By Hamza Kazazi
Memorie.al/ I am writing truths and some data about the Postriba Uprising, which unfortunately has not yet been properly clarified and I have them based mainly on documents and moreover some truths that have not been published until today. For years I have patiently managed to find documents from the State Archive, that of the Ministry of Interior and studies and I also have sayings from my participating people.
Jup Kazazi united the three political forces that had elected him chairman of the Committee for the Salvation of Albania and was the main organizer of the Reçi War, one of the greatest battles against the occupiers on August 30-31, 1943. I have fully documented this.
During the German occupation, Jupi went to the mountains with a gun in his hand and cooperated with the British Military Mission and has documents. The letter of Colonel Neel (Nile) Commander for the North in Albania written to my sister Lirije on 29/10/1991 reads, among other things: “I was very pleased to receive a letter from the daughter of my old friend and war comrade Jup Kazazi, who helped us so much during the difficult times that Captain Hibberdine and I moved to your country in 1943-1944. Unfortunately Captain Hibberdine died almost two years ago, but I’m sure he too would like to join me in expressing our deepest sympathy for the tragic circumstances that led to your Father ‘s death and for all the hardships and losses. “The cruelty your family has suffered since the communists took over your country.”
Jupi had left his wife Nasibe their names, so that in case something happened to him, he would ask for international help through them.
Jup Kazazi and his brothers decided not to run away, because if they all ran away, would they leave the communists completely. He said that he had tried only for the good of the country and after the communists had started talking, he had said that until the war was over, he would seek to go to court himself. (They saw what the trials of communism were like).
On November 23, 1944, Jup Kazazi organized the escape from Shkodra via Buna with a boat of some of the political leaders led by Mid’hat Frasheri. He saved those who, if caught, would shoot them all. The 5 brothers had the opportunity to escape before, when they accompanied Col. Neel me kap. Hibberdine in Shengjin, where the submarine came and took them in October 1944. Before leaving, Neel left Jupiter with his nagant revolver and it was the weapon with which he killed himself. They have had the opportunity to escape two more times. The 5 brothers stayed in Albania mainly because he had the word of the English colonel, that if they organized considerable peaceful movements and in case of strong repression, to revolt and hold it for a few days, the British who had a fleet in the Mediterranean would immediately intervene. . Yalta’s decision was that Albania with Eastern Europe remain under the influence of the B.S., but England was against. Neel explained that with Italy and Albania allied, the Otranto Canal was controlled, ie the Adriatic and the Ionian, otherwise B.S. This made their promise come true.
Valuable is the diary that Jupi kept for four months in a row since going up the mountain. There is a copy of the letter that Fiqiri Dines sent to Dibër on 10/02/1945. The document is one of the most important proving the main purpose of the general uprising. Jupi, after writing about the circumstances from which the communists took over the fate of the Homeland and the Nation, continues: fight the communists. So the coming into force of these is for our benefit and therefore we need to take advantage of this situation. We need to get along with each other and prepare a general movement before disarming the people, otherwise it may be too late. I have been in contact with friends and so I ask you too to deal with the pride of Dibra and Mata so that we can prepare a general movement throughout Albania. Here with me is also one of the most important factors of the National cause in the south. If we prepare something here, he also goes to his place where he can do a lot of work. Please give me answers as soon as you can to explain the situation in Kosovo and Dibra. I greet you with all my heart. Jup Kazazi ”. The person for the south was Abaz Ermenji and connections were established between him mainly in Skrapar and Vlora. In Vlora and Durrës, Jupi also had acquaintances and connections.
The diary starts on November 25 and writes that Salvaror Kurti came and brings him the message that the communist party had declared the death sentence of Jupi and his 4 brothers. So they were forced to take up arms and go to the mountains. And by what right did he punish a party without trial?
It also appears in the diary that the Postribas had shown their anti-communism, since they had mobilized them by force and on November 29 they wanted to include them in the parade in Shkodra. They refused and the communist commanders almost wanted to kill them but set them free with the intervention of Riza Dani and Nuh Kazazi, our cousin, who became a communist but moderate and had no functions.
In the file of 171 pages of Jup Kazazi of the Ministry of Interior, there are many communication documents of Shkodra security and criminals like Zoi Themeli with friends with the ministry and letters, reports and reports of commanders and defense commissioners like Mihallaq Ziçishti.
On p.2 – Final report of Min. Mbr .: – On the criminal activity of Jup Kazazi. It states, among other things:… this is sent by the Central Committee of the National Front in Shkodra, to prevent L.N.Çl. and fight this. … Has cooperated with the occupiers and the Quisling Governments as well as with the British Missions that stood by Legality like Major Nili and others.- In the liberation of Albania he escaped and stayed inside the State in Shkodra Region in order to reorganize the reaction waste and rely on politics Imperialist of the Anglo-Americans, for a landing in our country and to overthrow the People’s Power.- In January 1945 he organized the Koplik Uprising led by Llesh Marashi, Preng Cali etc. criminals. Likewise on September 9, 1946 in connection with other criminals and the organization of traitorous Deputies of Balli, and the Catholic Clergy organized a force of criminals and attacked Shkodra to give the Imperialists an opportunity to intervene in our country, but after its purpose completely failed and the forces annihilated you, found you hiding in a house in the City of Shkodra and killed himself, after he was surrounded and had no escape.
The relation is different with Pg.3 of the first days. On p. The 2 deputies of the clergy are added late after their elimination was decided.
Legality participants were also involved in the uprising but are not mentioned.
Fq. 9 – A very urgent telegram that Zoi Themeli sends to the State Security Directorate on 17/09/1946 where he says: Last night at two o’clock in the middle of the night it was discovered in the section where Jup Kazazi is. He surrounded himself and when he saw that we had found the basement where he was hiding and there was no escape, he killed himself. It is popular here that we killed him. – In the ministry they underlined “that we killed us” and the note “good”.
Pg.10- Extremely urgent telegram to the Directorate Mbr. People by Fadil Kapisyzi / for the head of Sek.M.P. me dt. 6/06/46. It is written for information that: Jup Kazazi also went to Debar with Mark (Mark-John Mark). – So it turns out that Jupi also went to Debar.
Pg.11- Directorate M.P. by Zoji Themeli on 13/06/45: This morning our forces that were sent to surround Jup Kazazi as they go to the appointed place try on the road with Jup. Jupit Hamidi’s brother was caught alive while Jupi and another were able to escape. One of them was injured but it is known who Jupi or the other friend is. The traces continue.
Here Zoi Themeli lies to his ministry for fear of not being caught. In fact, the 3 brothers Jupi, Zeneli and Hamidi were discovered and surrounded at night in a cave in Suma. Without the light coming out well, they attack by shooting suddenly, descend through the gorge of the stream and break the siege. The next day they found Hamid, after 3 days the wounded Zenel and Jupi escaped.
Pg.14- Directorate of M. Populli by Zoi Themelit on 29/05/1945 where it is said that one of the fugitives who was handed over a few days ago Zef Gjergji from Mazreku, was released, after he undertook to track down the group of Jup Kazazi. In fact this time it did not work.
Pp.19- 9 / II / 1946. Cen Elezi, resident in Debar. This shelters and helps to shelter the fugitives Fiqri Dines and Hysni Dema. It gives the fugitives in question directions from one place to another and that they are related to Gjon Marka Gjoni and Jup Kazazi. – Proof of connections with Dibra and Mirdita.
Fq. 33, 58, 69, 125- letters of Llesh Marashi cooperation and action together with Jupin.
Fq. 36, 36-1, 37, 37-1- Dt. 25/7/1944 letter to Jup Kazazi from the Allied Military Mission in northern Albania that begins with “I love Mr. Kazazi” and ends with “Heartfelt greetings. Yours sincerely Major R.A.F. Neel ”. Again on Pg.39, 39-1 dt. 16-12-1943 and on Pg. 106-1 further evidence of Jup’s collaboration with Major Neel.
Pg.44- Letter of Mid’hat Frashëri to Jupit on 3/11/1944: Dear Mr. Jup Kazazi -Since you will be staying in the Shkodra Mountains, please be careful to correspond with the pride of the nationalist powers located in Vlora and Shijak (of Durrës). . These are men who have given living proof of their nationalist sentiments and who can present themselves as a pile before the allied powers when they land in Albania. We wish you good and valuable work for Albania and success.
-Greetings – Chairman – Midhat Frashëri.
-So the stay of Jup was foreseen in time and the preparation for the landing of the allies.
Fq. 66- In a letter written to Enver Bushati on 17/10/1944 where he also informs him that the Aglez Group has returned by submarine to Italy. Jupi has marked with his own hand: He also announces the launch of the English Military Mission that left the Albanians, as he did not know that I had escorted him. – He escorted them to Shengjin, where the submarine, Jupi, took them with their brothers.
Fq. 127- Me dt. 6/08/1946: Information that Jup Kazazi has landed from Dukagjini, has left for Vorfë where it is suspected that he went to Qerim Baculi, Mem Sadrija, Çek Selmani.
Fq. 128- Information Sec. II: On 20/04/46 Jup Kazazi, who came from Sumet, went to Ram Meta’s house, met him and they escorted him to Zhup, and it is suspected that he went to Sadik Zyber’s house until the evening of the 22nd. -sell and it is not known what direction it has taken. On 20/04/46 in the house of Halil Hysejni in Bardhej there were movements and it is suspected that a meeting took place. On 22/04 the same person met with Tahir Metin from Mesi, this person had a direct connection with Jupi and it is suspected that they are not aware of Jupi’s movements.
Fq. 130- Write by hand without date three information: Jup Kazazi according to reliable information is now located in Suma and also stays in Likaj. – The people who have connections with Jupi are: 1. Zyber Cafi, Kala 2. Dul Osja and his son Muho Dyli from Myselimi. – Jupi is found third now, they are: Nexhat Boriçi and a certain Abaz.
– Informative report of Major Mihallaq Ziçishti, commander of M. Popullit district – Min.Br. say: “…. the leading leaders of the criminals who were killed or captured, such as Jup Kazazi, Seit Kazazi, Pashuk Biba, Bajraktari i Shoshit, Murat Haxhija, Osman Haxhija (leaders of Postriba) ”….
If we analyze the documents of the two archives and others, it turns out that the only person who has moved throughout the north, is Jup Kazazi. Apart from Postriba and around Shkodra, there have been connections to Malësi e Madhe, Dukagjin, Puka, Mirdita, Dibra, under Shkodra and Lezha. There were connections with Gjonmarkaj, Mirakaj and Dinet and there are connections with Mat, Durrës and Shijak, Skrapar and Vlora. So they were movements to prepare the uprising and try to unite everyone. There are interactions and contacts with influential people like Sulçe Beg Bushati and in Lezha Xhemal Beg Mlika family friends, Dedë Shabani, Kol Ashiku etc. It turns out that Jupi stayed mainly in Postriba, where he had bayraktar friends and many ordinary people.
The misfortune for the libertarians and the luck for communism was the first failure to start the uprising, which was quite well organized. It was decided to attack Shkodra on January 21, 1946 at the meeting of 80 leaders in Vukatana under the leadership of Jup, but the attack of a military column in Beltoja prematurely by Hasan Isufi, made organized and gather forces to defend Shkodra. Terror, arrests and shootings also broke out in the area and they learned of the uprising. There are also documents for this.
Prof. Uran Butka in the book “The first anti-communist uprisings”, writes on the basis of documents for the preparation since January that…. the city would rise from the inside, but it would be immediately attacked from outside by the insurgents of the villages and provinces around: Postriba, Ana e Malit, Guri i Zi, Oblika, Beltoja, Rranzat, Ragami, Sheldija, Dukagjini, etc. For its organization with the initiative of Jup Kazazi, the representatives of these villages and provinces gathered in Vukatana and decided to attack Shkodra on January 21 ”. Kole Ashiku, commander of 9 villages deposits: “…. a letter came to me from Jup Kazazi and Hasan Isufi. They wrote to me that they had made contact with Mark John Mark, who had also communicated with others to prepare the uprising. Mati, Dibra, Lura and Luma were assigned to attack Tirana, while Shkodra would be invaded from the King’s bridge. Hasan wrote to me that he himself would attack from Bahçallek, Halit Kazazi from Tepja, Jupi and Pashuk from the Middle Bridge, I was appointed as the target and the prefecture. “But the city would also rise.” These are important truths, because they are proven and coincided with other documents and from the statements of the survivors, neither the clergy, nor the deputies, nor the groups and organizations almost totally invented by the “Security” emerge.
Very important and to be studied are the documents of the Central State Archive and especially the reports that the secretary of the Shkodra SNP District Committee Spiro Pano but also Bilal Parruca take to the Central Committee, Koçi Xoxes etc. and vice versa. There are also instructions and actions for discrimination in public, of those later sentenced to death, especially the clergy, MPs Riza Dani, Kole Prela, etc.
Letter No. 503/1
11/9/1946
SNP Regional Committee for Shkodra: Central SNP Committee Tirana.
Following our letter No. 503 dated 9.9.1946, we give you these new announcements about the attack of illegals near our barracks. As it turns out today and based on the latest information, the number of those who took part in the action was not 50 but almost 300 people from the villages of Postribë and Gur ‘i zi municipalities. The leader of the action is Jup Kazazi and around him a good part of kulaks, kapadaij types, tax traders, Zog’s officers, etc. These were not all armed. …. In recent days, we have been informed that such actions will allegedly take place in Lesh, Koplik and elsewhere. … T’ Our bases are weak here, the middle and rich peasants are related to Jupin and they have with them poor and ignorant and wavering peasants. ….
We have now taken the first measures and our blows continue both in the city and in the countryside; at the same time, the unmasking of the criminal Jup Kazazi and the damage that came to the villagers from this adventurer continues. It is good that the strict operation against the leaders and bayraktars of Dukagjini (and their friends) starts as soon as possible and paralyzes Shllaku who is an arm for Postriba. At the same time, the measures continue in the city and the suburbs, taking care to hit the owners, the taxed traders, the former officers of Zog, rather than the poor mass. ….
The Party Regional Committee
(Spiro Pano)
This document is very significant because the communist authorities themselves assert their weakness, which the peasants have against the rich and the poor, and assert the influence of Jup. It also turns out that other provinces would attack as well.
2) Letter No.10 / 12 Res. – 3/10/1946
SNP Regional Committee for Shkodra:
The Central Committee of P.K.Sh. Tirana
The reaction and us.
– From the process that takes place, today it turns out that the reaction has tried for a better organization and for a wider action than that of 9 September. Apparently, the illegals, in combination with their friends in the centers, were measured to do combined actions in Shkodra, Lesh, Koplik and ShënPal after September 15 while continuing their activity in Dukagjini. The mobilization accelerated Postriba’s action and the measures taken by us, after this action, disrupted their plans.
Now it turns out that the reaction (whose head in our district is the clergy and behind it Int. Servi-si) has taken on the first element of the past,…. this first element could deceive the villagers of Postriba and Guri i Zi and throw them against us. In addition to this demagoguery, the reaction has benefited from the influence that the Kazakhs exercise with friends in the villages of Shkodra, as well as from the lack of our serious work in these villages. .
Pulpit
-Works quietly and in a very conspiratorial way… We have started a systematic unmasking against all those clergymen who want to make the church the center of reaction (based on the instructions we had from above) who throw slogans against us and try to cool the villager t ‘ us from power. Along with the unmasking we have taken measures and we plan to hit those priests or clerics who are not silent… The organization was instructed about the unmasking of all those Catholic and Muslim clerics (after it turns out that some imams also worked against us incited by Kazazi with friends) who throw slogans, who speak out against power….
Town
– Defense strikes here in the city have given some good results (most of those arrested are implicated) but still today we have not managed to discover the leading head of this organization. The processes continue, strict measures are taken, but the resistance we encounter is great. There are cases when the processes continue 4-5 days in a row (maybe even more) without reaching a conclusion. (i.e. torture). … The organization is fully mobilized in order to dem unmask the reaction effort,… unmask Riza Dani, Kol Prela and their friends, add information and clarify the public opinion about our strikes, so that these strikes approved by the masses. …. We hit hard in Postriba (with shootings and burning of houses),…. But along with agitation, strict measures are needed (shooting instead of the element if we have information that he is our enemy and he has a weapon).
The Party Regional Committee
(Spiro Pano)
So, on October 3, it turns out that they have started unmasking the clergy and the deputies with instructions from above. If it was for the uprising, they arrested them immediately and not start and continue unmasking. It is very important that no facts, documents, communications, security information, defense information, etc. come out. with the interior ministry and vice versa or the party committee with the Central Committee before or immediately after the uprising, as published by the Former Security Files Authority: no facts or evidence come to you and yet they are sentenced to death.
3) Letter No.10 / 14 Res. – 2/11/1946
SNP Regional Committee for Shkodra:
Central Committee of the Albanian K. Party Tirana
The process of events after “Postriba”…. While before the Postriba event there is a wide activity of reaction (illegal activity in Puka, Dukagjini, Mali of Lezha and Koplik-Kelmend, activity of clerics and bayraktars,… activity of Kapadans and intellectuals in the city, etc.) today a numbness of it is noticed and a retreat. The enemies were hit hard in Dukagjini… In the center, with the murder of Jupi, Seit (Jupi’s brother), with the murder of one and the capture of the other Hardolli brothers, with the surrender of some others (Shefqet Muka, Xhemal Naipi, Musa Gjylbegaj etc.), with the arrest of a good part of those who were implicated in this process (Dom Nikoll Deda – the priest of Juban, Myzafer Pipa, Paulin Palaj, PjetërPalaj, Guljelm Suma and others) a good cleansing of all of them continues who moved and worked against, before the 9/11 event. Over 270 arrests have been made in the district, but these arrests are appropriate (only a few can be a little guilty)… /
The Party Regional Committee
(Spiro Pano)
It turns out that those who knew their opponents before the uprising began to “clean up the dangerous people”. They wanted to eliminate the country’s elite and were victims of communist terror.
4) Significant for our topic, because it proves the intention of the nationalist forces for a general uprising, is also the document: Dated 24/03/1946, where Spiro Pano writes to Koçi Xoxes: “… Mark Gjon Markaj with ten fugitives entered in the neighborhood Among Shetirosh… He said that Russia had finished… the Albanian Government with which we have relations has been formed, Ballistat Zogistat are preparing for an uprising, within two or three months the general war begins. The Communist Party no longer has the forces to send to Mirdita. “We are with the Anglo Americans.”
Even when the dictatorship was giving life in 1990, the historian Demir Dyrmishi in the book of the Institute of History – ‘The fight for the liquidation of criminal gangs and traitorous organizations in Albania’ (1944-1948), p. 81 and 82, states that the uprising was to become general. He says: “On the evening of September 8, 1946, 450 clerical war criminals approached the Shkodra, the remnants of Balli and Legality, enemies of popular power. On the morning of September 9, they attacked him from the northeast and southwest. Inside the city the enemies of power began firing. …. and further: “The outbreak of the pre-revolutionary blow prematurely made the War criminals and the enemies of the popular power in other regions and districts not act and not coordinate the criminal plans with those of Shkodra…. Shkodra was not taken, so the Anglo-Americans, just like a year ago, were deprived of the opportunity to land their troops. … ”
I will write very little about the development of the Postriba Uprising, since there is not so much space in the newspaper and the writing is long and it has been written about for years. I think it is very important to present documents and evidence for the truth of things that are not known and to go deeper and ask even historians who do not know.
The uprising was coordinated with other parts of Albania. The plan was studied militarily mainly by Zeneli academician and Haliti officerice, ie specialist with them Jupi and Saiti and after January 1946 modified according to the new conditions by Jupi. That for sure.
On September 9, 1946, without shedding light on why the boys were taking soldiers, the battle was fought and the Postriba Uprising, the heroic and anti-communist Postriba, Postriba and the surrounding villages began, from where brave and almost unarmed men left gave their lives for freedom led by the bayraktars. They entered the city and not the barracks. The communists did not know the date for the attack, but they had some preparation. The uprising was extinguished with terror and terrible consequences for the fighters and their families. Twelve people were killed in the fighting, 18 were immediately shot and 30 houses were burned. Only for Postriba, 64 people were shot and the numerous prisons in Shkodra were filled. 26 people were immediately imprisoned in Shkodra and 69 in the villages. Over 270 arrests were made in the Shkodra region. I must clarify that word has been spread about this event that he has security days, and they have allowed him to carry out terror. This is self insurance game. It is not true and it is documented.
The truth is that the beginning of the uprising was left on 16 September. It was planned to give the alarm through the prepared coordination of connections with other provinces of Albania and mainly the north. If the general uprising started, the people would increase their ranks, after experiencing the “freedom” they won. The important thing is that Jupi had informed them that they should not start the attack, why the 16th was left and the connection with the other provinces was not reached until the 9th and only a part of the Shkodra area could not withstand an army, as the next day reinforcements arrived, cannons and those tanks, which they had in Tirana with Beqir Balluku in charge. Thus, Koplik, Shllaku, Dukagjini, Lezha and the provinces did not attack either. I know these for sure. Words had been sent to him to come, but how could he go to Shkodra where they knew him? He asked you to take 4-5 people with hidden weapons and if they discovered them, they would cross the checkpoint by force.
For the beginning of the uprising, the truth is that Dulo Kali persuaded the Bajraktars to attack and convinced them that they could take Shkodra. Pjetër Shan Deda was with Duli for the beginning, as far as I know, but I am not quite sure. The act was very brave and heroic, but not well studied. They were given the courage to long for freedom and to overthrow the dictatorship. This action should not be seen superficially but should be deepened because it is clear how severe the dictatorship was, while everyone was willing to sacrifice their lives to gain freedom. Dulo Kali was sentenced to be shot. I say with regret that there is almost no talk about Pjetër Deda and his wife Marije. They both surrounded her after the uprising, and she refused to surrender and both fought until they were killed heroically. Fighting and killing a man and a woman together is a very rare act in the world.
After the uprising of inhuman tortures against the detainees, they managed to find out where Jupi was. They surrounded him at the house of his uncle Rifat Koplik on September 17, 1946. They immediately arrested Rifat, his sons Ahmeti 16 years old and Sadedini 14 years old and brother Shyqyri. They called on him to surrender and were afraid to approach. Later, a voice is heard telling you: “Jup Kazazi does not surrender alive to the communists. Long live free Albania! ” A gunshot was heard, so he sacrificed himself.
In the same way, the fourth brother Saiti, discovered on October 6, sacrificed himself.
I also need to clarify the important role of Abdullah Kazazi. He has generally been in contact with the provinces and the people activated for the uprising with Jupin. The role of Abdullah as well as Rifat Koplik and Shyqyri was that they would go out to mobilize and raise the people of Shkodra. There were others, and from the Catholic side as far as I know at least three people, who would raise people, but I do not remember the names.
It is known that the Postriba Uprising became a pretext to accuse and eliminate the best part of the patriots, the clergy, mainly the Catholic one, and the opposition deputies, who sought to change and improve the situation democratically. Victims were a significant portion of those sentenced to prison and death.
We know this, he judges it and he tells me himself we survive Prof. Sami Repishti as a witness of the events and a victim and did not even know that there would be an uprising. In “Almanac” No. 1, year 2011 of the Institute for the Study of the Crimes and Consequences of Communism, the chapter “Postriba Uprising”, p.43, says: “The non-existent guilt for the innocent was created through propaganda and torture. This monstrous task was taken over by the criminal security that still operates today. In September 1946 alone, more than 1,200 citizens were arrested, 99% of whom were innocent. The others were well-known opponents of the regime. The number of prisons in Shkodra exceeded 20. With the most inhuman tortures, the victims of arrests were forced to declare that they were participants, or at least had knowledge of the Postriba Movement. I was one of these victims. Thus, the government began to talk about the citizens of Shkodra, merchants, landowners, Western intellectuals and, especially about the Catholic clergy, as organizers of the Movement, and the insurgents as lying peasants. He also wrote in “Panorama” on 9/09/2016.
In the same almanac pp.48-49 Prof. Kolec Topalli says:… “Although he had no activity and no connection with the Postrriba Movement, Cin Serreqi was killed because he belonged to a famous family in Shkodra, he was killed without any guilt, he was killed for the western culture, for the anti-communism and the resistance of his. He did not accept any of the false accusations he made against the Security, because he was neither the organizer nor a participant of the Postrriba Movement, which disbanded only as a pretext for the bloody government to exterminate the Shkodra elite, the most prominent intellectuals of the northern city. . “And the most barbaric ways in which they were tortured and killed are proof of their innocence.” Prof. Repishti wrote that Cin Serreqi had confessed to them when they were in the cell together, that they were torturing him terribly to admit to the meeting allegedly held in his house for the beginning of the uprising and to give names, while that meeting was not even held . This was stated by his granddaughter Dorotea and his nephew Guljelm Serreqi. I emphasize that the security has fabricated that allegedly in the meeting at Cin Serreqi’s house, which was not done at all, the Uprising was planned and with this accusation Cini, Riza Dani and people who wanted to eliminate any participant like Dulo Kali were sentenced to death. They also mention Rasim Gjyrez, who at that time was in the mountains with his gang, so he could not be in Shkodra.
The accusations against the conviction of the group of deputies are important to study, deepen and clarify. All of them, to be sentenced to death, are charged with “organizing an armed uprising.” How could they be punished? Why did they want democracy, improvement of the economic situation of the people and were against the dictator’s constitution? They became heroes because, knowing the danger that awaited them, they came out against the dictatorship. My godfather Shefqet Beja, the most respected friend of Jup, also had the accusation, although with different ideas, who said in court that there were days when he was preparing for an uprising, as the Albanian state knows, but he did not even have to do at all and that he has signed from the horrible physical and psychological tortures. Likewise, Riza Dani, a family friend, as a few people resisted torture and did not accept anything.
In the State Archive there are documents of great interest, such as the unmasking of the clergy and the deputy Kol Prela, etc. On February 16, 1946, Spiro Pano wrote to Koçi Xoxes asking for instructions for action for Kol Prela and don Luigj Pici. While on February 18 Koçi Xoxe writes: Conspiracy.-…. For don Luigj Picin to start unmasking directly based on the statement issued in favor of war criminals and fascists. .. (who accused the priests and had defended them). For Kol Prela (MP) prepare the ground in such a way that we cut off the roots from the people…. Koçi Xoxe. I add that don Luigj Pici was treacherously killed by security in Koplik in November 1946, while Kol Prela was sentenced to death.
In the book “Deputies”, of the Files Authority of the former
Security, 2016, it is clear and certain that for the deputies no evidence emerges for their involvement in the Uprising and yet with false charges they were sentenced to death. Also in “Political Judicial Acts 1946” of the Institute for the Study of the Crimes of Communism, 2018.
For the deed and sacrifice of Jup, the Albanian forces that were preparing in the west and sent the so-called saboteurs, have led us to take the Mother with us two children. In 1948-49, Hazizi, the son of Taip Halit Rrustja from Bërdica, came home late one day and was shot as a comrade-in-arms of Jup and told his mother that they had taken him with all his two children, that he was well prepared and sure to cross the border and would come the next day for answers. The next day Mother told her she could not endanger the children in the slightest. After almost two months he was discovered in Cukal. That guy fought and did not give up.
Jup Kazazi in 2009 the City of Shkodra awarded the title “Honorary Citizen” and in 2017 the President of the Republic Bujar Nishani awarded the Golden Eagle Decoration.
The Postriba uprising is considered the first in Europe against communism. She remains a hero and a symbol of the fight against communism not only in Albania, but also in the world and is extremely important for the goal that was not only the capture of Shkodra, but the whole of Albania. It should not be called a movement, but an uprising, as it was the people who rebelled. It does not fall below and we must remember the Uprising of Malësia e Madhe in 1945. I think it is considered the first Postriba why they attacked and Malësia attacked.
I have 7 killed by my father, 10 prisoners, 1 internment and 2 internments after prison, from my mother I have 2 killed, 4 prisoners and 1 internment after prison. Of those killed, 7 are missing and we continue to search for them and the state, which does not want to know, must be engaged.
Think and judge what happened to a mother, grandmother Hamide, who in a few months killed 3 sons, her brother, brother-in-law with a son and imprisoned the other two boys.
Call to historians and especially the younger generation: You have the important task of properly doing the history of our martyred country. Seek and document with patience and courage. /Memorie.al
Hamza Kazazi
September 2021
