Dashnor Kaloçi
Memorie.al publishes some archival documents issued by the Central State Archive in Tirana (fund of the former Central Committee of the ALP), which belong to the month of July 1982, where there is an information report of the senior official of the apparatus of the Central Committee of the ALP, Leko Mako, addressed to his superiors in the relevant sector covered by Ramiz Alia, regarding the two meetings held at the Albanian Radio-Television where he was delegated, where the moral figure was analyzed -politics of the employees of that institution. All the accusations of what is said in that report about the main leaders of the Albanian Radio-Television that was one of the most important information and propaganda institutions of that time, such as: Çajup Rusmali, Marash Hajati, Agron Çobani, Shaqir Rexhvelaj, Liri Çeli, directors, editors and journalists, as; Vera Grabocka, Ilir Keko, Leonard Gjata, Engjëll Ndocaj, Agim…., Arjan Bakiri, Shpresa Musliu, Peçi Fiku, Mirela Llakaj, Siera Vaso, etc., and even the simple operators and make-up artists who worked there… ?!
Although ten years had passed since the great ‘storm’ that swept the Albanian Radio-Television, after the XI National Song Festival, where many of the leading executives, along with some composers, singers, directors, editors, journalists, etc.., were fired and sent to production, or ended up in political prisons and internments in the farthest corners of the country, it seemed that there was still no peace…?! Checks after checks, inspections, meetings, information, reports, reports, letters denouncing everything that happened there, intrigue, espionage, gossip, fabrication, true, half-truth, etc., etc., were sent to the top leadership of The Central Committee of the ALP, which was directly subordinated to that institution, one of the most important of the propaganda and mass information of that regime.
This, among other things, is shown by the lesson, also this archival document dated 12 July 1982, which is published for the first time in the pages of this book, where in six typed pages, the delegate of the Central Committee of the ALP, Leko Mako, informs his chiefs in the Education sector that was covered by Ramiz Alia, about everything he has recorded in his notebook, about what he has seen, heard and ascertained from the two meetings of the basic organizations of the Radio Party -Albanian Television, where he assisted. The document has as its topic: “On the moral and political figure of the employees of Radio-Television”, but as it seems from its content, in reality the meetings that are analyzed there, have another purpose, which we will see below.
The time when these meetings described in the following document were held coincides with the period after the event of December 18, 1981, when Prime Minister Mehmet Shehu was found dead in his bedroom by pistol bullets. And after this event, numerous meetings were held throughout the country, where letters were discussed and analyzed that the Central Committee of the ALP had sent to the basic organizations of the party, with the topic: “Synoptic picture on the hostile activity of police agent Mehmet Shehu”.
In this context, two meetings were held on the Albanian Radio-Television, where the communists of the basic organizations of the party of that very important institution, discussed ‘in the spirit’ of that letter of the Central Committee, accusing quite harshly their colleagues and to the directors of Radio-Television. At first glance, what stands out from what is written in that information, are the criticisms with accusations against some of the most famous names and characters of the Albanian Radio-Television, such as: Agron Çobani, Shaqir Rexhvelaj, Liri Çeli, Vera Grabocka, Ilir Keko, Leonard Gjata, Engjëll Ndocaj, Shpresa Musliu, Zhaneta Petushi, etc., to the simple operators and make-up artists of that institution.
It is clear that the labeling is done “for disability”, to names such as; Keko, Gjata, Ndocaj or even Bakiri, has been tendentious, because for the sake of truth, it must be said that they were and remained until the end, among the most professionals of the Albanian Radio-Television. While the well-known director Vera Grabocka, who had made a big name since that time with her programs, or her colleague, Shpresa Musliu, have very serious accusations. Or to be more precise, the accusations against them in the report-information of the delegate of the Central Committee of the ALP, clearly seem to be of a political nature, as the spread and exposure of foreign fashion and clothing coming from abroad, in the most good were considered “foreign performances”, but when they were made with the tendency to hit certain persons, according to the laws of that time, it was called “agitation and propaganda” and the criminal code of that time, provided; from three to seven years in prison!
But the most serious accusations were made against Agron Çobani, one of the most prominent professionals or as he was considered differently (before and after the ’90s), as: the icon of the Albanian Radio-Television, who is accused of interfering to get at work at RTSH and that he had graduated from high school, employee Mirela Llakaj, daughter of Veli Llakaj, Chief of General Staff of the Albanian Army in the Ministry of Defense at the time and at the same time First Deputy Minister Kadri Hazbiu. And also, their “connection” continued, as two or three other members of the Çobani family (Astrit, Petrit, etc.), former high-ranking military graduates with high results in military schools and academies of the Soviet Union, served still in the Army as senior officers, subordinate to Kadri Hazbi and Veli Llakaj!
In addition, Agron Çobani is accused in that report of the favors he has done to two other employees of Radio-Television (Teuta Meçaj and Siera Vaso), where one of them was the sister of a senior head of the State Security in Tirana, (direct subordinate of Feçorr Shehu), which covered intelligence, and therefore Radio-Television. And as if all this were not enough, Agron Çobani was the brother of the wife of Feçor Shehu, the then Minister of Internal Affairs, who only two or three months later, in October of that year, was arrested together with Kadri Hazbiu., being accused of being “members of a hostile group led by Mehmet Shehu”.
While Veli Llakaj escaped punishment only with degradation, Kadri Hazbiu and Feçorr Shehu, after a year of investigation and torture, were sentenced to death and executed by firing squad. And in this context of the development of the events at that time, it seems clear that everything has been prepared and “copied thin”, down to the details in advance, to find the possible connections of Agron Çobani with Kadri Hazbiu, Feçorr Shehu and Veli Llakaj! This hypothesis or more precisely logical deduction, is further reinforced by the fact that in the report, the delegate of the Central Committee, where among other things suggests: “To call Agron Çobani and say why he intervened for the daughter of Veli Llakaj, etc. …”?!
Thus, the criticism and accusations made against the above-mentioned persons were nothing but a well-thought-out scenario prepared by the top leadership of that time, led by Enver Hoxha, in the context of the beating and elimination of Kadri Hazbi, Feçorr Shehu, Llambi Ziçishti, Llambi Peçini, etc., who were shot as members of the so-called “hostile group led by Mehmet Shehu”. For more, we are familiar with the document in question that we are publishing in this part of the book, which like most of the archival materials is published in full and without any changes.
Information of the delegate of the Central Committee of the ALP on the meetings held on the Albanian Radio Television
INFORMATION OF THE EDUCATION SECTOR IN THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE ALP ON THIS PROBLEM: MORAL-POLITICAL FIGURE OF RADIO-TELEVISION EMPLOYEES
I n f o r m a t i o n
On July 5 and 8, 1982, I attended two meetings of the party’s grassroots Radio and Television organizations, the Internal Radio and the Television, to discuss the problems raised in the letter of the Central Committee of the Party to the organizations. Party base; At the same time, I was informed about the meetings held on this issue and in other organizations of this institution.
The communists were familiar with the contents of the letter a few days ago, the meetings were generally well prepared, there was concern from the communists, who showed solidarity with the letter and in their discussions tried to criticize the flaws and foreign appearances observed in the organizations. there, in the institution of Radio-Television and abroad.
Overall in this meeting it was emphasized that in Radio-television there is a sound moral and political situation. There is struggle and effort for the implementation of the tasks set by the Party and the unity of the collective and the basic organizations of the party has been formed to a higher degree. Communists and cadres in general have fought for the purity of their moral-political figure.
But from the discussions that took place by the communists in this meeting, the following problems also arise:
There are shortcomings and weaknesses in the work that needs to be done to increase the leadership role of the Party’s grassroots organizations. Strengthen Criticism and self-criticism. We noticed that within the grassroots organization, communists develop little criticism and self-criticism of each other, there are hesitations to reflect on the flaws that are pointed out, there are excuses.
The task was added that the communists should make more efforts and be in the vanguard role, they should fight harder, in order to increase the quality in creativity and in the preparation of shows. Attention was drawn and criticism was made in the basic organization of the Party of Internal Radio that the accountability of the cadres before the mass, is not done properly and enough, in this regard the personal example of the communists is missing.
There is no good work in recruiting staff in all sectors of Radio-Television. The concern of the communes was that in Radio-Television come many cadres with hatred, with interference. This has led to the entry into this institution of friends who are incapable of the task they perform, they make up about 40 people.
At the same time, it is noticed, it was said in the discussion of the communists, that there are many kinship ties: brother-brother, brother-sister, cousins, as well as 27 couples, these make up 90 people. There is a tendency for someone to bring in a grandchild, putting pressure on them, as they know the vacancies: there is another tendency among those who retire to bring in Radio-Television, someone a girl and someone a boy.
Liri Çeli, head of the Programming Editorial Office, said that they bring us staff in the sector and do not take any opinion from us. The work of the staff is locked in the “tower” of the director. They were hired, she said, Mirela Llakaj, daughter of Veli Llakaj, we were not asked. Mirela had two months at work and received the right from Agron Çobani, to continue school, many others are not given.
In the organization of the Party of Internal Radio it was said that we had interventions for the continuation of high school, to give the right to some typists, etc., at a time when the request to give the right to study to some was rejected. editors!
In the organization of the Television Party, the hiring of Teuta Meçaj and Siera Vaso was criticized, without first getting the opinion of the heads of the sectors where they work. Teuta Meçe, it was said, is the sister of Vladimir Meçe, an officer in the Directorate of Internal Affairs of Tirana, who covers Radio-Television. Teuta came from Vlora, the action for hiring her was done by Agron Çobani.
In the practice of staff work in recent years it is noticed that from numerous interventions staff are obtained from the districts and sometimes even from small districts, such as Puka, Gramshi, etc., which need staff. During the last three years 28 cadres have been taken from the districts.
The communists criticized this practice, noting the names of cadres who were taken as; Engjëll Ndocaj, Ilir Keko, Leonard Gjata, etc., who are not capable enough. There were many interventions to bring to Radio-Television Vilma Bleta, Maqo Bleta’s wife, who is a laboratory technician at the “Enver Hoxha” Tractor Plant and came as an archivist, this movement some communists who discussed did not call right.
There was also an intervention for Arjan Bakiri, who graduated from Physical Education, works today in Programming, disabled, etc.
Comrade Çajup Rusmajli, in his discussion said that there have been many interventions, these have influenced us to get incompetent people. Comrade Çajup and comrade Marash Hajati did not say who intervened.
These comrades do not accept those interventions that they call unfair, this unnecessary break of them damages the work of the Party in this institution. At the same time, I think that this should be called and told by friends who has intervened unjustly.
Allowing the performances of liberalism in the work with the staff has entered Radio-Television, Agim.., Coming from the villages of Tirana, who has stolen and manifested some foreign performances. Communists severely criticized the detention of this person in this institution and for his arrival at the beginning they said that it was done with pleasure!
Much should have been done to improve the composition of the working-class staff, although among the workers in various job centers in the district of Tirana, there are workers with secondary and higher education, little work has been done to look for these, to test them and the most prepared, to retire to work in this institution.
At the same time, the work between Radio-Television and other institutions for the circulation of many staff who work for a long time in Radio-Television should be better coordinated, as the need for circulation has arisen.
Finally, we can say that it has worked badly both for the turnover of staff and for the gradual replacement of incompetent and skilled staff. Since the 8th Plenum of the Central Committee, no incompetent staff has moved.
Remarks were also made to the people who are in charge of tasks abroad, in order to be among the most capable, to justify how much and how well the task is assigned. There were persons in this regard who did not properly justify the task assigned. Remarks were made to make the best use of the materials that were filmed by our film crews, especially in Kosovo, not enough were collected and systematized the filmed materials, there are those that still have operators.
The organization of work by the general directorate, subordinate directorates and sectors should be perfected as much as possible. In this regard, they made remarks and criticisms. There is not enough use of working time, there are signs of breach of discipline. When going out with service, another work schedule is built, there are procrastination. The work is built more in some districts, for example, in Saranda, said a communist, we went more.
Sometimes some friends stay in districts with no work diet. Remarks were also made about the fairer use of the institution’s vehicles. In her discussion, Liri Çeli, said that: Shaqir Rexhvelaj for a concert, leaves with all the means where he wants, this is supported by the directorate.
There is a problem that there are abuses of common property up to theft, etc. Coils, radios, tape recorders have been stolen, said Peçi Fiku during his discussion, there is disorganization, the keys are left, everyone enters the programming. Stealing persons have also been caught, but no action has been taken!
There have also been complaints from outsiders when they come to Television to register, they have lost various items. There are no strict rules on the musical materials that are reproduced. Numerous tapes are coming to the Radio to be filled with new songs. Cassettes of Greek songs have been reproduced and distributed several times.
Many remarks were made about the clean preservation of the moral image of the employees of Radio-Television. There have been cases where operators and editors have received material in enterprises where they have prepared chronicles. The operator Sazan M…., Has taken in the lamp factory in Vlora, some lamps are working, it is one year old and the directorate has left it in silence.
Negative phenomena are also noticed in the appearance of foreign fashion in some employees and cadres, as well as in some external collaborators. There is an obsession with these people, some communists said in their discussions, to wear outerwear. That fact must be considered. ”
Shpresa Mysliu befriends a family that has people in Greece to get loot and advertises goods coming from Greece. Vera Grabocka exposes the latest fashion. Zhaneta P…, make-up artist, has been withdrawing undocumented materials from Alb-import for almost ten years, she has partially appropriated and misused these materials.
In the last check, uninventory samples were found. Advertise fashion with these rare items. To fix her hair, once a week she spends 200 lek from the Television. Although the controls made against Zhaneta P…, have considered her guilty, no action is being taken!
The above problems show that the basic organization of Patia on Radio-Television, the mass organizations, as well as the directorate must wage a more consistent struggle against foreign manifestations of indifference and liberalism. There they were told that there is silence, not enough fighting!
In the discussions of some communists on the Internal Radio, some remarks were made about Comrade Çajup Rusmali. To be more communicative with the employees, not to make distinctions, etc., about which, the secretary of the basic organization of the Party, as well as comrade Çajup himself, said that they do not stand. However, we think that since the remarks were made by some friends, there is also room for self-criticism, to create an environment of rapprochement and better accountability with subordinates.
We talked to the secretaries of the grassroots organizations about the problems that arose, to reflect and analyze them in depth, by issuing tasks in the meetings for accountability and elections that they are holding during this week./Memorie.al
July 12, 1982 Leko Mako
