From Veli Haklaj
The fifth part
PERSECUTION OF THE CATHOLIC CLERGY – STATE SECURITY QUESTIONS IN 1946
Memorie.al / In the history of the Albanian nation, the Catholic Church has played an important and often precious role. Unfortunately, the relationship that the communist government built in Albania, with the faith as a whole, resulted in an unprecedented wave of repression against clerics of all faiths in our country, especially against the spiritual leaders of the Catholic faithful. According to the determination made by Monsignor Rrok Mirdita: “Regardless of the gigantic strength with which the church has carried the weight of the national culture, regardless of the unbearable light it has cast on the shadows of our old and new history, regardless of the spirit of sacrifice that has accompanied her life in our country, even for these very reasons, many attacks have been launched against the Catholic Church in Albania, and one of the most terrible was the communist one, which together with the process of physical disappearance of the most vocal Catholics, staged the process of distortion of history, on the relations of the Catholic Church with Albania”.
Continues from last issue
Minutes of the questioning of Father Filip Mazrrek
In a sermon that I gave in the center (Lezhë), copying from a book, I said: “Jesus Christ gathered his disciples on the mountain of Galilee and advises them to preach his religion, in the four corners of the world, etc.” Here too, an employee of the state store stood up and attacked me, saying that (the sermons) are reactionary, that I lie to the people, etc. This week I did it at 9 o’clock and at 11 o’clock at lunch, but in one day.
Yes, Father Pal Dodaj came to Lezha once. He told us that an American delegate would be coming soon, to bring the government to an agreement with Clare. There he met with a secretary of the Subprefecture and talked in the church trough for more than an hour and a half.
Father Pal Doda, I don’t know what mission he came with, but he wanted to go to Rubik, to meet Father Benardin Palaj e, Father Rrok Gurashi. However, they did not give him a letter of notification in Lezha, and he returned scared and slept in the assembly with Father Serafin Koda.
Father Palaj, had frequent relations before liberation, with Gjon Marka Gjon. He often went to his house and wrote letters to his husband – husband. He had filled a bag with these papers and when checks were made, he took some, burned some, and still has some. The friendship is also with Dan Hasan.
I moved from Lezha to Hot, because there the place had remained vacant, since Father Gaspër Suma had moved, because he had caught the eye and wanted to leave. He was scared, because there in Hot, he had held the criminal, Grandfather Pistulli, for some time. Grandfather is in Yugoslavia.
After going to Hot, I stayed at the house of the bajraktar Kadri Delija (brother of Mul Delija). That night we were at Kadri’s house, two strangers, but it seems to me that she was a former officer. Kadrija has gone and you often meet with Lulash Ucin (Brigje – Hot) with Gjeto Preka (Kushe – Hot), with Mëhill Zefi (Brigje – Hot), with Mark Leka (Stak – Hot).
A boy from Yugoslavia often came to Lulash, I don’t know why. Lulashi also had a Pal from Gurezi (Milot) at home. He stayed here for a few days, because he found out that murders were being committed in Gura and he was afraid to go. Lulash Uci has also often gone to that side of the border, with the villager Bukovic, to a certain captain. It is not known why.
With Kole Maçin, I saw Mark Leku (Stakë) by chance. He asked me for a newspaper and then told me that he had heard in Yugoslavia, when he had been once, that the allies will be broken (with the National Liberation Front) and that this government is long overdue. I met Kole Maci once again at his house. There was a mute, who wanted to speak badly against the government with hand signs.
With Zef Luka (Brigje – Hotit), I have fallen into talks many times. This was a marshal and now he is unhappy. He brought me a lot of news, which he heard from his brother who was his advisor. Then he told me that the soldiers were going to the front of Greece and he was enthusiastic about the war that was about to begin. I was also in his thoughts and I told him that communism in Albania is the same as that of Russia, destructive.
Coming from Hoti to Koplik, together with Gjelosh Prela, the chairman of the Kushë Council, the latter told me that Kadri Bajraktari has been caught, because he had connections with a rich man Gjylbegu…, here in Shkodër. Zef Luka and Kol Smaili told me that, as soon as the war broke out, Hoti would jump into an uprising. Zefi has a relationship with Kadri Deli, and Kadrija should be the chairman.
Father Ciril Can, I have visited him three times in Bajze. There we cried about the problem, how our work will turn out. He said that this government is standing, we have a long one. “This – he said – is a government of hours”.
With Father Benedikt Dema, we put into play and tried to discredit a person from the Front, who came out one day to hold a conference in the church trough. Even with Father Benedikti, we talked constantly, against the government, but we didn’t have any organized connection. At the time when the trial against the “Albanian Union” group was taking place, I told them on the radio that we should also work as an anti-communist organization.
Also, I and Deacon Zef Pllumi, at that time, we had arranged in the courtyard of the friars a speaker, secretly, which I connected to the speaker by radio wire and it transmitted the word inside the friary. Here we flashed and gave hope to the friars inside, who did not understand our trick and remembered that they were foreign stations. Zef Pllumi worked on the lectures and he has them edited now.
I had a close friend, Padre Agostin Ashiku, with whom I lived together, and I told him everything I have. We have said that the child with this government is spoiled.
On the occasion of the Archbishop’s death, I happened to be in Lezha. I received a telegram from Prek Jakova, who told me to leave urgently for Shkodër, to sing a mass with the choir we had.
In the meeting of the choir we have forbidden it and I didn’t want to, but Dom Mark Hasi said; “I take it on myself” and they collected it. I ordered the lyceum students not to go to school and they ran away from the lyceum without the principal’s order. The initiator from the students was Tish Daja.
Father Aleks Baqli kept the members of various societies, especially the “Antonian” one, close to him and gathered them into groups. It was meant to keep societies alive.
Father Mati Prenushi and Father Çiprian Nikaj maintained regular correspondence with Father Anton, when he was on the run in the mountains. I heard Father Mati himself, who said; “I feel sorry for myself too”, when Father Antoni was caught. He told us this once after a meal.
A villager from Shoshi came to Father Çiprian Nika, who said that; the partisans have gone to arrest some Bajraktars and the people have risen to their feet. Çipriani himself told me about this as well.
Father Mëhill Miraj, a villager from Selce Township, Malësi e Madhe, has been there since November 1945, three times in a row. He had relations with them when he was a parish priest in Selce. He gathered the villager in the Church Valley and talked to them about uniting against this power. For this he told me that; if there is something here in Shkodër, I have the Great Highlands ready, especially Kelmendi.
Father Karl Serreqi (imprisoned), parish priest in Rajë (Dukagjin), had meetings with illegals from Pashuk Biba. I add that all the clergy, some with words, some with other sabotages and some with meetings with illegals have acted against the government.
In another question session, Father Folip Mazreku, would declare:
“It was at the time of the voting, when we were all together, gathered in the room of the herd. By chance Father Gjoni spoke to us, who told us that these days; a memorandum was written and handed to an Englishman by a Kurti, O Kola, of Nino Kurti, when he would be in need. The memorandum required that votes from allies not be recognized. Gjergj Kokoshi also had a hand in this issue.
As far as voting is concerned, we young people have secret votes from our elders, because they not only did not vote themselves, but also instructed us to do so. There are no votes Father Mati Prenushi, Father Pal Dodaj, Father Pashko Bardhi, Father Çiprian Nika, Father Donat Kurti, and Father Frano Kiri.
Father Gjoni gathered us young people and advised us to vote against it, so I cast my vote in the opposing box. Regarding the issue of voting, a large meeting was also held in the Archbishopric.
They participated; Monsignor Thaçi, Father Mati Prenushi, Rector of the Jesuits, Monsignor Volaj, Frano Gjini. They decided to leave everyone free to do as they pleased, to discharge the responsibility, but on the other hand, they introduced people and made all the jackasses vote against.
A man named Luigj Marku, from the “Rus” neighborhood, told me during the voting that three-quarters of the neighborhood voted against. I myself have encouraged many young people to do the same.
Kole Kiri (imprisoned) and Father Frano Kiri, they escorted Father Anton when he escaped, to Kir. They took up residence once in the parish of Kiri, where Father Ludovik Kiri was the parish priest, and while Father Antoni was there, an officer went with some soldiers to check, but Father Ludovik lied to the soldiers, put them in another room, and then took out Father Antonin on the other side, where Lef Masi (Nosi) also went.
After some time, Lef Masi (Nosi) decided to return to his place and headed for Lezhë, to Padë Sarafin Koda. The latter took good care of him, kept him in the hay for a few days, and then took him to the house of his maid, Mrika…! Where he crossed it on the raft of the Drin River, at the Lezha Bridge. Memorie.al
