FLASH
Shkruar nga Enver Memishaj
The war against the kulaks in Albania, which lasted for more than 40 years, constitutes one of the darkest pages in the history of the Albanian state since 1912. The only one who has so far taken responsibility and studied this inhuman massacre is the passionate and serious researcher Xhafer Sadiku in published articles and books. Albanian communism was only a more savage and barbaric copy of Russian communism. For nearly half a century, the state and the communist regime robbed the so-called kulaks of their wealth, basic human rights, freedom and, for the most part, their history. The kulaks or “enemies of the people” remained in constant pursuit through agent processing, postal and telephone control, surveillance and “proof of guilt”, in search of freedom; escapes, deportations, internments.
The kulak "title" was inherited
The title of kulak was not only applied to the head of the family, but also to his entire family, including women and children. In 1951, in addition to other restrictive measures against kulaks, “the inheritance of the kulak title was established for other family members, not only when the head of the family who held the title died, but also in cases where family members separated.” (Apostol Kotani, “On the Policy of the PPSh, for the Liquidation of the Kulaks as a Class”)
For example, in Lepenica, the list of kulaks also includes Veziko Çarçan Veshaj, the wife of Veledin Veshi, who died from torture in the cells of the State Security. Shyqyre Hazbi Hysaj, the wife of Hysni Lepenica, who was martyred on September 14, 1943, is also a kulak. But the sons of these heroine women, Kujtimi and Leka, would also be considered kulaks, so the title of kulak was inherited!
Likewise, in Lepenica, on the list of kulaks or "enemies of the people", there are two well-known names; Nebi Sadedini and Hysen Sinani, from Lepenica, as well as their families, wives, sons and daughters. In the list of kulaks, they are mistakenly marked with the surname Memishaj, while from this kulak family was Shaqe Beqiri.
Due to heavy taxes, poverty and imprisonment, there were many deaths among kulak families. Many families split up and created smaller families, with the illusion that they would escape the war. But the communists did not make concessions. When the kulak head of the family died, the family remained kulak, under the name of the one who remained first in the family!
In December 1968, in the Vlora district, there were about 4,000 young people excluded from the ranks of the youth organization, as they were children of kulak families. The fight against kulaks also included the prohibition of marriages with kulak families, their isolation in funeral ceremonies. When these or members of the kulak family died, they were buried only by their relatives. The life of kulak families was controlled by the State Security and its collaborators. (Xhafer Sadiku “Genocide of the Kulaks in Communist Albania 1948–1990”, “Vest Print”, Tirana 2013)
The Kulaks of Lepenica
Kujtim Veshaj had just married and on January 5, 1956, at the age of 20, he was declared an “enemy of the people”, a kulak, along with Lekë Hysaj, the only child of Hysni Lepenica, and until 1990, both of them remained “enemies of the people”, suffering violence, terror, contempt, discrimination and denial of basic human rights. The declaration of these young men, Kujtim Veshaj and Lekë Hysaj, as kulaks was carried out on the scale of terror. At that time, Kujtim was the secretary of the village youth and the village was notified to gather in the yard of Jaho Lame’s house.
At the head of the group were Muharrem Rrapi from Mallkeqi, an instructor of the Party Committee, and Rexhep Osmëni, secretary of the party's grassroots organization for Gjormi. They told the village that Kujtim Veshaj and Lekë Hysaj were declared "enemies of the people", kulaks, and from that day on, none of the villagers should have anything to do with them, neither give nor take, neither enter nor exit.
Some men who dared to say: “These are the scoundrels and the village will be measured by them”? The answer, as always, was: “The Party knows…”! The women of the village, whose tears had not yet dried from the burning of the village in 1943 by Hysni Kapo, left crying for the disaster that was hitting their village.
This same year, the Agricultural Cooperative was formed, Kujtim and Lekë Hysaj were not accepted into the cooperative as "enemies of the people", although they were not accepted, their land and livestock were taken away. Kujtim and Lekë were taken away from 70 dunyams of agricultural land and were left with only 4 dunyams of land, not fertile. In 1985, the scheme of arresting Veledin in 1951, Kujtim's father, was repeated, but this time Kujtim was not taken to prison like his father, but was publicly unmasked in front of the village. "Stand up - they told Kujtim, - we are giving you the floor to defend yourself, but you will only speak for a minute"!
– “Goja ime, – tha Kujtimi, – ka qenë e kyçur nga frika juaj, jo nga ndërgjegjja ime dhe prandaj nuk kam folur, pra nuk u kam asnjë borxh juve, ju më kini borxh mua”. Pas tij u ngrit Tefide Ngucaj, një grua trimëreshë dhe ju drejtua me zë të lartë presidiumit: – “Jazëk u qoftë që ja bëtë edhe këtë Kujtim Veshit”!, – pastaj u shkreh në vaj dhe doli nga salla…!
Ajo klithmë e kësaj gruaje thoshte shumë…! Ajo ishte klithma e fshatit për drejtësi. E ndiej për detyrë ta falnderoj këtë grua, që nuk pyeti për familjen e saj, pasi mbi atë dashuri qëndronte liria dhe e vërteta.
U jam mirënjohës fshatarëve të mi të cilët u ngritën të gjithë në këmbë në formë revolte dhe e mbrojtën Kujtim Veshin. Nuk mjaftoi vetëm demaskimi, Partia duhet ta thellonte luftën e klasave, prandaj Kujtimin e hoqën nga sharrat ku punonte në mal të Lepenicës, djalin e tij e hoqën nga bari delesh, Lavdoshin vëllanë e tij, e hoqën nga zdrukthëtaria, kurse gruan dhe fëmijët e Kujtimit, i shpinin në punët më të vështira.
Në vitin 1960, partia do të bënte “inventarin” e kulakëve të Vlorës, se mos kishte “humbur” ndonjë, apo mos ishte arratisur! Komiteti Ekzekutiv i K.P. të Rrethit, me shkresën nr. 1/359 datë 10.5.1960, i kërkon Komitetit të Qytetit listën emërore të kulakëve të qytetit. Komiteti Qytetit i përgjigjet me shkresat nr. 1/64 datë 20.5.1960 dhe nr. 1/80 datë 26.5.1960, duke renditur sipas lagjeve 84 kulakët e qytetit:
Lista me emrat e 84 familjeve “kulakë” të Vlorës në 1960
Lagjja “Lirim”, 3 familje: Tofik Shehu, Kimet Robi, Nafije Agaj.
Lagjja “Karabash”, 3 familje: Zija Kuçi, Filo Shaska, Sherif Mara.
Lagjja “Vrenes”, 9 familje: Arif Caushi, Hakim Braka, Mynyre Vranari, Abaz Mezini, Qazim Sora, Eqerem Sorra, Pullumb Kalo, Enver Mustafaraj, Xhemile Çala.
Lagjja “Tophana” 9 familje: Nuri Grabova, Gani Pehi, Kudret Kokoshi, Fetanete Haxhiu, Meleqe Haxhiu, Nikit Lamaj, Hilmi Murataj, Marigo Thomanasi, Sadik Boraj.
Lagjja “Skelë” 11 familje: Mustafa Canaj, Razip Murataj, Axhem Kapa, Zilini Kapaj, Pranvera Kokolari, Hysen Dudushi, Hajrije Muço, Serije Xhindi, Piro Xhindi, Nesije Xhindi, Besim Kokoshi.
Lagjja “Muradije”, 11 familje: Refat Hoxha,Sihat Beqo, Qefsere Beqo, Petref Fallani, Muharrem Shehu, Baki Shehu, Veip Vranari, Xhemil Kuçi, Xhemil Beqo, Lilo Grabova, Liri Hoxha.
“Lagjja e Re”, 17 familje: Taifur Musa Shehu, Ëngjëll Taifur Shehu, Isak Mete Dulaj, Hetem Kadri Dulaj,Sabadire Meçorrapaj, Nazmije Beqir Shehu, Samine Leskaj, Shano Çobaj, Kujtim Muço Meçorrapaj, Miri Xhafer Meço, Myrdije Teki Meço, Avduraman Hysen Meço, Skënder Shaqo Shehu, Batije Muharrem Shehu, Qefalete Sabri Shehu, Marije Shaqo Shehu, Skënder Qerim Gumbardhi
Lagjja “Çole”, 13 familje:
Nga Trevëllazëri. 1. Skëndo Muhamet Myrtaj, 2. Mamude Sulo Myrtaj, 3. Përparim Skëndo Myrtaj, 4. Serije Skëndo Myrtaj, 5. Koçi Skëndo Myrtaj.
From Panajaja: 1) Koçi Tahir Aliraj, 2) Mato Hysen Aliraj, 3) Tana Xhezo Aliraj, 4) Fatbardha Dushan Aliraj. From Oshtima: 1. Fiqiri Ymer Xhaferi, 2. Fevri Ymer Xhaferi, 3. Nadire Hasan Xhaferi, 4. Merushe Halil Xhaferi.
From Kume, 4 families: Enver Neim Xhaferi, Kajaçe Avdul Xhaferi, Shefiko Feim Xhaferi, Mbarime Qani Xhaferi
From Cold Water, 4 families: Brahim Hoxha, Tri Luzaj, Drita Hodo, Fatime Haxhi
In the villages of Vlora as well, the District Executive Committee had identified a list of names of kulks for 84 families, as follows:
From Kanina, 9 families: 1. Qazim H. Bonjaku, 2. Sabri H. Bonjaku, 3. Cano A. Bonjaku, 4. Hyqmet D. Luzaj, 5. Qani I. Luzaj, 6. Qazim I. Luzi, 7. Ahmet L. Xhindi, 8. Brahim H. Vranari, 9. Hydo F. Hoxha.
From Narta, 4 families: 10. Nako Qirko, 11. Jani Andrea, 12. Vangjel Papa, 13. Vasil Papa
From Panaja, 1 family: 14. Gano Hoxha Panaja
Oshtima, 2 families: 15. Vexhi S. Xhaferaj, 16. Beshir N. Xhaferaj.
From Zvërnec, 1 family: 17. Bexhet I. Shehu.
From Çeprat 4 families: 18. Xhevit Mersini, 19. Faik Isufi, 20. Refat Isufi, 21. Sehit Myftari.
From Dukat, 18 families: 22. Serri J. Jazaj, 23. Adem J. Jazaj, 24. Isuf J. Jazaj, 25. Axhem I. Çeloaliaj, 26. Ahmet M. Mëhilli, 27. Zini I. Hamiti, 28. Haxhi I. Haskaj, 29. Muharrem K. Nelaj,
30. Shyqyri M. Çeloaliaj, 31. Alim M. Çeloaliaj, 32. Xhezo M. Çeloaliaj, 33. Xhavit L. Hamiti, 34. Azem S. Hamiti, 35. Qerem I. Hamiti, 36. Hamit G. Hamitaj, 37. Dervish I. Jazaj, 38. Isuf M. Koshena, 39. Qirie Notaj.
From Radhima, 1 family: 40. Yzeir Llakatundi
From Lepenica, 2 families: 41. Leke H. Hysaj, 42. Kujtim V. Veshaj
Gjormi, 4 families: 43. Neki L. Gllucaj, 44. Hysen L. Gllucaj, 45. Ymer R. Hoxhaj, 46. Zagoll Sefedini.
From Matogjin, 2 families: 47. Jaçe M. Leskaj, 48. Bado M. Leskaj.
Mavrovo, 4 families: 49. Hajro Merkaj, 50. Hodo Nelaj, 51. Batjar Nelaj 52. Arif Bejtaj.
From Hysoverdh, 1 family: 53. Fejzi Agaj, Hysoverdh
Girl, 1 family: 54. Merxhane Iliazi.
From Velça, 3 families: 55. Nexhip Myslymi, 56. Rujo Sabriu, 57. Selman Beqiri.
From Gumenica, 2 families: 58. Zeno Shabani, 59. Qerim Numani
Lezhan 3 families: 60. Sadik Çelo, 61. Shaban Beqiri, 62. Taip Beqiri.
From Shkoza, 1 family: 63. Sabri Mane.
From Kuçi, 4 families: 64. Arshi Zekaj, 65. Bejtash Nuraj, 66. Metlli Ymeraj, 67. Hysen Karrocka.
From Kallarat, 2 families: 68. Shate Qeramaj, 69. Tahir Qeremaj Kallarat.
From Himara, 7 families: 70. Katina Kaçelako, 71. Stefo Goro, 72. Kaliro Goro, 73. Milto Rexho, 74. Koço I. Llazari, 75. Grigor Bollano, 76. Kozma Kallushi.
From Dhërmi, 6 families: 77. Vangjel Dhima, 78. Milo Goreci, 79. Foto Martino, 80. Kleantho Gjikuria, 81. Stefo I. Duni, 82. Thanas Duni.
From Trevëllazëri, 2 families: 83. Sadil Lamaj, 84. Rexhep Lamaj Trevllazër (AQSH., Fund 1 V. 1960, File 294, pp. 1 – 6)./Memorie.al
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