Dashnor Kaloçi
Second part
Memorie.al publishes the unknown and sensational story of the so-called “Xhevdet Mustafa gang”, which included: Sabaudin Haznedari, Xhevdet Mustafa and Halit Bajrami, who at midnight on September 26, 1982, by means of a small motorboat that had set off from the Italian coast, landed on the coast of Divjaka, where after killing a police officer and a villager of the area, under the force of arms, held hostage another police officer, who would show them the way to advance inland Albanian, until they arrived in the small town of Rrogozhina, where they were discovered by the State Security people and after a gun attempt, its ‘capo’ Sabaudin Haznedari, was killed in a fire center, and also the same “Lucky” would also be Xhevdet Mustafa, who was killed after a few hours, in a house in the village of Zhamë in Lushnja, after he had previously killed the owner of the house and a police non-commissioned officer who was following him on a motorcycle. The rare testimony of Gafurr Haznedari from the city of Durrës, the brother of the ‘kapos’ of that gang, who tells for the first time the whole story of the so-called “Xhevdet Mustafa gang”, which according to the version of Enver Hoxha, was sent by UDB in collaboration with Leka Zogu, in order to assassinate the first secretary of the Central Committee of the ALP. ” and the well-known playwright, Sulejman Pitarka, would dedicate the drama “The Fisherman Family”, as well as all the State Security combinations, from their escape until the event of September 26, 1982, where Sabaudini and Xhevdet remained killed, in an effort with the forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, while Halit Bajrami, after being held for some time in the “Investigator” and the Hotel “Tirana”, was escorted by the Albanian Intelligence to New Zealand, where he lived peacefully even after years ’90s, refusing to trespass more in Albania!
Full 39 years ago, on the morning of Sunday, September 26, 1982, an unusual and very sensational event took place in a small town in Central Albania. He broke the silence and the stifling monotony that had prevailed for years in the communist Albania of that time, causing great confusion and panic even in the ranks of the high hierarchy of the communist leadership led by Enver Hoxha. That same afternoon, the news of that event, which had spread with an unusual speed almost all over the country, was narrated in various forms. It was also announced by the Albanian Radio-Television, through an official announcement given through an official communiqué of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which was broadcast on the news program at 20.00. That official communiqué, among other things, stated that: ‘an armed gang financed and trained by the secret services of some neighboring countries, in cooperation with the enemies of the Albanian people, had landed several kilometers. in the depths of the Albanian territory on the coast of Divjaka, where it was completely destroyed by the forces of the Ministry of Interior ‘.
Nearly two months later, still without echoing the echo of that event, during a meeting that the leader of communist Albania, Enver Hoxha, held with the voters of his constituency in Tirana, among other things, he spoke about the “gang” that had already become known, all over Albania, as the “Xhevdet Mustafa Gang”. In this regard, he said: “The armed gang of the criminal Xhevdet Mustafa, which was prepared and financed by Leka Zogu in cooperation with the Yugoslav UDB and the foreign secret services of some neighboring countries, was annihilated and completely eliminated inside six hours from their landing, still without seeing the Albanian sun well “.
This sensational event, which at that time shook the whole of Albania and opened a great panic for several months in a row putting on high alert all the units of the Armed Forces and volunteer detachments, has been spoken and written only after the ’90s, with the collapse of the communist regime, but again, the whole event of September 26, 1982, in which Sabaudin Haznedari and Xhevdet Mustafa were killed, as well as the so-called “Xhevdet Mustafa gang”, although four decades have passed since then, continues to remain shrouded in mystery, bearing upon itself a series of question marks!
In this context, with the aim of trying to shed some light on that distant event, Memorie.al returns to a cycle of articles about the so-called “Xhevdet Mustafa gang”, publishing new facts and events previously unknown, which come through the interview with Gafurr Haznedari from the city of Durrës, who is the brother of Sabaudin Haznedari, the leader of the “commando group”, who, together with Xhevdet Mustafa and Halit Bajrami, landed on the coast of Divjaka in the distant midnight of 26- September 1982, where according to the official Tirana version articulated by Enver Hoxha himself in his speech before his constituency voters in Tirana, “he was sent by the UDB in collaboration with Leka Zogu, in order to kill the secretary the first of the Central Committee of the ALP ”.
After the interview with Mr. Gafurr Haznedari that will be published in six consecutive issues (starting today), Memorie.al will continue again with other articles, testimonies and interviews, from actors of that event, relatives of their families, as well as witnesses which, by chance, connected them, or led them to the place where 39 years ago the ‘armed commando group’, otherwise known as the “Xhevdet Mustafa gang” landed, an event which even today, after four decades, continues to remain covered with mystery.
Rare testimony of Gafurr Haznedari, brother of the “gang leader” Xhevdet Mustafa”
Continued from the previous issue
Mr. Gafur, what happened after that?
This at that time made a lot of noise up to Tirana and to solve that problem, the highest leaders of the SNP were engaged, who came several times to Durrës, to break the disobedient, where Sabaudini was part. The Political Secretary of the Durrës District, Adil Çarçani, at that time informed Enver Hoxha about the aggravation of the situation and among its causes, whom he labeled as rebels, made Sabaudini responsible.
What was said in the letter that Adil Çarçani wrote to Enver Hoxha?
In that letter, among others, Adil Çarçani, from the position of Secretary General of the Durrës District, wrote: “In the reports we have sent to you, we have constantly written to you that some of the Party members are young and inexperienced. at work and another part, though old, are full of dissatisfaction and pretensions.These old elements, who used to be good at work, do not like not to have good positions again and for that, they try to prepare other comrades to speak, not against the Party, but against the comrades that the Party has put in charge.These comrades as you know are: Hysen Ballhysa, Skënder Çela, infected by Mark Toçi, Drita Malile, Semiha Ishmi, Sabaudin Haznedari, Petro Laku, Kudret Ballhysa, etc., speak more openly that there are others like Thoma Laku, Xhevit Topçiu, Teodor Rupi and Isuf Kurshimi “.
What happened to Sabaudin after that?
As I said above, Sabaudini was dismissed from the Chairman of the Council and expelled from the Party. This was the easiest sentence, because his friends, such as Hysen Ballysa, Drita Malile and others, were put in prison, while Skënder Çela and Mark Toçi were shot without trial, a short time later. For all that I told you, I have archival documents and anyone can come and see them.
After he was expelled from the Party and removed as chairman of the council, what did Sabaudini do?
After being expelled from the Party and dismissed from his positions in the National Liberation Council of Durrës, Sabaudini started working as a Chief Accountant in the Water Company of the city of Durrës.
After his expulsion from the Party and the Council, was Sabaudini dissatisfied and did he express his dissatisfaction with anyone?
From the day he was removed from those functions he had, Sabudini fell into a deep despair. In parentheses, I wanted to say something about his character. He was an idealistic communist and could not stand the behind-the-scenes and atrocities committed by the communists within their ranks at the time, as well as among the people during his rule. When he saw all that was happening, Sabaudin put his hands on his head and said, “Why, we fought for these.” Sabudin was infuriated by the communist ideal, which he had embraced since 1942, and no doubt it came from the fact that he had not been given the place he deserved, as he had made a significant contribution during the War. In short, Sabudin, was very dissatisfied and said that he did not see realized, the ideal for which he had fought.
With whom did Sabaudini make these conversations, knowing that they posed a danger?
Sabaudini had these biggest conversations and debates within the family, with his two younger brothers, who continued to be in the Party. Regarding this, in parentheses I wanted to tell you again: do you remember the drama “The Fisherman’s Family”, by Sulejman Pitarka, which we had next door, next to us, in “The Lands of Batallek”. Sulejmani received the impetus to write that drama from our family, up to the title related to our house called “The Fisherman’s Hut”. The only thing that has changed Pitarka, is the shift of the event in time, that is: those debates within our family with Sabaudini, whom in the drama he called Selim, were not made during the war, but after, when Sabaudini expelled from the Party. So that alone is the difference.
Which of the brothers did Sabaudini argue with the most?
Sabaudini had the fiercest debates with his second brother, Emin, who at that time was a fanatical communist and did not give up, in the Party line, which was followed by Enver Hoxha. From the time Sabaudini was expelled from the Party until August 1950, when he fled Albania, the debates between Sabaudini and Emin never stopped in our family.
Why were these conflicts and debates taking place and what did Emin ask Sabaudin to do?
The quarrels and conflicts in our house between Sabauddin and Emin, had their starting point and origin in their communist ideals, ie in the problems of politics. Sabaudini, was very liberal and as I said above, was an idealistic communist. While the opposite stood with Emin, who was very fanatical. So they both did not match in their thoughts. But even though I am talking about my two brothers, I cannot stay without telling the truth. I wanted to emphasize and this is the truth, that it was Emini who caused the quarrels and conflicts, asking Sabaudin to give up his thoughts and pray to rejoin the Party.
But Sabaudin did not agree with what Emini asked?
No no, not only did he disagree, but he could not stand what he was saying. And this, that is, the quarrels that Emin had with him, darkened his life and made him unbearable to stay at home.
How did Sabaudini solve this problem?
Being in that completely unbearable condition, on August 14, 1950, Sabaudini fled Albania?
How did his escape become possible?
At that time, when Sabaudini was at the peak of his despair, he met a former friend of his, from childhood and the War, Halit Bajrami, and with him he made plans and the two escaped.
Where was Halit Bajrami from and what was his duty at that time?
Halit Bajrami, as far as I know is originally from Bar, but he was born in Durrës and his family, if I am not mistaken, at that time lived in Shkozet. Halit Bajrami, as I said, was a partisan and from the war it seems to me that he came out with the rank of aspirant or lieutenant, I do not know this well. At the time that Sabudini met with Haliti, he was the Deputy Chief of Security for the Korça Division.
Where did they meet when Halit Bajrami was working in Korça?
At that time, indeed Halit Bajrami was working in the Korça Division, but he came on vacation to Durrës Beach and there he met Sabaudini. Haliti came for the first time on vacation to Durrës Beach in the summer of 1949 and it was the first meeting between them. At that meeting, they apparently made plans to escape later. After that, Halit Bajrami, came again the next summer on vacation to Durrës Beach, in July 1950 and again Sabaudini went and met him. Apparently they decided to flee there, which they did on August 14 of that year.
How and where did they both escape?
After Halit Bajrami came for the second time to Durrës Beach, he met Sabaudini and together, they stayed for three or four days, talking from morning to evening. In those days, they decided to escape and lose track, as soon as they finished their vacation in Durrës, took camp tickets and went on vacation to the Dardha Holiday House in Korça. In that Holiday Home, they stayed for three or four days and then escaped without any problems, because Haliti knew well the place where he served as Deputy Chief of Security for the Korça Division.
When and how did you in your family learn about Sabaudin’s escape?
At the time Sabaudini fled Albania, he left his wife at home with his young son, Skënder, who was several months old. So, I wanted to say that that decision to escape from Albania was not easy for him, but his despair was great and had reached its peak. We in the family became worried because Sabudin was not coming home and that thing had never happened to him. Dini, as we in the family called him, was a regular parent and family member, and he had not been absent for several days without coming home. Based on this, Mahmudi’s father went to Tirana to take an interest in the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
What did the father in the Interior Ministry say about Sabaudini?
There they told him that Sabaudini had fled Albania and nothing more. After that my father came home and gave us the news, which shocked us immensely, especially the two brothers, Emini and Naimi, who were both communists and with responsible work.
After Sabaudin’s escape, what measures and attitude did the state take and maintain towards your family?
After Dini escaped, at first we were not harassed. But it was temporary and the measures against our family started gradually. Initially, the three brothers who worked at the Seaport were fired. My fourth brother, Abdurrahimi, and I worked as welders in Port at the time, while the other brother, Naimi, who was the third of the brothers, was the Director of Hozrashot in Port at the time. After the three of us were removed from the Port, Naim was taken to the head of supply in an Agricultural Cooperative, while Abdurrahimi and I found work ourselves as welders, because they needed us, because they considered us masters in our craft.
What about Naim, was he expelled from the Party?
“Even though Naim was fired from the Port, where he was director, he was not expelled from the Party, but he was constantly mentioned at meetings of the party where he lived the life of the Party, that he had a runaway brother.”
How do you think their escape, was it a State Security trick or did it come from that they were dissatisfied with the communist regime ?! It is said that Haliti escaped because he had a conflict with his boss Mehmet Shehu and for fear of arresting him, he was forced to flee. How do you explain this to both Sabaudin and Halit?
I am starting my explanation from Halit Bajrami. It is known that Haliti was the Deputy Chief of Security and his escape was a trick of the State Security. This is explained by logical deduction, if we look at how events unfolded later. So, if we keep in mind that Halit Bajrami, served all his life to the State Security, from different countries of the world, where he was or went according to the orders and orders he received from Tirana, from Kadri Hazbiu. But I will talk about this below. The problem with Sabaudini is different, even though they both escaped together.
Do you not see a little contradiction in the escape of Sabaudini with Halit Bajrami, who was a man of Security and left on a mission outside Albania?
At first glance it is so, but if you look at how things turned out later, it turns out that Sabaudini, not only had no connection with the Security, but on the contrary was and remained a sworn enemy of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, which which I will argue with concrete facts below.
How do you explain the escape of both?
I can tell you many versions of this, which you can rightly call hypotheses, so I tell you, that I am listing concrete facts, that Sabaudini betrayed his ideal of youth and became an anti-communist of sworn. I am not the only one saying this, but it is an undeniable fact that his end also showed it best. /Memorie.al
The next issue follows
