By Dalip Greca
Memorie.al / In the ranks of the “Vatrans”, who illuminate the more than a century-long journey of the Pan-Albanian Federation of America “VATRA”, stands Kolë Rodhe, the freedom fighter against Greek gangs, former president of Besa-Besa, President of the “Arsimi” Association in the USA, the dedicated “Vatran”, the publisher of the national biweekly “Vullnetari”, the deputy of Korça, the prefect of Berat, Gjirokastra, Shkodra, the martyr who was imprisoned by the Turks, Greeks and communists, who had a tragic end, dying in the infamous Burrel prison. In vain I persistently searched for the chronicles of the years 1946, ‘47, ‘48, of the newspaper “Dielli”, about the arrest, imprisonment, and tragic death of the Vatran Kolë Rodhe. I couldn’t find it; the reason is easy to guess: At that time, “Vatra” thought that the Government of Enver Hoxha was democratic and in the pages of “Diellit” speeches, Hoxha’s biography, reports and the successes of the communist government were published, Enver Hoxha was praised, and even America was reviled, and the Soviet Union was defended.
Even when a word was written about the arrests of nationalists, even “Vatra”, it was passed over with a dry sentence, where the news remained suspicious. Thus when intellectuals and nationalists of Korça were arrested, at the end of the chronicle it was written: “They say that with this hostile group, Kristo Kirka and Koli Rodhe were also arrested…”!
While in “Diellit” of April-May 1955, the language of “Diellit” is sharp, piercing, and critical. The cup of poison has been filled. The “Vatra” of America have learned the truth. On the first page, the chronicle of the death in Burrel prison is published: “Communist criminals, wreaking havoc…! The systematic extermination of patriots in Red Albania continues mercilessly…! Even Kristo Kirka died in prison….”!
The article continues: “After Kolë Rodha, Bahri Omar, Kol Tromara, Akile Tasi, Hito Sadiku, and many other Albanian-Americans and ‘hometowns’ were killed by the communists of Albania, or died in their terrible prisons…! Kristo Kirka died in the prison of ‘Kryetrima’, where other ‘hometowns’ had also died, like Kolë Rodhja”! The Albanian of America feels pain. Hometowns mourn for the hometowns that the dictatorship was slaying…!
* * *
… Koli Rodhe is among those “faithful people” who was honored late by the Albanian state, while the communist state had declared him an enemy, the freedom fighter who fought all his life against the enemies of Albania. The standard of the democrats, suffered in the Burrel prison, where he died and his grave is still unknown today. Not only was his sentence enough, but his family was also persecuted and painfully wandered in the ordeal of suffering. In addition to his wife, his daughter would also go through the hell of suffering, because she was the daughter of the enemy of the Party, Koli Rodhe, who had died in prison, but she was also the wife of the poet, “dangerous enemy of the party”, Genc Bardh Leka, who was shot on charges of his poems and translations.
At the proposal of “Vatra”, Koli Rodhe was honored by former president Bujar Nishani with the “Gold Medal of the Eagle”, in November 2015.
Who was Koli Rodhe?
Koli Rodhe was born on July 25, 1883, in the city of Korça. His family provided him with basic education, high school. The feeling of Albanianism made him a man early; he lined up with weapons in his hand in the ranks of the freedom fighters, but also landed him in prison cells early. He was 18 years old when he was imprisoned by the Young Turks, as a man who was disturbing the Empire. After 9 months in prison, he was released, but he could no longer live in his beloved Korça, since his name had been placed in the district. The feeling of patriotism took him to Odessa, Russia, in order to collect aid for the family of the martyr Papa Kristo Negovani, massacred by the Greco-maniacs. He then contributes to raising funds for Sotir Peci’s newspaper “Kombi” which was published in Boston. The patriot is omnipresent in the vortex of the National Movement. He is found in Sofia and Bucharest, where he has established connections with Albanian patriots there, as well as contacts with the patriotic priest, Father Naum Çere, and others.
In 1908, he is with the camp of Albanians who seek the organization of the National Movement, a supporter of Albanian patriots in the USA. The movement here (USA), gives maturity to his courage and patriotic spirit. Initially with Noli, and then with Konica, Kristo Kirka, Kolë Tromara, and other patriots, he becomes one of the pillars of the Albanian movement in the USA. He is in the supporting camp, when Noli founded the Albanian Orthodox Church; he is there when the first mass was given. He is elected Chairman of the “Besa-Besë” Association, is the chairman of the eldership for the “Vatrë” branch in Marlboro, and is a supporter of preparing the Volunteer Corps with Albanian-American boys and Albanian officers, to then send them to Albania, to protect themselves from the predatory neighbors of the Arbëro lands.
When Koli Rodhe was at the head of “Besa-Besa”, as its chairman, he set an example for others: “I am the first”, he said. Then he made the invitation: -“The others after me let us help the Homeland that is groaning”!
And they set off towards Albania. When they arrived in Corfu, they were discovered and arrested by the Young Turks. They sent them to the prison of Ioannina, then to the Castle of Gjirokastra. The newspaper “Koha” by Mihal Gramenos, in its issue of May 17, 1917, gave this chronicle: “Like lightning, the news spread from Gjirokastra, conveying the good news that the patriots Nikolla (Koli) Rodhe and Vasil Tromara, after 8 months in prison in Delvina, Ioannina and Gjirokastra, were freed from prison by the Berarës. These patriots suffered like martyrs, for the national cause, because last summer they came from America and were imprisoned in Delvinë after the Uprising”!
As soon as he gained freedom, he returned to his city and established ties with the freedom fighters. He created his own group with a considerable number of freedom fighters, from Gora and Opari, and with them he liberated Bërzeshtë, Pogradec, etc. He returned to Korça again and participated in its liberation. He was captured again by the Young Turks and imprisoned in the basements of the Metropolitanate, together with his friends. As soon as the news spread, the villagers of the Korça plain attacked and blew up the prison. Koli was freed and joined the squad of Sali Butka and Kajo Babien, attacked Kolonjë, liberated it and headed towards Berat.
Wherever there was a fight for freedom, there was Koli Rodhja. He participated in the War of Çiflig, alongside his comrade-in-arms Spiro Ballkameni. Comrades in arms and ideals, with Themistokli Gërmenji, Çerçiz and Bajo Topulli, he participated in the War of Mashkullorës, where he was wounded and sent to Vlorë. If we were to continue browsing the chronicles of the patriotic exploits of this freedom fighter, we would note: Koli Rodhe, on April 1 and 2, 1914, was chief of the Gendarmerie in Korça. At the head of the cities defense forces, he suppressed the uprising of the Greek committees, assisted by Greek soldiers, the so-called “Uprising of Northern Epirus”.
In 1915, he returned to America again. As always active. In February 1916, he was among the creators of the “National Education” association and at its head, as chairman. With his newspaper “Vullnetari”, which began publication in 1916, he became a capable advocate of “Vatra” and the National Movement in the USA. The first issue of “Vullnetari” was published on February 18, 1916, in Natick-Massachusetts. It was published twice a month.
It was a political and satirical newspaper. From the first issue, the newspaper published the program, which highlighted the goal of the publisher and supporters of the newspaper: The newspaper aims to protect the self-government and integrity of Albania, to strengthen the National Movement, to strike at any opponent who hinders the National Movement, to publicly expose the intriguers, provocateurs, and dissidents before the Albanians, to uphold the honor of excellent patriots and National Albanians, etc. “Vullnetari”, which in its first issue denounced the massacres of Greeks in Southern Albania and lamented the fate of the massacred people, while strongly attacking the divisions among Albanians, including among Albanians in America.
* * *
Like many other patriots, supporters and disciples of Fan S. Noli, Koli Rodhja also returned to his homeland to “make Albania”. Korça appreciated his son’s contribution, electing him as a deputy of the first Albanian Parliament on April 21, 1921. The newspaper “Posta e Korçës” dated March 9, 1922, wrote: “Vote for the inseparable candidates of Monsignor Noli, Mr. Koli Rodhe and Faslli Frashëri…”! While on March 11, 1922, the same newspaper wrote: “The people showed their trust with facts, by voting for Mr. Koli Rodhe for the position of deputy”!
The researcher Teki Selenica would write in his statistical book, ‘Albania in 1927’: “Chosen for the bravery and respect that created the wonderful Korça, the Albanian Korça, among Banush Hamdi, Estref Frashëri, Loni Kristo, Pandeli Cala, Kristo Kirkë, Pandeli Evangeli, Sejfi Vllamasi, Sotir Peci, … Koli Rodha also stood out”!
In the press of the time, traces of Koli Rodha’s valued patriotic activity can be found. The newspaper “Vatrës”, which was published in Korça under the direction of Hasan Bitinckë “Albanian of America”, in the article entitled; “Deputy of Korça”, published in the issue of March 24, 1923, which provides a chronicle of the proceedings of the Parliament of March 22, writes: “The day before yesterday (March 22), the Government appeared before the Parliament, for a vote of no confidence. The Prime Minister’s speech was characterized by the opposition as a conference of promises and hopes for the future…from the opposition, Isuf Benga, Luigj Gurakuqi, Ali Këlcyra, Bahri Omari, Koço Tasi, Koli Rodhe and Mehdi Frashëri spoke”!
Koli Rodhe, in addition to being an active deputy, head of other state duties, even though he was an open opponent of the Monarchy, King Zog entrusted him with government duties, as Prefect in Shkodër, Berat, Fier, Gjirokastër. Political opponents appreciated his patriotism and national dedication. He had given evidence with weapons in hand, for the defense of the Fatherland. He welcomed the fascist invasion of Albania with revolt, just as he had welcomed all invaders. On the day of the fascist invasion, he resigned from state duties. Although he supported the war against the invaders, Koli Rodhe did not accept calls to participate in the Peza Conference, the Përmet Congress, the Berat Conference, etc. Koli had assimilated American democracy – he was for an all-American pluralism and democracy. He quickly understood the goals of the Albanian Communist Party and sought to act, to stop the evil.
This was the reason that he sided with the opposition against the communists, being in the ranks of the social democrats in the first elections after liberation. He refused to vote on December 2, 1945, abstained from the elections, together with his daughter and wife. He was an open opponent of collaboration with Yugoslavia. For these positions, he was arrested on January 27, 1946 and in June, he, who had fought so hard for his people, with handcuffs in his hands, was tried before the people, as an “enemy of the people”! And who?… That eternal fighter for the liberation of the Homeland, who had fought with the Turks, Greeks, and Italians…! He was tried together with 37 anti-communists (the Group of Sami Qeribashi and Musine Kokalari) in June 1946. He maintained a manly stance before the Trial Panel. The evidence of that trial comes from the chronicle from the Courtroom, which was carried by the “Bashkimi” Newspaper of the Democratic Front, in the issues of June 19 and 21, 1946, when it was written:
“Koli Rodhja, give an account”.
The charge: “Koli Rodhja disappointed the communists, who used his reputation among the people, by placing him in the Presidency of the Democratic Front”…
The President of the Court angrily attacked the patriot from the first hours: – “Enemy of the people”, “Saboteur”, “Old wolf…”!
Presiding Judge: – Do you accept the charges?
Kola: – None!
Chairman: – You didn’t have any connections with traitors?
Kola: – No!
Prosecutor: – But you didn’t commit any crime, Koli Rodhja?
Koli: – None!
Prosecutor: – We didn’t bring you here in vain…?!
(The hall and the jury (orchestrated) laugh…)
Prosecutor: – You’re lying, Koli Rodhe…! You say that youth should not get involved in politics. You were an Inspector of the Ministry of the Interior…! You didn’t support our connections with Yugoslavia. You demanded Kosovo Autonomy. Yes, old wolf, yes, Kol Rodhe…! You wanted the Regency of Mehdi Frashëri, you wanted external intervention, because the situation is dark…! You wanted the disbandment of the army, the defense of the homeland… you wanted a coalition government, with many parties, you wanted to destroy the political unity of the Albanian people…”!
The accusations continued….! What did Kola say to this militant prosecutor? And he chose silence…! Koli Rodhja was 67 years old when he was tried…! The court sentenced him to 30 years in political prison. Age and torture exhausted the patriot, who died in the infamous Burreli prison a year after his sentence…!
Not even his family escaped the ordeal of suffering, who was “rewarded” for Koli’s patriotic activity, throwing him into the arms of misery and manual labor! His daughter, married to the dissident poet, Genc Leka, was expelled from education. Among the accusations they made against him was that of his father-in-law, Koli Rodhe, former Zog MP (as Vangjel Çërrava called him) and added in his confidential report to the organs of the dictatorship: “Her father died as an enemy in Burreli Prison…! Zog MP! /Memorie.al
