By Skënder Tufa
Part Two
Memorie.al / At 23.30 on 21.05.1973, Radio – Vatican would broadcast: – “In the 29-year-old frost of Albania, the first flowers bloomed”. A few hours earlier in Spaç of Mirdita, the revolt of political prisoners had begun. The Voice of the House of God was the first to speak out internationally, in support of this extraordinary event. The entry of the communists after the end of World War II has been called the real invasion of Albania, while I, seeing what it has done so far, would say that it is more than an invasion. The Pelasgian-Illyrian-Arbëror people have been usurped over the centuries by many greedy people such as the Romans, Byzantium, Slavs, Bulgarians and Ottomans. The centuries-old wounds of theirs, after which destruction and poverty remained, did not alienate the man, the Albanian family, emerged intact in tradition, customs, patriotism.
Continued from the previous issue
At 03:00 on May 22, Deputy Minister of the Interior Feçor Shehu arrives in Spaç, as head of the operation to quell the revolt. At 08:00, Feçor calls for a return to normality, but the protesters were no longer fooled. The cries of; “down with communism”, “we want Albania in Europe”, “you are criminals”, “your end is coming”, were the response to the protest. Feçor Shehu demands negotiations.
A delegation, composed of Nuri Stepa, Hajri Pashai and Paulin Vata, sends the demands to the deputy minister. Hajri Pashai argues with his fellow villager, Deputy Minister Feçor Shehu, telling him: – “You are finished. Albania will enter Europe and punishment awaits you”. – “Who are you”? – asks the Minister. – “I am Hajri Pashaj” – “Ah, you are the son of the one who killed the elders of Hekal”?! “No – Hajriu replies – I am the son of the one whose horse you held.
You will shoot me like my father, but very soon you will be shot like me”. – “I will correct your stubbornness,” he says, walking away offended, under the sound of gunfire from outside and calls against the government from inside. (Under the care of Feçor Shehu, Gjet Kadeli was finally removed from the list for execution and replaced by Hajri Pasha).
Skënder Daja climbed onto Dashnor Kazazi’s shoulders and began to speak to the soldiers, calling them brothers. – “I am like you, I was a soldier like you and I went to prison because I asked for freedom, we are not enemies, as they say, but we ask that Albania be like Europe, you are our brothers, you also love freedom like us.” The guns stopped firing. The guards were replaced by policemen.
Burrel’s Corps, led by Bako Dervishi, landed with heavy weapons and numerous forces in Spaç, numerous reinforcements from Tirana and other districts turned that deserted place into the most populated, for those three days of revolt. Without water, without food, fatigue, the prisoners were exhausted. On May 23, equipped with spacesuits, clubs and irons in their hands, the Special Forces were able to enter the prison premises, at 09.00, crushing the prisoners with beatings and tying them up like wild animals, they advanced to the terrace, where 12 “Spartan Spaçists”, made the most heroic resistance.
Surrounded by dozens of fresh special troops, they fought with clubs until they collapsed. “Tarti”, the loyal dog, fought alongside his friends, throwing himself at the throats of the policemen who were mercilessly shooting at the resistance fighters. The revolt ended in bloodshed. Although they were aware of the strength of the state, they clashed with it, shaking, beyond expectations, its foundations. The heroism of these people marked the bright act of courageous physical confrontation with the savage dictatorship, raising the starless flag of communism. The echo of this act still resounds today.
68 political prisoners were arrested, who were sentenced in five so-called judicial processes. The first judicial process was held on May 24, 1973, where for the first time the High Court was moved to Spaç and with the panel of judges composed of Hilmi Telegrafi, president, Mit’hat Goskova and Ymer Aliko, vice presidents, and prosecutor Zaim Myftari, who with decision no. 1 of the Supreme Court, sentenced to death by firing squad:
– Dervish Bejko, 27 years old; – Hajri Pashaj, 29 years old; – Pal Zefi, 33 years old; – Skënder Daja, 23 years old; The sentence was final and the decision was executed within 24 hours. They were shot on May 24, 1973.
With this decision, in the same process, were sentenced to 25 years in prison each; Dashnor Kazazi, Jorgo Papa, Syrja Lame, Luan Burimi, Sami Dangëllia, Lush (Paulin) Vata, Hodo Sokoli, Luan Koka. The investigators of the first process or, the “torturous butchers” were: Shaban Dani, Fejzo Aloçi, Pelivan Luçi, Misto Shunda, Rustem Çipi, Vasil Milo, Irfan Shaqiri, Dhimo Sinani, Hamdi Meta, Sali Budo.
The other 56 prisoners who were arrested were: Agron Xhelili, Bedri Çoku, Demush Muçaj, Elez Hoxha, Gëzim Medolli, Haxhi Bena, Irakli Sirso, Muho Curri, Nikolla Qafke, Refik Beqo, Skënder Thaçi, Sherif Allamani, Tom Uli, Xhevat Lokja, Fatmir Llagami, Mirash Gjoka, Mersin Vlashi, Abedin Vrioni, Bebi Konomi, Dervish Sula, Fadil Dushku, Gëzim Çela, Hysen Vuçe, Kostandin Papa, Ndrec Çoku, Njazi Bylikbashi, Rexhep Lazri, Selman Çuni, Shefqet Gjana, Ulusi Pashollari, Zef Ashta, Jonuz Norja, Naim Pashaj, Murat Marta, Bashkim Fishta, Çaush Çoku, Demir Pojani, Gramoz Spahia, Naim Uka, Hasan Ibo, Mërkur Bogdo, Muharrem Dyli, Pal Marku, Stefan Kola, Spiro Nasho, Tomorr Allajbej, Xhaferr Dema, Sulo Veshi, Nuri Stepa, Vladimir Prifti, Tefik Kumanaku, Muharrem Isufi, Shuaip Brahimi, Qemal Demiri, Tefik Dedi and Pavllo Popa.
After their hands and feet were tied and they were thrown like corpses into cars, bloody and torn from the barbaric beatings, they were sent on a journey of several hours to reach Tirana, a journey which, given the way they were placed in the cars, the potholes in the roads and the special troops equipped with sticks, who sometimes shot one another, was a torture in itself, but this would not end there, because from the yard where they would get off and all the way to the isolation rooms, they would be followed by the punches, kicks and blows of the special troops, who had formed the long corridor where the “welcome guests” would pass!
Sentence of the “Flag Group”
After the sentence of the first group of the ‘Spaci Revolt’, investigations were conducted in Tirana for the second group, the “Flag Group”, which, by decision no. 29, dated 30.6.73 of the Mirdita District Court, with Filip Lako as president and Gjin Pali and Pjeter Nikolli, associate judges and Zef Deda as prosecutor, gave the following prison sentences:
Feti Kumanaku and Pal Marku, with 25 years each, Bederi Çoku and Murat Marta, with 23 years each, Jonuz Norja with 22 years, Ndrec Çoku and Hasan Hibo, with 20 years each, Shuaip Ibrahimi with 17 years, Dervish Sulo, Mersin Vlashi, Haxhi Bena, Elez Hoxha, Naim Pashai, Naim Uka with 16 years each, Qemal Demiraj and Tomorr Allajbeu, with 15 years each.
Sentence of the “Third Group” of the revolt
With decision no. 34, dated 13.7.1973, the Mirdita District Court, composed of Filip Lako and assistant judges Pjetër Nikolli and Gjin Pali, with prosecutor Zef Deda, gave the following sentences of imprisonment:
Kostandin Papa, 25 years, Rexhep Lazri, Sali Çuni with 20 years each, Sherif Allamani with 18 years, Hulusi Pashollari, Fatmir Llagami, Bashkim Fishta, with 16 years each. With 15 years: Bebi Konomi and Njazi Bylykbashi. With 14 years: Agron Xhelili. With 13 years: Mirash Gjoka, Refik Beqo, Nuri Stepa. With 12 years: Gëzim Çela.
Sentence of the “Fourth Group”
With decision no. 38, dated 21.7.1973, the Mirdita District Court, with President Filip Lako and Associate Judges, Pjetër Nikolli and Nikoll Gjoni, with Prosecutor Zef Deda, gave the following sentences of imprisonment:
With 25 years: Fadil Dushku, Demir Pojani, Gëzim Medolli. With 20 years: Çaush Çoku. With 21 years: Spiro Nasho. With 16 years: Sulo Veshi. With 15 years, Pavllo Popaj. With 14 years, Muharrem Dyli, Muharrem Isufi and Stefan Kola. With 12 years: Vladimir Prifti.
The sentence of the last group
The Mirdita Court, with President Filip Lako, Associate Judges Pjetër Nikolli and Nikoll Gjoni, and Prosecutor Zef Deda, with decision no. 39, dated 25.7.1973, gave the following sentences of imprisonment: With 16 years, Xhemal Bali. With 15 years: Gjetë Kadeli, and Sotiraq Simaku. With 13 years: Bardhyl Fejzollari. With 12 years, Ferit Avdullai and Hysen Xhani. With 15 years: Napolon Koleci. My friend Locja (Hysen Xhani) had told me that even “Tarti”, the faithful dog who fought until the end, side by side with the heroes, was in the investigative process.
Vangjel Kote, Koço Josifi, Irakli Kocani, Skënder Sadikaj, Skënder Myftari, Isa Halilaj, Dhimitraq Shkodrani, Seit Sulaj, Llambi Gegeni, Fejzo Aloçi, Florian Kolaneci, Dhimo Sinani, Izet Hasani, Rustem Çipi, Ali Xhunga, would officially be the investigators who handed over the political prisoners of the four processes against the revolt, but in fact they were the torturing “butchers”. The investigation of the participants of the Spaç Revolt of ’73 was carried out at the Special Investigation Office in Tirana, while the trials were held at the Rrëshen Court, Mirditë.
This glorious event, which is an honor and glory for the participants, their families and all Albanians, I noticed that there is something to see. I think that leaving the door of the dungeon open (as if unintentionally) from which the convict Pal Zefi emerged, on the day when the guard officer was the Sigurimit operative (Fejzi Liço) and when the General Director of Prison Camps, Sulejman Maloku, was in the Spaç prison, as well as the provocation in the middle of the yard with prisoners, where the operative insults and orders the use of force, cannot be a coincidence. This opinion does not diminish that culminating point of national history at all. Memorie.al
