By Dalip Greca
Memorie.al / Tonin Mirakaj started his activity in the “Vatra” Federation in 1961, five years after leaving his homeland. On September 20, 1956, his family had left Albania to gain freedom, but as soon as they set foot in Yugoslavia, they felt like they had fallen from rain to hail. The systems of governance and suppression of human rights were similar to Siamese brothers. However, Albanian asylum seekers benefited at that time, since ideological disagreements continued between the two countries. According to Mr. Tonin Mirakaj, there was another favorable factor for asylum-seeking immigrants: Yugoslavia, as a signatory to the United Nations treaty on Human Rights, had to accept political refugees, for whom it also received considerable assistance from the High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva.
Of course, this aid was controlled by the state secret service, the UDB, which brought Albanian refugees into its network and used the aid as bait. The UDB hunt began with those who were known; if they refused to join the secret service agency to be used against Albania, they were then added to the list of enemies of Yugoslavia and annihilated.
At the end of 1959, Toninini and his brother and sisters were sent to the Gerova refugee camp in Croatia, a camp known for mistreatment and suffering. The passage from Croatia to the West was an adventure in itself, which began in August 1960. They chose midnight as allies and, together with a family friend, left the camp in the dark and escaped. The adventure lasted four full days and nights, choosing untrodden roads, mountain paths in Croatia and Slovenia, they reached Italy.
Their arrival at New York’s “Idle Wild” airport and the history they brought with them was described by the “Daily News” newspaper on February 25, 1961. Tonini was lucky enough to meet and collaborate with some of the historical representatives of the diaspora, the nationalists who had come to the USA after World War II. He remembers how he met patriots such as: Miko Kokalari, a true patriot, and one of the leaders of “Vatra”.
Professor Nexhat Peshkëpia, editor of the newspaper “Shqiptari i Lirë”, Prof. Rexhep Krasniqi, chairman of the “Shqipëria e Lirë” Committee, Eng. Vasil Gërmenji, representative of Albania in the organization of Captive Nations, A.C.E.N. (Assembly of European Captive Nations), Kostandin Vangjeli, secretary of the Committee and others.
How did Tonini end up at the “VATRA” Federation? In May 1961, he remembers that he had written a story and sent it to the newspaper “Shqiptari i Lirë”. A few days later he received a phone call from Prof. Peshkëpia, who invited him to a meeting at his office, which was at 14 East 34 th Street, in Manhattan, N/Y. The professor received him kindly. The meeting remained in his memory. The story written by Tonini “Kokrrat e Misrit” was published in June 1961. Nexhat had liked the story, and encouraged Tonini. Several stories and writings were published and the collaboration with “Shqiptari i Lirë” continued until 1991, when it was closed.
Tonin Miraka became part of the activities of the Albanian community. He remembers that at the request of the Chairman of the “Shqiptari e Lirë” Committee, Prof. Rexhep Krasniqi and his associates, Tonini presided over the celebration of November 28, 1970, which was attended by hundreds of Albanians and Americans, as well as representatives of 9 Eastern European countries, members of A.C.E. N.
This event was covered by the newspaper “Shqiptari i Lirë”, November-December 1970. But when and under what circumstances did Tonini go to “Vatër”? Professor Nexhat Peshkëpia, at the first meeting, had advised him to choose a cultural society, such as the “Vatër” Federation, and not the political parties, which were quarreling with each other.
At the end of the conversation, Prof. Peshkëpia had given him the “Vatër” Kanunora and had advised him to read it, see what program it had and then they would talk. Tonini immediately read the ‘Kanunora’ and “Vatër” seemed to him to be a nursery of patriotism and idealism. Points 1, 2, 5 and 28, convinced him that this was the society he should join. He became a member in the summer of 1961, 51 years ago. Tonini recalls several “coffee houses” in the area where he lived, which were frequented by older Albanians, who did not look favorably on political emigrants. They thought that Albania was free, with an Albanian government, and the post-war emigrants were considered reactionaries. It was difficult to get support from them.
The exception was Miko Kokolari, who, according to Tonini, tried to balance the relations between the older and the political emigrants. Over time, this situation changed. Miko had an office on Revington Street, and there he helped young and old emigrants, without distinction. There, the newspaper “Dielli” was located, as well as other announcements of community activities.
Tonini joined the branch of “Vatre”, # 29, N.Y. and N.J., which held two meetings a year.
One was to elect delegates to the assembly, which was permanent, and was held in Boston. The second after the assembly, where the decisions that had been made at the assembly were discussed, and the new leadership of the branch were elected. These meetings were held in the cultural hall, next to the Orthodox Church of Shënkoll on 48th street, between 10th and 11th avenues, in Manhattan. At the first meeting that he attended as “Vatran”, he felt a special joy.
His Grace, Bishop Fan S. Noli, had come to that meeting. It was the first time he had met him. At the annual assembly of 1970-‘71, Tonin Mirakaj was one of the delegates of branch #29, N.Y. and N.J. He recalls the trip from New York together with Muharrem Babameto, Agim Karagjozi, and Hajdar Tonuzin. It was the first assembly that he attended and he also met with Anthony Athanas, Barny Kirka, Gregory Chiriako, Kristo Thanas, Rev. Arthur Liolin.
I met delegates from different countries. From Detroit with Eng. Ahmet Dervishi, and Fehmi Kokalari, from Toronto, I met Ibrahim Kulla and others. I became familiar with the proceedings of the annual assembly, and the implementation of the “cannon”, as well as with the culture and maturity of old hearths such as Ramadan Ali Arza, Florence Pano, Nik Kreshpani, Pauline and Peter Lukas, Harry Stoja, and others. All of them had a burning love for the “Hearth” and the Homeland.
This was expressed in the discussions in the Assembly. Through his life in Vatër, he gained the maturity of an activist who also took on the organization and management of activities. Tonin Mirakaj has been a member of the board, elected in several assemblies, has been the vice-president of “Vatër” in 1980, 1981, 1982, while the president was Dr. Andrea Elia, and 1984-‘85 with president Harry Stoja.
He was also elected president of Branch # 29 New York and New Jersey, 1978-79, with Vice-president Eng. Mahmut Cungu, Secretary Rasim Sina, Treasurer Zef P. Deda, and members Nexhmije Zaimi, Ramiz Dani, Zef Perndoca and others. He also served as the treasurer of this branch, in 1976-‘77, when Mrs. Nexhmije Zaimi was the president. He also served as the branch treasurer in 1977-78, when Selahedin Velaj was the chairman.
Among his activities, he singles out the 1972 Seminar, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Father Gjergj Fishta, where he was a co-organizer with Muharrem Babameto, which was organized at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, in New York. Also, at the 1978 annual assembly, he was elected chairman of the assembly of the “Vatra” Federation, held at the “Hilton Hotel”, New York, with Rasim Sina as secretary, and Gjeto Sinishtaj as reporter.
In 1979, he was secretary of the assembly of “Vatra”, held at Anthony’s Pier 4, in Boston, Mass. Meanwhile, in 1982, Tonin Mirakaj was one of the organizers of the seminar of the 100th anniversary of the birth of Fan S. Noli, held at the New York “Hilton Hotel”. He was responsible for collecting donations for the expenses of the occasion, and for publishing the book “Flamurtar i Kombit”, authored by the editor of “Diellit”, Edward Licho.
The chronicle of his participation in the activities of “Vatra”, is rich: On November 6, 1983, he was the main speaker at the luncheon organized by “Vatra”, in honor of the editor of the newspaper “Dielli”, Mr. Xhevat Kallajxhi, held at Anthony’s Pier 4, in Boston. The speech is found in “Dielli”, March 16, 1984. In 1984, Mirakaj was secretary of the assembly of “Vatra”, which was held in Detroit, Michigan, where the 75th anniversary of the newspaper “Dielli” was also celebrated, while on the celebrations of November 28, 1994, he presided over the celebrations of the Flag Day, which was held at the New York Hilton, organized by “Vatra”, in cooperation with the Albanian community.
Tonin Mirakaj has also served as secretary for “Vatra’s Permanent Fund”, with Eng. Agim Karagjozi as chairman.
He was also a member of “Vatra’s “Constitutional Revision Committee”, together with Professor Sami Repishti, Harry Stoja, Agim Karagjozi and others, as well as a co-organizer with Eng. Agim Karagjozi of the transfer of Faik Konica’s remains to the Homeland, 1995. Mr. Miraka has worked with several leaders of “Vatra”, such as Kristo Thanas, Nik Kreshpani, Barny Kirka, Gregory Chiriako, Ahmet Dervishi, Dr. Andrea Elia, Harry Stoja, Arshi Pipa and Eng. Agim Karagjozi. He claims that they all had a burning love for “Vatra”. He was in the leadership structures from 1970 to 1997. He singles out Anthony Athanas and Prof. Arshi Pipa.
- Mirakaj thinks that much is written and spoken about the first 50 years of “Vatra’s” life, and very little or not at all, about the second 50 years, the efforts and dedication of many hearths, to maintain and strengthen the “Hearth”. From the leading contributors of the second half of the last century, he singles out Peter Chikos, Kristo Thanas, Barny Kirka, Ramadan Ali Arza, Eng. Ahmet Dervishi, Dr. Andrea Elia, Pauline Lukas, and Anthony Athanas. From the activists in branch # 29, New York and New Jersey, he singles out Miko Kokolari, Vahit Çika, Muharrem Babameto, Nexhmije Zaimi, Petraq Ktona, Eng. Mahmut Cungu and others.
He does not forget to mention the editors of “Diellit”, Dr. Athanas Gega, Refat Gurazezi, and Xhevat Kallajxhiu. All of them in the Eternal World. Of those who are still in this world, he appreciates the work of Eng. Agim Karagjozi, Hajdar Tonuzi, Prof. Sami Repishti, Selahedin Velaj, brothers Seidi and Sabit Bytyçi, Zef Pernoca, the current president, Dr. Gjon Buçaj, Anton Çefa, Esat Bilali and others, all Vatrani of “Dimir dhe Behar”.
The half-century-old Vatrani thinks that “Vatra” has the merit of having known how to maintain excellent relations with religious communities in America, especially on the Flag Day, applying rotation in religious prayer. The national movement of Albanians in America is based on the Orthodox Church and “Vatra”, which was formed 3 years after the Church. Both supported each other in the protection of national interests.
These institutions initially had common leaders who coordinated efforts to unite the Albanian diaspora. Prominent, far-sighted leaders, true patriots and perfect intellectuals such as Fan S. Noli, Faik Konica, Llambi Çikozi, Kristo Kirka and many others, organized rallies in cities and states where Albanians lived, and very soon founded “Vatra” and its branches, uniting more than 5 thousand Albanians in a federation.
For Miraka, an example of “Vatra” activities remains the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the newspaper ‘Dielli’, in November 1969, the mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in Manhattan, New York, with the main celebrant His Eminence, Terence Cardinal Cooke, and the participation of thousands of Albanians, with clergy of three faiths present, Catholic, Orthodox and Muslim.
There was also a group of clergymen and believers of the Byzantine rite Arber, who came from Italy. Being an active activist, Mr. Mirakaj, has been part of the receptions and escorts of personalities from Albanian lands. He singles out Dr. Ibrahim Rugova, who was invited to the USA in October 1989, by the Catholic Church “Our Lady of Good Counsel”, which organized at Fordham University, the seminar for the 300th anniversary of the death of Pjetër Bogdani. The late Dr. Ibrahim Rugova was among the speakers of the seminar, invited by the organizing committee, which was chaired by Tonin Mirakaj.
He remembers that they spent a week together in the company of a circle of friends, such as: Dom Rrok Mirdita, Dom P.Popaj, Gjek Gjonlekaj, Fran Shala, the Bytyçi brothers, Simon Simolacaj, the late Pretash Curanaj, etc. Dr. Rugova had extensive information about “Vatrë” and high regard for it. In his greeting before the lecture on Bogdani, he said, among other things: “The initiative of the Albanian Catholic Church, to mark this jubilee, is a good initiative…! Without any excessive compliment, this initiative seems to continue the tradition of the “Vatrë” of Boston, which for decades acted in the cultural and national plan”. Mirakaj remembers Rugova’s message: “Strengthen the ‘Vatrë’, because Albanians need it”.
– “I feel happy that I was one of the main people who made possible the first arrival of Dr. Rugova in America”, says Mirakaj. He also remembers the reception of Dr. Berisha on June 16, 1992, as the first president of democratic Albania: “We gave him a grand reception, with the participation of 2000 compatriots at the ‘Hilton Hotel’, in New York. The evening was chaired by Mr. Seidi Bytyçi, the welcoming speech was given by Professor Sami Repishti. The preparatory committee had Co-Chairman Mr. Sokol Neçaj and Tonin Miraka”. Among the personalities of the Albanian world, Miraka remembers with great affection, Professor Martin Camaj, who had special respect and consideration for “Vatra”. Every time he came to America, he had him as a guest in his home.
He also remembers the meeting with President Rexhep Mejdani, in New York, where Tonini was invited together with his wife to the dinner hosted at the Roosevelt Hotel on May 2, 2000. He says that the president left a good impression, with intellectual vision. With special respect, he remembers Nexhmije Zajmi, the owner of “Vatra”, who had studied at Wellesley College, where she also published the book “Doughter of the Eagle”.
She participated in several mandates, in the councils of branch # 29, NY and NJ, as well as on the board of the Federation, based in Boston. At the 1977 assembly, she was elected vice-president of “Vatra”, with Eng. Ahmet Dervishin as president. In New York, she had a circle of activists with whom she had a very good collaboration, such as: Petraq Ktona, Agim Karagjozi, Hamdi Oruchi, Selahedin Velaj, Zef Pernoca, Tonin Mirakaj etc.
When a guest came from afar, Nexhi would invite her friends for “Wine and cheese”, where they would always talk, in a pleasant friendly atmosphere. She lived at 120 East 79th Street, and Tonini and his family lived at 81st Street and 5th Ave. This proximity made their visits more frequent. He remembers an occasion when they met Hasan Dostin at her house. The conversation lasted 4 hours. Tonin Mirakaj felt happy to experience the atmosphere of the 100th anniversary of “Vatra”, as he has been a member of it for more than half a century and congratulates the federation on its second century of life.
His message is a congratulatory message for all Vatras, who spared no effort to help the federation, which the Albanians of America are proud of, especially the Vatras. “The Albanians of America,” he advises, “must support it. The new generation is inheriting a precious “wealth”, which should lead it more consolidated into the second century. Memorie.al
