By Dashnor Kaloçi
Part fourteen
Memorie.al / It was the morning of September 1, 1976, when the workers of the Fishing Enterprise who were the first to arrive at their workplace located on the shore of Lake Shkodra near the village of Shiroka, found that the guard of the enterprise of that sector was surprisingly missing, as well as the office staff, something that had never happened before?! This is because, among other things, there was also the pier where all the fishing boats were anchored, which, tied with chains and locked with a key, were considered objects of special importance and were under the control and double guard, both by the fishing enterprise and by the Border Post located in the village of Zogaj, where the state border with Montenegro, at that time part of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of Marshal Tito, was also located.
Although a torrential and stormy rain continued to fall, which had started since midnight, the fishermen began to look for the guard and the foreman of their company, calling them by name, but in vain, because no one answered? But after a while, they were stunned and terrified, when just a few meters away from the fish warehouse, they saw a corpse lying on the ground with no signs of life…! It was the 50-year-old guard, Fadil Rizaj, who had been serving in that position for several years. No one dared to touch him with their hands, because not only was he bloody and with visible marks on his head and body, but his hands were tied with rope from behind his body and also his respiratory organs, tied with a cloth behind his head…! Which clearly meant that he had been killed…?
After that scene of horror, some of the fishermen ran to the offices to call the heads of their company and the Internal Affairs Branch as well, but the telephone line was cut and the connection to Shkodra could not be established…! Meanwhile, from other checks to find the company’s wreck, it was also found that one of the boats (fishing boats) was missing from the pier on the lake shore, precisely the one known as; “Health Boat”, and the safe that held their keys, was broken with a crowbar!
Meanwhile, the alarm was given and there were some of the officers and main chiefs of the Shkodra Internal Affairs Branch, who immediately determined that not only were they dealing with a serious crime, but also with an escape by boat across the lake, which, among other things, would also aggravate their position before their superiors at the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Tirana. Meanwhile, the news spread and the investigative group with the relevant experts immediately began work to uncover the crime that had occurred and unravel the entire event, which a few days later would shock not only the city and district of Shkodra, but also Tivar, Titograd and Ulcinj in Montenegro!
But what had really happened, who and why had killed the fishing guard Fadil Rizaja? How many people had escaped and what had happened at midnight on August 31, as September 1, 1976 dawned, as a heavy rain fell with thunder and lightning, which was said to have never been remembered, even by the oldest residents of those parts? Why were several dead bodies found on the shore of the lake on the Yugoslav side and another corpse on our side of the border, near the border post in the village of Zogaj? How was the main author of that escape able to swim to the part of the lake that belonged to the border of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, on that dark night with rain, waves and storm?
Who was Hamit Arif Myrto and what did he initially say to the residents of that area, when they saw him completely naked in the alleys of their village, as well as to the competent Yugoslav authorities, regarding the reasons for his escape? What did the UDB authorities ask Hamit during the investigation process in several separate offices in Tivar, Titograd and Ulcinj, where they sent him, frequently changing his location, his “cellmates” and the investigators who interrogated him? What did he testify to when they asked him about the military bases and units, the missile unit and other installations that were located at that time in the Shkodra district, as well as the tracts that were dropped in that city those days, against the Party of Labor and Enver Hoxha?
What did Hamit tell the UDB bodies, regarding his brother-in-law, a minister in the government headed by Mehmet Shehu, and also one of the closest people to the dictator Enver Hoxha, who remained in that position until the collapse of the communist regime? Who was the “photographer” from Shkodra who had escaped to Yugoslavia a few years ago and why were all the investigators asking Hamit about that person? Why did the Yugoslav UDB authorities decide to return Hamit Myrto to Albania, handing him over to the Albanian State Security bodies, even though they were convinced that he had not been sent on a secret mission?
What did Hamit testify during the investigative process, such as the reasons that had forced him to undertake that dangerous adventure, and also everything he had told the UDB? What did Hamit write in the letter addressed to Enver Hoxha to the Minister of Defense Beqir Balluku and how was it possible to find that letter in his house in Shkodra? What did Hamit’s family members, relatives, neighbors, work colleagues, the brigadier, the director of the Fishing Enterprise, the chairman of the People’s Council of the “Partizani” Neighborhood where he lived, and other people who were called to testify against him, testify during the investigation process, in the fall of 1976?
Why was the trial of Hamit Myrtos held in the village of Shiroka, how much was he convicted by the Shkodra District Court, the Criminal College of the Supreme Court and why did the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, leave their decisions in force, for his death sentence (by hanging) even after that terrible tragedy that had happened to him; where he lost his entire family? What were Hamit’s last words before the firing squad and why, to this day, has his grave not yet been found?!
Regarding these and other of the most serious and tragic events that the Shkodra region and Montenegro experienced in those years, we are informed by the archival documents of the voluminous relevant file that Memorie.al has provided, which we are publishing in several issues (with the relevant facsimiles and photos), with the sole purpose of shedding light and making known the monstrous crimes that occurred at that time, where Albanians, in order to escape the communist hell, were forced to undertake the most dangerous adventures towards the state border, just like the main character of this event, Hamit Arif Myrtja!
Continued from the previous issue
DOCUMENT OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY SENT TO THE DIRECTORATE OF INVESTIGATION AT THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND THE GENERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE, WITH THE DECISION TO REFUSE LIFE PUNISHMENT FOR HAMIT ARIF MYRTJA
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Tirana, on 25.12.1976
PRESIDIUM OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY
No. 975/1
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
TO THE GENERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE
For information: TO THE SUPREME COURT
TIRANË
The Presidium of the People’s Assembly, in its meeting of 25.12.1976, refused to grant clemency to:
Hamit Arif Mytje, born in 1944, resident of Shiroka, Shkodra district, sentenced by decision 401, dated 18.11.1976, of the Shkodra district court, to death (hanging by rope), for having betrayed the Fatherland, committed acts of terror and propagated against the People’s Government, a decision that was upheld by the Supreme Court.
The Presidium decided that the death sentence should be executed by firing squad.
SECRETARY OF THE PRESIDIUM
Telo Mezini
SECRET ARCHIVE DOCUMENT OF THE DIRECTORATE OF INVESTIGATION IN THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, SIGNED BY MINISTER KADRI HAZBIU, SENT TO THE INTERNAL BRANCH OF SHKODAR DISTRICT AND THE GENERAL PROSECUTOR’S OFFICE, ON THE EXECUTION BY DEATH, BY SHOOTING, OF HAMI ARIF MYRTJA, ON 25.12.1976
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Secret
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 3
INDEPENDENCE OF INVESTIGATION
Tirana on 25.12.1976
No. 801/2 prot.
(Directorate of Investigation)
Temporary 5 years
Subject: On the execution by death (by shooting) of the convicted Hamit Arif Myrtja.
INTERNAL AFFAIRS BRANCH INVESTIGATION SECTOR
SHKODER
For notice
PROSECUTOR GENERAL
TIRANA
Based on decision no. 401 dated 18.11.1976 of the Shkodra District Court, upholding decision no. 397, dated 4.12.1976 by the Criminal College of the Supreme Court, Hamit Arif Myrtja, dt. 1944, born and residing in Shiroka, Shkodra district, was sentenced to death (hanging) for having betrayed the Fatherland, having committed an act of terror, and having propagated against the People’s Government, these crimes provided for by articles 64, 67, and 73/1, of the Criminal Code.
Whereas the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, with letter no. 975/1 dated 25.12.1976, announces the rejection of the request for clemency, and the decision on the execution by shooting of the aforementioned.
ORDER
That the convicted Hamit Arif Myrtja be executed by death (shooting) at the designated place, date 26.12.1976 at 24.00. I charge the Shkodra Internal Affairs Branch with his execution. Before the execution, the convicted person shall be notified that his request for clemency has been rejected by the Presidium of the People’s Assembly. After the execution, the person in charge of this work shall draw up a report of the execution of the decision, which shall also contain the last word of the executed person, which shall be sent to the Directorate of Investigation.
MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
Kadri Hazbiu
DOCUMENT WITH THE MINUTES OF THE INTERNAL BRANCH OF SHKODRA DISTRICT, SIGNED BY MAYOR REXHEP KOLLI, SENT TO THE DIRECTORATE OF INVESTIGATION IN THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR, ON THE SHOOTING OF HAMI MYRTJA
SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Secret
INTERNAL AFFAIRS BRANCH Example No. 1
INVESTIGATION SECTOR Temporary 5 years
No. 1765/5 Shkodra 31.12.1976
Subject: A copy of the execution report of Hamit Arif Myrtje is sent to
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
INDEPENDENCE OF INVESTIGATION
TIRANA
In support of the order no. 801/2 dated 25.12.1976 of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, attached to this letter, we send you a copy of the minutes of the execution by death of Hamit Arif Myrtos, from the city of Shkodra.
HEAD OF THE INTERNAL AFFAIRS BRANCH
(REXHEP KOLLI)
MINUTES
Held today on 26.12.1976 at 24.00 between the investigator of the Shkodra Internal Affairs Branch, Shyqyri Çoku, being with the Deputy Chief of Police, Bajram Shima, and the Assistant Prosecutor of the Shkodra district, Remzi Kruja, we keep this record in implementation of decision No. 401 dated 18.11.1976 of the Shkodra District Court, leaving in force decision No. 397 dated 4.12.1976 by the Criminal College of the Supreme Court that sentenced to death (hanging) Hamit Arif Myrtja, dtl. 1944, born and resident in Shiroka, Shkodra district, for having betrayed the Fatherland, committed an act of terror, and propagated against the People’s Power, these crimes provided for by articles 64, 67, and 73/1, of the Criminal Code.
Since the Presidium of the People’s Assembly also refused to pardon the life, but changed it from hanging to shooting, the above-mentioned and for this reason, according to the order of the Ministry of Internal Affairs No. 801/2 dated 25.12.1976, he was executed at the appointed time and place. In his last words he said: “Kill me face to face. Nothing is broken because the pardon of my life has not been accepted”.
The minutes were written, read and signed by us. Memorie.al
INVESTIGATOR DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE
(Shyqyri Çoku) (Bajram Shima)
ND/DISTRICT PROSECUTOR
(Remzi Kruja)
