By Hyqmet Zane
Memorie.al / In 2003, I went to Peqin together with the former persecuted and political prisoner, also from Peqin, Aqif Selimi, where Xhemile Gjinishi lived, the sister of Mustafa Gjinishi, who passed away about 7 years ago. We interviewed her, being the only witness together with Aqif Selimi, about the life and murder of her brother, Mustafa, as she called him. Mustafa Gjinishi is one of the main authorities of the Second World War anti-fascist movement in Albania. Many words have been said by eyewitnesses and his contemporaries.
Mustafa Gjinishi remained as a sign of evidence that the Communist Party of Albania was taking the path of submission to the Yugoslavs, for which the persecuted with about 32 years of prison by the regime of Enver Hoxha, Aqif Selimi, speaks in superlatives about the figure of the man that he considers an idol, in his beliefs. Separated from life some time ago, Xhemile Gjinishi, expressed herself with sincerity and sisterly love, when it came to Mustafa, as she called her beloved and unfortunate brother, and therefore this interview was obtained in 2003.
The testimony given by Xhemile Gjinishi, is valid as a historical fact, as it brings another side of the war medal. This testimony is also one more element in the framework of the celebrations for the anniversary of the liberation and an attempt to shed light on the shadows of the Anti-fascist National Liberation War.
Mrs. Xhemile, you are the sister of a personality like Mustafa Gjinishi. What and how do you remember your brother?
Mustafa ran away from Peqin as a child, after finishing elementary school. He continued at Harry Fultz’s American school. He graduated with excellent results. For this, he kept him as a warehouseman. Mustafa excelled in his studies and became a representative of communist ideas, and Fultz did not punish him, but kept him close because he always told the truth. Then he left school and became a journalist, and then went with his older brother to Italy and then to Vienna, because his older brother got sick. After he returned from there, he brought them pamphlets against politics, as an anti-Zogist, while his father was a Zogist. After that, he was dictated to when he came from Italy and immediately imprisoned.
The Fier movement emerged in 1935. They had put a pseudo prisoner in prison there and when he was supposed to be released, they wrote all the addresses of his friends and comrades on his shirt, who could be in Durrës, Kavajë, Berat and then arrested all his friends. Mustafa was taken to prison in Fier, from prison to prison, tortured. He was tortured by a friend of his, who is now an officer again. From that prison, he was taken to Porto-Palermo, in Durrës. He was so tortured that his friends brought him to Durrës with sheets, because he could not stand in his seat. Mustafa was sentenced to death, by hanging.
The people of Peqin asked for forgiveness, because he had an only sister, without any support. Zogu made a pardon and sentenced him to 101 years in prison. From that prison too, Mustafa escaped, escaped and went to Yugoslavia, together with some other friends. I don’t remember their names, some of them are still alive today. From Yugoslavia, when the pardon was granted, Mustafai returned with Shyqyri Peza, Myslym Peza’s brother. When Myslym also returned to Peza, they set up a headquarters there, where Mustafai was appointed both secretary and financier. The first detachment in Peza was formed by Myslym.
I wanted to know more about what connection Mustafa Gjinishi had with the Peza Brigade?
My acquaintance with Myslymi was from before, because my father, Adem Gjinishi, had an early friendship with Myslymi’s family. With the formation of the Peza Brigade, the friendship became stronger. Myslymi used to say: “Mustafai and that’s it”, because he listened to his word a lot. But later, Myslymi turned out differently. I didn’t believe it, but it’s still a question mark. If Myslymi did what he did (not protecting Mustafa, my note), he did it out of fear. The opinion expressed by Myslymi after Mustafa’s death, that he was about to be killed, because he didn’t want him anymore. These are also said in a book, but this book was published after Myslymi’s death.
What connection did Mustafa have with Enver Hoxha?
At the Peza conference, Enver Hoxha was appointed as Commander. The others had their duties. Mustafai was the secretary. They were well-known family members and also became well-known partisans.
How is it possible that from this friendship, the matter of Mustafai being killed, what do you call his murder?
Mustafai was killed treacherously. He went to a meeting, because they removed him from his duty and were going to send him to another duty. It was the time that the two Yugoslavs (D. Mugosha and M. Popovic) and Muslim became friends together. The Yugoslavs were also at the meeting. Mustafa wanted Kosovo, while the Yugoslav hated him, wanted to eliminate Mustafa. I don’t know who gave the order, but it is understood that the Yugoslav and Muslim.
Who do you think killed Mustafa Gjinishi, treacherously, because he wanted Kosovo, what do you think?
While the Yugoslav was associated with Muslim, this was the case. Mustafa told Myslymi that they don’t take me for a good man in the north. When Mustafa was leaving, Myslymi told him to ask for this and that was it.
And with Enver Hoxha, what relationship did Mustaf Gjinishi have?
Both of them hated Enver Hoxha, both Mustafa and Myslymi. When Mustafa was wounded (he was wounded 3 times), Enver Hoxha went to a family where Mustafa was, and he wasn’t even interested. He just shook his hand and didn’t ask at all. When Enver Hoxha needed him and Mustafa was wounded in the hand, he told him; if you have the means, we need you. It was the time when there was fighting in the north.
And about the Mukje Agreement, what do you remember?
I can’t say much. I know it was said that Mustafa was connected to the Americans, was anti-Yugoslav. He was in Yugoslavia, except for the Kosovo issue. Enver always hated Mustafa. He was a democrat, he was not just with one party. Everyone, regardless of their background, embraced Mustafa, they loved him very much. He didn’t know much about politics, but he was only for Albania, for Albania, and he left for Albania.
When did you find out about Mustafa’s murder?
I have doubts. When I was a partisan, I slept in a tent with Myslymi and Myslymi’s wife, I think Myslymi had a radio transmitter, it was heard that Mustafa was killed. Myslymi gets up from the tent and says; “Whoever killed Mustafa, I will take the blood to the horse’s knee”.
Did he do what he said, so; did he take the blood to the knee?
No, he didn’t. The courier came from Tirana, from Gogo Nushi, who told him; don’t make a noise, because Mustafa was killed by his friends. “Don’t be shy” – he told him. Myslymi also kept quiet, leaving us alone. Fear does everything. Myslymi left and left a message for his wife, to take care of Xhemile, like a sister. I can’t deny that Myslymi really treated me like a housewife, but this is the truth.
Later, when Albania was being liberated, since it had been liberated up to Berat, we all went, the Peza headquarters went, everyone there, I went too. The first Congress of men was held. They told me to go too, because there were two Englishmen with Mustafa when he was killed. He told me that the Englishman had also fallen on Mustafa, and the bullets had fallen on the Englishman’s beret. It had already been opened, because Mustafa had been killed by his comrades, the job was done.
Have you met Enver Hoxha yourself?
Yes, I met him when I went to Berat, because Myslymi told me. When he told me the first time, I didn’t go. Finding an excuse, because my clothes weren’t washed and I wasn’t coming. The second time, Myslymi insisted that I go without fail. Whether I wanted to or not, I got dressed and went. Enver was with the two Englishmen, Smith and another one, because I remember what their name was. As soon as they saw me, they turned to me, because they were at the table and Enver was speaking, because they apparently did not know Albanian. But they had come to an agreement among themselves. They told me not to despair, because you were Mustafa’s sister, and you are our sister. Enver turned and said to me; “Do you see what these people, who are Mustafa’s friends, are saying”?
The Englishman takes off his beret and shows me the two bullets that had fallen on his beret, when it had fallen on Mustafa, after the bullet had caught Mustafa and then his beret. It was as if Mustafa had told them: “Get away from me, because I am finished”. When they ran away, they said that they would not shoot them too. Liri Gega, who was a partisan, was supposedly passing through there for Peshkopi, because it was a winding road. They took Mustafa’s guard from Mustafa and took her to Liria, and the one who was with Liria, they took her to Mustafa.
The one who accompanied Mustafa, a young boy, asks who was killed?! It was an ambush organized by Enver, 11 people dressed in German clothes, were in ambush, to kill Mustafa. At this time, this boy and others, asked who was killed! The one who was close to Mustafa, turned the automatic gun upside down, because it came from there. He says; Mustafa was killed, but I don’t know who killed him, I don’t know.
So, you think that Mustafa’s murder is a betrayal?
Yes, it is a betrayal. The main man of this betrayal was Enver. If Enver didn’t want it, he wouldn’t have been killed. I am convinced that Enver was pushed by others.
Do you think that the Yugoslavs pushed him, because Mustafa wanted Kosovo?
Yes. Enver knew that the Yugoslavs wanted to kill Mustafa.
What were Mustafa Gjinishi’s ideals?
Mustafa was pro-Western, but only, he fought for Albania. Only to liberate Albania. Everyone knows this very well. The English kept the partisans alive, with bags of gold. I saw them with my own eyes. Let no one deny it.
After you left Berat, we found out that you were interned. Did anyone ask about you?
No, no one asked about me. I took Myslymi. I went to a family near Dajti. Everyone left, I went out with Baba Faja’s fiancée. They killed her later too. I got into her car, we both stayed together. At this time, a family that Mustafa knew was looking for me. They found me in the car. Later, Myslymi found out that they had dropped me off. They told me about another car, I didn’t want it. I went in Baba Faja’s car and we came to Tirana. Everyone left and I was left with Baba Faja’s wife. Mustafa was anti-Zogist, but he didn’t like Enver either.
Do you think Mustafa Gjinishi’s dignity has been restored?
No, it has never been restored. They still don’t know who and what work Mustafa did, who maintained the Peza platoon, where all those partisans passed through, they passed through the Peza platoon and it was Mustafa who organized them. I was there myself. Mustafa and Myslymi, as the commander he was.
Why did Enver Hoxha take so much revenge on Mustafa Gjinishi?
He was worried that he wouldn’t take his place. Mustafa was good and collaborated with the British for the good of the war. While Enver Hoxha was jealous and had ties to the Yugoslavs.
How many people were in Mustafa Gjinishi’s family?
They are all dead. I was most worried about Mustafa. Mustafa is buried in four graves. His bones were left on the streets. Only Pjetër Arbnori was interested. I don’t know why this is happening, how did this Albania treat Mustafa, who was left with bones in the streets, when he thought about Albania since childhood and fought and was killed for Albania?! It seems to me that this treatment that was given to Mustafa, as if he killed Albania and not that Mustafa fought and was killed for Albania. He didn’t enjoy anything. I don’t know how I live, that my brother was not given any honor…?! Memorie.al
