By Ali Buzra
Part Seven
– LIFE UNDER PRESSURE AND SUFFERING –
(EVALUATIONS, COMMENTS, NARRATIVES)
Memorie.al / At the request and desire of the author, Ali Buzra – as his editor and first reader – I will briefly share with you what I experienced during my encounter with this book. This is his second work (following the book “Gizaveshi through the years”) and it naturally continues his established writing style. The sincerity and candor of the narration, the simple language without modifications, the accuracy and precision of the episodes, and the absence of deliberate after-the-fact imaginative processing have, in my opinion, served the author positively. He comes to the reader in his original form, inviting us to at least recognize unknown human fates and sorrows – whether encountered by chance or not – leaving us to reflect as a beginning of awareness toward a catharsis so necessary for the Albanian conscience.
Continued from the previous issue
1.3 The Arrest and Imprisonment of the Tribe’s Men, Followed by the Persecution of Their Families, Labeled as “Kulaks.”
The majority of the men from the Balliu tribe would face arrests and imprisonment following the country’s liberation. For them, simply their presence in the governing bodies of the time was enough to warrant arrest, as, despite holding positions, they had committed no acts of violence or mistreatment against the population.
At the end of 1944, during “cleansing” operations, partisan brigades raided Funarës. On the eve of winter, they burned their houses, leaving men, women, the elderly, and children under the open sky. During this time, from Azis Balliu’s family alone, 60 head of small livestock, 2 cows, and numerous copper vessels were confiscated. Other families also had goods and livestock seized, though specific data on the quantities are missing.
The families were temporarily sheltered in the homes of friends. In early 1945, a wave of arrests began nationwide against political opponents and influential figures that might obstruct the establishment of the communist totalitarian regime. Facing the imminent danger, which began with the burning of their homes, some of the most threatened men of the family were forced to go into hiding as outlaws (arrati).
Ismail Balliu, a sergeant during King Zog’s reign and a deputy post commander during the National Front (Balli Kombëtar) period, was a leading figure of authority in Funarës and beyond. He was distinguished for his intellectual level, prudence, and fairness. Despite his functional duties during the war, he manifested dignified and benevolent behavior toward the people. Under the circumstances, he initially refused to surrender and fled along with Hamit Luka.
Around the end of 1945 or early 1946, through the intervention and guarantee of Miftar Hoxha from Miraka – a friend of Ismail’s – he surrendered. In mid-1946, the arrests of persons involved in the “Group of Deputies” began. This group, the so-called “Resistance Group,” included members of the Zogist Royalist Party, created semi-illegally and led by Rustem Dani, centered in the Mat district.
In Librazhd, its activity extended to 16 villages, centered in Prevall. According to records from the District Internal Affairs Branch, influential figures from the following villages were registered in this grouping:
- Prevall: Bajram Shera, Arif Gjata, Emin Rama, Rakip Qeti.
- Lunik: Sehit Albrahimi, Hamit Tahiri, Destan Doda, Rakip Doda.
- Funarës: Azis Balliu, Ismail Balliu, Xhemal Balliu, Belul Balliu.
- Letëm: Iliaz Bogdani, Ashim Bogdani, Bajram Borufi, Veli Biçaku.
- Mirakë: Miftar Hoxha.
- Bërzeshtë: Xhevdet Blloshmi.
- Zdrajsh: Tahir Hoxha.
Miftar Hoxha’s name appears on this list; a man of great influence who had even sheltered Enver Hoxha during the war. At first glance, this seems contradictory, as it was Miftar Hoxha who intervened for many nationalist figures to be pardoned. In my view, this can be explained by two reasons: first, Miftar Hoxha aided the war effort but was not a communist; he maintained friendships with many local chieftains. Second, it may have been a ploy by the State Security (Sigurimi i Shtetit) to frame him because of his support for nationalist figures. Records show that 13 men across Librazhd were arrested in a single night by the Sigurimi, including Ismail Balliu.
In a staged trial, Ismail was accused of hostile activity against the “people’s power” and sentenced to death by firing squad. Thus ended the life of one of the most prominent men of the Balliu tribe, a man who had committed no crime and was respected for his intellect and justice.
Hasan Balliu, the commander of Balli Kombëtar in Funarës and a second lieutenant during the Italian period, remained a man of great influence. Educated in Ohrid, he was known for his strong character. After his house was burned, he attempted to flee to Kukës with his son, Hamit, accompanied by Lush Leshanaku. Leshanaku, a powerful athlete, refused to surrender alive and crossed the Drin Rivers by swimming. Hasan Balliu, however, was wounded in a clash with the “Pursuit Forces” (Forcat e Ndjekjes) and died in Kukës.
After burying his father there, Hamit returned but was captured and sent to Elbasan prison. Fortunately, a political commissar who had been sheltered and fed by Hamit’s mother for 15 days during the war recognized him. The commissar told him: “I am the partisan you kept in your house… I will not send you to trial.” Hamit was released, but he found his home in ruins. In mid-1945, while attempting to lay the first cornerstone to rebuild his home, Hamit suffered a stroke and died. The two strongest men of Hasan Balliu’s family were now gone.
Azis Balliu, known for his wisdom, had been elected headman (kryeplak) of Funarës three times. He was a veteran of the War of Shkodra and a man whose word carried great weight in assemblies. In 1944, his 18-room tower house (kulla) was burned. When the “Local Command” came to arrest him, he fled to Macedonia with his nephew, Belul. He returned in 1946 but was soon arrested.
In prison, he met Bilal Biçaku. Their dialogue summarized the era:
Azis: “I understand why I’m here, but why you?”
Bilal: “Eh, Aziz, they milk the cow, and as soon as the milk runs dry, they put the knife to it.”
Despite being tortured to become an informant against Isak Alla and Azis Biçaku, Azis refused. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison (serving 7 in the brutal camps of Maliq and Gjirokastra). In Maliq, prisoners worked in water without protection; many died of lung disease. Azis was released at age 60, returned to a provisional hut, rebuilt his home, and died in 1967.
The Sigurimi never stopped watching the tribe. In 1972, a tragic trap was set for Xhem Balliu. Two men from Dibra arrived as “guests.” During dinner, they provocatively asked: “What is so bad about this government?” Xhem wittily replied: “You tell me what is good about it, so I can tell you what is bad.”
The “guests” were Sigurimi agents. Xhem was arrested, tortured to become an informant, and when he refused, sentenced to 15 years for “agitation and propaganda.” He suffered in the notorious Burrel prison. Through the intervention of Haxhi Lleshi (Chairman of the Presidium), the ailing Xhem was released early, only to die at home a few months later.
The wave of arrests continued in 1974-1976 following the “annihilation of hostile putschist groups.” This campaign led to the arrest of the martyr poets Vilson Blloshmi and Genc Leka, and reached Funarës again in 1976, leading to the arrest of cousins Belul and Haxhi Balliu./Memorie.al
