By Dashnor Kaloçi
Part four
Memorie.al / Based on the special specificity that Albanian Radio-Television had, as one of the most important information and propaganda institutions of the communist regime, until the end of the 80s, it was not only under the subordination and supervision of of the secretariat of the Central Committee of the PPSh, but also of the bodies of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and State Security, which as an “ORV” (Object of Special Importance), kept it under strict control, not only from the physical security side of that institution, but to the “cleanliness and moral and political figure” of its employees, whose biography was looked at in detail for several generations, passing them through the “sieves” year after year.
Not only that, but the State Security bodies, through the agency they had recruited within that institution, had and kept Radio-Television under constant and strict control, penetrating all its links, such as; directorate, relevant newsrooms, editing points, broadcasting studios, sound recording studio, archives, film production groups, warehouses, backstage, drivers and their vehicles, up to the physical control of employees and guests, to the doors they came in and out. All these, among others, are revealed by a series of archival documents, which are part of a file belonging to this very important institution, from its creation in 1961, until the collapse of the communist regime in in 1991.
From this file extracted from the Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (the fund of the former State Security, which are now part of the Authority for the Information of Files of the former State Security), we have selected some documents belonging to the 70s -’80s, starting their publication with three documents from the period of 1978, 1980 and 1981, where the directors of the Directorate of Internal Affairs of Tirana, namely Nustret Dauti and Zef Loka, inform the Central Committee of the ALP, on all the problems of this institution.
For more about this, we know the documents in question, where, in addition to a large number of employees of that institution, who have been followed and monitored by the State Security over the years, there are also some very well-known names, which have been considered as ” icons” of Albanian Radio-Television, before and after the 90s, such as; Robert Shvarc, Gaspë Çurçia, Alfon Gurashi, Gjon Simoni, Qemal Xhomo, Viktori Xhaçka, Meropi Xhai, Shpresa Musliu, Gjergj Pekmezi, Alfred Papuchiu, Xhezair Abazi, Shpëtim Gina, Edmond Dilaveri, Merkur Bozgo, Agron Aranitasi, Jochen and Irene Blanke, Muhamet Oseku, Arben Xoxe, Janka Selimi, Timo Luto, Xhuni Taylor, Arjan Bakiri, Gazmor Halilaj, Mond Lako, up to Vera Grabocka, etc. These documents are published for the first time in several numbers exclusively by Memorie.al
Continues from last issue
SECRET DOCUMENT COMPILED BY THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF THE DIRECTORATE OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF TIRANA, ZEF LOKA, SENT TO THE RELEVANT SECTOR NEAR THE APPARATUS OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF ALP, REGARDING THE SECURITY OF RADIO-TV AND ITS RADIO STATIONS, WITH THE RELEVANT AGENCY
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AFFAIRS Specimen No. 4
DIRECTORATE OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Temporary 5 years
SECURITY SIDE Tirana, on 27.8.1981
No. 2396
ANALYSIS
FOR THE WORK DONE FOR SECURING RADIO-TELEVISION AND RADIO STATIONS
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AFFAIRS
1st Directorate (III Branch)
TIRANA
How is the agency-operational work organized to maintain the cleanliness of the RTV facility
In this institution we always have 14 B.p., of which 12 informants and 2 residents. Two informants and 1 resident are from the ranks of the police and were withdrawn to maintain the cleanliness of the force that serves there. This agency is drawn to the principle of direction and object.
In general, it meets the needs we have for the facility, as it has been distributed in all important sectors in RTV. So in Foreign Radio, we have three informants, in Internal Radio three informants, in Television three informants and one resident, in Technical Radio, one informant.
These B.p., work mainly in the main points of the Radio and Television, in the apparatus, in the recording panels and in other important places, from where they can control the facilities in the operational control, 2/B, the contingencies, as well as to prevent any possible agency activity.
From the ranks of this agency, we have three anti-subversion collaborators, who work in important places, whose normal operation ensures the smooth functioning of Radio and Television. For the entire agency, a circle of issues has been prepared, in which their main tasks are underlined, specified according to the sectors where they work.
The agency of this institution has provided valuable reports, both for hostile activity and for other problems, on the basis of which information was provided and the measures described above were taken. For this institution, they also gave B.p. others from the ranks of art and culture, who are active as B.p. external, in Radio-Television. We have 2 agents and 5 informants who are active in these institutions, and who have given in this direction.
- Radio station of Kashar
This object depends on the Directorate of Radio-Television, but starting from its political importance, since part of Radio-Tirana’s shows is broadcast there, we have taken an object of special importance on its own. A total of 8 people work in this institution, among whom, we do not have any contingent elements, we have one in operational control 2/B.
The employees of this facility are engineers and mid-level technicians. During these two years, there have been no reports of hostile activity in this facility. The problems that there have been, have been of a technical nature, defects in the broadcast of the shows that have brought about the interruption of the Radio shows, etc.
During these two years, there was only one case, when Radio-Tirana’s broadcasts were interrupted, due to the defects of the radio station of Kashari (Radio-Tirana, broadcasts with the radio station of Kashari, only at 08.00-12.00 in the morning, while in the other hours, he works with Shijak). The defect in question occurred on 27.4.1981, at 11:15 a.m. and this for 2 minutes, after it was transmitted to the radio station of Shijak.
The defect in question was repeated the next day on April 28, but this did not cause the interruption of the Radio broadcasts, as rehearsals were being made. From the data of the agency and from the analysis made by the Directorate of Radio-Television of this problem, it turned out that some employees of this facility had not shown care in the maintenance and taking prophylactic measures of the devices.
We informed you about this with our letter 1998, dated 17.7.1981. On the part of the Directorate of RTV, measures were taken for the employees, forcing them to pay the value of the damage, about 1000 ALL.
In this facility we put an agent with the nickname “Tigri”, who has raised important problems from time to time, such as for the hostile activity of Filip Koca in operational control 2/B, who was in 2/A and with the data of the above agent, was advised. This B.p. has given for two other external objects, in active processing 2/A.
For the radio station, he provided valuable materials and explained the causes of defects when they occurred or for taking appropriate measures to prevent defects. In terms of the object, it has also been activated and has the possibility to give, B.p. “Lapsi”, who often goes on duty to the radio station. Starting from the good composition of this object and their small number, we think that this agency meets all the needs we have.
For the physical security of the radio station, there is a guard post with three shifts and in cases of readiness; it is reinforced with another shift. In order to maintain the cleanliness of the police, there was an informer, but he was transferred and currently the relevant sector has the task of withdrawing an informer, this will be done by 30.11.1981.
On the part of the police force, during this period, we have not had any incidents. Based on the fact that this object has a large territory, we are of the opinion that for the night shift, a shelter should be added, as currently, there are difficulties in fully securing it.
- Kamza radio station
This radio station depends on the Albanian Telegraphic Agency and performs the duties of receiving news broadcasts from the outside world. For the very important tasks he performs, from our side he received an object of special importance. A total of 20 employees work in this facility, the vast majority of them are technicians.
The composition of these employees is very good; there is no element that is contingent. During this period, we have not had any data on hostile or malicious activity. The operation of the radio station has been normal and no problems have arisen during this period.
But in terms of wartime readiness, we had important data that shed light on the lack of completion of the readiness of these facilities and the neglect of equipment maintenance. We have informed you in detail about these problems with our letter 1068, dated 26.3.1980, the Party Committee has also been informed about this problem and measures have been taken to stabilize the situation.
Despite all the good work that has been done in this direction, there are still some shortages, especially in the fuel supply of engines, the lack of a perspective plan for works, etc. Recently, these data have been consumed with the leaders of ATSH.
In this facility, we have only one informant who alerted us about the problems he had and is able to inform us about all the problems he may have in this institution, starting from the good composition of the employees of this institution radio station, we are of the opinion that this agency meets our needs, because besides him, other B.p., who work in ATSH, are activated with tasks there.
Such are B.p. “Aviation” and “Patriot”. The above facility is provided with three shelters with three shifts each, which fully ensures the preservation of this facility. To maintain the cleanliness of the soldiers, we have an informer and a resident. We did not have any events during this period with the troupe.
- Dajti TV antenna
The television antenna of Dajti is an object that depends on the Directorate of Radio and Television. It has been taken ORV (Object of Special Importance), on its own because of its importance in our TV center system. 10 employees work in this facility, mainly technicians and two engineers, whose political composition is good.
There is no processing or contingent person there. During these two years that we are analyzing, there have been no disturbing problems, both in the maintenance of the devices and in various defects. Regarding the entry-exit regime, we had reports in one case that outsiders were taken by two technicians to watch a football match.
For this, we have been alerted by the agency and we have raised it as a problem with the Radio-Television managers, and with the Facilities Battalion Command, for the culprits counseling measures were taken by the relevant directorate. On 17.8.1981, in the antenna apparatus, two lamps were burned which caused the destruction of the image.
This became a problem in the directorate and measures will be taken against the culprits. In this facility, we have only one B.p., nicknamed “Dajti”, but B.p. “Lapsi” and “Work Desk” are also activated there, who go there from time to time. B.p., above, have signaled from time to time about problems that have arisen.
We believe that this investigative force meets the agency needs in this facility. To secure this facility, the Battalion has a three-shift bodyguard. In order to preserve their purity, there is no B.p., but the task arises, until 30.12.1981, to withdraw an informant from their ranks.
During this period, no problems emerged from the body. For the implementation of the orders given from time to time by the Ministry, for the provision of these facilities, in addition to the above tasks from the operational sector and that of the Facilities Battalion, the following tasks should be performed in the future:
- On the part of the new operational sector, the order of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, No. 4255 dt 26.8.1971, “On Radio Stations” and the duties derived from it, to be implemented continuously.
- With the agency that works in these facilities, to do a better educational and professional job, to go to meetings with the agency that is connected with the resident and to define concrete tasks for each B.p. according to the object. The scope of their issues should be reflected with new and concrete tasks.
- According to the tasks that were laid out above for each object, to withdraw two B.p. in cooperation, against diversion in Radio-Television, while from the sector of maintaining the purity of the troop, until 30.12.1981, to withdraw two B.p., one in the radio station of Kashari, and one on the antenna of Dajti.
- Operative workers, go from time to time to these facilities, and in addition to contact with managers, connect better with other employees to raise their vigilance and collect information, about the problems that exist in these facilities. For these problems, the district Party Committee and VIII Branch should be informed.
- In cooperation with the leaders of these institutions, with the employees of these facilities, a better job should be done, for the regime of entry and exit, to implement the relevant regulations without any concessions. Such work should also be done for firefighting measures.
- With the troops that perform service in these facilities, the political-ideological work should be intensified, for the in-depth understanding of the tasks they perform. For this and on the part of the Operative Workers to go and have conversations, not only about the political importance of these objects, but also about the intentions of the enemies of the internal and external class, of the Radio Stations.
- The Command of the Facilities Battalion should better than now organize frequent and surprise checks to see how the service is performed by the corps and inform the Heads of Internal Affairs of any problems. Memorie.al
DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
ZEF LOKA
