By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Part Six
Memorie.al / When not even a week had passed since 2 July 1990, when thousands of Albanian citizens climbed over the railings and walls of foreign embassies in Tirana and entered their premises with the aim of leaving Albania, the high leadership of the PPSh (Party of Labour of Albania), headed by General Secretary Ramiz Alia, held the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee, which held its sessions on 6 and 7 July. Although the agenda was predetermined in three main points, where the one on the development of education in Albania predominated, almost throughout the proceedings of that plenum (especially at point 4, “Miscellaneous”), the event of those days, otherwise known as “2 July of the embassies,” was discussed and debated. At that plenum, in which all members and candidates of the Central Committee of the PPSh took part, the first secretaries of the party committees of the districts, ministers, leading cadres of the sector of education, culture, science, economy, leaders of the organization of the Union of Working Youth of Albania, from the apparatus of the Central Committee of the PPSh, Radio-Television, ATSH, etc., absent were Nimet Cani, Ali Vukatana, Reiz Malile, Shpëtim Çaushi, Zylyftar Ramizi, Qemal Lame, Zef Loka, Pirro Kondi and Hekuran Isai, who for several days had been “in the field,” “managing” the embassy event.
After the opening of the meeting by Ramiz Alia, the floor was given to the Minister of Education, Skënder Gjinushi, who also delivered the relevant report (“On the perfection of the educational system and the further qualitative strengthening of the school”), the main topic of that plenum was “the embassy event,” discussing and analyzing in detail how and why it happened (“the role of foreign agencies”), up to the tasks that emerged for managing that situation in those hot July days, when over five thousand Albanian citizens from all the districts of the country were in the internal premises of some of the main embassies in Tirana, waiting to leave Albania.
In addition, throughout that meeting, but mainly at point no. 4 of the agenda (which was discussed in the final session), several of the main events that had occurred in various districts of the country during that year were also taken into analysis, such as; the protests in Shkodër in January for the removal of Stalin’s bust; the events in the city of Kavajë where the people of that city clashed with police forces; the mass escapes from the state borders with Yugoslavia and Greece, the mass gatherings at holy religious sites, such as the Church of Saint Ndou in Laç of Kurbin; the legal permission of religious beliefs and the opening of places of worship; or other problems raised for solution, such as; the talks of the international factor for the restoration of diplomatic relations with the USA, the Soviet Union (the talks held with the Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister in Sofia by Sofokli Lazri); the Kosovo problem; international pressure for the opening of Albania to the world and its accession to several international conventions; the privileges of the high leadership of the PPSh and their families who lived mainly in the “Block”; the words circulating among the people about Enver Hoxha’s family and Ramiz’s relations with Nexhmije; the change of legislation and the penal code; the release of political prisoners; the mess with passports of citizens who sought to go out as visitors to their relatives abroad; the new economic mechanism; the housing and employment of many additions in all the districts of the country; the giving of land and livestock to the cooperative peasantry; up to the supply of the urban population with basic food products and various industrial goods.
As we will also see from archival documents belonging to the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee of the PPSh, which we emphasize are published for the first time, besides the leadership and some of the high functionaries of that time, at that meeting several other high figures who continued their political careers even after the 1990s also discussed or were mentioned, such as; Skënder Gjinushi, Fatos Nano, Sali Berisha, Rexhep Mejdani, Gramoz Pashko, Spiro Dede, Dritëro Agolli, Ismail Kadare, Moikom Zeqo, Mehmet Elezi, Lisen Bashkurti, Koço Kokëdhima, Ylli Popa, Aleks Luarasi, etc.
Likewise, in the voluminous file of this plenum, of great interest are also those documents belonging to the secretaries of the Party Committees of the districts or the “Information Group” who went to all the districts of the country and documented all the main issues that emerged in the meetings of the basic party organizations, where “On the letter of the Central Committee” was discussed, documents that constitute the largest and also the most important part of the file in question. It can even be said to be among the most important of the entire period of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha and his successor Ramiz Alia, since that period of time with the events that unfolded also marked the prologue of the fall of that regime.
Likewise, of great interest are also the documents belonging to the final session of that meeting with point no. 4 of the agenda “Miscellaneous,” which constitutes also the hottest point of the entire plenum, where it was discussed, even with harsh debates, the release from duties and sending into retirement of three members of the Political Bureau (Rita Marko, Manush Myftiu and Prokop Murra), or the release from ministerial duties or other high functions that some other “leaders” had held for years, such as Simon Stefani, Pali Miska, Muho Asllani, Lenka Çuko, Vito Kapo, Pirro Kondi, Jovan Bardhi, etc., and the appointment of “young comrades” in the leadership of the high forums of the Party and State, such as; Xhelil Gjoni, Abdyl Backa, Niko Gjyzari, Kiço Mustaqi, etc. Regarding these etc., we are informed by the documents in question extracted from the Central State Archive (Fund of the former Central Committee of the PPSh), which are published for the first time and with the relevant facsimiles by Memorie.al
Continues from the previous issue
REPORT-INFORMATION OF THE FIRST SECRETARY OF THE PARTY COMMITTEE OF THE VLORA DISTRICT, HALIL HASKO, SENT TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PPSh, RAMIZ ALIA
CONCLUSIONS AND TASKS ARISING FROM THE DISCUSSION OF THE LETTER OF THE CC OF THE PARTY.
The sacrifices are among the most sublime, from 70 thousand partisans, nearly half we left on the field of honor. In the stance toward these elements let us go even further, remove them from that job and send them to more difficult work, not separate from them, not reveal their connections and organization. That then sends them also before the people’s court. And these should not be left only to the Department of Internal Affairs, the criticism of which the Party has made clear and they must reflect quickly. Militancy and popular vigilance are much more than some “Departments” taken together.
The enemy prepares scenario after scenario. It organized the embassy events. The finale, that refugee camps be created within the country, it did not realize. The decree of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly burned their cards in their hands, but nevertheless for the internal situation and the image of Albania in the world, the consequences were not good. Even from our district 26 people entered the embassies, 60 others went to Tirana with these motives. From hooligan and deceived elements, the work reached the point that these thoughts were expressed even openly, to communicate from one city to another. Communists, cadres and family members in the neighborhoods of the city of Vlora, in Nartë, Selenicë and elsewhere listen, but what did they do?
A part took the positions of the spectator, and of the one who waits for what will happen, or of the transmitter, for I heard this and I heard that. The communist, the cadre, the comrade, the relative is never superfluous for what he wants, to speak to him and turn him onto the right path. Such concerns we have and can be incited again by the enemy. The communist and civic duty is to understand them, to call them and advise them both socially and officially at the workplace and in the neighborhood, everywhere to create a single unique front. In this matter there is no place for any kind of underestimation. Let us distinguish the law from the moral norm.
If the law calls escape an illegal violation of the border, morally we call it treason against the Fatherland. We ask: from what moral norms did the basic organizations of the Party of the Trade Park, NG Çimento, etc., start, that toward communist parents whose children fled to the embassies they held softening stances?! Why should their secretaries be called several times to the Party Committee? It is not understandable that such communists cannot play the role of agitator, inspirer and organizer of the masses.
After the embassy events the enemy’s new scenario is to incite dissatisfactions among our people that they rise against the power. Here some of our shortcomings and weaknesses are also exploited. We have shortages in goods; drought is severely damaging us, without denying also the delays and defects of organization. Our task is that we do not let anyone fall into the bosom of the enemy. To drown the attempts in the embryo, preparing the opinion in the Party. But are we always and for everything at the head of this opinion? In the soda-PVC plant some negative elements find ground and gather the workers for some illegal demands, because communists and a part of the cadres had pronounced themselves alone with them.
Others said: “We heard something, but we did not understand it well.” Party work, militancy and vigilance are this? Certainly not. Comrade Osman Jazaj as a candidate of the District Bureau should have assessed the situation more seriously. These symptoms appeared as early as the general meeting of the communists on the occasion of clarifying some political problems. Instead of drawing conclusions, his stance was somewhat justifying. The strengthening of the Party’s work and especially the growth of the militant spirit for us has not ceased. The letter gave its effect, but there is no place for euphoria and carelessness that “the enemy was defeated.”
These are wrong and light-minded thoughts. The intensity of the war against us depends on the enemy’s tactics. Now no less it is aiming also at the countryside. It saw that with the giving of livestock and the expansion of the yard over 60% of the population was calmed, strengthened the connections and trust in the Party. Therefore the enemy tries to divide, to put in conflict with the Party and the people’s power, exploiting the psychology of private property. The slogans that “the cooperatives will be broken up” in some villages influenced many. Peasants from Gumenica rise to take land in Mavrovë.
In Trevllazër and Sevaster on these motives they blow toward the division of the cooperative, etc. The enemy will continue to incite, to slander, to denigrate, to make dissatisfied. Especially now this interests it greatly to divert attention from Yugoslavia and the terror in Kosovo. This situation draws all of us to vigilance, both for ourselves and for Kosovo which has its eyes from Albania. The cadres should be organized in tours, with organization to work and the communists also to be vigilant. Eye and ears open. Let us give an answer to every moment and deliberate attempt.
Comrade Ramiz these days will set off for the UN. This is an important event. There he will also hold a speech. With the love and pride for our beloved leader, for the noble mission he is carrying out for the entire people of our nation, in these difficult historical conditions, we respond immediately. Let us work, express our support and solidarity, all the more with vigilance, unity and readiness, with discipline and high organization in work.
Let us increase the organizational work of the Party for the implementation of the tasks of the 10th-11th Plenum of the Central Committee in the field of the economy.
All units of social food and of fruits and vegetables in the commercial enterprises, from 1 September, have passed with separate accounts. Likewise also the units of artisanal service in the city and in the countryside, 10 enterprises have passed the majority of the sectors, etc. A month ago a generalization was organized in the Meat-Milk Enterprise. The experience so far is little, but the general is the tendency of strengthening the base units, with a more reduced central administration.
There is a growth of efforts for the material base and more careful examination of expenses. The number of “accountants” has increased because there is interest also from the workers. Even the enterprises that have not been included have carried out studies for the organizational structure, the improvement of the ratio between producing workers and auxiliary workers, etc. Legitimacy, the economic mechanism, we cannot say that it has been understood. The studies for the increase of production, for the technical-technological perfection, for the utilization of capacities and in the end of the power, of the net income, in some enterprises are behind, while the New Year is knocking.
In the Agricultural Enterprise Llakatund, Kotë, Rinia, the Institute of Olive and Citrus and in some other enterprises that claim to have surplus labor force, they have not yet studied the ways of employment, through more intensive crops or through new producing activities. The agricultural enterprises have problems of funds for the investments made during 1989 and continuously, through the projects and estimates without which it cannot make the complete studies. Some enterprises have problems of the settlement of debit-credits (as in NGP Drithi, Enterprise Banesa, of Salt, of Bitumen, the Canning Combine, Oil-Soap, PAM, etc.) others of goods stocks and slow circulation.
According to the project plans, few collectives manage to receive additions over the base salary. This matter deserves a careful and responsible study, now and during October when we will make the final discussion of the plan. The rounding of the plans in this way “to be within” means misunderstanding and liquidation of the incentive mechanism, which is also the content and the new of this way of management. The groups set up by the Executive Committee of the KP of the District should not remain in guiding positions, but of concrete assistance for the solution of these problems, to set in motion the apparatuses to clarify well the workers, to increase their initiative and demand toward the administrations, the contribution and creative thought of the workers themselves. In parallel, the demand for the realization of the tasks of this year should be exercised, above the levels of which the project of 1991 is raised.
With perseverance and practical spirit from the sectors and the enterprises themselves, it is required to work also in the direction of services to the people. Now there is no longer place to justify oneself with the lack of premises. Let us encourage also the private units but let us establish full hygienic-sanitary control over them, the tracking of incomes and the cultured service for which the people have presented complaints also during the discussion of the Letter of the CC of the Party. As soon as possible, within the week, those 600 Ha of land that has remained undivided for the yard should also be divided. Even if they are occupied, let them be designated, so that each one knows where he has the land given to him for personal use. The delay is bringing us nothing good; except quarrels, greed to take everything under water and among the best lands.
In some cooperatives as in Brataj; Mekat, Gjorm; Shkozë although there is less land there is the tendency to take the maximum norm, the best lands and under water. And the cooperative? Therefore once again in a rural way, to discuss from the positions of the strong preservation of the cooperative, that bread be produced, but also that incomes be ensured. The example in this direction should be given by the communists and the cadres. Let them take the land first, around the house or above water as much as will be set, let a rein be put on some strong tendencies of the psychology of private property.
As in agriculture so in industry a big and concerning problem is the stance toward work and property, and in general the issue of discipline. In Kropisht 15 ha of corn cannot be found even a trace. In Panaja the tomato plot disappeared and the furrows are being attacked. In Sherishtë and Llakatund there is damage to corn, etc. Where are we going like this? And everyone complains that “they all come like a village, you have nothing to do, etc.” This is not true. The truth is that where there is no work, there is justification. Nothing happened to the brigadiers and cadres of clean who stay at the head of the work. It happened thus to those who are tainted and compromised.
We mentioned above that in Himarë there are problems. Some boys have gotten it into their heads that they will find “paradise” in Greece and do not come out to work. There were brigades that had been reduced to 10-15 people, from 50 that a brigade has, while the secretary of the basic organization of the Party, “Hero of Socialist Labour,” brigadier Koço Çoro, in those circumstances and in that environment was missing only 2 people. In another aspect the concern of discipline is also in the economic enterprises. From the controls made it has been found that the second shift in the Mechanical Plant had left work two hours earlier, in Llampa the lab technician left who left the others without work, somewhere you do not find anyone from the administration. After the Letter of the CC there are reflections, nevertheless discipline in all its aspects remains a problem and a sign of reflection in the situations we are going through.
Everywhere, both in the countryside and in the city there is a spirit of unbearable demands. Asphalting of roads, culture palaces, and water supply ahead of time is demanded even though it is explained that there are no pipes, sewers, houses, salary increases, pension reductions, when we have them among the lowest in the world. Sweden has the pension age at 70 years, West Germany 65 years and for women 60 years.
The demands on the other hand, how to strengthen discipline, how to realize the tasks, what to give more to export, how to lower import, etc., that is, the demands toward oneself are not felt. How can they claim and take more, when we do not produce more! These 10 years, while social production has increased 17%, the fund of salaries has increased, it comes out clearly in what skewed positions they have walked. Such issues are direct tasks of the Party and its cadres. With arguments and with the demand of discipline let us educate and instill in people right moral norms, before asking of society, let us give to it.
These were some of the conclusions and main tasks that I think emerge from the Letter of the CC of the Party. The issue is that we take them further. The Letter is not only for today, it is also for the future; it raises fundamental issues, the issue of the Party and the issue of power, which are and will be the enemy’s objection. Our task is in each member of the Plenum, as a leader of the Party of the district, to put all forces for the revolutionization of the basic organizations of the Party so that they rise to the occasion of the situations, put themselves at the head of the works and act with initiative, without asking whether they gather once in three or five days, whether they gather at night or during the day.
The issue is that the Party be in command, function at every moment, forge militant and revolutionary communists to give the works a new push forward, we think that the conclusions that will emerge from the development of the proceedings of the Plenum we summarize and, the members of the Plenum and other cadres who participate should work them, this should serve for a clarification of those issues that have still remained unclear and for the concretization of the tasks that emerge for the strengthening of the Party’s work, the closing with the best possible results of the year 1990 which is also the last year of the 8th 5-year plan? / Memorie.al
P/BY THE BUREAU OF THE DISTRICT PARTY COMMITTEE
FIRST SECRETARY OF THE DISTRICT PARTY COMMITTEE
Halil Hasko
Vlorë, 20.9.1990
