By Dashnor Kaloçi
Part Ten
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
ARCHIVE DOCUMENT WITH THE MINUTES OF THE INTERROGATION OF THE WITNESS VJOLLCA XHEMAL XHAFERI, BY THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE SHKODRA INTERNAL BRANCH, JAKE TEFIKU
MINUTES
(Of questioning the witness)
Today, on 9.10.1976, in the city of Shkodra, I, the investigator of the Internal Affairs Branch, Jake Tefiku, questioned as a witness Vjollca Xhemal Xhaferi, born in 1963, with education, continuing eighth grade, place of residence “Partizani” neighborhood, “Lek Dukagjini” Street, no. 113 Shkodra, student, no convictions, ID card number, identification, and relationship to the defendant, sister and brother-in-law.
The investigator warned me of criminal liability under Article 220 of the Criminal Code, for false testimony.
Vjollca Seferi
Regarding the matter, I can say the following:
I have Hasija as my sister, and Hamit as her sister’s husband. The day they left their house, I don’t remember the date, but I remember it was August 31st in the evening, I was outside with my other sister, Shpresa, filling water, while Shpresa was playing, I saw my sister Hasija passing by the house, together with Hamit, my sister Hasija had the children by the hand, I asked my sister where they were going and Hasija told me that we were going to aunt Bibja’s, for dinner because he is getting his daughter married, she said good night and left, and Hamit passed by. I didn’t see what Hamit was holding in his hand. But my sister had a bag in her hand. When they left the house and I saw them in the yard, it was almost dark, but not completely dark. Since then, I have not seen them again. Before they left, I didn’t see either Hamit or Hasija upset.
I read the process and signed it.
The witness Investigator
Vjollca Seferi Jake Tefiku
ARCHIVE DOCUMENT WITH THE MINUTES OF THE INTERROGATION OF THE WITNESS XHEMAL HAMZA SUMA, BY THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE SHKODRA INTERNAL BRANCH, JAKE TEFIKU
MINUTES
(Of questioning the witness)
Today, on 9.10.1976, in the city of Shkodra, I, the investigator of the Internal Affairs Branch, Jake Tefiku, questioned as a witness Xhemal Hamza Suma, born in 1934, with 7 years of education, place of residence “Partizani” neighborhood, “Lek Dukagjini” Street, no. 113 Shkodra, job title worker, non-party, unconvicted, ID card number, Identification, relationship to the defendant, social.
The investigator warned me of criminal liability under Article 220 of the Criminal Code, for false testimony.
Xhemal Suma
Regarding the case, I can say the following:
Hamit Myrto and his wife, Hasije, have been my neighbors, door to door, for several years. Initially, they lived in the house of their father-in-law, Xhemal Seferi. Then he took the room he had until the end, I had intended to take it, and I asked for it in the neighborhood, but since the neighborhood was cramped, Hamiti gave it to him. When Hamiti found out that I had asked to expand this room, he started not talking to me. Later, and not a month had passed, Xhemal Seferi got engaged to his son, Gëzim, and he invited us there as neighbors, Hamiti was also there as a groom, that’s where we started and got along and from that time until the day he escaped, we didn’t get along badly.
I know that on August 29, Hamiti went by taxi to Kosmaç, he picked up his wife who he had sent to his uncle, Kadri Cani, together with his mother-in-law. I don’t know how many days they had been there and stayed, but I know this and I am sure. Later, after Hamit was declared a fugitive, in conversations with my wife, she told me how Hasija had complained to her that Hamit wanted to take her to his uncle in the village of Zus in this district. Hasija had told my wife that I have been married to Hamit for nine years and he has never seen me and I have never gone and now I do not feel like going and I do not know what to do. My wife had told her how good it is that you go to your uncle and he is silent, so you should also go to his uncle.
My wife told me that on the day they left for the last time, Hasija was completely confused, Hamit was shouting at her from downstairs, she was coming in and out, collecting the children’s things. I can say that Hamit was a bit vulgar in speech, and he did not behave like an educated person, he had vulgar vocabulary and he insulted his wife, Hasija, from time to time. I read the process and signed it. I add that according to my wife, Hamit and his wife, Hasija, left their house when it was completely dark. She didn’t tell me anything else. She also asked that my wife not be questioned because she suffers from nerves and the investigator’s questioning shocks her.
The witness Investigator
Xhemal Suma Jake Tefiku
ARCHIVE DOCUMENT WITH THE MINUTES OF THE INTERROGATION OF THE WITNESS NAZMI ZENEL SHKJENZA, BY THE INVESTIGATOR OF THE SHKODRA INTERNAL BRANCH, JAKE TEFIKU
MINUTES
(Of questioning the witness)
Today, on 11.10.1976, in the city of Shkodra, I, the investigator of the Internal Affairs Branch, Jake Tefiku, questioned as a witness Nazmi Zenel Shkelza, born in 1938, with 6 years of education, place of residence Shiroka, duty secretary of the organization Motorra Zogaj, A.P., unconvicted, ID No., Identify, relationship to the defendant, Indifferent.
The investigator warned me of criminal liability under Article 220 of the Criminal Code, for false testimony.
Nazmi Shkjenza
Regarding the case, I can say the following:
Question: What can you tell us about the behavior and work of the former employee of that enterprise, Hamit Arif Myrtja?
Answer: I am the secretary of the grassroots organization for four fishing brigades and for the village of Zogaj. In the four brigades I have of fishermen, Hamit Myrtja was one of these. We have distinguished him as a worker and have put him on the board of honor. He has been a worker in the fishery for years, he has been regular and disciplined at work, he has fulfilled the norms and we have not had any remarks towards him. I want to emphasize that he liked fashion a little and wore his hair long, he was criticized by me for these and he has improved.
Having been in the fishery for a long time myself, I have known Hamit closely, he has had cases where he complained to me about bad relationships with family members (brother, mother and sisters), he has told me that they did not treat his wife well; they had beaten her and did not love her. I am not able to tell you the deep reasons for not writing, but I only know that they did not go. I know that later they fought each other and Hamiti went to the hospital from the blows of his mother and sisters, what was the cause of their quarrel that brought the matter to this point, I am not really interested, because they were internal problems.
We intervened as an organization and as an enterprise to reconcile them with the family, but neither party accepted and remained in a state of discord and did not speak to each other, they did not come in or go out. They separated and Hamiti, since he was still not getting along well with his people (whose fault it was, I cannot determine) then sold the house and went to his wife’s parents. He had complained to me and the enterprise management and had asked for his accommodation in a building to live in.
Both I and the management intervened in the People’s Council, so that they would take him into account so that when his turn came, they could arrange it. I even went with the company’s management to the house he had and we saw it. He was in a bad state of housing. We issued him an official certificate to use the local government bodies, to give him housing precedence. He himself knew that we had no building under construction, neither voluntarily or in the plan by the company. He knew this himself.
Question: What reaction did the decision of the Party and the government to harmonize the salary system of several sectors, including Fishing, cause in Hamit Myrtja?
Answer: This decision was worked out by us in the company and all the workers were fully in solidarity. Even Hamit himself was in solidarity and there was no reaction. Even later, after the decision came into force, there was no murmuring or dissatisfaction.
Question: Did he claim a job for his wife and that the income he received from his daily work could support his situation?
Answer: Gruen had a job; he himself fired her because his income was good. He himself never claimed us to find work for his wife. There were times when he said that he wanted a good job for his wife, then and after. He asked for a job without shifts and let her take it and he still had a little income. He said that he would cover the difference himself. He did not ask us to intervene in the arrangement of his wife’s job. In our case, in Fishing, the time to catch fish directly influenced. The most suitable time to create income is summer and autumn when it is plentiful.
But even during the winter, we do not remain without money. We have never heard a complaint from Hamit about the difficult economic situation, he had his household items and furniture, he also had a television, he was very well dressed, himself and the children, we have never heard him complain, with the exception of the house for living and his people who were not going. We have intervened to reconcile the two brothers and they did not accept. This disrespectful attitude towards us who intervened to reconcile them, Hamit has covered with discipline and readiness, in fulfilling his duty as a fisherman, and he never objected.
Question: What can you tell us about the performance of duty by the guard Fadil Riza Rrezia?
Answer: Fadil has served 3-4 years working there in the Fishing Center, as a guard. Continuously and every time we have checked on him, we have found him on duty. Ay has not made any concessions, always ready to serve and vigilant, he behaves very well and from all the workers I have not heard a single bad word about him. The murder of Fadil by Hamit Myrtos for his dirty hostile intentions, to escape abroad, has caused anger and indignation among the workers. Every day the workers mention Fadil with respect and sympathy, while Hamit with hatred and curse. I do not know what I can say about Fadil, except for the good things he had.
What I said above is true and I sign it with my signature.
The witness Investigator
Nazmi Shkjenza Jake Tefiku
The young man asked and said: I want to add that in addition to what I said, that when Hamiti came to work, he would take very rich and voluminous foods with him, he would take cheese, butter, jam, sausage, He said that; I only drink in Tourism, he was not fond of drinking, but in a word he ate very well. He was careful in his shooting actions and mainly when we approached the border line, he would tell us not to approach outside the rules and to be vigilant. He was a good and careful worker. I said this because he never suffered and was not preoccupied with the economic situation. He spent all his salary himself; he had good income and even better from a good part of the fishermen.
I read the process and signed it. Memorie.al
The witness Investigator
Nazmi Shkjenza Jake Tefiku
