“That’s why Dr. Mark Gjomarku, the son of the Kapidan of Mirdita, did not leave his men and killed Bardhok Biba, when he was accidentally ambushed and…”/ The unknown story of the evil year, 1946

By Dodë Melyshi       

            (I heard it from my father, who was told by a person who was present at this event).

Memorie.al / It must have been the spring of that year, when a part of the organized anti-communist forces of the Mirdita district were located above Tarazh village (of Mirdita), and were moving towards Prosek. Under the Provincial committee of Mirdita, which was part – the epicenter and the main inspiration, of the Organization “Bashkimi” – which included the entire anti-communist North, where Puka (of Pashuk Bib Miraka), Luma (of Muharrem Bajraktari), Dibra (of Fiqri Dines and Hysni Demė), Mati (with Bilal Kola), Lura, Dukagjini, Kelmendi, Malësia e Madhe, Kruja, Elbasani etc., (which numbered at least 12,000 ready armed forces) – had been transformed into the ‘National Association of Mountains’ ‘, headed by Dr. Mark Gjomarku, the son of the captain of Mirdita, Gjon Markagjon, who was in Italy at the time, having left Albania in November 1944, a few days before the end of the war.

One day, at a far distance, these men, who were moving towards the village of Prosek, noticed a group of 3-4 armed people, who were moving from Tarazhi towards Malay village. After approaching a certain distance, they managed to distinguish that these were Bardhok Bib Gjomarku (the first secretary of the Communist Party of the district), with his men.

Sensibility that immediate. There was no plan and even less desire to kill Bardhok Biba, but this one happened to be at the muzzle of the rifle. And in the military formations there were people to whom the communist regime in power, since the first year, had committed countless crimes and crimes in their families, so the desire for retribution was great.

You are immediately surprised, how Bardhok Biba was so careless, they had their weapons ready, whoever is the first among them, “get rid of him”.

In this general electrification (or in a competition, who will remove my finger first), the fruit of that lucky coincidence for them, Mark Gjomarku intervenes, in the role of the captain and, at the same time, the commander, and asks his people to calm down because he intends to kill me himself!

Sakaq rests the weapon (precision weapon) on an oak branch, takes aim at the group of them, the first of them, while they were walking. The terrain was such that, along with the crossing of the communists, headed by Bardhok, it was located below the hill from where the anti-communists were stationed, and it was in the shape of a curve, which made it possible for the trajectory to come from afar, approaching, then starting down- away, the road left and disappeared into the forest towards the Malays.

Dr. Mark Gjomarku accompanies the approaching group with the butt of his rifle, without firing a shot, then accompanies them on their departure, while his followers impatiently asked him: “Fire that rifle because they are leaving…”!

In fact, that’s what happened. Bardhok Biba and his friends left without a day. Here in the anti-communist formation, a big fight broke out (with annoying agitation), because of this indecision of the Captain, who, who more and who less, began to hold him accountable.

Dr. Mark Gjomarku lowers his rifle slowly slowly, removes the bolt, and addresses his men:

“listen men, today as long as we are alive, whoever kills Bardhok Biba owes me his blood…”!

I heard this story from Baba. And when I wondered why: this behavior of Mark Gjomark like this (it was first alluded to a silent agreement, between him and Bardhok Biba, with protect each other, as if it were said to be speak under your breath), father reasoned:

“To assume that: ‘kill Bardhok himself’, there was the only way to restrain his people, anti-communists by name, who in extreme cases, do not question either the Captain or the Commander. We keep this in mind that , we are talking about Marka Dod Gjin, Gjin Kros Bun and Mark Bib Vokërr and their friends, (braves like them), who when they touched their rifles, they did not put them down anymore, together with us, not for the sake of ‘ To the captain, but not for the sake of the great God.

While asking the other fighters not to kill Bardhok Biba, ‘today while they are still alive’, Mark Gjomarku apparently had in mind the fact that his killing would ultimately kill Mirdita, throw the black water at her. Communism wanted a cause; it burned and burned, with the guilty and the innocent, just like you do. Because Dr. Mark Gjomarku was the greatest visionary who announced Mirdita” – father finished his speech. Memorie.al