Memorie.al / The fight against the kulaks in Albania, which lasted for more than 40 years, constitute one of the darkest pages in the history of the Albanian state since 1912. The only person who has so far taken responsibility and studied this inhumane massacre is the passionate and serious researcher Xhafer Sadiku in published articles and books. Albanian communism was only a wilder and more barbaric copy than Russian communism. For nearly half a century, the communist state and regime robbed the so-called kulaks of their wealth, fundamental human rights, freedom, and the history of most of them. The kulaks or “enemies of the people” remained under constant pursuit through intelligence processing, postal and telephone control, surveillance and “proof of guilt,” in search of freedom; escape, expulsion, internment.
The “kulak” title was inherited
The term kulak did not only apply to the head of the family but to his entire family, including women and children. In 1951, alongside other coercive measures against kulaks, “it was decided that the kulak title would be inherited by other family members, not only when the head of the family holding the title died, but also in cases where family members separated.” (Apostol Kotani, “Regarding the Policy of the P.P.Sh. for the Liquidation of the Kulaks as a Class”)
For example, in Lepenicë, the list of kulaks includes Veziko Çarçan Veshaj, the wife of Veledin Veshi, who died from torture in the State Security cells. Likewise, Shyqyre Hazbi Hysaj, the wife of Hysni Lepenica who fell a martyr on September 14, 1943, was also labeled a kulak. But the children of these heroic women, Kujtim and Leka, would also be labeled kulaks—thus, the kulak title was inherited!
Similarly, in Lepenicë, the list of kulaks or “enemies of the people” also includes two well-known names; Nebi Sadedini and Hysen Sinani, from Lepenicë, as well as their family members, wives, sons, and daughters. Shaqe Beqiri, from this family, was mistakenly labeled a kulak with the surname Memishaj on the list.
Due to heavy taxation, poverty, and imprisonments, there were many deaths among kulak families. Many families split up, creating smaller families, with the illusion that they would escape the conflict. But the communists made no concessions. When the kulak head of the family died, the family remained kulaks, under the name of whoever remained the head of the family!
In December 1968, in the district of Vlora, there were about 4,000 young people left out of the ranks of the youth organization because they were children of kulak families. The fight against kulaks also included prohibiting marriages with kulak families and isolating them during burial ceremonies. When these or members of the kulak family passed away, they were buried only by their family members. The lives of kulak families were controlled by the State Security and its collaborators. (Xhafer Sadiku “Genocide against the Kulaks in Communist Albania 1948–1990,” “Vest Print,” Tirana 2013)
The Kulaks of Lepenicë
Kujtim Veshaj had just married, and on January 5, 1956, at the age of 20, he was declared an “enemy of the people,” a kulak, along with Lekë Hysaj, the only child of Hysni Lepenica, and until 1990, both of them remained “enemies of the people,” enduring violence, terror, contempt, discrimination, and the denial of fundamental human rights. The declaration of these young men, Kujtim Veshi and Lekë Hysaj, as kulaks was done in a context of terror. At that time, Kujtim was the village youth secretary, and the village was summoned to gather in the yard of Jaho Lama’s house.
Leading the meeting were Muharrem Rrapi from Mallkeq, the Party Committee instructor, and Rexhep Osmëni, the party organization secretary for Gjorm. They told the village that Kujtim Veshaj and Lekë Hysaj were declared “enemies of the people,” kulaks, and from that day on, no villager should have any connection with them, neither give nor take, neither enter nor leave.
Some men who dared to say, “These are just kids, is the village going to measure up against them?” The answer, as always, was: “The Party knows best…!” The women of the village, whose tears had not yet dried from the village burning in 1943 by Hysni Kapo, left crying over the calamity that was striking their village.
In the same year, the Agricultural Cooperative was formed. Kujtim and Lekë Hysaj were not accepted into the cooperative as “enemies of the people,” and although they were not accepted, their land and livestock were taken away. Kujtim and Leka had 70 dynym of agricultural land taken from them and were left with only 4 dynym of non-fertile land each. In 1985, the arrest scheme of Veledin in 1951, Kujtim’s father, was repeated, but this time Kujtim was not sent to prison like his father, but was publicly denounced in front of the village. “Stand up,” they told Kujtim, “we will give you the floor to defend yourself, but you will only speak for one minute!”
– “My mouth,” said Kujtim, “was locked by your fear, not by my conscience, and that is why I have not spoken, so I owe you nothing, you owe me.” After him, Tefide Ngucaj, a brave woman, stood up and addressed the presidium in a loud voice: – “Shame on you for doing this to Kujtim Veshi as well!” – then she burst into tears and left the hall…!
That scream from this woman said a lot…! It was the village’s cry for justice. I feel it is my duty to thank this woman, who did not worry about her own family, because above that love stood freedom and truth.
I am grateful to my fellow villagers who all rose up in revolt and defended Kujtim Veshi. The denunciation was not enough; the Party had to deepen the class struggle, so they removed Kujtim from the sawmill where he worked in the Lepenicë mountain, they removed his son from tending sheep, they removed his brother Lavdosh from carpentry, and Kujtim’s wife and children were sent to the hardest labor.
In 1960, the party would make an “inventory” of the kulaks of Vlora, just in case any had “disappeared” or perhaps escaped! The Executive Committee of the District People’s Council, with letter no. 1/359 dated 10.5.1960, requested the City Committee for the nominal list of the city’s kulaks. The City Committee replied with letters no. 1/64 dated 20.5.1960 and no. 1/80 dated 26.5.1960, listing 84 kulaks of the city by neighborhood:
List of the 84 “Kulak” Families of Vlora in 1960
“Lirim” Neighborhood, 3 families: Tofik Shehu, Kimet Robi, Nafije Agaj.
“Karabash” Neighborhood, 3 families: Zija Kuçi, Filo Shaska, Sherif Mara.
“Vrenes” Neighborhood, 9 families: Arif Caushi, Hakim Braka, Mynyre Vranari, Abaz Mezini, Qazim Sora, Eqerem Sorra, Pullumb Kalo, Enver Mustafaraj, Xhemile Çala.
“Tophana” Neighborhood, 9 families: Nuri Grabova, Gani Pehi, Kudret Kokoshi, Fetanete Haxhiu, Meleqe Haxhiu, Nikit Lamaj, Hilmi Murataj, Marigo Thomanasi, Sadik Boraj.
“Skelë” Neighborhood, 11 families: Mustafa Canaj, Razip Murataj, Axhem Kapa, Zilini Kapaj, Pranvera Kokolari, Hysen Dudushi, Hajrije Muço, Serije Xhindi, Piro Xhindi, Nesije Xhindi, Besim Kokoshi.
“Muradije” Neighborhood, 11 families: Refat Hoxha, Sihat Beqo, Qefsere Beqo, Petref Fallani, Muharrem Shehu, Baki Shehu, Veip Vranari, Xhemil Kuçi, Xhemil Beqo, Lilo Grabova, Liri Hoxha.
“Lagjja e Re” (New Neighborhood), 17 families: Taifur Musa Shehu, Ëngjëll Taifur Shehu, Isak Mete Dulaj, Hetem Kadri Dulaj, Sabadire Meçorrapaj, Nazmije Beqir Shehu, Samine Leskaj, Shano Çobaj, Kujtim Muço Meçorrapaj, Miri Xhafer Meço, Myrdije Teki Meço, Avduraman Hysen Meço, Skënder Shaqo Shehu, Batije Muharrem Shehu, Qefalete Sabri Shehu, Marije Shaqo Shehu, Skënder Qerim Gumbardhi
“Çole” Neighborhood, 13 families:
From Trevëllazëri: 1. Skëndo Muhamet Myrtaj, 2. Mamude Sulo Myrtaj, 3. Përparim Skëndo Myrtaj, 4. Serije Skëndo Myrtaj, 5. Koçi Skëndo Myrtaj.
From Panaja: 1) Koçi Tahir Aliraj, 2) Mato Hysen Aliraj, 3) Tana Xhezo Aliraj, 4) Fatbardha Dushan Aliraj.
From Oshtima: 1. Fiqiri Ymer Xhaferi, 2. Fevri Ymer Xhaferi, 3. Nadire Hasan Xhaferi, 4. Merushe Halil Xhaferi.
From Kume, 4 families: Enver Neim Xhaferi, Kajaçe Avdul Xhaferi, Shefiko Feim Xhaferi, Mbarime Qani Xhaferi
From Uji i Ftohtë, 4 families: Brahim Hoxha, Tri Luzaj, Drita Hodo, Fatime Haxhi
In the villages of Vlora, the District Executive Committee also identified a list of kulaks comprising 84 families, as follows:
From Kanina, 9 families: 1. Qazim H. Bonjaku, 2. Sabri H. Bonjaku, 3. Cano A. Bonjaku, 4. Hyqmet D. Luzaj, 5. Qani I. Luzaj, 6. Qazim I. Luzi, 7. Ahmet L. Xhindi, 8. Brahim H. Vranari, 9. Hydo F. Hoxha.
From Narta, 4 families: 10. Nako Qirko, 11. Jani Andrea, 12. Vangjel Papa, 13. Vasil Papa
From Panaja, 1 family: 14. Gano Hoxha Panaja
Oshtima, 2 families: 15. Vexhi S. Xhaferaj, 16. Beshir N. Xhaferaj.
From Zvërnec, 1 family: 17. Bexhet I. Shehu.
From Çeprat, 4 families: 18. Xhevit Mersini, 19. Faik Isufi, 20. Refat Isufi, 21. Sehit Myftari.
From Dukati, 18 families: 22. Serri J. Jazaj, 23. Adem J. Jazaj, 24. Isuf J. Jazaj, 25. Axhem I. Çeloaliaj, 26. Ahmet M. Mëhilli, 27. Zini I. Hamiti, 28. Haxhi I. Haskaj, 29. Muharrem K. Nelaj, 30. Shyqyri M. Çeloaliaj, 31. Alim M. Çeloaliaj, 32. Xhezo M. Çeloaliaj, 33. Xhavit L. Hamiti, 34. Azem S. Hamiti, 35. Qerem I. Hamiti, 36. Hamit G. Hamitaj, 37. Dervish I. Jazaj, 38. Isuf M. Koshena, 39. Qirie Notaj.
From Radhima, 1 family: 40. Yzeir Llakatundi
From Lepenicë, 2 families: 41. Leke H. Hysaj, 42. Kujtim V. Veshaj
Gjormi, 4 families: 43. Neki L. Gllucaj, 44. Hysen L. Gllucaj, 45. Ymer R. Hoxhaj, 46. Zagoll Sefedini.
From Matogjin, 2 families: 47. Jaçe M. Leskaj, 48. Bado M. Leskaj.
Mavrovë, 4 families: 49. Hajro Merkaj, 50. Hodo Nelaj, 51. Batjar Nelaj 52. Arif Bejtaj.
From Hysoverdh, 1 family: 53. Fejzi Agaj, Hysoverdh
Vajzë, 1 family: 54. Merxhane Iliazi.
From Velçë, 3 families: 55. Nexhip Myslymi, 56. Rujo Sabriu, 57. Selman Beqiri.
From Gumenica, 2 families: 58. Zeno Shabani, 59. Qerim Numani
Lezhan, 3 families: 60. Sadik Çelo, 61. Shaban Beqiri, 62. Taip Beqiri.
From Shkoza, 1 family: 63. Sabri Mane.
From Kuçi, 4 families: 64. Arshi Zekaj, 65. Bejtash Nuraj, 66. Metlli Ymeraj, 67. Hysen Karrocka.
From Kallarat, 2 families: 68. Shate Qeramaj, 69. Tahir Qeremaj Kallarat.
From Himara, 7 families: 70. Katina Kaçelako, 71. Stefo Goro, 72. Kaliro Goro, 73. Milto Rexho, 74. Koço I. Llazari, 75. Grigor Bollano, 76. Kozma Kallushi.
From Dhërmiu, 6 families: 77. Vangjel Dhima, 78. Milo Goreci, 79. Foto Martino, 80. Kleantho Gjikuria, 81. Stefo I. Duni, 82. Thanas Duni.
From Trevëllazëri, 2 families: 83. Sadil Lamaj, 84. Rexhep Lamaj Trevllazër (A.Q.SH., Fund 1 V. 1960, File 294, pages 1 – 6). Memorie.al
