From Agim Musta
Part twenty-three
Memorie.al / On the fourth anniversary of the passing away of the well-known historian, researcher, writer and publicist Agim Musta, (July 24, 2019), former political prisoner, his daughters Elizabeta and Suela, gave him the right to exclusivity for the publication, by the online media Memorie.al, of one of the author’s most prominent publications, such as the ‘Black Book of Albanian Communism’. This work contains numerous data, evidence, facts, statistics and arguments unknown to the general public, on communist crimes and terror in Albania, especially against intellectuals, in the period 1945-1991. The publication for the first time of parts of this book is also the realization of one of the bequests of the historian Agim Musta, who, from the beginning of 1991 until he passed away, for nearly three decades was engaged with all his powers, working to raise collective memory, through book publications and publications in the daily press. All that voluminous work of Mr. Agim Musta, concretized in several books, is a contribution of great value to the disclosure of the crimes of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha and his successor, Ramiz Alia. A good part of the publications of Mr. Agim Musta, is also translated into English. Thanking the two daughters of the late Musta, who chose Memorie.al, to commemorate their father, from today we are starting the publication, part by part, of the “Black Book of Albanian Communism”.
Continues from last issue
-Portraits of fellow sufferers-
(1945-1991)
Martyrs of the American technical school “Harry T. Fultz”
In 1921, with the help of the Red Cross of American youth, as a continuation of President Wilson’s benevolent policy towards the Albanian nation, under the leadership of the outstanding pedagogue and great pro-Albanian, Harri Fultz, the Vocational Technical School was opened in Tirana Albanian-American. The path of this school was the path of affirmation of several generations of technicians and Albanian patriots, according to the American model of love for work, which in American society was and remains a cult.
It produced a multitude of skilled and dedicated cadres, intellectuals of great size, talented specialists in the engineering and pedagogical fields, agronomists and technicians from various fields, who gave a new modern and innovative impulse to this country. The number of graduates who joined the demands of the Albanian administration reached 156, but the new rulers who came to the head of Albania from the muzzle of the rifle, had their eye on these cadres who came out of the banks of the American school.
For them, the high structures of the communist state and the secret police (State Security) started a “witch hunt”. Wherever they traced their connections, they cut them off by means of imprisonments, investigations, murders, and lynchings, which they had no reason for. The process of eliminating the cadres from the American Technical School was led by the Political Bureau and the communist leader
Enver Hoxha himself. The cadres of this named school put their lives, morals and souls at the service of progressive Albania, but instead of changing for their deed, they received heavy years of imprisonment and bullets in the dark nights of the communist genocide, in the land of eagles.
This is how their bastard compatriots rewarded those who more than anything loved their country, which they wanted to see free and prosperous and not under the tutelage of the red nomenclature, under the weight of collective crime and genocide. The perpetrators of these massacres against pro-American intellectuals were the executioner prosecutors, such as; Aranit Çela, Nevzat Haznedari, Petrit Hakani, Subi Bakiri, Siri Çarçani, etc., while the decisions, “in the name of the people” were given by criminal judges, such as; Bexhet Mema, Myftar Grabocka, Njazi Meka, Abdy1 Hakiu (State Security officers), the genocidal platform of the PKS against Albanian intellectuals and elite, which included the intellectuals of the “Harry Fultz” American Technical School.
American school students who were sentenced to death and executed:
- Dino Shani
Born in Istanbul, 36 years old. He completed the Technical School in Tirana and then the Military Academy in Italy. Until 1939, an officer in the Albanian National Army. In 1945, clerk at UNRRA. In September 1946, he was arrested as a collaborator of the Americans. During the trial, he denies all charges. On April 7, 1948, he was sentenced to death by firing squad.
- Jani Koliaka
Born in Kavaje, age 61. Graduated in 1910 at the University of Malta for mechanical engineering. Takes part in the War of Vlora in 1920. Appointed a teacher at the Technical School in Tirana. In 1945, he was appointed director of the “Harry Fultz” school, he was a master of several languages. He is accused of being an agent of the Americans. He was arrested in 1947 and died during the investigation, being tortured for 7 months.
- Loni Adami
Born in Proger de Devolli, age 35. He graduated from the “Harry Fultz” American Technical School. From 1929 to 1939, he was secretary at the American embassy in Tirana. Accompanying the English mission during the Second World War. As a result of the barbaric treatment in the investigator, he died in June 1947.
- Mahmut Maci
Born in Tirana, age 31. Completed the “Harry Fultz” American Technical School. He works at the Ministry of Agriculture, then at the Agricultural School in Kavaje. In 1942, he was a professor at the Pedagogical College of Elbasan. Arrested in 1947, as an agent of the Americans, and shot on March 8, 1948.
- Namik Haderi
Born in Delvina, age 35. Successfully graduated from “Harry Fultz” Technical School and worked as a teacher. Arrested on July 22, 1947, on the charge of “American agent”. He was sentenced to death and, on July 27, 1947, he was shot.
- Ndrek Kodheli
Born in Shkodër, age 37. Completed the “Harry Fultz” American Technical School. He works as a translator with the English instructors, who organized the Albanian Gendarmerie. In 1941, he worked as a correspondent for the magazine “Drini”. He was arrested in November 1944 and sentenced to 7 years of political imprisonment. In 1946, a delegation from the English Parliament was expected to visit the prisons. They take lunch to Burrel prison and shoot him on the way.
- Abdyl Hamolli
Jelal and Abdyl Hamolli – twin brothers. Born in Shkodër in 1910. He finished high school at the American Agricultural Technical School in Golem of Kavaja. They graduated from Cambridge University in England. They returned to Albania in 1936, with a degree in agronomy. They worked as lecturers at the American Agricultural Technical School in Golem. In 1946, they participated in the anti-communist uprising of Postriba (Shkodër). In October 1946, they were caught in the refuge and Abdyl was killed on the spot, while Xelal was arrested and sentenced to be shot on February 3, 1948.
- Anton Delhysa
Born in Prizren in 1904. Headed the Fultz Technical School. The head of the technical office is appointed. He mainly followed the constructions in Albania. A tireless man. Shot in 1951: “bomb in the Soviet embassy”
- Haki Pengili
Born in Krujë, age 40. Clerk of civil status, Krujë. Arrested in September 1947, as an agent of Harri Fultz (who, after the war, was a missionary at the US embassy in Tirana). On May 11, 1948, the military court sentenced him to be shot.
- Kamber Kazazi
Born in Elbasan, age 35. Completed the “Harry Fultz” American Technical School. In 1936 he was a teacher in several schools. Arrested in 1947, as a participant in the “Group of Deputies”. He is accused of being an American agent and is sentenced to death by firing squad.
- Kostaq Stefa
Born in Berat, only 43. He excelled at the “Harry Fultz” American Technical School. He completed his higher studies at the magistracy institute in France, for social sciences. Master of several foreign languages. Arrested on September 8, 1947. Accusation: spy for the Americans and the Intelligence Service. On March 3, 1947, he was shot.
- Mehdi Kuqi
Born in Kruja, 32 years old. He was a clerk in the administration. Arrested in 1947. Participant in the anti-communist group Kruje. Accusation: political organizer, being sued for ties to the US embassy. He is sentenced to be shot and, together with Haki and Xeladin, they are buried in a pit, in Abazaj, Kruja.
- Namik Bardha
Born in Preveza, age 36. Graduated from the “Harri Fultz” American Technical School, majoring in engineering. He works in the Ministry of World Affairs. In 1946, chairman of N.Sh.N. Elbasan. In 1947, he directed the works at the Gjirokastra hospital. Arrested in 1947, as an American intelligence agent. Executed in November 1947.
- Neki Radovicka
Born in Cologne, age 36. Graduated from the Technical School in Tirana. He specializes in the eradication of malaria in Italy, at the “Rockefeller” foundation. In the years 1939-1945, he worked in the Ministry of Health. From 1945-1946, he worked at UNRRA. He was arrested in 1946 and, after 13 months of torture in the interrogator, the executioners took his life.
- Sami Sulstarova
Born in Pogradec, age 40. Graduated from the Technical School in Tirana. In 1929, he was a teacher and employee at the archaeological exhibition. As a master of the English language, he works at UNRRA. He was arrested on New Year’s Eve 1946 by the State Security and disappeared without even knowing his grave. Sami had connections with the group “Bashkimi Demokrat”.
- Xheladin Kuqi
Born in Kruja, age 46. Completed the “Harry Fultz” American Technical School. Arrested in 1948. Accusation: Chairman of the Kruje Anti-Communist Committee (political organization thought to be headed by “Harry Fultz”). He was sentenced to be shot and on July 30, 1948, together with Haki Pengil and Mehdi Kuq, they were executed.
- Hazbi Puto
Born in Gjirokastra in 1900. He finished his engineering studies in the USA. Arrested in 1947 and sentenced to death, shot as an EBS “agent”.
The beating of Albanian diplomats by the communist regime, 1945-1990
The Albanian state since November 28, 1912, had an elite of diplomats who had served in very important diplomatic posts of the Ottoman Empire. They had studied in the best universities of Turkey and were well versed in the art of European diplomacy. Later, the Albanian diplomacy was filled with young cadres who had studied in the universities of Western Europe and in the United States of America.
Of course, the Party-state of Enver Hoxha, vassal of Titista Yugoslavia, the former Soviet Union and Maoist China, did not need career diplomats. During the communist regime, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was nothing but an annex of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Filled with security officers and intelligence agents of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Albanian communist state hit Enver with the “sword of Damocles”, a large number of diplomats, who had served with professionalism and honesty in the Albanian state, before the establishment of the communist dictatorship
- Rexhep Shazi
Born in Shkodër in 1911. Graduated from the University of Bucharest. He served in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs until 1944. He was arrested in 1946 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. After the end of his sentence, he was exiled to Kuç i Kurveleshi and in May 1958, he was killed by throwing him into an abyss.
- Xhelal Shaska
He was born in Kocul in Vlora in 1899. He completed his higher studies at the University of Florence. Entered the diplomatic service in the years 1930-1944. He was arrested in 1946 and sentenced to 15 years in prison. After finishing his prison term, he was deported to the village of Kocul, where he died in 1985.
- Mihal Sherko
He was born in Korçë in 1887. He graduated in Odesa. In 1927, he was employed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with high positions, where he worked until 1944. He was arrested in 1945 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
- Koço Tashko
He was born in Egypt, in 1899. He completed his university studies in Boston, America. Ambassador of the Albanian communist state in Moscow and Sofia. They were exiled in 1961 to Fratar of Mallakastra and in 1969, sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. After finishing his sentence, he was exiled again, until he died in 1984.
- Felatun Vila
He was born in Cologne in 1908. He graduated in Paris and served in diplomacy from 1937 to 1943. He was arrested in 1946 and sentenced to 21 years in prison. After prison, he was exiled to Kavaje, where he died in 1967
- Qamil Vlora
He was born in Istanbul in 1895, in the family of Ismail Qemali. He graduated from Rhone in France. He worked in Albanian diplomacy from 1931-1932, was arrested in 1945 and sentenced to 2 years in prison. He fell ill in prison and died in 1950.
- Myftar Vrioni
He was born in Berat in 1892. He completed his studies in Istanbul. Entered the service of Albanian diplomacy in 1925-1940. He was interned in Savër of Lushnja until he died in 1948.
- Allan Ypi
He was born in Manastir in 1912. He completed his higher studies at the Sorbonne University in France. He worked in Albanian diplomacy in 1937-1942. He was arrested in 1947 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. After prison, he was exiled to Kavaje, where he died in 1980.
- Hasan Alizoti
He was born in Gjirokastra in 1900. He completed his higher studies in Greece. He worked in Albanian diplomacy during the years 1927-1928. He was arrested in 1946 and served 5 years in prison. He died in exile in 1985.
- Fuat Asllani
He was born in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1897. He was one of the most excellent diplomats of the Albanian state. He graduated from the University of Vienna. He worked in Albanian diplomacy from 1929-1939. In 1934, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania. In 1946, he was expelled from Tirana by his family and settled in the city of Elbasan, where he died in 1981.
- Reshat Asllani
He was born in Izmir, Turkey, in 1897. He completed his higher studies in Italy. He worked in diplomacy during the years 1923-1924 and 1938-1939. He was arrested in 1946 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He died in 1978.
- Xhafer Belegu
He was born in Elbasan in 1905. He graduated in Linz, Austria. He worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1939-1944. In 1945, he was imprisoned and died in 1962.
- Benedikt Blinishti
He was born in Istanbul in 1985. He graduated from the University of Vienna. He worked in Albanian diplomacy from 1920 to 1936. In 1945, he was arrested and sentenced to 7 years in prison. He died in 1966.
- Haki Blloshmi
He was born in 1904 in Bërzesht i Librazhdi. He studied in the United States of America. In 1922, he served as secretary of the Albanian consulate in New York. He left the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1933. He was shot by communist gangs on March 7, 1944, in Dunica, Pogradec.
- Konstantin Boshnjaku
He was born in 1887, in Gjat village of Gjirokastra. He completed his higher studies in Odesa. In 1922, he was appointed ambassador to Turkey, Romania and Bulgaria. He was one of the most prominent representatives of the Comintern for the Balkans, during the years 1925-1939. Governor of the Albanian Bank, 1945-1947. Arrested in 1947, with the “Group of Deputies” and sentenced to life imprisonment. He died in Durrës, in 1953.
- Rremzi Cello
He was born in Leskovik in 1904. He completed his studies in Thessaloniki. He worked in the diplomatic services from 1933-1939. He was exiled forever with his whole family, in Gradisht of Lushnje, where he died in 1980.
- Mikel Coba
He was born in Shkodër in 1910. He studied at the University of Turin. In 1936, he was employed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he worked in the diplomatic services until 1944. In 1946, he was arrested and sentenced to 25 years in prison. He died in Shkoder in 1969.
- Qenan Dibra
He was born in Dibër e Madhe, in 1910. He graduated from the Sorbonne University in France. He worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the years 1938-1939 and 1943-1944. He was arrested in 1946 and shot the same year.
- Skender Frasheri
He was born in Istanbul in 1897. He completed his higher studies in France. He worked at the Turkish embassy in Tirana, during the years 1934-1939. He was arrested in 1951 and sent to lifelong exile in Shtyllas of Fier, where he died in 1964.
- Xhemal Frashëri
He was born in Istanbul in 1900. He completed his higher studies in Turkey. Engaged in Albanian diplomacy during the years 1924-1944. In 1947, he was arrested and sentenced to 12 years in prison. He died in 1988.
- Lazar Fundo
He was born in Korça in 1899. He completed his university studies in Paris, at the Faculty of Political Sciences. He works in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the years 1923-1924. On the order of Enver Hoxha, he was shot by the communist forces in September 1944, after being cruelly tortured.
- Rrok Gera
He was born in Shkodër in 1905. He completed his higher studies at the University of Vienna. He was activated as a high-ranking diplomat during the years 1943-1944. In 1945, he was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He died in Shkoder in 1968.
- Shaqir Hajrullah
He was born in Peja in 1902. He completed his higher studies in Belgrade. Had diplomatic functions during the years 1929-1939. It physically disappeared from the Yugoslav UDB in 1946.
- Hilmi Hysi
He was born in Vëndreshë of Skrapar in 1913. He completed his higher studies in Paris. Engaged in diplomacy from 1938-1940. He was arrested in 1947 and executed the same year.
- Rexhep Jella
He was born in Tirana in 1895. He completed his higher studies in England. In the years 1920-1923, he held high positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was imprisoned in 1945 and served 7 years of imprisonment. He was interned with his family in Kavaje, where he died in 1974.
- Angjelin Kakariqi
He was born in Shkoder in 1903. He was educated in Vienna. From 1928-1944, he was employed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a career diplomat. In 1947, he was arrested and sentenced to 20 years in prison. He died in Shkoder, in 1974.
- Mark Kodheli
He was born in Shkodër in 1892. He graduated from the Turin Military Academy. In 1925, he entered the diplomatic service, where he worked until 1937. He was killed in Korça in 1943, by a communist guerrilla unit.
- Jahid Koka
He was born in Larisa, Greece in 1906. He completed his higher studies in Bucharest. He entered the political career in 1937 and worked until 1939. In 1946, he was arrested and sentenced to be shot.
- Skender Konica
He was born in Istanbul in 1904. He completed his higher studies in France. He was involved in the diplomatic service from 1927-1941. He was arrested in 1947 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. After leaving prison, he was interned in the district of Fier, where he died in 1981.
- Konstantine Kote
He was born in Leusa of Përmet in 1896. He completed his higher studies in Rome. He began his diplomatic career in 1922, as secretary of the Albanian delegation to the League of Nations in Geneva. In 1943, he was appointed Minister of Economy. Arrested in December 1944 and shot in May 1945.
- Hassan Lame
He was born in Përmet in 1900. He graduated from the University of Turin. He began his diplomatic career from 1925-1927. In 1945, he was arrested and spent many years in prison. He died in Shkodër, in 1972.
- Xhavit Leskovik
He was born in Istanbul in 1882. He graduated from the High Academy of General Staff in Turkey. In 1921, he was Chief of Staff of the Albanian Army. In 1922, he began his diplomatic career as a military attaché in Belgrade. In 1929, he was employed as consul chief in Skopje. He continued his diplomatic career until 1937. He was arrested in Greece in 1944 by the Greek communists and brought to Albania. In April 1945, he was sentenced to life imprisonment and died in Burrel prison in 1957.
- Tefik Mborja
He was born in Korça in 1891. He completed his higher studies in Istanbul. In 1920, he began his diplomatic career as the official representative of Albania in Rome. He works in diplomacy until 1924 and continues later, until 1928. In 1939, he was appointed the minister of fascism. He was arrested in December 1944 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Died poisoned in Burrel prison in 1954.
- Kosta Meksi
He was born in Labovë, Gjirokastra, in 1901. He completed his higher studies at the Sorbonne University in France. He was employed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from 1925-1944. He was extradited from Bulgaria in 1948 to Albania and sentenced to 15 years in prison. After being released from prison, with great difficulty he was allowed to go to Sofia, where he had his family. He died in 1990.
- Kostandin Mima
He was born in Durrës in 1902. He completed his higher studies in Vienna. He worked in the diplomatic service during the years 1925-1944. He was arrested in 1947 and sentenced to 7 years in prison. He died in Tirana, in 1985.
- Pandeli Nasi
He was born in Korça in 1897. He completed his higher studies in Athens. He served in the diplomatic service from 1923-1944. In 1954, he was interned in Kuç of Vlora. He died in Korça in 1974.
- Bahri Omar
He was born in Gjirokastra in 1888. He completed his higher studies in Istanbul. He was elected deputy in the first Albanian Parliament in 1921. In February 1944, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Albania. He was arrested in December 1944 and sentenced to death in April 1945.
- Hajro Plaku
He was born in Konispol in 1903. He completed his higher studies in Turin. In 1925, he worked as the secretary of the Albanian consulate in Trieste. He was imprisoned in 1946 and served 8 years in prison. He died in Shkoder, in 1969.
- Hito Sadiku
He was born in Bênçe village of Tepelena in 1900. He emigrated to the United States of America in 1920. He worked as a secretary of the Albanian legations in Washington, Boston and New York. In 1946, he returned to Albania. In 1947, he was arrested and cruelly tortured, until he died in the Gjirokastra hospital in 1953. Memorie.al
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