By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Memorie.al/ Only a few days after the founding of the Democratic Party of Albania (December 12, 1990) – the first opposition force created after nearly 45 years of the brutal communist dictatorship of Enver Hoxha and his successor Ramiz Alia – alongside the rallies held in “Studenti” City in Tirana, its main leaders, headed by Azem Hajdari, Sali Berisha, Gramoz Pashko, Aleksandër Meksi, Neritan Ceka, Arben Imami, Eduart Selami, Preç Zogaj, Genc Rruli, Tritan Shehu, Genc Pollo, Rexhep Uka, etc., began to travel and hold protest rallies in various districts of the country where branches of the Democratic Party had just been formed.
However, paradoxically, even though pluralism had been permitted, in the rallies held, alongside the permit obtained from the Branches of Internal Affairs, the Democratic Party was required to declare the names of the organizers, the number of participants, the slogans to be shouted, the duration of the rally, etc. Non-compliance with these rules carried criminal liability not only for the organizers but also for various participants who failed to follow them or committed various “excesses”!
These included shouting slogans not foreseen in the permits or throwing stones and other hard objects at the buildings of the Party Committees, Executive Committees, and Branches of Internal Affairs, etc. This led the law enforcement forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (headed by Hekuran Isai) and the military forces of the Ministry of People’s Defense (headed by Kiço Mustaqi), who were in support and close cooperation with the law enforcement, to arrest all “offenders.”
Among other things, this is made known by this archival document we are publishing in this article, which contains the secret operative communique of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (extracted from the Archives of the Ministry of the Interior), reflecting all the extraordinary events that occurred in various districts of the country on January 4, 1991. Such was the case of the Democratic Party rally held in the city of Lushnje that day, where, besides Azem Hajdari, the names of several arrested participants in that protest rally are mentioned.
Alongside the operative communique, in this article, we are also publishing the report-information from the Lushnje Branch of Internal Affairs sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which details the entire event that occurred that day at the Democratic Party rally in that city—a document published for the first time by the former head of the Archives of the Ministry of the Interior, the well-known researcher and historian Kastriot Dervishi. For more on these, we are introduced by the documents in question, published for the first time (with the corresponding facsimile) by Memorie.al.
ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT CONTAINING THE SECRET OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUE OF THE MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR ON JANUARY 4, 1991, REGARDING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RALLY HELD IN THE CITY OF LUSHNJE, LED BY AZEM HAJDARI AND THE ARRESTED PERSONS
SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA S E C R E T
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
GENERAL BRANCH Tirana, on 5.1.1991
OPERATIVE COMMUNIQUE NO. 3
LUSHNJA
On 4.1.1991, at 15:30, a Democratic Party demonstration took place. Slogans outside the program were shouted. With the intervention of law enforcement forces, they were halted. Azem Hajdari said: “Down with the PLA, the dictatorship of the proletariat, the dynasty, and the dictator Enver Hoxha.”
People began singing the song: “Boys, seize your rifles, either death or freedom,” and marched toward the Party Committee. They were dispersed by the intervention of law enforcement. They threw stones and broke the windows of the Party Committee, the Executive Committee, the Internal Affairs Branch, etc. About 5,000–6,000 people participated in the demonstration. To calm the situation, forces from the Division also participated.
For these actions, the following were detained: Marko Kaso Liçaj, age 50, engineer, previously convicted; Albert Koli Liko, age 29, worker; Ilir Hyqmet Bilimashi, age 19, twice convicted; Petrit Novruz Topi, age 23, worker; Nazmi Rexhep Naku, age 42, driver, previously convicted; Shpëtim Liman Prodeni, age 17, worker; Shuaip Fejzi Alija, age 26, worker, etc.
HEAD OF THE DIRECTION GROUP
XHELAL LANI
ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE REPORT-INFORMATION OF THE LUSHNJE DISTRICT BRANCH OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS REGARDING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RALLY HELD ON JANUARY 4, 1991
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS SECRET
LUSHNJE BRANCH OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
Prot. No…. Lushnje, on 4.1.1991
TO THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
T I R A N A
REPORT-INFORMATION
Subject: On several violations of rules during the rally held by the Democratic Party, followed by an incident.
As reported on 4.1.1991, at 15:30, the popular rally organized by the Democratic Party began in the city of Lushnje. Previously, the representatives of this party from Tirana sent the request under protocol number 12, dated 3.1.1991, to the Police sector of the Lushnje Branch of Internal Affairs; the written request was delivered on 4.1.1991, at 07:00. In the request, in accordance with the law, the slogans to be shouted and the activity to be carried out were foreseen. We clarify that the following were tasked as initiators of the Democratic Party Branch for Lushnje:
- Kujtim Gina – economist at the Lushnje Division.
- Bujar Xhaferri – librettist of the variety theater.
- Shpendi Sollaku – high school teacher (his wife is an assistant prosecutor).
- Gëzim Hajdari – high school teacher.
- Visar Zhiti – worker at the brick factory (formerly a teacher, sentenced to 10 years for hostile agitation and propaganda).
- Arben Sulo – student.
Participating in this rally were representatives of the Democratic Party: Sali Berisha, Azem Hajdari, Arben Imami, Aleksandër Meksi, and Zenel Hoxha. Sali Berisha and Azem Hajdari spoke.
To conduct the rally according to the law, the Police sector and the entire organ drafted a measures plan and took the respective steps. About 6,000 people participated in the rally, while over 300 people were more active, arriving organized and with slogans. Mainly, these elements work at the Brick Factory, SMT, the Plastic Plant, in Savër, Plug, etc.
At the end of the rally, Azem Hajdari spoke without notes, calling upon the participants against the Party of Labour of Albania, such as: “Down with the Party of Labour of Albania and the dictatorship of the proletariat that have suppressed us for 45 consecutive years,” “Down with Stalin and his followers in the Party of Labour of Albania,” “Down with the dynasty of friendships in the Central Committee of the Party of Labour,” “Down with the dictator Enver Hoxha who robbed us of our freedom and democracy, and those who built him a museum with the people’s money when the people had no bread to eat,” “The Party of Labour of Albania has been in power for 45 years and lies about democracy,” “The Party of Labour of Albania has protected the Serbs and not the Kosovars,” “The Party of Labour of Albania has been linked with Tito and Mao Zedong and has protected the interests of Serbia and not of the Kosovars,” etc.
These calls greatly incited the participants in the rally who enthusiastically cheered: “Sali, Sali, we will win,” “The army is with us” (in this case, some participants lifted a soldier holding a slogan over the crowd), as well as cheers like: “Down with Dhimitër Çili, down with the dynasty,” etc. Also, some participants came with a slogan in hand reading: “Postpone the elections.” Additionally, among the participants, alongside the calls made, they raised their fingers and cheered for the Democratic Party; various voices were heard such as: “Beware of spies,” “The police must leave,” etc.
Despite such calls and slogans being thrown in violation of the program and the law, no disturbances occurred until the end of the rally; services were performed correctly and based on regulations. Subsequently, the participants, mixed with the large mass of people, began coming to the city center, cheering and shouting the slogans mentioned above. After being called upon to move in different directions and not gather in the city center, they refused and began throwing stones at the law enforcement forces. The perpetrators had stored the stones in their pockets. At this exact moment, two windows of the emulation stand were broken, and the portrait of Comrade Enver Hoxha was torn.
At this point, it was decided that alongside efforts to catch the perpetrator, the demonstrators should be allowed to pass through the city. At this moment, without being ordered by anyone, the Rapid Intervention Platoon of Unit 326, equipped with protective gear, intervened forcefully. Momentarily, the demonstrators retreated, but later they multiplied from all directions, with about 1,000 people passing through and throwing stones. The terrain also negatively affected our services, especially the hill in the northeast of the city, which is filled with stones, as well as the additional building of the Party Committee, around which there are bricks, stones, and debris at a certain distance.
In addition to active actions against law enforcement and the buildings of the Party Committee and the Executive Committee, the demonstrators shouted slogans: “Down with Enver Hoxha,” “Enver Hitler,” “Release the political prisoners,” “Down with the Chairman of the Executive Committee,” and began singing: “Come, gather here-here,” “Seize your arms, either death or freedom,” etc. It is worth noting the indifferent attitude of the people who not only did not intervene to help law enforcement and stabilize the situation but hindered these services because by standing in front of the demonstrators, the latter threw stones and bricks from behind them and remained masked.
Although the demonstrators did not comply even after being called upon via megaphone and told to cease these actions, and since the attack could not be withstood by 30-40 police officers, the platoon of Unit 326 was commanded to leave the service. Meanwhile, the demonstrators were being called upon by the chief of police to go to their homes. Alongside this, some participants followed the vehicle of the Unit 326 police from behind, which entered the territory of the Lushnje Branch of Internal Affairs (DPB), and the demonstrators continued to throw stones toward the Branch of Internal Affairs, breaking the windows of three windows and the duty officer’s counter. At this moment, force was used, and the attack was repelled.
In the city center, the demonstrators continued to shout slogans, especially gathered in front of the District Executive Committee, where they made calls and used insulting words against the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the District People’s Council. This illegal activity continued for about 2 hours, and then all the demonstrators left in groups for their homes. From the preliminary assessment of the damage caused, it amounts to about 500-600 lek. During this time, besides the law enforcement forces, all employees of the Party apparatus were on duty, while very few were from the Executive Committee apparatus.
In fact, the Chairman of the District Executive Committee himself was neither in his office nor at home, and his subordinates did not know his address even though he was requested several times by the First Secretary of the Party Committee to restore the situation and eliminate the damage. The personnel of the Branch of Internal Affairs continued their services, strengthening them in places where the intensity was greatest, and quickly gathered information based on which 9 people were detained and 4 others are being sought. Subsequently, the following day, after several other operative actions were carried out, 4 more were detained, and others are in the process of being sought for detention.
In cooperation with the investigative office and the prosecution, work is continuing to find the organizers and document their guilt. We clarify that almost the entire rally was filmed, and some parts of Azem Hajdari’s speech were recorded. It is worth noting that generally, the most active elements, both in the rally and the demonstration and illegal actions are subjects of criminal pursuit, former convicts, but among them were deceived elements. Some of the latter have repented and stated in the investigation: “They told us they would give us money, so come to the rally; if we had known it would be like this, we wouldn’t have come.” Additionally, witnesses are rare and difficult to find; in special cases, even some employees of the Party apparatus or other cadres hesitate.
At the same time, the detention of 13 persons and the search for others has created an opinion among hooligan circles to attack the Branch of Internal Affairs to release those arrested. To better dominate the situation, the entire organ is on duty, meetings with the agency from all sectors have increased, former employees of our organs, positive elements, former collaborators, etc., have been activated, who were also among the destructive forces during the rally and demonstration. It is also noted that since the events of July 2, but especially during December and onwards, there is much harassment and pressure from hooligan elements from Kavaja, Tirana, etc.
This has greatly invigorated the ruffian and vagabond element in Lushnje, both in the city and in some farm sectors or other villages. To handle this situation, especially now during the campaign for the elections of deputies to the People’s Assembly, not enough work is being done with the people by the social organizations of the masses or by the government and economic organs. There is a marked indifference; everything is expected to be solved by the police, even down to guarding cows so they are not taken from the stalls. These destructive forces committing illegal acts are not hindered, but in some cases, conditions are created for them, as happened on the day of the rally, where some farm directors had provided transport vehicles to the hooligans and former internees to come to the Democratic Party rally.
In view of the above, and in implementation of your order no. 114, dated 30.12.1990, we see it as necessary to organically discipline a company for rapid intervention against hooligan actions. This is also due to the fact that the Lushnje Division currently does not possess, nor does it have in perspective, forces to withstand the actions of criminal and hostile groups. Following this, we request to be equipped with service tools such as “Stomi” radios, special weapons, etc.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BRANCH OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
AZEM HAJDARI DECLARED:
“Brothers, please listen, because the television is not broadcasting our speeches in the districts. Therefore, I ask you very much to listen. Long live this freedom-loving and democratic people of the Lushnje District. Brothers and sisters! The 45-year-old policy pursued by the Party of Labour must be looked at with a critical eye. The policemen have occupied us and are looking for us in haste! The Party of Labour of Albania has been linked with Tito and Mao Zedong and has protected the interests of Serbia and not of the Kosovars. Brothers and sisters! The Party of Labour says it brought freedom to the Albanian people. Yet Skanderbeg said 500 years ago: I found freedom among you. Therefore, we did not bring democracy either; we found it among you (cheers)…
Let us go, for it is the right occasion, toward Europe. There is no need for its empty words; the Albanian people have no need for communist ‘benefits.’ The Albanian people need democracy, need freedom. We are not the supporters of nephews and nieces. Democrats are entering our party, whoever desires to. The Party of Labour talks about strengthening the legal state. It no longer supports legal processes. The Party of Labour is the state of the dictatorship of the proletariat. We must overthrow the dictatorship! Let us establish the new Albania. In the new democratic Albania that we will build, we will always protect a line for the difficult situations and aspirations of the Kosovar people. And not as the Party of Labour did, which was a support for the Serb and not for the Kosovars.” Memorie.al
(Part of Azem Hajdari’s speech, partially transcribed using operative techniques)
