By Nafi Çegrani / former UDB official
Part One
The Albanian who was part of the UDB speaks with names: Here are the Albanians who were wiretapped step by step
Memorie.al / Immediately after World War II, by order of Josif Broz Tito, the so-called OZN (Organ Zastite Naroda) was formed on May 13, 1944, and a year later, the VOS (Vojna Obavestajna Sluzba ‘JNA’) Military Information Service of the Yugoslav People’s Army. By the end of 1946, these services were reformed and merged, forming the UDB and KOS, (Uprava Drzavne Bezbednosti) the State Security Directorate and (Kontra obavestajna Sluzba) the Yugoslav Counterintelligence Service, which was subordinate to the Command of the General Staff of the Army, and were led by Aleksandar Ranković, nicknamed “Leka”, and Slobodan Penezić, nicknamed “Kercun”.
Simultaneously and with lightning speed in all republics and the Autonomous Province of Kosovo, the respective UDB and KOS directorates were formed at these levels. The OZN and the UDB, for many years in Kosovo, were led by Spasoje Đaković as chief-chief and the chief-chiefs of branches of this notorious service for Kosovo were also Ćedo Mijović, Ali Šukrić, Lubo Shotra, Alush Gashi, Nazmi Kursani, Ćedo Topallović, etc.
The UDB in Macedonia was led by Ilisie Popovski “Marko”, Čvetko Uzunovski, nicknamed “Abaz”, Arizan Mesterovski-Marče, etc. The branches of the UDB in Kosovo and Macedonia were also led by many Albanians, who were especially engaged in the persecution and liquidation of armed Albanian groups, resistance activists, some of whom were hiding in the mountains, to escape alive from the liquidations of the UDB, escaped and emigrated in groups across the border, to Greece and Italy, while others settled in America or in Western European countries, such as France, Belgium, Germany, etc.
In these pages of the book I want to shed light on the observations that the UDB made of the political emigration, and later also the economic emigration of Albanians, in several countries of Western Europe, across the ocean, who were seriously engaged with flesh and soul, for the national issue.
Here I will stop writing about the leaders of several Albanian organizations and parties from the ranks of the emigration, and I have extracted all of these from the voluminous files of the Yugoslav UDB secret service, using here also many operational materials, which are original, and which I received, or rather I should say that I stole, during the years 1969-1974, by extracting them from the secret archive, when I worked as an operative in the SDB service sectors for Macedonia, in Skopje…!
The secret files of the UDB on Albanian emigration across the ocean, in the USA, are an entire contingent and archive of special value, which is stored in armored steel safes and with the acronym “Strogo pov” (Strictly reserved), it has great importance for Albanian historiography, anyone can write entire books and amazing studies there, from the field of history and sociology…!
Albania as a state and Albanians as a nation in all ethnic lands have a very sensational, but also quite tragic history throughout the entire Balkan Peninsula, therefore from social, economic and political points of view and other circumstances, Albanians have been treated as a backward and ruled people, divided and violated by many regimes over the centuries, by sultans and tsars, by kingdoms and foreign enemies…!
All these facts have forced the Albanian to take the paths of emigration around the world. My exiled people, over the centuries, have been displaced, forced to abandon their homeland just to stay alive. History knows this fact, but if we add to this the other fact that the foreigner has always put the fate of the Albanians at stake, stimulating mutual quarrels, strange clashes, which were and are his strategy for his own interests, while the Albanian continues to come around his tragic, which the whole world knows…!
But let us return to the topic of the persecution of the leaders of the Albanian emigration by the UDB. In the spring of 1939, fascist Italy invaded Albania. Strange things began to happen throughout the Balkans. King Zog, with the Staff and the bajraktars of his group, settled in Cairo. Then came the invasion by Nazi Germany and the Albanians settled in the mountains.
Armed Albanian guerrilla groups were also formed, armed combat formations, divided into two parts: those partisans with communist ideas led and under the influence of the Comintern and the Mugoshes and Popovics, while on the other hand, the roar of weapons of Albanian nationalist groups could be heard, such as those of the “National Front” etc.
Here too, in time and space, quarrels, revenges and divisions among Albanians took their toll and left indelible traces of blood and tragedy, which the foreign enemy cunningly exploited. When the communist partisans triumphed in the Balkans, (the Bolshevik idea coming from the Carpathians) sacrificing Albanians on a large scale, placing Albania among the countries with a monist system, headed by Enver Hoxha, entire formations of Albanians on the other side, in a life-or-death struggle, hiding in the mountains to escape the liquidations of the communist regime, then escaped together with the Italian and German troops, while a large number fled to Greece and a part by sea to Italy, settling in various refugee camps, initially helped by UNRRA, IRO and VICC, etc.
These influxes and emigrations of Albanians from their homes continued not only after the war but also decades later. The nationalist Albanian fled across the ocean, to America, Australia and distant Alaska. The secret espionage and counter-espionage services, especially those of Yugoslavia, showed great interest in Albanian emigration in general and therefore these services formed a special sector in diplomatic channels that would follow step by step the activity and activities developed by the leaders, individuals or even by the Albanian emigrant organizations, which had already been formed especially in Italy and Germany, Turkey and America etc.
Mentioning here some dominant names, such as: Ali Këlcyra, Hysni Lepenica, Ernest Koliqi, Sabaudin Haznedari, Mentor Çoku, Imer Koçi, Dr. Anton Sadedini, Luan Gashi, Abaz Kupi, Abaz Ermenji, Sami Repishti, Namik Resuli, Arshi Pipa, Ismail Verlaci, Xhafer Deva, Hysen Terpeza, Zef Pali, Fuad Myftiu, Athanas Gegaj, Vasil Andoni, Hasan Dosti, Qazim Prodani, Ibrahim Biçaku, Qenan Zhupani i Çegranit, Sutki Koloveri, Kalosh Hamdi Reçani, Xhelë Kalisha, Muharrem Bajraktari, Beqir Maloku, Xhemal Bushati, Hafiz Jusuf Azemi, Alinafi Hoxha, Vasil Germenji, Nexhat Peshkpia, Rexhep Krasniqi, Tahir Kolgjini, Eqerem Bardha, Hysen Selmoni, Gajur Dëralla, Rexhep Mitrovica, Murat Cerova, Adem Dushi, Mato Murati, Xhelal Mitrovica, Sait Kryeziu, Tajar Zavalani, Tomor Zavalani, Adem Gllavica, Ajet Rushiti, Gjon Marka Gjoni, Vasil Alarupi, Ago Agaj, Kolë Bib Mirakaj, Alush Leshanaku, Qemal Voskopoja, Hyqmet Delvina, Halil Maçi, Asllan Zeneli, Dr. Selim Damani, Tahir Zajmi, Ahmet Brahimi, Ibrahim Kulla, Ramadan Cena, Besim Sina, etc., etc.
All these personalities have special files in the Yugoslav UDB, fabricated during the years of their stay in the camps of Greece and Italy, as well as their stay in emigration in the USA. -The pan-Albanian organization “Vatra” with headquarters in Boston and its newspaper “Dielli”, was formed and led for a long time by Fan Noli and Athanas Gegaj and others.
Its goal was to gather Albanians who lived in the USA. The newspaper “Dielli”, as its organ, has for decades dealt with and still deals with the issue and life of Albanian emigration across the ocean…. -“Balli Kombëtar” was an Albanian emigrant nationalist organization, which was founded in 1939 by Mid’had Frashëri.
Then, several changes and new twists were made in its ranks, especially after the death of M. Frashëri in 1950, when from its ranks emerged the Agrarian Party and the Peasants’ Party led by Hasan Dostin…! -“The Third League of Prizren in Emigration” with headquarters in New York led by Xhafer Deva, later Ismet Berisha was appointed its chairman, publishes the magazine called “The League of Prizren”…!
– The National Organization “Legal Movement” with headquarters in New York and its chairman was Abaz Kupi. After his death, radical changes were made. Its branches operated in several Western European countries and in Canada and Australia, as is the case with the branches of the “National Front” and the Agrarian Party, the newspaper “Atdheu” is an organ of Legality…!
– The Agrarian Party “Balli Kombëtar” with headquarters in Rome, as its organ published the magazine “Flamuri”, whiles the Rural Party as its own organ, published in Detroit the magazine “Heroizma albanian”…! – “Kosovar League” with headquarters in Aurora, Chicago, founded and directed by Hafiz Jusuf Azemi, Prof. Vasil Andoni and Prof. Luan Gashi, who also publish the newspaper “Përpjekja albanian”…!
– “Organizata Bashkimi Demokratik Shqiptar” with Chairman Isa Elez Ndreu, as its own organ published the newspaper “Koha Jonë” in Paris. Its editor-in-chief was Lec Shllaku. Here I want to stop and emphasize that, from 1966 to 1969, when in America and some European countries, especially in Rome, Italy, Paris, France, Brussels, Belgium, etc., a general reorganization of Albanian immigrant organizations took place. After much friction and debate, after much antagonism and clashes, the ranks of the pan-Albanian emigration were refreshed. A new Central Committee of the National Organization of the Legality Movement was formed and elected in New York, where Dr. Fuad Myftia was elected Secretary General, and Hysen Prishtina was elected Chairman of the Council.
The Chairman of the “Free Albania” Committee with headquarters in New York continued to be Dr. Rexhep Krasniqi, who was born in Gjakova, and completed his university studies in Austria. In New York, he published the newspaper “Free Albanian” for many years, several issues of which I have personally read. Agim Karagjozi became Secretary of the “Vatra” branch in New York.
After several congresses that were held, such as the one of the “Kosovo League” in Chicago in 1969, as well as those in Detroit and Boston, it was urgently deemed necessary and a Joint Committee for the “Country Party”, “Albanian Heroism” and “Albanian Unity” was created, and the orator Ndue Gjomarkaj was elected chairman of this committee.
While Abaz Ermenji still remains chairman of the “Free Ethnic Albania” Committee with headquarters in Paris. Qazim Prodani led the “Besa” Organization in Istanbul and published the newspaper with the same name. Alinafi Hoxha led the “Vardar League” Organization in Marseille, France.
Professor Ernest Koliqi in Rome, Italy, published the magazine called “Shejzat” whose editor for a while was also Martin Camaj. This magazine caused a great stir throughout the Albanian emigration. – The “Albanian National Alliance” operated in Sweden and its organ was the “Albanian Besa”. – The National Committee “Free Albania” in Paris, France, published the magazine “Albanian Stability” as its own organ. – The Albanian organization “Balli Kombëtar” for New York and New Jersey published the magazine “National Defense”.
Antonio Bellushi, known in Palermo, Italy, publishes the magazine “Vatra jonë” and then “Lidhja”, which were welcomed not only among the Arbëresh, but also throughout the Albanian emigration in Europe and America. – “Zëri i Rinisë në Mërgim”, was an organ of the “Albanian Youth” Organization in Melbourne, Australia. – The League of Albanian-American Muslims in New York was led for a long time by Rexhep Kumbarçe, but in the Vth Congress, this association underwent some changes, precisely during the years 1972-’74, when it was named as; “Albanian-American Islamic Center” for New York and New Jersey, and Abdullah Kaloshi was elected its president.
The honorary presidency included Imam Isa Hoxha, Remzi Baolli, etc. In America there was also the “Albanian-American Catholic League” with headquarters in New York, headed by Zef Oroshi. The magazine “Lajmetari i të mërguemit” was also published here, as an organ of the “Independent Bloc”. The editor of the magazine “Përpekja jonë” in New York was Azem Gjidia.
It is a fact that Albanians in large proportions have been “worthy” collaborators in the counter-intelligence and intelligence services of the Yugoslav communist system, the secret service of the KOS and the UDB.
According to an analytical study that I conducted during the years when I worked as an operative in the sectors of the Republican SDB of Yugoslavia in Skopje, thanks to the network of various collaborators from among the Albanians and according to the hidden codes and categories of files, or the records of the registered card file, approximately 60 percent, of them 20 percent, were identified collaborators, with coded pseudonyms, and who possessed fabricated files for this purpose.
I do not know why this happened, but one thing was clear to me: the leaders of the UDB, the communist and Bolshevik ideology of pan-Slavism, both in Belgrade and in several other centers of Yugoslavia (including in the cabinets of the Central Committees of the CPY), were drafting secret projects for the physical disappearance, liquidation and passive cleansing of Albanians from Macedonia and Kosovo, from Montenegro and other lands inhabited by ethnic Albanians. Memorie.al
To be continued in the next issue
