By Dashnor Kaloçi
Part Eight
Memorie.al / It was the morning of September 1, 1976, when the workers of the Fishing Enterprise who were the first to arrive at their workplace located on the shore of Lake Shkodra near the village of Shiroka, found that the guard of the enterprise of that sector was surprisingly missing, as well as the office staff, something that had never happened before?! This is because, among other things, there was also the pier where all the fishing boats were anchored, which, tied with chains and locked with a key, were considered objects of special importance and were under the control and double guard, both by the fishing enterprise and by the Border Post located in the village of Zogaj, where the state border with Montenegro, at that time part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of Marshal Tito, was also located.
Although a torrential and stormy rain continued to fall, which had started since midnight, the fishermen began to look for the guard and the foreman of their company, calling them by name, but in vain, because no one answered? But after a while, they were stunned and terrified, when just a few meters away from the fish warehouse, they saw a corpse lying on the ground with no signs of life…! It was the 50-year-old guard, Fadil Rizaj, who had been serving in that position for several years. No one dared to touch him with their hands, because not only was he bloody and with visible marks on his head and body, but his hands were tied with rope from behind his body and also his respiratory organs, tied with a cloth behind his head…! Which clearly meant that he had been killed…?
After that scene of horror, some of the fishermen ran to the offices to call the heads of their company and the Internal Affairs Branch as well, but the telephone line was cut and the connection to Shkodra could not be established…! Meanwhile, from other checks to find the company’s wreck, it was also found that one of the boats (fishing boats) was missing from the pier on the lake shore, precisely the one known as; “Health Boat”, and the safe that held their keys, was broken with a crowbar!
Meanwhile, the alarm was given and there were some of the officers and main chiefs of the Shkodra Internal Affairs Branch, who immediately determined that not only were they dealing with a serious crime, but also with an escape by boat across the lake, which, among other things, would also aggravate their position before their superiors at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tirana. Meanwhile, the news spread and the investigative group with the relevant experts immediately began work to uncover the crime that had occurred and unravel the entire event, which a few days later would shock not only the city and district of Shkodra, but also Tivar, Titograd and Ulcinj in Montenegro!
But what had really happened, who and why had killed the fishing guard Fadil Rizaja? How many people had escaped and what had happened at midnight on August 31, as September 1, 1976 dawned, as a heavy rain fell with thunder and lightning, which was said to have never been remembered, even by the oldest residents of those parts? Why were several dead bodies found on the shore of the lake on the Yugoslav side and another corpse on our side of the border, near the border post in the village of Zogaj? How was the main author of that escape able to swim to the part of the lake that belonged to the border of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, on that dark night with rain, waves and storm?
Who was Hamit Arif Myrto and what did he initially say to the residents of that area, when they saw him completely naked in the alleys of their village, as well as to the competent Yugoslav authorities, regarding the reasons for his escape? What did the UDB authorities ask Hamit during the investigation process in several separate offices in Tivar, Titograd and Ulcinj, where they sent him, frequently changing his location, his “cellmates” and the investigators who interrogated him? What did he testify to when they asked him about the military bases and units, the missile unit and other installations that were located at that time in the Shkodra district, as well as the tracts that were dropped in that city those days, against the Party of Labor and Enver Hoxha?
What did Hamit tell the UDB bodies, regarding his brother-in-law, a minister in the government headed by Mehmet Shehu, and also one of the closest people to the dictator Enver Hoxha, who remained in that position until the collapse of the communist regime? Who was the “photographer” from Shkodra who had escaped to Yugoslavia a few years ago and why were all the investigators asking Hamit about that person? Why did the Yugoslav UDB authorities decide to return Hamit Myrto to Albania, handing him over to the Albanian State Security bodies, even though they were convinced that he had not been sent on a secret mission?
What did Hamit testify during the investigative process, such as the reasons that had forced him to undertake that dangerous adventure, and also everything he had told the UDB? What did Hamit write in the letter addressed to Enver Hoxha to the Minister of Defense Beqir Balluku and how was it possible to find that letter in his house in Shkodra? What did Hamit’s family members, relatives, neighbors, work colleagues, the brigadier, the director of the Fishing Enterprise, the chairman of the People’s Council of the “Partizani” Neighborhood where he lived, and other people who were called to testify against him, testify during the investigation process, in the fall of 1976?
Why was the trial of Hamit Myrtos held in the village of Shiroka, how much was he convicted by the Shkodra District Court, the Criminal College of the Supreme Court and why did the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, leave their decisions in force, for his death sentence (by hanging) even after that terrible tragedy that had happened to him; where he lost his entire family? What were Hamit’s last words before the firing squad and why, to this day, has his grave not yet been found?!
Regarding these and other of the most serious and tragic events that the Shkodra region and Montenegro experienced in those years, we are informed by the archival documents of the voluminous relevant file that Memorie.al has provided, which we are publishing in several issues (with the relevant facsimiles and photos), with the sole purpose of shedding light and making known the monstrous crimes that occurred at that time, where Albanians, in order to escape the communist hell, were forced to undertake the most dangerous adventures towards the state border, just like the main character of this event, Hamit Arif Myrtja!
Continued from the previous issue
REPORT-EXPERTISE OF FORENSIC NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DOCTOR SANDËR ASHTA, AFTER THE VISIT MADE BY HAMIT ARIF MYRTJA, SENT TO THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE INTERNAL BRANCH OF SHKODRA, JAKE TEFIKU
FORENSIC EXPERTISE REPORT
Today, 29.10.1976, I, Sandër Ashta, a neuropsychiatrist at the Shkodra District Hospital, at the request of the investigator of the Internal Affairs Branch, Mr. Jake Tefiku, conducted the following expertise:
The defendant Hamit Arif Myrtja is accused of the crime of hostile propaganda, terror and treason against the homeland.
I must answer the questions:
- What illness does the defendant suffer from?
- Is he responsible for the criminal acts committed?
The aforementioned Hamit Arif Myrtja has never presented himself for a neuropsychiatric examination. 8-9 years ago, he was hospitalized in the Surgery Department for a head injury. During the conversation with him, he communicates well, although he periodically presents emotional disturbances with crying. These are not related to any mental illness.
He is responsible for the criminal acts committed.
Shkodra on 29.X.1976 Dr. Sandër Ashta
REPORT-INFORMATION OF THE DIRECTORATE OF THE INSPECTORATE OF THE PRESERVATION OF ECONOMIC DEEDS, WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS FOR GUARD FADIL RIZAJ, SENT TO THE INTERNAL BRANCH OF SHKODRA
People’s Republic of Albania
Inspectorate of Economic Activities Shkodër, 11.10.1976
No. 39 of Prot.
DOMESTIC BRANCH
(Investigation Sector)
Shkodër
According to the verbal request, we describe the characteristics of the guard Fadil Riza Brezda, born in 1922, born and residing in the village of Zues, who came to work as a guard in the Inspectorate for the Protection of Economic Works on 29.9.1973.
During the service he performed in this Inspectorate, he was an example at work and in society, who at the time of performing his duty and precisely on 1 September 1976, in the line of duty, sparing neither blood nor life, was found dead (massacred) by the enemies of the People’s Power.
This infuriates us as employees in a work center and we think that this comrade should be considered a martyr of the construction of socialism (labor), or be decorated with a Bravery Medal, this was our opinion, since for the political stance of the family, and he is very good. There is a brother A. P., who has spared no effort in the interest of work and the Party, wherever the Party has called upon them, his family has embraced the initiatives that have been developed in the village and in the city.
For all that we said above, on behalf of that Branch we request that through the competent bodies, please mediate for the proposals that we noted above, since our opinion is that such a thing belongs to the one mentioned.
P/Party Bureau Inspectorate P/Inspection. Economic Activities.
Secretariat Inspector
Ramadan Kraja Maliq Onuzi
MINUTES OF THE INTERVIEW AS WITNESSES BY THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE SHKODAR INTERNAL BRANCH, JAKE TEFIKU, OF SOME FAMILY MEMBERS AND RELATIVES OF HAMI ARIF MYRTJA
MINUTES
(Of questioning the witness)
Today, on 1.9.1976, in the city of Shkodra, I, the investigator of the Internal Affairs Branch, Jake Tefiku, questioned as a witness, Drita Rakip Egerçi, born in 1951, with 8 years of education, place of residence “Konferenca e Pezës”, Street “Mujo Ulqinaku”, no. 57 Shkodra, job as a seamstress in the Clothing Department, non-partisan, unconvicted, relationship with the convicted person, indifferent.
The investigator warned me of criminal liability based on Article 220 of the Criminal Code, for false testimony.
Drita Egerçi
I, Hamit Myrtaj, am the son of my maternal aunt, with whom I had rare visits at the beginning of the year. At 4:00 PM, I left the house to go to the company to close the 15-day work week. When I arrived at the Trumpet of “Dugajëve të Reja”, I happened to meet Hamit who was going towards his house, got on his bicycle, saw me and stopped.
After we greeted him, he told me without me asking, that his wife Hasije is in Kosmaç, without telling me any longer and I didn’t ask him any longer who she was with, Hamit also told me that he went to the house to get dressed and go out. Hamit was wearing boots and work clothes; he had a brown bag on his bicycle, like it was made of leather. He followed me, greeting me, and left, he to his work and I to mine.
Everything I said is true and I sign it with my signature.
The witness Present Investigator
Drita Egerçi Enver Egerçi Jake Tefiku
MINUTES
(Of questioning the witness)
Today, on September 1, 1976, in the city of Shkodra, I, the investigator of the Internal Affairs Branch, Jake Tefiku, questioned as a witness Remzi Arif Myrtaj, born in 1948, with 7 years of education, place of residence “Manush Alimani” Neighborhood, “Mujo Ulqinaku” Street, no. 4 Shkodra, occupation fisherman, non-partisan, unconvicted, relationship with the convicted person, indifferent. ID number, was identified.
The investigator warned me of criminal liability under Article 220 of the Criminal Code, for false testimony.
Remzi Myrtaj
Regarding the case, I can say the following:
Around 3:00 p.m., I went to the house of my separated brother, Hamit Myrtaj, to verify where you are and when you left home last night. When I went there, I found the door of his house locked, I looked for any other member of his wife’s family, that is, his mother-in-law, Zybe, I don’t know her last name, we found her in her house, which lives near Hamit’s house, she is about 50 years old, I asked her about Hamit and his family, she told me that they went to Rakip Hoxha’s for dinner. I went to Rakip Hoxha and asked his wife, because I couldn’t find Rakip, Rakip’s wife, Bibe, answered us that it has been a year since Hamit and his family has come to our house.
I went to Hamit’s house again, caught his mother-in-law and asked her when Hamit had left the house and she told us that around 7:00 PM, on August 31, 1976, Hamit, together with his wife and children, left the house and told me that we were going to Rakipi’s. He had left some dishes of food with his mother-in-law, saying that the painters would come to paint the house that morning, and the clothes, she said, had been piled up in the middle of the house so that they would not get dirty from the paint and that the dishes left would not get dirty from the paint.
Meanwhile, I left. Hamit is about 31 years old, while his wife, about 29, has three children, the oldest is 8 years old, a girl, while the second, a boy, is 5 years old and the third is 2.5 years old. Hamit’s wife, named Hasije Xhemal Myrtaj, – said Zyba, – before they left the house together with Hamit, she gave the little boy a bath, because he had some pimples on his head.
Now, I met the son of my aunt’s daughter, Enver Egerçi, living in the “Ndocaj” neighborhood and he told me that his sister, Drita, had met Hamit yesterday, but where, I didn’t ask and Drita had asked about the mother and the children and Hamit had told him that Hasije is in Kosmaç, at her uncle’s. I am a fisherman in Dajlan in Fadil Ademi’s brigade, while Hamit is a fisherman in the motorboat brigade “Karavastaja”, with brigadier Qazim Ulkonja. I have been at work until four, Hamit together with his brigadier, Qazim Ulkonja, has been working until 3 o’clock, I have seen it myself. Then he left with his friends.
Later, I haven’t seen Hamit. Hamit and I haven’t been together for a while and we haven’t talked or come in or out with him for 9 years. My mother hasn’t spoken to me for 9 years, and my four sisters don’t talk to me either. The reason for the breakup is that Hamit wanted to take over our entire house and beat my mother and sisters; he even went to court and only got one room, which he sold to a villager and didn’t give to us. In short, I have no contact with him, no contact with him.
I read the process and signed it.
The witness Investigator
Remzi Myrtaj Jake Tefiku
Hamiti and Fadil Rizaja did not have any disagreements, on the contrary, we consider him a friend, because Fadil, the victim’s niece, married our aunt’s son, to his own son, named Bahri Mani, who lives in the village of Shiroka. So, there was no disagreement between them, as far as we know. Memorie.al
The witness Investigator
Remzi Myrtaj Jake Tefiku
Continues next issue
