Nga DASHNOR KALOÇI
Part one
Memorie.al / Exactly 35 years ago, on February 20, 1991, thousands of citizens from Tirana and other districts across the country – who had traveled to or were present in the capital during those days – achieved a historic feat. After numerous efforts and clashes with police forces and the special troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in “Skënderbej” Square, at 2:10 PM, they managed to topple the magnificent bronze monument of the dictator Enver Hoxha. They then dragged it, tied behind an “IFA” vehicle, all the way to “Student City,” where the hunger strike of the University of Tirana students was ongoing. The students were demanding that the government remove Enver Hoxha’s name from the State University of Tirana.
This event, which caused a massive sensation across all districts of the country (as it was broadcast live by Albanian Radio-Television), is now well-known. Since that time, over three and a half decades, dozens of articles, broadcasts, photo exhibitions, archival documents, film footage, books, and television documentaries have been published, where eyewitnesses and protagonists of that event have given their testimonies on everything that occurred there.
The “Domino Effect” and the Reaction of the Regime
The toppling of dictator Enver Hoxha’s monument in Tirana had a “domino effect.” From that day and into the next, it incited further rallies and protests in several cities and districts where other monuments, statues, and busts of Enver Hoxha were located, such as in Durrës, Fier, Korçë, Gjirokastër, Skrapar, Poliçan, etc.
However, these events also sparked fierce reactions, not only from the high leadership of the PPSH (Party of Labour of Albania) and the government of that time—who, in addition to Ministry of Interior forces, had activated special forces and military units from the Ministry of Defense—but also from numerous groups and fanatics of the regime and communist ideology. Grouped under the association “Enver’s Volunteers” (Vullnetarët e Enverit), they rose up and organized counter-rallies, demanding the re-installation of Enver Hoxha’s monument in Tirana, as well as his busts and statues in other cities where they had been removed.
Physical Clashes and the Tragedy at the United Officers’ School
As a result of these events, those days saw numerous physical clashes, not only between law enforcement and the irritated crowds of protesters but also between the protesters and “Enver’s Volunteers,” or the students and lecturers of the “Enver Hoxha” United High School of Officers. The latter organized themselves and demanded that the statue of Enver Hoxha located within their school be placed in “Skënderbej” Square, precisely where the bronze monument had stood.
This caused immense irritation among tens of capital residents who had participated in the February 20th protest. They surrounded the United School with the aim of preventing the students from exiting its gates and stopping the re-installation of the statue. Unfortunately, these clashes resulted in deaths and injuries on both sides, as well as dozens of arrests among those who participated in the rallies to topple the monuments.
Similarly, the demand of the military students at the United Officers’ School to restore the monument sparked a reaction from the Democratic Party. In addition to its engagement, a few days later, the party distributed a communiqué throughout Tirana, inviting all citizens of the capital to observe five minutes of silence as a sign of homage and respect for those killed at the United School.
Secret Archives and Operative Communiqués
While the events in “Skënderbej” Square were broadcast live on television, many other events that took place until the end of February – both in Tirana and in various districts, or those within Burrel Prison – remain almost entirely unknown.
Based on this fact, in this article, we are publishing secret archival documents extracted from the Archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (now declassified). Through operative communiqués, these documents reflect most of the events of those days, including the names of all the killed, the wounded, and the dozens of arrested individuals accused of participating in the protests against the dictator’s symbols. With very few exceptions, all these documents are being published for the first time (including the respective facsimiles) by Memorie.al.
THE SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUÉ OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, DATED FEBRUARY 21, 1991, REGARDING THE EVENTS OF FEBRUARY 20 IN THE CITIES OF DURRËS, FIER, VLORË, AND KRUJË, WHERE RALLIES WERE HELD FOR THE REMOVAL OF ENVER HOXHA’S BUSTS
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, 2.2.1991
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 42
TIRANË
– On 20.2.1991, Krenar Shefik Aliu, 26 years old, a worker, was arrested for throwing stones at a police officer.
DURRËSI
– On 20.2.1991, all the companies gathered in the city center, shouting slogans. Later, they went to the Port and removed the bust of Enver Hoxha.
FIER
– On 20.2.1991, during the actions of the dark forces to remove the bust of Enver Hoxha, who clashed with the police, two police officers were injured.
VLORA
– On 20.2.1991, an illegal rally was organized by some students of the “Halim Xhelo” high school, which lasted 1 hour.
KRUJA
– On 20.2.1991, in front of the Palace of Culture, approximately 200 people burned a quantity of books that they had taken to their homes. After two hours, they were dispersed.
MANAGEMENT GROUP HEAD
FLORIAN KOLANECI
SECRET OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 22 FEBRUARY 1991, CONCERNING THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED IN THE SKRAPARI DISTRICT WITH “ENVER’S VOLUNTEERS”, AND THOSE WITH THE POLITICAL PRISONERS IN THE BURRELI PRISON
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, 22.2.1991
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 43
SKRAPARI
– On 21.2.1991, at around 10:00, in Çorovodë, Poliçam and Helmës, people gathered and demanded weapons, saying: “We want weapons to save the motherland.” They shouted slogans against the president. The reserve soldiers who were mobilized to bring them to Tirana for service refused to get into the cars, saying that we have no one to protect.”
BURRELI
– On 21.2.1991, the prisoners of Burrel prison took the works of comrade Enver and burned them in a demonstrative manner inside the prison, drove out the personnel and broke bricks to shoot the police officers on duty. They demanded to go out, shouting: “the government has fallen, why you are keeping us inside”!? Lists for release have been made of these prisoners.
LEADERSHIP GROUP RESPONSIBLE
MAKSIM PINCI
SECRET OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 23 FEBRUARY 1991, REGARDING THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED AT THE “ENVER HOXHA” JOINT OFFICERS SCHOOL IN TIRANA ON 22 FEBRUARY, WHERE CIVILIANS AND POLICEMEN WERE KILLED AND INJURED
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No.1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, 23.2.1991
OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION NO. 44
TIRANA
– On 22.2.1991, a part of the dark, armed groups opposed the forces of order and the Joint Officers School “Enver Hoxha”, where the police soldier, Lulëzim Sulollari, an officer of Unit 326 and two soldiers were killed. 22 people from our forces and 13 citizens were injured. It is alleged that their number must be greater. 62 people from the opposing forces were detained.
– On 22.2.1991, Fatmir Brahush Meta was detained, who presented himself as a member of the Democratic Party and wanted to forcefully enter the headquarters of this Party. At this time, he hit the police officer on duty.
HEAD OF THE MANAGEMENT GROUP
MAXIM PINCI
SECRET OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 24 FEBRUARY 1991, REGARDING THE EVENTS THAT OCCURRED IN VARIOUS DISTRICT, WHERE DOZENS OF PERSONS WERE ARRESTED AS PARTICIPANTS IN THE COLLAPSE OF THE MONUMENT AND BUSTS OF ENVER HOXHA
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, 24.2.1991
OPERATIVE COMMUNICATION NO. 45
DISTRICT
– From 08:00 to 14:00, in the districts of Tropoja, Kukës, Pukë, Dibër, Rrëshen. Mat, Librazhd, Pogradec, Kolonjë, Lushnje, Fier, Saranda, as well as in the cities of Bilisht and Leskovik, rallies were held in support of the name and work of comrade Enver Hoxha. With the exception of the one in Fier, the others passed without incidents or disturbances.
FIER
– On 22.2.1991, after the installation of the bust of comrade Enver Hoxha, destructive forces held a counter-rally, attacked the security forces with stones and firearms, who responded with fire, from which 6 people were injured: Edmond Baki Hasani, age 26, Albert Bahri Dervishi, age 24, Rrapi Rrapo Gjika, age 24, Sami Gremi, Viron Pilo Naçi and Artur Stroni, the first five of the destructive forces, while Artur, a participant in the installation of the bust, was injured with strong means. Along with them, Sotir Nako, aged 56, Gëzim Myzafer Kokalari, aged 26, Mandi Nazif Xhafa, aged 27, and Luftar Alush Senka, aged 26, were detained.
– On 23.2.1991, at 18:30, the Ballsh Police detained Ylli Ramiz Isufi, aged 25, from Kavaja, Sali Isuf Çela, aged 27, from Kavaja, Shpëtim Galip Shehi, aged 27, Aleksandër Naim Pashollari, aged 25 from Kavaja, and Spiro Vangjel Komino, a driver from Tirana, because at 12:00 on this date, in the village of Fratar, they threatened the villagers, saying that whoever is with the Party and Enver Hoxha, we will tie them to the back of the car like we dragged Enver Hoxha.
TIRANA
– On 23.2.1991, at 21.25, from the building opposite the main entrance of the “Skënderbej” School, he was shot twice with a firearm, in the direction of the school and then three times with a pistol. On 23.2.1991, at 11.00, Edmond Nasi Nano, aged 26 from Tirana, Altin Rodolf Curi, aged 23 from Tirana, Engjëll Beg Shalari, aged 24 from Fush-Bardha, and Luan Elmaz Shkoza, aged 19 from Tirana, were arrested because while driving the vehicle “Zis”, UP 06672, they had committed unbecoming behavior in society, and a 30-gauge automatic rifle magazine was found on them.
– On 23.2.1991, at 16.00, Hasan Osman Ballunga, aged 24, from Golemi in Durrës was arrested. The arrest was made because on 23.2.1991, in collaboration with his friends, Skënder Kadria and Altin Kulikani, they exerted pressure on the driver Engjëllush Shalari, forcing him to break the drinking water pipe of the “Enver Hoxha” Unified School.
– On 23.2.1991, at 09.00, Edmond Flatun Kumbulla, aged 22, was arrested because in front of the “Enver Hoxha” Unified School, he opposed and hit a police officer and left.
– On 23.2.1991, at 10.00, Sadik Ismail Buci, aged 29, a resident of the village of Shalldimat, was arrested because he encountered the police on 22.2.1991 and found a piece of marble from the monument.
– On 23.2.1991, at 20:00, from an ambush organized on “5 Maji” Street, Gjin Pashk Luka, 49 years old, from Luzi i Krujës, Ndoc Tom Velaj, 21 years old, from Koreja e Krujës (this is the village of Gorre in the Krujës district, located 5 km. west of the city of Laç, which at that time was under the administration of the Krujës district. Our note, D.K.), Preng Gjok Sokoli, 29 years old, from Koreja e Krujës, and Lec Tom Velaj, 29 years old, from Luzi i Krujës were caught red-handed with firearms (pistols and cold weapons, knives).
– On 23.2.1991, Pelivan Tare Kapo, aged 22, from Orikumi in the Vlora district, Frederik Mihal Lula, aged 29 from Lezha, and Adem Zenel Taçi, aged 30 from Tirana, were caught red-handed with cold weapons.
– On 23.2.1991, Luigj Jak Vata, aged 33, from Gruda e Re in Shkodra, was arrested for insulting and hitting a police officer at the Train Station.
– On 23.2.1991, Fatmir Shefqet Bushi, aged 35, resident of neighborhood 61, driver at the Bus Park, was arrested for participating in an illegal rally and using the bus for the rally.
GRAMSHI
– On 23.2.1991, Citizen Viktor Xhemal Qenami, aged 23, was arrested because at 20.15, he committed unbecoming behavior in society.
KORÇA
– On 23.2.1991, Vladimir Sefedin Kanani, aged 31, from Korça, Spiro Robert Peçi, aged 29 from Korça, Profi Pano Gjoka, aged 37, from Korça (9 convictions, 7 times), Ritvan Hasan Kulari, aged 31, from Korça, and Mikail Tonin Lika, aged 30, from Korça, were arrested because they had collaborated in attacking the police, removing the bust of comrade Enver, which they had dragged away, and setting fire to a bookstore.
– On 23.2.1991, Kujtim Ferit Çuçka, aged 27 from Sula, Korça, and Valter Mynyr Pajo, aged 25, also from Sula, Korça, were arrested because they had broken down the door of the Cultural Center of the village of Sula and had taken and burned the works of comrade Enver.
POGRADECI
– On 23.2.1991, at 20.00, citizens were arrested; Dritan Fahri Hoxhallari, aged 17, Albert Muhamer Mançellari, aged 18, Lirim Irfan Mançellari, aged 21, all three from the city of Pogradeci, because they had attacked a guard soldier of the Internal Affairs Branch while on duty./Memorie.al
RESPONSIBLE OF THE MANAGEMENT GROUP OF THE M.P.Br.
ISMAIL SKEJA
To be continued in the next issue
