By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Part One
Memorie.al/ At the end of May 1961, in Tirana, the trial of the so-called “Enemy Group” of Teme Sejko (former Rear Admiral of the Naval Warfare Fleet) concluded. He, along with Tahir Demi (former chairman of the Executive Committee of Elbasan District), Taho Sejko (former journalist of “Zëri i Popullit” and later director of the Shkodër Vehicle Park), Avdyl Resuli (Lieutenant Colonel in the Tirana Recruitment Branch), Hajri Manen, Nasho Gërxhon, Hajri Purizion, Ali Xhelo, Sami Murati, Izet Osmani, Shaban Ademi, etc., were accused of “being in the service of foreign agencies, such as the Yugoslav UDB, the Soviet KGB, the American CIA, the Greek Asfalia, with the aim of overthrowing the people’s power in Albania.”
As a result, after the sentencing on May 28, 1961, by the judicial panel headed by Shuaip Panariti (President of the High Court, and his assistants Major General Muharrem Kokomani, Colonel Sotir Spiro, Colonel Bejto Isufi, Lieutenant Colonel Hilmi Telegrafi, and session secretary Murat Deliallisi), eight of the defendants of this “Enemy Group” were sentenced to death by firing squad and executed on May 31 (two died during interrogation), while the rest of the defendants were sentenced to heavy prison terms, up to 25 years.
All of the above is now very well known, as since the early ’90s until today, dozens of writings with various testimonies or archival documents, as well as television documentaries, books, etc., have been published. However, what has remained somewhat unrevealed (at least with archival documents) is who were the main agents used by the State Security at that time to strike the “Group of Teme Sejko” or, otherwise known as the “Cham Group,” due to their origin from the Chameria region!
And how and how much were those State Security agents rewarded, who “sank” their fellow Cham compatriots? They were not brought to trial as witnesses, in order not to expose them, although their role was somewhat known, but as we said, it was never made public in newspapers, books, or magazines, as was the case at that time with other “Silent Heroes” of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Paradoxically, even today, almost 35 years after the fall of Enver Hoxha’s communist regime and his successor, Ramiz Alia, not a single archival document has been published about the three main State Security agents who sank the “Group of Teme Sejko,” nor the rewards and other favors they received from the ruling communist regime for “their contribution in uncovering and striking that enemy group.”
Based on this, in this article we are publishing some archival documents (along with the corresponding facsimiles) extracted from the Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which are seeing the light of publication for the first time. But as we will see in this article and the corresponding facsimiles, only agent “Gjoksi” is given with his full name; Braho Beqo Emini, while “Trimi” and “Besniku” are not exposed?! (Agent “Trimi” is given with his full name in the second part of this article, from the testimonies of “Gjoksi”).
Perhaps also due to the State Security Platform, which categorically prohibited such a thing, something that the minister himself, Kadri Hazbiu, was the first to enforce? Likewise, a fourth person is mentioned there, Skënder Hoxha, who, unlike the other three who received salaries and rewards, only received a letter of commendation and a reward of 15,000 ALL.
But although they are not exposed in these documents, “Trimi” and “Besniku” are quite well known in the city of Shkodër, where they were sent to work and live, with the purpose “to protect them from the enemies of the people or the Greek agency,” against which they had worked since 1951, when they were sent on a secret mission to Greece, something we will see in the second part of this article, where they confirm with their own words their entire agent activity in the neighboring state.
DOCUMENT OF 1952 WITH THE ORDER OF THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, LIEUTENANT GENERAL KADRI HAZBIU, SETTING A MONTHLY SALARY OF EIGHT THOUSAND ALL FOR AGENT “TRIMI”
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAFFAIRS
STATE SECURITY DIRECTORATE
Tirana, 15.I.1952
Subject: Setting the monthly salary for agent “Trimi”
I ORDER
Starting from July 1, 1951, Agent “Trimi” is assigned a monthly salary of 8,000 (eight thousand) ALL, which are to be set aside until he returns from the assigned mission.
MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
MEHMET SHEHU
Printed in one copy
Conc. Capt. K. Voka
Typist V. Nini
DOCUMENT WITH THE ORDER OF THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS LIEUTENANT GENERAL KADRI HAZBIU, SENT TO THE POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE, FOR REWARDING AGENT “GJOKSI” WITH 126,000 ALL, FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 1951 TO DECEMBER 31, 1954
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Tirana, 6 September 1957
No….”A”. Res. Pers
TO THE POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE
HERE
I order that agent “Gjoksi” be rewarded with 3,000 ALL per month, starting from July 1, 1951, until December 31, 1954, and that the total sum amounts to 126,000 (one hundred twenty-six thousand) ALL.
For the period January 1, 1955, to March 30, 1957, he is to be told that the set reward is not given, because he did not act according to our instructions, and as a consequence has severed ties with foreign intelligence and has shown no interest in carrying out the assigned tasks.
MINISTER
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
Kadri Hazbiu
DOCUMENT WITH THE ORDER OF THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS KADRI HAZBIU, SENT TO THE POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE, FOR REWARDING AGENT “TRIMI” WITH 336,000 ALL
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Tirana, 6 September 1957
No….”A”. Res. Pers
TO THE POLITICAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE
HERE
I order that agent “Trimi” be rewarded with 8,000 ALL per month, starting from July 1, 1951, until December 31, 1954, and that the total sum amounts to 336,000 (three hundred thirty-six thousand) ALL.
For the period January 1, 1955, to March 30, 1957, he is to be told that the set reward is not given, because he did not act according to our instructions, and as a consequence has severed ties with foreign intelligence and has shown no interest in carrying out the assigned tasks.
MINISTER
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
KADRI HAZBIU
DOCUMENT OF 1961, WHERE THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS KADRI HAZBIU, GRANTS A LETTER OF COMMENDATION TO AGENT “GJOKSI” BRAHO BEQO EMINI, FOR THE CONTRIBUTION MADE IN UNCOVERING THE ENEMY GROUP OF TEME SEJKO, TAHIR DEMI, ETC.
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
“TOP SECRET”
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Tirana, 20.9.1961
No…
LETTER OF COMMENDATION
To Comrade BRAHO BEQO
These days the trial against the traitorous group of Teme Sejko and comrades has concluded.
The uncovering and liquidation of these traitors, hated agents of imperialism, is a great victory for the Homeland and our people.
In this case, I cannot fail to mention the contribution you have made in this regard. Your information from 1951 until the day you returned to the Homeland, regarding the activity of the American and Greek Intelligence and the channels they used from Konispol to Korçë, as well as the persons in the service of these intelligences, such as; Haki Rushiti, Rushit Plaku, Rasim Aliu, Ramadan Fehimi, Spiro Zharkalliu, Skënder Bllaci, Gaqo Mujoni, Jani Kovaçi, Javer Alikoni, Xhafer Ali, Xhemal Hoxha, Shefqet Sallari, etc., later helped in uncovering and striking the enemies, such as: Teme Sejko, Tahir Demi, Abdyl Resuli, Hajri Mane, Nasho Gërxho, etc.
Considering your contribution, I thank you and wish you further success in your work for the good of the Homeland and our people.
MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
KADRI HAZBIU
Acknowledged
Emin Beqo
“Gjoksi”
DOCUMENT OF 1961, WHERE THE MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS KADRI HAZBIU, GRANTS A LETTER OF COMMENDATION AND A 15,000 ALL REWARD TO AGENT SKËNDER HOXHA, “FOR THE CONTRIBUTION MADE IN UNCOVERING THE ENEMY GROUP OF TEME SEJKO”.
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
“TOP SECRET”
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Tirana, 20.9.1961
No…
LETTER OF COMMENDATION
To Comrade SKËNDER HOXHA
These days the trial against the traitorous group of Teme Sejko and comrades has concluded.
The uncovering and liquidation of these traitors, hated agents of imperialism, is a great victory for the Homeland and our people.
In this case, I cannot fail to mention the contribution you have made in this regard. Your information from 1951 until the day you returned to the Homeland, regarding the activity of the American and Greek Intelligence and the channels they used from Konispol to Korçë, as well as the persons in the service of these intelligences, such as; Haki Rushiti, Rushit Plaku, Rasim Aliu, Ramadan Fehimi, Spiro Zharkalliu, Skënder Bllaci, Gaqo Mujoni, Jani Kovaçi, Javer Alikoni, Xhafer Ali, Xhemal Hoxha, Shefqet Sallari, etc., later helped in uncovering and striking the enemies, such as: Teme Sejko, Tahir Demi, Abdyl Resuli, Hajri Mane, Nasho Gërxho, etc.
Considering your contribution, I thank you and wish you further success in your work for the good of the Homeland and our people.
On this occasion, I reward you with 15,000 ALL.
MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
LIEUTENANT GENERAL
KADRI HAZBIU
Acknowledged
Skënder Hoxha
DOCUMENT WITH THE REPORT OF THE OPERATIVE WORKER OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, MAJOR KOSTA BARKA, ON THE SETTING OF PERSONAL SALARIES FOR AGENTS “TRIMI”, “GJOKSI” AND “BESNIKU”
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
“TOP SECRET”
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Tirana, 28.1.1965
SECURITY DIRECTORATE
No.
REPORT
ON THE SETTING OF SALARY AND REWARDS FOR AGENTS “GJOKSI”, “TRIMI” AS WELL AS FOR AGENT “BESNIKU”
Starting from December 1, 1964, agents “Gjoksi” and “Trimi” are assigned a personal salary by the Prime Minister’s Office, of 3,500 (three thousand five hundred) ALL per month, regardless of whether they are employed or not.
Likewise, agent “Besniku” is assigned a personal salary of 2,500 (two thousand five hundred) ALL per month, which he will also receive, regardless of whether he is employed or not.
In addition to salaries, also by the Prime Minister’s Office, both “Gjoksi” and “Trimi” were given an immediate reward of 20,000 ALL, while “Besniku” was given a reward of 10,000 ALL. They received this money at the beginning of January 1965.
To assist them, the Refugees Branch of the Prime Minister’s Office gave each, including “Besniku,” some household items, including beds, mattresses, blankets, etc., as well as an apartment for each in Shkodër (two rooms and a kitchen).
Soon, “Besniku” is also expected to go there, for whom an apartment has been secured, and he will be placed as a brigade worker at the “Perlat Rexhepi” Farm.
A proposal was made to the People’s Assembly for decorating “Gjoksi” and “Trimi” with the Order of Bravery, while “Besniku” with the Medal of Bravery. / Memorie.al
Two copies
OPERATIVE WORKER
Major Kosta Barka
To be continued in the next issue
