Memorie.al publishes the unknown story of Pjerin Kçira from the city of Shkodra who immediately after the end of the War was mobilized and served as a journalist, correspondent of the newspaper “Zeri i Popullit” and then investigator and non-commissioned officer of the State Security in the Branch of Affairs Shkodra Interior Ministry, where he worked only 13 months until 1948, when he was arrested on charges of being “the leader of an anti-party group that had distributed leaflets with content against the popular power.” Kçira was initially sentenced to 20 years in political prison, after declaring in court that the weapons in the Franciscan Church at dawn on November 17, 1946, had been introduced by the State Security itself and then the death penalty and his shooting, after he had deconstructed the staging of State Security. Rare testimonies of Padre Leon Kabashi, one of the witnesses of the “Weapons in the Church” event (which is considered one of the most sensational in the history of the communist regime in the fight against the Catholic Clergy) and some of the former political prisoners from the city of Shkodra, who tell how the former journalist, investigator and non-commissioned officer of the State Security, Pjerin Kçira, saved them from torture and the death penalty, manipulating the investigation process in their favor.
“But God willing, the truth about ‘guns in the church’ came out as early as 1949, when a former State Security employee, investigator, who was convicted of crimes against the ruling party, as group leader, and as a drafter of a treaty, with 20 years in prison, a sentence which he does not accept and stands before the court and the people and declares that: ‘the weapons in the Franciscan Church were not of the friars, but were weapons introduced by the State Security, for totally blamed the Catholic Clergy ‘and for this, the sentence of 20 years, was returned to his death, and he was shot.
Many words, up and down, have been made about this statement of Pjerin Kçira, which I have felt with my own ears. Maybe some for their own purposes, they even pressed this thing to Pjerin, but I say that today, the time has come for the truth to come out as it is. “I am a witness to this event.”
This was stated, among other things, in a public statement made on March 4, 1995, by Father Leon Kabashi, one of the political prisoners who suffered for years in the prisons and internment camps of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, regarding the much-discussed event of “weapons in the church” that took place in the city of Shkodra on the night of November 17, 1946, where in the Church of the Franciscan Frets, the State Security “found weapons”!
From that day until the fall of the communist regime, the official historiography and propaganda of that time considered and presented that event as a “hostile act of the Catholic Clergy based in Shkodra, which also filled the religious institutions with weapons, for fighting popular power”.
But regarding the truth of that event, a former investigator and employee of the State Security, named Pjerin Kçira, testified in 1949, who in the trial against him, where he was accused of: “Leader of an anti-party group who had thrown tracts with hostile content against the popular power “, he declared that:” The weapons in the church had been introduced by the State Security itself, and through torture, it had forced the Catholic priests to declare that those weapons had been inserted by them “. After that, the trial against Pjerin Kçira was interrupted and after the people were taken out of the courtroom, from the 20 years that he had been sentenced, Kçira was sentenced to death by shooting and executed.
Regarding this event, one of the most talked about in the history of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha in his fight against the Catholic Clergy, Memorie.al has researched and provided some archival documents obtained from the Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs where in addition to a document containing ‘Characteristics’ (line of work) of Pjerin Kçira signed by the former Chairman of the Shkodra Branch of Internal Affairs, Zoi Themeli, where he (Kçira) was effective, there is also the document with the tract (communiqué) with content anti-communists who had dispersed the “anti-communist group” led by Pjerin Kçira, for which they were arrested and convicted.
Also, in addition to these archival documents, Memorie.al has provided various testimonies from former political prisoners from the district of Shkodra, who shed light on that distant event (one of the most talked about during the communist regime) of occurred at midnight on November 17, 1946, otherwise known as the “gun incident in the church”, as well as for Pjerin Kçira, the idealist communist and investigator and State Security employee, who not only refused in 1946 to wrote about that event when he was the correspondent of “Voice of the People”, but in the trial against him, he told the truth, openly exposing the intrigues and machinations of the State Security, in an attempt to justify the crackdown on the Catholic Clergy.
Regarding this event which, as we said above, is one of the most talked about in the period of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha regarding the accusations made against the Catholic Clergy, after the ’90s it has been written quite a bit and one of them has been taken During that event and specifically with the manly and unparalleled act of Pjerin Kçira who publicly deconstructed the machinations and behind the scenes of the communist regime “with the introduction of weapons in the church”, was also the researcher and member of the Albanian Parliament, Dr. Pjetër Pepa, author of several books with studies on the crimes of communism, parts of which we have selected and are publishing in this article.
Characteristic of Pjerin Kçira: “He is not loyal to his job, there are cases when he has deconstructed his work sector in Insurance”
PJERIN KÇIRA, CIVIL MARSHALL
The aforementioned does not seem to be so loyal to the job, you should have been sold out as a man holding a position in Insurance. There have been cases where he has deconspired his sector of work, such as, recently, on the occasion that he is on summer vacation in Theth Dukagjini, in the middle of a circle of friends, he talks about the Investigation, how he has tortured a Priest and thanks to this tool, made him capitulate.
As it is in the current in relation to the activity of Riza Dani, he personifies great Security works, in other exaggerated forms. This defect in order to be sold big, and for this he is forced to deconspire, has been done to him. For the deconstruction and the damage, it brings, this has been pointed out to him since the first moment that he mentioned came to the Security, where even from now on, he has been advised in this regard.
He is not so sincere and this stems from what was said above, because he likes to appear above others, so much so that here and there among the friends of the Security, he has gained an antipathy.
This is an investigator at the State Security Section in the County. As for the sector that he has today as a young man, he still does not have enough, but there are prospects that will quickly develop in this direction. Tue have young, as mentioned in this work, has not yet managed to gain a proper maturity, to conceive above. On the other hand, that main obstacle has the shortcomings mentioned above, besides these, it is also very feminist.
It is a smart element and to some extent it is related to work.
As for the dissatisfaction, only one thing is a remark in it, regarding the rank, which has expressed itself, how when he gets the rank of N / Officer, he will not wear it at all, and in this regard, when he went to honor During the first days in the prisons, in order to interrogate the prisoners, the prison guards were presented with the rank of N / Lieutenant Officer. We believe that he will be touched now to return from vacation, when we have to communicate his rank as a Civil Marshal.
The aforementioned is not even shown whether he likes the job in Insurance or not, but from his daily work, it is found that he loves this job.
As for the attitude of his family during the occupation, it has not been compromised to have had any cooperation with the occupiers, but as we know, this has maintained an indifferent attitude, and after the liberation, it is closely related to the Government.
As for the economic situation, he has no good at all, and has no income other than the salary he possesses.
Based on the above, the mentioned person could be very valuable to the Security, if the shortcomings mentioned above disappear, which is likely to happen to you, since he is young. from the age.
PJERIN KÇIRA, Investigator in Shkodra Section
Born in Shkodra in 1926 from a low working family with a working profession. He has sympathized with the National Liberation Movement from the very beginning and has been involved in agitation and distribution of tracts, etc. Has maintained good attitude towards liberation and so far,
He understands the politics of the Party, he loved the Party and sacrificed for it. It is an element of squat and understands quickly. Has experience in government administration. He became a Party Member in 1946 in Shkodra.
He keeps the secrets of the Party and the Government well, he has good manners with the responsible and the inferior, but he lacks authority like A.P. He has the qualities to move forward, but he also wants support because he is young (he lacks maturity). He has completed 4 Gymnasium classes in the Franciscan school.
Zoi Themeli
d.v.
Communication with anti-communist content of Pjerin Kçira and his group
Death of Fascism Freedom People
K O M U N I K A T E
Marxism is a theoretical basis of the world. Lenin in his own way threw into Marx theory the way in which the works of Marxism are applied not in particular working conditions, but which has its roots in all international development.
That is why we have support, we know how to orient ourselves.
Communist comrades, People of Shkodra.
Only theory teaches us how to orient ourselves, shows us që vigilant that we are always, we are seeing theoretical, political and economic distortions in this small Albania, towards this hungry people.
Some arrogant members of the twentieth Communist International have, in principle, decided that a people who dream of the right to…. d.m.th. the right of oppressed peoples to have… cultural, leaving all political power in the hands of a minority sometimes.
This seems to be the case for the Albanian people by the Yugoslav nationalists, for the lack of good leadership by the Central Committee of the Albanian Communist Party, but they were not driven by Marxist theory, but copied the theory with works of Yugoslav nationalists, who are deviants of the theory. Marxist-Leninist.
Shameless self-promotion for Ballistic Products and a great bargain on a neat little knife for you’s done’s.
In front of the members of the Albanian Communist Party, we add that Yugoslavia…! Now we ask how does this happen, we are not seeing all these mistakes? They say the fish stinks from the top, the facts speak for themselves.
The reaction of the Central Committee of the Albanian Communist Party, at the meeting of the VII Plenum, studied the distortions of the Party line. What about the wrong direction that some comrades had taken towards the relations with Yugoslavia and he strongly condemns this.
The Committee did not provide from information from the 9-Party Consultation that made allegations to the Central Committee of the Yugoslav Communist Party about the words of the Central Committee of the Albanian Communist Party, thickening themselves for distortions, recalling the report and stopping the run against Tito …., Towards those who only fear that with the death of….!
But even within the City and District Party Committee, there are divergences and animosities between their members and between them they play very tricky.
Organizationally, the party is not the first of several months and years, it has no control, inside it holds a degenerate, miserable element of the party that are not allowed.
To observe carefully, to follow the forms, to study Marx’s theory in order to walk our path… and not to fall into the abyss of nationalist leaders.
To us, the members of the Party who feel sorry for the bloodshed… war and victories, we will be ruthless against Tito-type deviants with friends.
(Note: This is only a part of the tract and the rest is not read or understood, as the document is very old)
Testimony of Padre Leon Kabashi: “Pjerin Kçira, is a hero, he gave his life to bring to light the truth that serves the Catholic Clergy”
Facts about a truth
It is known, especially in Shkodra, that a great war was waged against the Catholic Clergy. Arrests, convictions, imprisonments and internments have existed since 1944 -’45, but the year 1946 is distinguished as a broad-style action. In this year in the Franciscan Church of our city, the biggest crime of the State Security took place, against The Catholic clergy: the introduction of weapons into the church and then its control, and finally the arrest and sentencing of the Frets. Supposedly, many facts were found that proved their guilt.
I remember a picture of Padre Çiprian Nikaj with a rifle in his hand. I know very well who owns that rifle. I held the key to the Church Museum, and among other things, the furniture was the rifle of Dedë Gjon Luli. I was doing something of the Assembly, when they are coming, Cesk Kabashi, together with two others, ask for me and take my key, telling me that it no longer belonged to me, and so the key of the Franciscan Museum fell into the hands of the Security of the State, who took advantage of the case and handed the rifle of Dedë Gjon Luli to Padër Çiprian Nikë, with the diabolical intention, to photograph him with a gun in his hand.
The first to suffer the savage consequences of the State Security were Padër Mati Prenushi and Çiprian Nikaj. They had never been involved in politics, but since they were the leaders of the Assembly, and we as priests had the culture and education of the youth for that too, they wanted to blame us more. We, as priests, saw that something was going to happen, and even some figures, in order to preserve them, we distributed them in the houses so that they would not fall into their hands.
Their aim was to destroy and unmask the Church, but at that time they did not do it directly, but attacked us as individuals, as individuals. But God willing, the truth about “guns in the church” came out as early as 1949, when a former State Security employee, investigator, who was convicted of crimes against the ruling party, as group leader, and as drafter of a treaty, with 20 years in prison, a sentence which he does not accept and stands before the court and the people and declares that: The Catholic clergy and for this, the sentence of 20 years, was returned to death, and he was shot.
Many words, up and down, have been made about this statement of Pjerin Kçira, which I have felt with my own ears. Maybe some for their own purposes, they even pressed this thing to Pjerin, but I say that today, the time has come for the truth to come out as it is. I am a witness of this event. According to some information I received from some of my trusted friends, the order to bring weapons into the Church came directly from Tirana, several times, because it was not immediately implemented by the Internal Affairs Branch of Shkodra.
As I said before, we were prepared for something to happen, but we didn’t actually know. For this, Father Aleks Baqli, had several nights guarding the church. During this period, the Frenta gymnasium was nationalized. Security personnel entered through the gymnasium door, knocking on the window of the deacon, Ndoc Vasili, with a cane on top of which was a letter. Xhakoni receives the letter where it was written “go out and open the door for us”. After the door opens, the State Security officers talk to the deacon, telling him: “these are over, so live with us. “We will also give you a scholarship abroad.”
These are all the words of Ndoc Vasili, who told me later when I met him. After Ndoc Vasili opened the door of the Church, the State Security employees, Elez Mesi, Mynyr Kurti and Ismail Lula, put their weapons in the church. Father Aleks Baqli, who was dressed in the sacrament, saw people moving around the church that night. The next day, word came that the weapons were found in the Church of the Frets. This is the truth that remained in the dark until the time of democracy.
I, Father Leoni, knew these facts, but I could not speak, so as not to complicate matters which would further burden the Catholic Clergy. As for Pjerin Kçira, I have said and I say, that: he gave his life by bringing to light the truth of the weapons and unmasking the work of the State Security.
By his act, he simultaneously served nationalism and religion. If this act did not want to be given religious colors, this man is a hero, you do a great heroism for the nation. While, starting from the religious point of view, Pjerin Kçira is a martyr of the truth, because he gave his life for a truth that serves so much the Catholic clergy, before the people and the world.
Father Leon Kabashi
Dt.4.III.1995
Testimony: “Pjerin Kçira informed my brother, Leci, that he would be arrested and he escaped and went to Canada”
D E K L A R A T E
I, the signatory Gjyljana Vasija, declare:
That in 1990 I met my brother, Lec Vasija, in Canada, they fled abroad since 1948 and among other things, the information I received about his escape and others we did not know, told me the following:
My escape was made because I received the notification from Pjerin Kçira, who said to me: Lec, so far, I have tried to push him so as not to arrest him, but now I have nothing to do with him, do yourself a favor
With this announcement of Pjerin Kçira, I decided to escape without informing anyone of the news received from Pjerin Kçira.
The declarant
Gjyljana Vasija
Testimony: “When Pjerini declared in court that the weapons in the Church were introduced by the Security, the hearing was interrupted and the people were taken out”
D E K L A R A T E
I, Gjovalin Mazreku, a member of the “anti-party group”, the only one left alive, state the following:
I am a member of the “anti-party group” formed in 1948 and led by Pjerin Kçira. I am a witness of the suffering and the event, of the development of the trial.
The reason for our arrest is our anti-party activity and anti-government, as well as the drafting and distribution of a tract. For this, after 11 months of torture, we went to court and were sentenced to, at least 10 years and at most 20 years, which was Pjerin Kçira, the leader of the group.
We later had the right to speak, and when it was Pjerini’s turn to speak, after a few minutes, he was deprived of the right to speak. He, as he was on his feet, spat at the court and said: Tyne “.
After this deposition, the trial was closed, the people were taken out and the next hearing was held behind closed doors, in which Pjerin Kçira was sentenced to death by firing squad.
Then the question arises How did Pjerin Kçira know that the weapons in the church were inserted by the State Security?
Everyone has the right to ask this question, to which I will answer.
This act was carried out in 1946. One fine day, the Franciscan Church recognizes the siege and, in its control, weapons are found. Pjerin Kçira, who at that time worked as a correspondent for “Zeri i Popullit”, was sent to write an article on this event, which he refused to write. Why? Because he proved with his own eyes that the weapons were worn out, and did not have the appearance of the weapons inserted in the altar.
In 1947, Pjerin Kçira was appointed to work in the Shkodra Branch of Internal Affairs. He was appointed on May 1 and initially refused, then on June 1 he started working and continued for 13 months until the day he was arrested. During these 13 months, we learned, among other things, that the people who had acquired weapons in the church were:
Kapterr, Elez Mesi
Sergeant, Mynyr Kurti
Tetar, Ismail Lulo
These were ordered by Zoji Themeli, at night, dressed in capes, to put their weapons in the church.
The next day, Dul Rrjolli and Dulaç Lekiçi and others found behind the letter “the weapons of the Franciscan priests”. This is the truth about this event. Pjerin Kçira was sentenced to 20 years in prison for his anti-party and anti-government treatise and activities. After the statement on guns in the church, he was sentenced to death by firing squad.
The declarant
Gjovalin Mazreku
Testimony of the former death row inmate: “I dedicate my life to Pjerin Kçira, he found me hanging from a tree and took me to the hospital”
D E K L A R A T E
The signatory Ragip Fetah Meto, born and living in Shkodra, certify as follows:
On April 6, 1946, I was arrested by the Shkodra Security and investigations were immediately launched against me. I spent 16 months in the investigator removing the most inhuman tortures and in November 1947, I was sentenced to death.
During the investigation, I met Pjerin Kçira, who found me in torture and one case found me hanging from a tree, 6 days without food and without water. He personally helped me, he took me to the hospital in Shkodra, after he saw that I was in serious condition, he died.
Only the care of Pjerin, I save my life. This he did with his own head, on his own initiative, as he was not my investigator. My investigator was the Vice President of the Branch.
So once again, I dedicate my life to Pjerin Kçira. From my fellow inmates, I had never heard complaints about his behavior towards them.
I leave this statement to his family, to use it where they need it.
Dt. 8.II.1993 Declarator
Ragip Feta Meto
Testimony: “Investigator Fadil Kapisyzi inhumanly tortured me, while Pjerin Kçira saved me from being shot and I was sentenced to only 3 years”
A former political prisoner, Met Licaj testifies:
I was arrested and for six months in a row I was inhumanly tortured by Fadil Kapisyzi. One night, at 12 o’clock, they take me and take me to the investigator. This time another one I did not know.
It was Pjerin Kçira. After he pulled the cops out, he started asking me about the issue and I answered by not accepting anything.
The next night he asked me the same questions and I gave him the same answers. But in that room where I thought it was just the two of us, there was also the hidden witness, whom Pjerini brought out as a witness. I informed him immediately, he was also arrested.
He put us in front of each other and told him to speak. The arrested witness began to speak. His words were true, but I in no way accepted anything and strongly opposed. Then Pjerini turned from the witness. He called the police and pulled her out. After everyone left, he untied my hands and told me to sit down. He continued: “Do not remember that he threw me, I know everything, I know that even the words of the witness are true. But you are a man and you stand, and I help people who stick to their word. Now you can see who Pjerin Kçira is. If I ask you something: Do you believe?
And then he continued: You have the decision to be shot, but if you are lucky enough to stay with me until the end of the investigation with me, you will neither be shot, nor will you be severely punished. If they take him to another investigator, you will say to him: “Torture me, beat me, kill me, do whatever you want with me, except in the hands of Pjerin Kçira, do not take me anymore.” And now tell me what you want from me. I told him to do his best not to shake my hands tightly in handcuffs, and to bring me some bread and tobacco. All these requirements were indirectly met by me.
We all know how valuable the words of the defendant were before the court, but the process that the investigator Pjerin Kçira had done for me, made me not only not to be shot, but to be sentenced to only three years in prison. Pjerin Kçira was the one who saved my life. Later, when I was in prison, I learned that Pjerin Kçira had been shot.
Regards
Met Licaj
Dr. Pjetër Pepa: “Here is the truth about the event ‘Weapons in the Church'”
When Father Çiprian Nika testified: “I did not have the weapons myself. “There were some wastes left by the Germans some time ago, since they had taken refuge and lived in our seminary”, he thought that it was about 3-4 wastes left as trophies after the departure of the Germans, and he honestly said that, not knowing that he would be photographed next to a host of brand new rifles that had been inserted one morning into that assembly and that church.
“Man has a duty to always tell the truth, but not to tell all the truths,” Aristotle says, but it was the time of Lilo Zenel, and not of Aristotle.
“We put the whole archive of historical value in two big baskets,” testifies Father Zef Pllumi. – It was an immense wealth of documents of the National Renaissance, as well as the writings, letters, memoirs and manuscripts of Luigj Gurakuqi, Hasan Prishtina, Monsignor Doçi, Monsignor Bumçi etc. There were also Gjeçov’s documents, Fishta’s fund, etc. We generally arranged the manuscripts in metal suitcases, which had once been ammunition crates and were left empty by the Germans because they were suitable against moisture. And the painful irony was that in books, magazines and exhibitions they took our pictures in front of those coffers accompanied by the signature: ‘Here is the ammunition hidden in the church, in those crates that with their German writings had something like this related to ammunition. “Of course, this was a ‘little’ devil of the Security, difficult for anyone to understand.”
“When it came to light, – says Father Zef Pllumi, – the Security forces brutally blew up the assembly, gathered all the friars, organized that ‘meticulous control’ up to the altars, and in one of them they found a large number of weapons …”. They threw all the friars in the yard, most of them ended up in handcuffs, slapping and spitting, kicking and swearing, which was never seen in any other place in the world. The assembly was violated in such a way that the surrounding residents still do not forget it today. It was not long before the guests and the authorities did it. Yugoslav cameras were immediately present to document the incident, which had just been set on fire.
In the face of this truth, here is how the propaganda was done: “We guarded the many weapons and of different types that were found hidden in seminaries, assemblies and other institutions, – claims the Franciscan provincial Mati Prendushi. “We had taken weapons depots, a part of rifles, machine guns, bombs and mortars and the relevant ammunition from the Italian army.” (Rakip Beqja, p. 72).
At the altar of the heart of Christ, in the former Franciscan church of Shkodra, above and at the bottom of it are hidden weapons of war (bullets, machine guns and bombs), to be used against the popular power. (Idem. P.80).
“Belt weapons were found in the altar of St. Ndout, in the Franciscan church. “A few days later, German-made war weapons and ammunition crates were found in the big church in Shkodra,” it is said in another place. “On December 16, 1946, the State Security section discovered weapons and other compromising materials in the abbey of Mirdita, inside the church and in the cell,” announced the head of the Security of Mirdita, Lieutenant Bardhok Biba.
“In 1946, weapons, rifles, bombs and machine guns hidden by the clergy in the archdiocese of Shkodra were discovered in large quantities … Priest Donat Kurti, after breaking the wall of his room, shows the place where the hidden weapons depot was located, which “The Catholic clergy had received it from the Germans,” another said.
In the face of this propaganda that was made in the national opinion and international, how could the truth be revealed, when the only witness was God and brother (brother) Ndou, the keeper of the church? He refused to hand over the keys and open the gate to insert new dust-free weapons, long rifles and polished mausers, around 4.30am that black day. For this action, they massacred him as not worse!
“We were in Ulcinj prison,” recalls Terezina Zorba. – At night they came and took Father Mati Prendushi. “The next day he told us that together with Father Pal Doda, Donat Kurti and Çiprian Nika, they took them to the Franciscan church, opened the altar of Shna Ndout, put rifles and machine guns in their arms and photographed them several times.”
– SECOND ACT – THE TRUTH IS REVEALED
Only God and brother Ndou, the goalkeeper, knew the truth, to whom they had asked for the keys … but now he too could not speak, because they had also brought him to God … What could have been left unsaid this bloody drama? Less than four months have passed since the shooting, and a new wave of arrests erupts again in Shkodra, sensational and very special for its kind. The special thing was the detainees. It is a group of young people, 20-25 years old, three of whom are not only party members, but also employees of the State Security.
On July 28, 1948 will be arrested:
- Pjerin Kçira – 25 years old, party member, aspirant in the security section of Shkodra, correspondent of “Voice of the People”.
- Gjovalin Mazreku – 20 years old, party member, captain in the security section, Shkodra.
- Lin Çollaku – 23 years old, party member, captain in the security section, Shkodra.
- Zef Bardhoku – 24 years old, party member, clerk.
- Nush Simoni – 22 years old, bank clerk.
Even for them – the usual ritual. But what was the charge?
Of course, it would soon become a … for them too!
Minutes: The Military Prosecution of Tirana with function in Shkodra, with its Indictment dated 26.5.1949 brings for trial to this court the criminal case for the defendants Pjerin Kçira … with friends that:
– They were members of a group organized in secret meetings.
– They have made agitation and propaganda orally and in the press.
– They have taken decisions to carry out assassinations against party and government officials and have sought to assassinate a member of the security, but they did not carry it out for fear of being dictated … etc.
When was it formed and what was this group?
Based on the documents, it turns out that the group was formed on July 18, 1948, and that in a regular meeting with voting, they elected Pjerin Kçira as chairman.
“Koçi Xoxe did not dominate the first secretary of the party, E. Hoxha, therefore the latter is guilty and responsible for everything that was happening in Albania.” This was the opinion of the members of this group in that turbulent period, when a “betrayal” was discovered in Albania and later (March 3, 1949) the mandate of Koçi Xoxa and Pandi Kristos (Archive of the People’s Assembly) was revoked. So, the activity of the group turns out to have been discovered at the beginning of ten days … Was it an enmity or a trick organized by the Security, which did not spare even its servants when the traces had to be lost?!
And, the investigations will last eleven months, and of course the tortures with special devotion were carried out by Ali Xhunga, Kasem Troshani and many others, who until yesterday had been their friends …! Even during the trial, the defendants accuse of these tortures and the above are forced to come and testify in court as requested by the defense. But of course, it could not have happened otherwise. It was proved “fourfold” that the statements of the defendants were taken “without any obligation or pressure”! They are also accused of assassinations they wanted to commit against Abaz Lazes, Lilo Zeneli, Ali Beg, etc.
And … another record:
“Today, on May 28, 1949, the trial panel, composed of the first captain, Vangjel Kocani, chairman, and lieutenant Haxhi Beqiri and captain Ali Tirana, members, with the prosecutor, the first captain, Harito Nashi, open the trial against the defendants. … ”
To achieve this in the claim of the prosecutor who sentences Pjerin Kçira and Nush Simoni to 20 years, Zef Bardhoku to 15 years, Gjovalin Mazreku to 13 years and Lin Çollaku to 8 years. The next day, on June 11, 1949, after the formal defense, the court sentenced Pjerin Kçira to death, to be shot, and everything ended. This, at least officially based on archived documents.
Pjerin Kçira is sent to Zalli i Kirit and shot, as many others had been shot before him and as many others after him would be shot.
Where does the special stand? Unfortunately, the archive documents do not us
they help … They have either disappeared or have been deliberately changed so that the secret that connects these two acts of this bloody drama is not mentioned at all.
Maybe the special one had started earlier … It had started since Pjerin Kçira, from A-P turned to a-p, with a very big change … So, from a party member, to an enemy of the people. Once a party member with privileges and favors. Once a state security aspirant in charge of the church prison. Once, the investigator of Father Mark Harapi, Dom Anton Muzaj and many others. Once, known and powerful with friends and comrades, security officers and investigators. And now, again a-p, but with the black seal as the enemy of the people. So, the antipode of what had once been; from persecutor, to persecuted and so immediately and suddenly …!
For the sake of truth, it must be asserted that the young men had shot bravely and carried out a trial that would be remembered for a long time for its kind. The 16 sessions would continue one after the other, to reach the climax, when the president of the court will shut Pjerin Kçira. To clear his conscience, he reveals a secret that has been burning for a long time, but that would fall like a bomb on the courtroom and the entire courtroom:
“Do not think that he is doing to me as we did to the Catholic clergy, putting his weapons in the church and forcing them through inhuman tortures to admit that they are theirs … To cover your and E. Hoxha’s vileness, you want to punish innocent people!”
Of course, this completely shocked the presiding judge, who until then was barely holding himself back and in control of the situation. There was no other way. The hearing had to be closed.
– Those of us who had the turn to be tried after Pjerin, – Ernest Përdoda testifies, – the trial would be held behind closed doors … His statement about the introduction of weapons in the church had instilled fear …
While the co-sufferer of the cell, Mr. Ahmet Bushati remembers the last moments: I tried to convince him that they could not shoot him, but he calmly replied: – No, no! “I know very well that they will shoot me, I am sure, because I deconspired them where they were burned the hardest, but I made mine”.
– The next day we parted that Pjerin was taken to the Gestapo Prison. – It was 1949, – remembers the former prisoner Gjon Ljarja. I was arrested in the security prison called Gestapo Prison. In a dungeon-toilet, where the death row inmates were usually transferred, in those days they had put the prisoner Pjerin Kçira! One morning I heard that the bars and doors were opened and someone entered him and as soon as he left, Pjerini started singing loudly: “But like the leaf of the ayel of God” and other patriotic songs … From dinner he could tell me that they had communicated the shooting to him and that at lunch he had also met his mother and fiancée for the last time before the shooting.
– We wanted to give him hope, – continues another witness, – telling him that we intervened in Tuk Jakova and that his life would be forgiven, but again not!
– Everything is over! – was Pjerin’s answer, – but please bring me a priest to confess for the last time. And if they will not allow him as a priest, let him disguise himself as a peasant and come to me, because I am definitely waiting for him for the last confession “. Then Mr. Gjon Ljarja continues: -About 22 o’clock we heard again the sound of keys and doors, we thought. Pjerini started shouting loudly: “Goodbye, make me halal friends!” And so, he went out into the yard while the noise of the engine of a car that was leaving swept everything. Then, again grave silence …! Memorie.al
