even after the ’90s also discussed or were mentioned, such as: Skënder Gjinushi, Fatos Nano, Sali Berisha, Rexhep Mejdani, Gramoz Pashko, Spiro Dede, Dritëro Agolli, Ismail Kadare, Moikom Zeqo, Mehmet Elezi, Lisen Bashkurti, Koço Kokëdhima, Ylli Popa, Aleks Luarasi, etc.
Likewise in the voluminous file of this plenum, with much interest are also those documents that belong to the secretaries of the Party Committees of the districts or the “Information Group” who went to all the districts of the country and documented all the main problematics that emerged in the meetings of the base organizations of the party, where “On the letter of the Central Committee” was discussed, documents that constitute the largest and also most important part of the file in question. It can even be said among the most important of the entire period of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha and his successor Ramiz Alia, since that period of time with the events that unfolded marked the prologue of the fall of that regime.
Likewise with much interest are also the documents that belong to the last session of that meeting with point no. 4 of the agenda “Miscellaneous,” which constitutes also the hottest point of the entire plenum, where the release from duties and sending into retirement of three members of the Political Bureau (Rita Marko, Manush Myftiu and Prokop Murra) was discussed, even with harsh debates, or the release from ministerial duties or other high functions that several other “leaders” had held for years, such as Simon Stefani, Pali Miska, Muho Asllani, Lenka Çuko, Vito Kapo, Pirro Kondi, Jovan Bardhi, etc., and the appointment of “young comrades” in the leadership of the high forums of the Party and State, such as: Xhelil Gjoni, Abdyl Backa, Niko Gjyzari, Kiço Mustaqi, etc. Regarding these etc., the documents in question extracted from the Central State Archive (Fund of the former Central Committee of the PPSh) acquaint us, which are published for the first time and with the relevant facsimiles by Memorie.al
SOME OF THE REMARKS, CRITICISMS, SUGGESTIONS AND PROBLEMS THAT WERE RAISED FROM THE DISCUSSIONS AND ANALYSES ON THE LETTER OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY FOR THE MINISTRIES AND CENTRAL INSTITUTIONS
FOR THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PARTY
- VLORA:
– Perfection of information from above in quantity and quality is required to cut the path of rumors. For the events of Kavaja etc., it should have been informed sooner so that the Central Committee would be supported in time by the committees and base organizations of the Party.
– The opinion of the people should also be taken for the changes that can be made in legislation, in the constitution, etc.
– It is suggested that comrades of the leadership and of the apparatus of the CC come more and directly to the base (in collectives, organizations, etc.) for the clarification of political situations, while the ministries for the clarification of the new economic mechanism, etc.
– It is suggested that for the figure of comrade Enver Hoxha, on occasions more should be spoken and written in the press and Radio-television.
- KOLONJA
– Information for various situations and events should be made better and faster. For the events of Kavaja, of the embassies, etc., there were quite a few rumors that we were not informed in time.
- LIBRAZHDI
– We have sent in writing to the Sector of Education some questions that have been made, but the necessary clarifications have still not been given to us.
– Quite a few remarks have been made for some writings in “Zëri i popullit” and in “Zëri i Rinisë,” during the months May-June that confused people.
- PUKA
– The apparatus of the Central Committee should have made more detailed explanations in the districts for the decisions of the last Plenums of the CC of the Party.
– For the clarification of the situations that arose, the Central Committee should have acted with more speed, to send more chosen comrades and employees of the apparatus to the base.
– Before the decision of the Political Bureau for the strengthening of the courtyard came out, the opinion in the people should have been discussed and drawn.
- ELBASANI
– The Sector of letters in the Central Committee should give answers faster for the letters of the people.
– The Central Committee should exercise more control for the problems that arise and the base should be informed more often for special situations and problems.
– The apparatus of the Central Committee is not connecting as and how it should with the base (the people) to hear their opinions.
– There are remarks as to why the grandsons and granddaughters of the comrades, who enjoy the privileges of the grandparents, are kept in the leadership block.
– There are remarks that differentiations are made for the children of the comrades of the leadership and of the leaders of the Party and power in the center and in the base in the giving of study rights, their appointment, in the exits abroad for specialization, treatment, etc.
– Criticisms have been made for liberal tendencies in some writings such as those of Marash Hajati, Ylli Popa, Sali Berisha, Ismail Kadare and Dritëro Agolli.
– They seek more complete clarifications for what is said about comrade Lenka Çuko “that she has kept a dolphin in the house, that she has sent her daughter to France to become a bride and that she brought beer for the wedding from there,” etc.
– For comrade Muho Asllani, Lenka Çuko and Simon Stefani the measures taken are not complete. There are proposals that comrade Muho Asllani should not be a member of the Political Bureau because he bears heavy responsibility for the events in Kavaja.
- KUKËSI
– Some confusing articles in the press should not have been allowed. Marash Hajati is well to be removed also as chairman of the Union of Journalists of Albania.
– The information media should be more agile, since there are cases that this information is received earlier by foreign radios. Television should give more about the work of the Party and of comrade Enver.
– For the problems of Kosovo, not only news and writings from foreign agencies should be given, but we should also say our word.
– Remarks have been made that too much propaganda is done on television for the opening of private shops and services.
- PËRMETI
– Remarks have been made that the press and Radio-television should be more controlled by the Central Committee of the Party, because there have been cases such as those of private trade, for the courtyard, family contract, etc., that mistakes have also been made.
– The press from Tirana comes to us around 14:00 when years ago it came at 10:00 every day. Add here also the time of internal distribution so in some areas it is read after two days, when its actuality has passed.
- POGRADECI
– It should increase control over the press and Radio-television organs, in connection with the materials that are published and the programs that are given, and inform more often and faster the organs and organizations of the Party for the events that occur.
- DIBRA
– The Letter should have been issued sooner and the Party in the base should be informed better for the decisions that the Political Bureau and the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Party take.
– There are remarks that a soft stance has been held toward comrades Simon Stefani, Muho Asllani and Piro Kondi, mainly for the events of July 2 and those of Kavaja.
- DURRËSI
– More care should be taken and control exercised in the publication of some articles in the central organs that from the broad masses are not fought rightly and create concerns.
– From time to time writings should be published or images given on Radio-television to confront the life also of our people who have left through the embassies. For example, from the Albanian Radio-television a group of journalists and operators should go to interview and film in the countries where our people who left through the embassies have gone, just as the foreigners did in our country.
– Propaganda should be made fast, real and with facts for many problems that time has brought out.
– Some of the directions of the class struggle should be clarified in the framework of the processes of further democratization of the life of the country, because there is unclarity and softening.
– The quality of Radio-television programs and their variety should be improved.
– Remarks have been made and opinions given those comrades Muho Asllani, Simon Stefani and Lenka Çuko, for the weaknesses they have had in work, should no longer be members of the Political Bureau.
– There are remarks that the children of the leadership are sent without need for treatment abroad, while for the children of workers this does not happen.
– The Letter of the Central Committee should have been issued sooner.
– For the events of July 2, among others, the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Party also has responsibility.
– The opinion should have been notified for the measures that were taken for some employees of the sector of propaganda, such as Marash Hajati, etc.
– It is required that the responsibility of Harilla Papajorgji, of Hasan Banja, etc., be brought out for the grouping of livestock.(!)
– In two base Party organizations the opinion has been expressed that there should be an emigration office in our country too.
– It is proposed that the direct work in production of cadres be removed.
– The comrades of the leadership who have retired are well to leave the block and live with the people.
– In a collective, clarifications were sought as to why it was not informed and why the stance toward the American publicist Sulzberger changed.
– More complete information is required on the agreements with foreign delegations and firms.
– The personal example of communists and cadres should be looked at from the center to the base.
– There are remarks that in propaganda recently the expressions are little used: Marxist-Leninist ideology, the name and work of comrade Enver, class struggle, etc.
– Remarks have been made as to why sambists and tanks were brought into Kavaja.
– There are opinions that the informations of the base organizations continue through bulletins.
– Opinions have been given that from the leadership; only the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and the Prime Minister should have privileges. There are remarks and opinions that the children of the leadership should also work in the Northeastern zones.
– There are remarks and they seek clarifications as to whether it is true that comrade Lenka Çuko has a swimming pool, greenhouse, sports ground, etc., and why it was allowed.
– There is parallel movement of cadres and why not all those who have reached the age do not retire.
– There are remarks for lack of information for the events that happened in Tirana.
– Just as measures were taken in the Party line, they should have been extended also to the branch of internal affairs.
– Remarks have been made that comrade Qirjako Mihali made a big wedding and that the couple after the wedding went to Switzerland (comes out in two base organizations).
– The re-election twice of comrades Qirjako Mihali and Muho Asllani is not valued as right at a time when they were moved for weaknesses.
– There are remarks for Fatbardh Harizi that he should not be in the Central Committee. After his dismissal as secretary of the Party Committee, three collectives did not accept him as a leader.
– The cadres of the center should descend more to the base.
– There is a revival of religious rites. This should be better countered with atheist propaganda from the sector of Education in the Central Committee.
– There are opinions that the open meetings of the Party organizations have also created concerns, because anyone participates in them.
– In some articles of the central organs direct criticisms have been made for the misuse and damage of goods for export and currency, but the broad masses have not been acquainted with what was done for their solution.
– There are questions and opinions as to what will be the role of the Party with the creation of joint enterprises.
- MIRDITA
– There are numerous remarks for the press and Radio-television organs, especially for the newspaper “Zëri i popullit” and “Rinia,” for the publication of some uncontrolled articles about “lost time,” “the tastes and desires of youth,” etc., which created confusion and wrong interpretations.
– Although in the press reflections have been made that have influenced the clarification of the current problems of the situation, but there is a need that the criticisms made in special rubrics for the strengthening of discipline, the stance toward property, etc., be made more addressed and the measures and work for the solution and healing of the situation be reflected more.
– In some Party organizations it has been requested that the Central Committee of the Party and its apparatus, through bulletins for internal use, open more horizon in the work of the Party organizations.
– There are opinions that also in this period cadres should be drawn from the bosom of the working class.
- FIERI
– The Sector of Education should have organized better and faster the work for the clarification of the situations and changes that occurred.
– Why in the Letter of the Central Committee of the Party is account sought from communists, the working class, specialists, for the enterprises that have made smaller planifications than the past year, when in fact the order was given since the month of June that the draft plan for the year 1991 should not be discussed with the masses.
– The Institute of Marxist-Leninist Studies and the Economic one as well as the Higher School of the Party did not reflect quickly to the problems and measures in response to political situations.
– In the Letter of the Central Committee there should have been criticism with names and it should have been said for those dismissed.
– From the Central Committee there has been a lack of information through bulletins to make the base organizations of the Party aware of the problems and concerns that the Party has.
– Remarks were made as to why measures were not taken for those who in their articles published in the press organs brought damage to the work of the Party and are allowed to write again.
– Television still gives uncontrolled programs for their content, which creates reactions and concerns in the masses, such as, for example, the chronicle for Poro of Vlora for the distribution of cows, etc.
– It is required that in the Ministry of Internal Affairs the responsibility for the events of July 2 be brought out better, the internal organizers be found and concrete measures be taken against them.
- BERATI
Political information should be faster for the timely clarification of the measures so that they are more informed for the situations and problems of the time. / Memorie.al
Continues in the next issue
