The state, the perpetrator of crimes yesterday, today the protector of the crimes of the communists

2025-01-27 10:54:00, Aktualitet Besim Ndregjoni

The state, the perpetrator of crimes yesterday, today the protector of the

In honor of the 80th anniversary of the anti-communist uprising of Malesia e Madhe, the first in Europe after World War II! The state that committed crimes yesterday, today remains silent about the crimes of the communists!

January 25, 1945 is a significant and historic day for Albania, an event that commemorates the courage and sacrifice of the highlanders who refused to accept the communist regime and showed Europe that Albanians do not accept Slavism and Enverist Stalinism. It had only been 2 months since Albania was under the occupation of the Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha, with support from the Serbian regime, the highlanders rose up to oppose this bloody regime and the repression exercised by the Albanian communists! These brave men and women were not afraid in the face of the massacres of the Enverist rulers, but determined to protect their identity and rights from the loss of their rights.

On January 25, 1945, prominent leaders such as Major Llesh Marashi from Shkreli, Mulë Delia Bajraktari from Hoti, and the border defender Preng Cali from Kelmendi, launched the first anti-communist movement in Europe after World War II. This was an act that showed that the Albanian people, despite facing the terrible repression of the communist regime, would oppose any attempt to destroy their traditions and national identity.

They stood firm, defending their faith and honor, and having faith in God and the nation. Today, after 80 years, the descendants of the anti-communist uprising can feel proud of the work performed by those men and women of the Greater Highlands. They are immortal examples of resistance and sacrifice for freedom and national dignity. If they had had the support and attention of the international community, perhaps history would have followed a different path, and the fate of Albania would have been different.

After this uprising, Malësia e Madhe was massacred by the communist dictatorship and suffered for more than four decades, just because it demanded freedom and justice. The anti-communist movement of Malësia e Madhe was the first in Europe after World War II to say “No” to the Slavic-communist dictatorship and terror.

This is an act that will always remain in history. The balance of this resistance is tragic and devastating: over 100 people shot, over 200 prisoners who spent years in internment camps, and over 200 families deported. This is the price of freedom that this noble people paid.

We honor this day because it is a testament to the glory of the Albanian nation and its resistance to any invader, regardless of the regime and ideology that might be imposed. We sacrificed to secure the freedom of this nation, but after half a century, there was a second betrayal by those who chose the ideology of communism over democracy.

Albania, after 1990, became the only country in Europe that forgot the consequences of communism and did not give justice to its victims. We were betrayed by a political class that not only did not condemn the communist regime, but also kept it silent and used it for its own interests.

Today, after 35 years, more than 6,000 anti-communists do not have a grave, because Albanian politics lacks the will to recognize and condemn this crime. Over 36,000 political prisoners, who gave their lives and suffered for Albania's freedom, have been forgotten, while the heirs of the dictatorship are in power and continue to give lectures on democracy, without any empathy for the victims of the system they supported.

Furthermore, over 100,000 Albanian families who were expelled and interned found no support, and many of them have left their homeland, unable to integrate into Albanian society. This is a serious failure of the Albanian state and a sign of the insecurity that continues to prevail in Albania.

Yesterday the state was the author of the crimes, today the state protects the executioners who caused these crimes. January 25, 1945 is a historic day for the anti-communist resistance, it is the day when we said NO to the regime of Enver Hoxha, and we continued for 45 years to resist macabre crimes similar to the crimes of the Nazis against the Jews.

LEADERS OF THE ANTI-COMMUNIST Uprising OF THE GREAT MOUNTAINS LLESH MARASHI, MUL DELI BAJRAKTARI, PREG CALI

Jews have a day of remembrance on January 27th, why don't we Albanians have January 25th as a day of remembrance for the anti-communist resistance? Hungarians are proud of their 1956 revolution, but we who started the revolution 11 years before them, don't we have the right to be proud as defenders of free speech and national identity!

We, the anti-communists, demand that the crimes of communism be condemned, and that justice be done and given to those who gave their lives for the freedom of Albania. We cannot build a stable and just democracy without knowing the truth and apologizing for the crimes that occurred.

Europe has condemned communism, America has sentenced the communist movement to the electric chair, while Albania continues to remain silent, reinforcing a system that still protects the consequences of the regime.

The failure to punish the crimes of communism, the glorification of communist ideology as the basis for ruling the state, have failed, leading the Albanian state from a democratic system to a dictatorial one.

The Albanian state has failed to protect the victims of communism and do justice for the past, while continuing to aid the heirs of the dictatorship. Albanian politicians who are still in power have not only failed to condemn communism, but have remained silent and become co-leaders of an old, destroyed and failed ideology.

Malësia e Madhe, the region that said no to communism on this 80th anniversary of the anti-communist uprising, demands justice from a state that remains silent about the injustice done to Albanian anti-communists! January 25th should be a national historic day and a day of pride for Albania.

This day makes Albanians in Europe proud of their resistance, sacrifices and defense of freedom. On this marked day, we are reminded of Martin Luther King's statement: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere!"/ CNA