“When he was imprisoned, he did not object or ask, he just held out his hands and they handcuffed him…” The tragic story of the master of the cartoon

By Prof. Dr. Hazbi Shehu

                         In memory of my colleague, co-worker and friend, Enriko Veizi

Memorie.al/ Kollos me trup; with a loving heart; compassionate in spirit; cartoon master. Who knew him and did not love him?! Who talked to him and was not exalted in spirit?! They handcuffed him and imprisoned him?! When we heard it we were surprised! And how can a flower be thrown in the trash?! Should the dove be imprisoned because it flies?!

We have never heard the wise man throw stones?!

Enrique expressed his state of mind in art. He was sincere and honest. The greatest beauty lay in its simplicity. He never spoke for himself.

The “charming” communist regime “burned” Enrique not only as a body, but also as a soul. From oppression arises only shame and destruction. The flame does not burn so much when fire falls on the straw; how much the beech of the man who makes his life a grave burns. “Better with handcuffs and friends than in flower gardens with enemies.”

“He spoke to people sweetly and not with a thumb,” said Enrique, “and whoever wants peace, do not greet him with a bullet. Beware of thorns, gather flowers, for they are pure and have no devil, but only love. ” When he was imprisoned he did not object, nor did he ask, he just held out his hands and they handcuffed him…!

Dear Enrik, you were imprisoned because your cartoons spread love among people. They were cooked with spirit, with brain, with heart and expressed the life of the people, their work and sufferings. People analyzed them, laughed, had fun and said: “this guy is talented”. Enver Hoxha could not stand two currents, two sources.

The people had to study only the instructions of the Party and its works and as a result, the author of these cartoons had to be eliminated. Enrique worked at the Petroleum Geological Institute on the design of oil wells. Thus the reason for condemning him was clear and credible.

They wanted to imprison Enrique’s soul, his thoughts and not his body. Are thoughts imprisoned?! The cartoons were distributed throughout Albania. They were deeply embedded in people’s brains. Are thoughts buried when they express the living spirit of the people?!

All the leaders that the people loved have remained in his heart and memory, such as Skanderbeg, Ismail Qemali, etc. Others who have used oppression, who have brought shame and destruction, have always received the hatred of the people, like Enver Hoxha with friends.

I am writing, not to oppose the slanders of the communist regime about Enrique, because this has been done by others, nor to praise my friend, my work colleague and society, because this has been clearly expressed by his works in every city of Albania and abroad.

I am writing just to remind you.

The flowers bloom only in spring, while the cartoons of Enrique are always fresh./Memorie.al