NIKOLLË LOKA
Ax. ALFDRED DUKA
NIKOLIN KURTI
Part fifteen
WHY DOES THE POLITICAL ACCUSATION OF COLLABORATION NOT STAND?
-Continuing the tradition of native Catholic clergy –
Continues from last issue
Cooperation for the state and only in its interest
While serving the sentence
The report of B.p. “Arrow”
Memorie.al/On 8-27-1966, from 7:30 p.m., the fountain duel to walk the boulevard with Dom Shtjefën Kurti, who was assigned as parish priest of Jube, Sukth and Ruzhbull districts? While walking, the source says to Dom Shtjefni: “You did well with Italian and German”, – “that was the task and position”, answered Dom Shtjefni “no bro, what task and position, it’s the person himself, it was you”. the source waited for him and continued, “if it had been someone else, it wouldn’t have been like that”, – Dom Shtjefni laughed and remembering with nostalgia his time, I tell him they told him: “Can you believe when I broke my leg in the car of mine, there is not one of the greats left who has not come to visit me”. The source told Dom Shtjefni to pass on the conversation about Vietnam: “Take these Vietnamese, the strong duo.” The co-speaker answered: “Strong because China is behind them, indirectly it is an American-Chinese war, then I have always said, a communist goes to war with someone, he thinks about someone, he is not impressed”!
20-9-1966
“Arrow”
Task:
1- Many times when Dom Kurti comes to Durrës, meet with them and talk even longer, especially to learn about the services he has done to the Germans and Italians specifically. On the other hand, talk about the international situation, concrete but learned things as he comments.
Operative measures:
A copy of this data should be sent to the P.Op of Lok. To the center since the Catholic priest Dom is working in his territory. When you.
Operative Office
Skender Duçi
Taken from P.Op. Qemal Karamani
Given by B.P. “Address”
Report dated 4/21/1967
The source announces that on 30/3/1967, I met with Shtjefa Kurti in his room, it was the old office. Among other things, he complained about the economic situation, because he does not even have a source of livelihood, “The cooperative does not give us a piece of land, because I am not a member of it, they asked me to become a member of the cooperative, maybe they would not even accept me because I don’t have a front card”. “Shqefni continues: Dom Mark Dushi told me to deal with translations in the Latin language or to work as a proofreader”. Shqefni told the source: If I were in his place, I would prefer the second job, because in translations it is often the case that we, the priest, are not allowed to examine some of them, because we agree with the preaching of the religion. Shqefan Kurtit continues: Telling the source: Dom Andon Doçi had closed the church and the people of this village had not been well organized, the work from the Party and the youth had not been organized in Gurëz, so that the people understand that this is a decision from above, as when the people of Gurëz understood it. So it was useless to oppose this decision, but as far as I know, said Shqefni, this Sunday will also be closed to Dom Adon Duçi. –
The source asks: do you think the Vatican is aware of this change regarding religion in our country? Shqefni said: Yes, I believe that the Pope knows, since the press also goes abroad, then the Italian and French consulates definitely inform their governments about everything. Second source: do you know what the Vatican has to say about this matter? No, said Shqefni, to this day I am not aware of any moment of the Vatican speaking about the issue of the Church in our country, at least with those I have met, nor by Dom Zef Bici who leads the Catholic religion in Albania until now and continues to serve in the Church of Tirana located on Kavaja street, the only church that has not been closed.
Shqefni told the source: Thank God that the Vatican has not made any protest worldwide, maybe this work would not bring us any benefit, except that the government would persecute us. Even in the past, whenever Western countries or the Vatican have come up with protective phrases against political or religious people, they have brought deterioration in the treatment of the person protected from abroad. The source asked him: Do you expect such a thing? Shqefni answers: We expected that such a thing would happen, since the revolution in China began, due to the fact that we, as allies with China, should act as you do there, with being a friend and friends must like the action or leave it.
“Address”
The duties are in the original which is in the file of the Department of Internal Affairs.
Worker – Operative
(Qemal Karamani)
Note!
On 2.6.1967, “Health” says about Shtjefa Kurti: “She was arrested in 1946, because she was a friend of Zef Bici, because those of the cooperative leadership do not look at her at all (are not interested)”. He told him that “radio Iliria works very well and he listens very well”. They commented on international events. “Health” gives a lot of simple data and sometimes it doesn’t give anything at all. He is interested in the fate of the clergy and especially religion. From abroad, no one was interested in us (the clergy), neither Italy nor the UN. It goes against the measures taken by the Party against religion: “Then why do these people rise above us, leave us alone”? He is interested in Mark who has been arrested.
On 16.11.1968 “Shëndeti” says that Kurti complains that he lives very badly, that he is old and could not work because he had nothing but bread and butter. – That the People’s Council did not allow him to participate in the funeral ceremony of Frano Ilia’s mother.
On 14.12.1969, Shtjefën Kurti announced to “Health”, what has been done with the religious liturgy, that there have been changes in the queue, changes were made in the mass, so much so that the believers in Italy had left the church in order not to first mass, in protest. Who knows what big changes this Pope is making? There in the West, it seems that the Catholic people, who do not obey the order, have been pampered.
Report from a “citizen”
In Milot on 6/28/1967.
I, the Operative Worker of the “Security Side” Internal Affairs Branch, Krujë, K.K., received the verbal report from citizen D., born and resident in Gurëz village of Krujë district, with Albanian nationality and citizenship, by profession….and now…., with primary education, married to…!
The citizen in question was warned of the criminal responsibility he has based on Article 219 of the Criminal Code, in case he makes a false report or defines it.
I received notice
(D……)
Question: Tell us if you know Dom Shtjefën Kurti from Gurezi, when and what relationship did you have with him?
Answer: I have known Dom Shtjefën Kurti for a long time because he was a parish priest in the church of Gurëz and now he lives in Gurëz again. I didn’t have a bad relationship with him.
Question: What can you tell us about Dom Shtjefa Kurti?
Answer: I can tell you that two months ago I was in Tirana and before the “Bar-Sahati” coffee, I met Dom Shqefa Kurti who lives in Gurëz and after we said hello, we went to the Palace of Culture, we had a coffee a friend and during the conversation I talk about the packages that had come to him from abroad. In this case, Shqefni said: “These packages were sent to me by my sister in Pristina, Yugoslavia, she helped me while I was in prison and she is helping me and supporting me even today.
I am a 60-year-old man today, but if I were to be as young as you once again, I would know what path I would take, even though I am still strong from the legs, I drink D… and don’t give a damn prolongs the conversation because there are people listening to us for nothing”. In a smaller voice, Shqefni adds: “I have been in Italy for 4 years and I know what life is like there.”
That night, Dom Shqefen Kurti and I slept in the “Vollga” hotel in Tirana, but not in the same room, and when we were having dinner at “Vollga”, Shqefen told me: “I had a great time when I was a parish priest in Tirana, in Italy and elsewhere, even then I came as often as I wanted by car to Italy”.
Likewise I D…. I was also 5-6 days ago for a visit to Dom Shqefan Kurti’s house in Gurëz, since I had found out that he was sick and in this case he told me: “I am suffering from stomach, I want to write to my sister about medicines, but I still haven’t written to him that I don’t see the situation well”.
Another thing I have not discussed with Dom Shqefa Kurti, but what I said are true and after the process was read to me, I saw that my statements were written correctly; therefore I certify them with my signature.
The narrator.
(D…)
Operative Office
(Qemal Karamani)
Taken from P. Op. Q.
Given by B.p. “Address”
Kruje dated 14/7/1968
Report dated 7/14/1968
The source announces that on 5.7.1968, I met Shqefa Kurti. I heard Shqefni say that: Dom Zef Bici and his friends have continued my path (my work), which I interrupted when I was arrested by the Security authorities 20 years ago, I was connected to the Vatican, through the Italian Legation, just as Bici’s group acted, behind me – I don’t believe, said Shqefni, that Dom Zef Bici has said in court that we priests are ready with whoever we want. It is enough that he and they are against communism.
Shqefni continues: I am not convinced that Dom Franjo and Dom Zef Bici had sexual relations with women; these are dirty words that discredit the Catholic Clergy before the faithful! The source asked the priest: how did you escape without confusing Dom Zef Bici with guilt, with which you spend time with them in Gurëz recently? Shqefni answered you: Do you know that many thanks, both to Bica and to Dom Marku, who did not inform me about their activity that I would have suffered as well as them.
At this time the priest said: If you don’t do anything today, Security will not catch you, while in the first years of their coming into force, for a word of mouth, you go to the other world. When B.p. asked him: Dom Shqefni, what about in the other countries of the East that are socialist, are they the same as in Albania? Shqefni answers, this is different in logic, since heresy existed even before communism and already in communism idolaters (irreligious) have been multiplying.
When he told Shqefni that: I wonder how the clergy, especially you Catholics, did not give up the anti-party and anti-government activity. He answered that: every person has his ideal and when I have taken a path, which he believed to be true and right, I have a very difficult time leaving it, just as the communists act, for their path as well clerics with full faith and the character they have, as it is very difficult with them in passivity…!
Regarding the efforts of the Vatican for the union of the two Catholic religions, Shqefni said: That work in today’s conditions is seen as very necessary and not only Orthodoxy and Catholicism, but also other branches such as liturgicalism, Calvinism, are more fused into one alone, that is, to be in a leadership center, in the Vatican. That this is how communism and hermeticism are efficiently faced. Regarding the treatment given to him in the cooperative, Dom Shqefni said; that I work as much as I can, in the warehouse, where I thank the storekeeper Nikolle Daka, who treated me as well as possible.
As for the accommodation, I am very unhappy, since this room, as I see it, is no bigger than the dungeons of Kochi.
In the warehouse, there are also two or three workers who work with me, with whom I exchange a few words; also others do not come to talk to me, because they are afraid. Just as I am afraid to talk to others, after they take the words out of hand, even when the conversation is family and social. As the tailor, Prenga, often came to meet with me, with whom they spent some time chatting without saying a word.
For the acceptance of food expenses, I have spent until now with the money of the loot sold, with which I have missed a day’s work and others, as you said, I don’t even want to, but they don’t dare. In order to prolong the time of the priest, for the reasons of the purpose for which I had been sent, I began to ask about some matters of religion without hesitation, even when it seemed to you that I was overdoing it, and he told me that you teachers, look for materials to use in your discussions with students. – And the people against religion forgive me for telling them that you don’t have them for that job. But your delving into some matters of religion leads you to what you want most out of curiosity.
“Address”
Tasks: They are written in the original that are in the work file of B.p.
Operational measures:
It was produced in one copy, which will be placed in the file of Shqefan Kurti.
Operative Office
(Qemal Karamani)
Secret
Extras
Excerpted from contributor report “Seman”
From the processing he was doing in the dungeon B.p. “Semani”, Dede Vukas, in the report dated 19/3/1969, page 3, line 15, says that Deda Vuka told me: “Marka Kol Preçi (father of Agostin Preçi) was called twice to the investigator. He hasn’t shown anything as far as I can tell. When we were in prison with Marka Kol Precin, we talked to him about everything. At the beginning, Marku told me that: the Government does not even play the ball, but now he was convinced, because when we had an occasion where I met with Marku and Dom Shtjefën Kurtin in Gurëz, the three of us talked there and convinced Marku that, with the arrival of those outsiders, about whom we told them and told them that the outsiders have often lied to us, but this time they will get their word out, even something will be done on the occasion of Easter. When they convinced Marka Kol Preçi, Deda says”. Memorie.al
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