By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Part Eight
Memorie.al / When not even a week had passed since July 2, 1990, when thousands of Albanian citizens climbed over the railings and walls of foreign embassies in Tirana and entered their premises with the aim of leaving Albania, the high leadership of the Party of Labor of Albania (PPSH), headed by General Secretary Ramiz Alia, held the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee, which held its proceedings on July 6 and 7. Even though the agenda was predetermined in three main points, where the one on the development of education in Albania predominated, almost throughout the proceedings of that plenum (especially at point 4, “Miscellaneous”), the event of those days, otherwise known as “July 2 of the embassies,” was discussed and debated. In that plenum, in which all members and candidate-members of the Central Committee of the PPSH participated, the first secretaries of the district party committees, ministers, main cadres of the sector of education, culture, science, economy, leaders of the organization of the Union of Working Youth of Albania, from the apparatus of the Central Committee of the PPSH, Radio-Television, ATSH, etc., absent were Nimet Cani, Ali Vukatana, Reiz Malile, Shpëtim Çaushi, Zylyftar Ramizi, Qemal Lame, Zef Loka, Pirro Kondi, and Hekuran Isai, who for several days had been “in the field,” “managing” the embassy event.
After the opening of the meeting by Ramiz Alia, the floor was given to the Minister of Education, Skënder Gjinushi, who also held the relevant report (“On the perfection of the educational system and the further qualitative strengthening of the school”), the main topic of that plenum was “the embassy event,” discussing and analyzing in detail how and why it happened (“the role of foreign agencies”), up to the tasks that emerged for managing that situation in those hot July days, when over five thousand Albanian citizens from all the districts of the country were inside the premises of some of the main embassies in Tirana, waiting to leave Albania.
In addition to this, throughout that meeting, but mainly at point no. 4 of the agenda (which was discussed in the last session), several of the main events that had occurred in various districts of the country during that year were also taken into analysis, such as; the protests in Shkodra in January for the removal of Stalin’s bust; the events in the city of Kavaja where the people of that city clashed with police forces; mass escapes from the state borders with Yugoslavia and Greece; mass gatherings at holy religious sites, such as the Church of Shën-Ndout in Laç of Kurbin; the legal permission of religious faiths and the opening of places of worship; or other problems raised for solution, such as; the talks of the international factor for the restoration of diplomatic relations with the USA, the Soviet Union (the talks held with the Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister in Sofia by Sofokli Lazri); the Kosovo problem; international pressure for the opening of Albania to the world and its accession to several international conventions; the privileges of the high leadership of the PPSH and their families who lived mainly in the “Block”; the words circulating among the people about Enver Hoxha’s family and Ramiz’s relations with Nexhmije; the change of legislation and the penal code; the release of political prisoners; the staining with passports of citizens who sought to leave as visitors to their relatives abroad; the new economic mechanism; the housing and employment of many additions in all districts of the country; the giving of land and livestock to the cooperative peasantry; up to the supply of the urban population with basic food products and various industrial goods.
As we will see also from archival documents belonging to the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee of the PPSH, which we emphasize are published for the first time, in addition to the leadership and some of the high officials of that time, several other high figures who continued their political careers even after the 1990s also discussed or were mentioned at that meeting, such as; Skënder Gjinushi, Fatos Nano, Sali Berisha, Rexhep Mejdani, Gramoz Pashko, Spiro Dede, Dritëro Agolli, Ismail Kadare, Moikom Zeqo, Mehmet Elezi, Lisen Bashkurti, Koço Kokëdhima, Ylli Popa, Aleks Luarasi, etc.
Likewise, in the voluminous file of this plenum, of great interest are also those documents belonging to the secretaries of the District Party Committees or the “Information Group” who went to all the districts of the country and documented all the main problems that emerged in the meetings of the basic party organizations, where “On the letter of the Central Committee” was discussed, documents that constitute the largest and also the most important part of the file in question. It can even be said to be among the most important of the entire period of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha and his successor Ramiz Alia, since that period of time with the events that unfolded marked the prologue of the fall of that regime.
Likewise, of great interest are also the documents belonging to the last session of that meeting with point no. 4 of the agenda “Miscellaneous,” which constitutes the hottest point of the entire plenum, where it was discussed, even with harsh debates, the release from duties and retirement of three members of the Political Bureau (Rita Marko, Manush Myftiu, and Prokop Murra), or the release from ministerial duties or other high functions that several other “leaders” had held for years, such as Simon Stefani, Pali Miska, Muho Asllani, Lenka Çuko, Vito Kapo, Pirro Kondi, Jovan Bardhi, etc., and the appointment of “young comrades” in the leadership of the high forums of the Party and State, such as; Xhelil Gjoni, Abdyl Backa, Niko Gjyzari, Kiço Mustaqi, etc. Regarding these etc., we are familiar with the documents in question extracted from the Central State Archive (Fund of the former Central Committee of the PPSH), which are published for the first time and with the relevant facsimiles by Memorie.al
Continuation from the previous issue
REPORT-INFORMATION OF THE INFORMATION GROUP OF THE APPARATUS OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PPSH, SENT TO RAMIZ ALIA, REGARDING THE REMARKS AND CRITICISMS TOWARD THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND ALBANIAN RADIO-TELEVISION
FOR THE MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
- VLORA
– It is said that almost all basic organizations have criticized that this ministry was not vigilant for the events of July 2 and it is demanded that responsibility be brought out with the names of the persons who left free entry into the embassies, etc.
– Numerous remarks have been made for the granting of passports abroad even to some who have blood ties with criminals and escapees, such as the brother of Sadik Premte, the relatives of Vasil Malo, the people of Mehmet Alem and Gjon Zenelaj, etc. The granting of passports should be done on the basis of the law, not to be given to those who have obligations, who are convicted, who have not finished military service, etc.
- KOLONJA
– The sluggishness and lack of vigilance for the events of July 2 was condemned by many discussants.
– The imposition of legal sanctions for the acceptance of packages, dollars, and for escaped tourists has been forcefully raised everywhere.
– Several different orders for opening fire at the border have not had a good effect on the army cadres and soldiers.
- LIBRAZHDI
– From many basic Party organizations, remarks and criticisms have been made for this department, and especially for state security, for the events of July 2, etc. There are opinions that responsibility should be deepened and brought out better and that some leading cadres should give account before the Party and the people.
- MATI
– Many remarks and criticisms for lack of vigilance. It is demanded that responsibility be brought out for the events of July 2.
– The cadre directorate has been criticized for not sending officers to the Batra unit.
– Other remarks have also been made for the delay in the processing of the regulations of prison camps.
- SHKODRA
– The issue is raised of equipping the organs of Internal Affairs with contemporary technology for the use of scientific methods and for strengthening the surveillance sector.
- KRUJA
– For the shortcomings and weaknesses in the organs of internal affairs, stricter measures should be taken (remarks from many basic organizations and collectives).
- PUKA
– Many criticisms have been made for not knowing the situation and for indifferent attitudes.
- ELBASANI
– Remarks and criticisms that the organizers of the events of July 2 were not discovered in time.
– The police maintain indifferent attitudes toward the disturbers of order and public tranquility in the city.
– The employees of this organ should increase their detection force.
– They are criticized for allowing some escapees who have come as visitors.
- KUKËSI
– Remarks and criticisms for this department and especially for comrade Simon Stefani for lack of vigilance, etc. It is demanded that those irresponsible and liberal cadres and employees be swept away with an “iron broom.”
- KORÇA
– Criticisms for the MIA in general, and especially for state security which did not prevent the events of July 2.
– Quite a few basic organizations have criticized why visitors who have had hostile activity toward our country have been allowed to enter or leave, and why the opinion of the masses has not been taken.
- POGRADECI
– These organs should be at the head of affairs, should correctly implement the rules and laws of the state.
- LEZHA
– For little work, weak measures, and weakness of vigilance for the events of July 2, etc.
– Remarks for granting passports and visas to people with bad political standing and delays in granting passports to those who deserve them.
- LUSHNJA
– For strengthening communication with the base, improving the method, raising the level and effectiveness of the work of the organs of the MIA.
- TROPOJA
– They demand that responsibility be brought out for the events of July 2 and that the hostile hand be discovered.
– There are direct criticisms for the Party organization of this department for lack of a sense of responsibility.
– More controlled work should be done for visitors, especially for political ones and those who have current problems, and the opinion of the base should be taken.
- DIBRA
– There are remarks and criticisms for indifferentism and lack of vigilance, especially for the events of July 2 with the embassies and those of Kavaja.
- DURRËSI
– It is demanded that the internal enemies who organized the recent events be denounced and that a harsh stance be maintained toward them.
– The responsibility of those who gave orders for the opening of the embassies should be brought out.
– Goods and dollars should not be allowed to come from escaped persons and those known as enemies, as well as from those who left through the embassies.
– Passports should not be given to persons and families with bad moral-political composition and standing, and to those who left through the embassies, as well as to family members. The arrival of escapees as visitors to our country should be differentiated.
– The organs of the dictatorship in many cases maintain a withdrawn attitude and do not act against persons who violate the rules and public order.
– There are remarks that the price of passports should not have been increased.
– For the events of Kavaja, measures should also have been taken for the cadres of the Branch of Internal Affairs.
– In giving orders, they should be more balanced.
– Measures should be taken for the completion of police services with the necessary means to cope with special situations.
– Needs should be filled with cadres based on proposals, especially in the Kavaja region.
– The minister’s order for the promotion to responsibility of the operative worker Foto Liti should be annulled.
– There are opinions that not all refugees should be pardoned by law, especially those who have carried out hostile activity toward our country.
FOR THE GENERAL DIRECTORATE OF RADIO-TELEVISION
- KOLONJA
– Improvements are sought in television programs. More Albanian films should be shown, songs about major problems, from our folklore, etc. Enver Hoxha should take more places in television programs and broadcasts. No concessions should be made to extravagant clothing, low necklines, etc.
- SARANDA
– Improvements are sought in television programs, the life of workers should be better reflected, Albanian films should take more place, the figure of comrade Enver, the zones and regions should be better represented.
- PUKA
– For faster, more concrete information, especially for the new economic mechanism and the implementation of other tasks of the recent plenums. Not general phrases but concrete experience.
– Some foreign films that have been shown recently are not educational and have not been liked by the masses.
- ELBASANI
– Radio-television should act and influence more powerfully in the patriotic education of the new generation.
- TIRANA
– In the broadcasts on the new economic mechanism, not only the opinions of one or another should be given, but more conclusions on how to act concretely.
- KORÇA
– There is criticism for the broadcast transmitted on television for the cooperative of Poro in Vlora.
– There is criticism for some broadcasts with clothing and appearance outside our tastes, exaggerations for particular artists.
- DIBRA
– Television teams with synchronous should come more often for the reflection of the political-social and socio-cultural activities of the district of Dibra.
- DURRËS
– Radio-television should give in confronting manner aspects from the life of our people who have left to various capitalist countries through the embassies. There are suggestions; if possible, that journalists and cameramen go abroad to film and interview for this problem, as the foreigners did in our country.
– Propaganda should be fast, real, fact-based, but also confronting with control of implementation of tasks, because it happens that they are given repeatedly or it is spoken about on Radio-television and the problems do not take off.
– The quality of Radio-television broadcasts and their diversity should be improved.
- MIRDITA
– For the criticisms made in special rubrics, especially for discipline, property, etc., the measures and work done for the solution and healing of the situation should be reflected more.
- FIERI
– Why does Television still give uncontrolled broadcasts for their content that have created reactions, confusion, and disorientation? For example, the broadcast of Poro of Vlora for the distribution of cows from the concentrated herd to the cooperative yard, or on 19.9.1990 during the break between the international match “Partizani” University” of Romania, while giving folk songs, the face of the escapee Gjergj Leka also appears, etc.
- GRAMSHI
– There are remarks and requests to build a more just ratio in the program, between folk song and light music. They ask that something from Gramshi be given more often, including songs.
– It is requested that more be spoken about the life and work of Enver Hoxha.
– The television repeater should be placed in the area of Lënia, which is damaged./ Memorie.al
Information Group
Tirana, 21.9.1990 Alush Çekrezi
Arif Rreli
Continuation in the next issue
