INTRODUCTION

The biography: “The fatherland in the heart of exiled Pjetër Kolë Smajlaj” (New York, USA) is a biographical book, written by the journalist and scholar Klajd Kapinova. The events that are being described, are about the relations between the people in one side and the communist dictatorship, that exercised the violence on the other side. The origjinal description of the events are given through the Smajlaj family and the character Pjetër, analyzed among the social and political development of the time.

The author uses the character only as an excuse to explain in more details the cruelty of the crimes of socialism, that lasted from 1944 – 1990. The Northern Part of Albania, especially Kelmend, experieced crimes against humanity, exercised regularly by the totalitarian state in an area inhabited mainly by Catholics, forcing the residents to abandon their place of birth systematically. The book describes places, villages, real characters of a region, that historically has been recognized for knowledge and dignity, loyalty and tradition, heroes and well known historical figures such as Prenk Cali (1872 – 1945), Major Llesh Marashi (1896 – 1946), Cptain Gjelosh Luli (1909 – 1946) and others that where killed by the partisans of Enver Hoxha. The chapters describe in sad details the violence and genocide, by the communists in Highland and Kelmend.

Broja of Nikçi in Kelmend is the place of birth of Theresa Fran Rrukaj (Smajlaj), the mother of Pjetër. The British traveler, Miss Edith Durham (1896 – 1944) has written about the region saying that: “The residents of Kelmend are among the best and among the most intelligent!” In the Northwestern part of Albania (16.4 per cent) is the Alpine region of Kelmend (253 square meters), where the wise, good and modest residents mentioned in Turkish documents of 1485, live. Earlier, is being proved by earlier archeological documents, found aut in Kelmend, the tracks of live exist from the epoch of Neolithic, 6000 – 2600 years Before Christ. In the Domain of Nikçi is the village of Broje, mentioned in 1497. The residents have come from the Domain of Nikç, by the end of the XIX century. Father Lovro Mihacviq in his book “All over Albania” mentions the division of the Domains in the years 1700 in Kelmend, where two Domains where vreated, Selca and Vukli.

During this period of time, the Domains of Nikç was created, which never became a perish itself, but was donated to Nikç, for its support to Kastrat when assaulted by Montenegrins. During this war the residents of Broja decapitated the heads of the invaders, put them in sticks close to a water fountain called “The heads of Broja”. Many centuries ago, because of the very tough winters, with snow in the Highland and the difficultues of communication of people in the three valleys of Kelmend asked from the Turkish government of the time to recognize the heads of these parishes (bajraktar). It approved the request and now Selca, Vukli, Nikçi and Boga had new heads. Kelmend remains one undivided, and the head of the tribe of Selca remained the leader of the mountain of Kelmend, just like Hoti, where the leader of Highland remained as a first brother. During the IX century, Kelmend recorded an increase of the population of 900 houses..

The mother Pjetër, was born during the time that Albania was occupied by the Turkish invaders. Therese Fran Rrukaj (Smajlaj), was born May 10, 1914 in the Domain of Nikç, the village of Broja. The couple from Kelmend, Fran and Prena had 6 daughters and 4 sons. Theresa was born the second, after File, the oldest sister. File Fran Rrukaj, Gjelaj (1912 – 1946) when was young was married with Fran Kol Palushaj (Gjelaj), giving birth to the sons Mark and Nikoll that live in Canada. Mria, died very soon, without being one years old. The other sister are Lula and Katrin (Katrina Fran Rrukaj, Vukaj (1927)), who when was a young girl, got married with Gjergj Ndue Luc Vukaj, giving bith to Ndue, Pashke, Diella, Dila, Toma etc. the sixth daughter that was going to be called Mrie Fran Rrukaj, Frangaj (1929) who when up, got married with Mark Nikoll Frangaj. They gave birth to the children: Lula, Groshja and Gjetja.

The family of Fran Rrukaj had four sons: Mirashi (1916 – 1918), Mirashi, Gjeloshi and Martin Rrukaj (1925 – 2004) that followed the traditions of their family, attended school for some years, learning how to writte and read in the Albanian language. The difficult live under communism, would mature ahead of time the residents of Broja. Mirashi, Gjeloshi, Martini and the cousins Prela and Gjon, who was in the army for three years in the Southerm part of Albania, bordering Greece, fighting against the Greek chauvinist aims (1944 - 1949). Mirashi Fran Rrukaj (1918 – 1945) was married, but had no children. At the age of 27 he was killed heroically in the mountains from the communist in a defensive war in Kelmend.

All the Higland was raised in their feet. Kelmend was headed by Prenk Cali, Gjergj Lul Toma, Gjek Marash Selca, Kol Gjon Bajraktari etc.; Shkreli was headed by: Major Llesh Marashi, Luket Marash Grishaj, Pjetër Gjok Bajraktari, Nikoll Prek Dedaj etc.; Kastrat was headed by Gjon Martini, Mirot Paloka, Nik Gjeloshi, Kol Lleshi, Kol Ujk Asllani etc. Hoti was headed by captain Gjelosh Luli ect. On January 13 – 14, 1945, the war of Koplik started, led by Major Llesh Marashi (1896 – 1946). It is not by chance, that in the heroic land the first anticommunist resistance in Albania, “Besëlidhja” was founded. After the suppression of two movements by blood, iron and fire in Highland, the Security (Sigurimi) forces started massacring by committing crimes, executing by gunfire 118 man, without a trial at all. Major Llesh Marash was hang by the communist terrorist forces with a rope at the a place Truma of New Dugaj in the city of Shkodra, together with another leader of Shkrel, Nikoll Prek Deda. The German parisher of the perish of Velipoja Don Alfons Tracki (1896 – 1946) was executed.

The highlanders Tom Lek Daka, mark Gjoni, Gjok Nikolla and Luigj Gjeto Kastrati (1923 – 1945), Don Ndre Zadeja (1891 – 1945) where caught and executed. Pjetër Gjok Hoti, Zef Gjon Malaj and dozens of others died in the investigation offices and prisons vecause of inhumane tortures. the decision was a clear cut one and has the signature of July 17, 1946. The executions where committed on July 18, early in the morning. While Major Llesh Marashi was hang. The punitive operation against the families, the tribes and the supporters started and they fled to go into caves. In the Censtral State Archives in Tirana the document with the File # 1623 demonstrates that when the communist criminals and torturers were in Shkodra, in January 1945, Mehmet Shehu knew and as the documents says “we had the order to kill and throw way the doubted people and the elite of the place…”. After the bullet, it was the turn of the flames. In Kelmend 34 houses were burnt, in Vukel 10 etc.

They started with the tower of Gjon Bajraktari, Pjetër Gjon Bajraktari, who among the things says: “The brother Deda took in the battle of Tamara six wounds. His friends brought him alive at home in their hands. When the communists learnt about this, that he was treated home, they sorrounded the tower, took us out, dragged him and the poor mother and put the fire to the tower, where the brother was stawing. The brother was burnt together with the tower.” Likewise in onother house in Vukël. It was burnt three times by the Turks, Serbs and on February 10, 1945, by the communists. For almost two centuries no man in this house died of a natural cause, but only from bullets. In the cemetety of the village there is a monument tomb that proves what is written above. Koçi Xoxe declares: “For the executions without trial, I was advised and I have done them under the order of the Commander.

I also had the decision of the Bureau about it.” (From the Central State Archive, file # 1623). The Highland started to lose its residents. Later it was the turn of the massacre to the city of Shkodra, a destruction admitted bu Enver Hodga (Hoxha) himself when he writtes: “Since Albanian Catholicism and esoecially the clergy where the biggest barrier for the triumph of communism in Albania, the government would spare no efforts to destroy them.” (Enver Hodga “Selected Works” Volume I, Tirana 1974, pg. 438). Prenk Cali has been the first tribe in Selca from the 12 neighborhoods of this area, being the head in Kelmend.

The Montenegro chauvinist, with the support to the Russian Empire, wanted to grab the Albanian lands like Vermosh, Vukël and Nikç, together with their well known alpine forest. He was sentenced with 4 years in prison, by King Ahmet Zog I (1895 – 1961) who reviewed his sentence against the well known person, Prenk Cali, and indited him in his residence in Tirana, to meet him on friendly terms. After the wholehearted and sincere talk, as a sign of patriotism and the new friendship, the King of Albanians, Zog I give him the Reserve Captain title. The King Zog donated to the hero of Kelmend the sward with white handle with the name of “Ahmet Zogu I”.

On march 25 of the years 1945 at about 5 o’clock in the morning, the hero of Kelmend Prenk Cali, tied with the belt, on the back, handcuffed, was sent in front of the execution team in Zall of Kir. He was not afraid of death and never admitted to turn the back on the gun. On that day the following were executed: Prenk Cali, Dom Ndre Zadeja, Luigj Gjeto Kastrati, Ndok Nik Bardhoku, Ndrek Loka, Arif Selim Hyseni, Ded Lulash Smajli, Gjok Nikaj, Dul Bajrami, Mark Luc Gjoni, Tom Lek Daka, Maliq Bajrami, Gjok Nikoll Voci, Pjetër Ded Gjedashi… highland lost 137 martyrs. 345 men were jailed, 41 families were interned and proclaimed reactionary Highland was dressed in black.

The third son, Gjelosh Fran Rrukaj (1923 – 1993) likewise the brothers and sisters of the family, were raised with love for the country, respect towards the ancestors, customs and they were proud to be Albanians. He was married to Pashke Mace. The arrest of Gjon Dod Kol Rrukaj (1947) by the communist forces, was done through the fabricated story by them. The officer Hilmi Seiti, chief of Secutity for the district of Shkodra, and the chief of the Catholic Section at the Branch of Home Affairs of Shkodra, and chief of the Catholic Selection at the Branch of Home Affairs, Xhevdet Miloti, charged Gjon with the task of eliminating physically the Albanian train machinists that were going to more the train in the intinerary Yogoslavia – Highland – Shkodra, and vice versa. He was monstrously tortures by the guardians of the prison for 22 days. Gjon today lives in Toronto and after 38 years has narrated his memories in a book. When he went to Yogoslavia, he lived there for a couple of years and them he traveled by plane to Canada. He has two sons, Gjek and Nikoll.

On September 29, 1951, 21 members of Rrukaj family from Broja and Nikç of Kelmend taking with themselves everything they needed in order not to go back home, took in front of them all the cattle an started to go towards an open place, towards the Border post, exactly to the place, pre discussed during a conversation of the highlander with the Secutity Officer. The complete list of the highlanders that fled Kelmend in 1951 is as follows: Fran Kol Rrukaj (1879 – 1966), Gjelosh Fran Rrukaj (1923 – 1993), Martin F. Rrukaj (1925 – 2004), Pashka Mac Rrukaj (1929, the wife of Gjelosh), Mark F. Gjelaj (1934), Nikoll F. Gjelaj (1940), Dod K. Rrukaj (1892 – 1969), Pret Tom Rrukaj (1950), Kol D. Rrukaj (1918 – 1974), Lule Gjok Rrukaj (1920), Tom K. Rrukaj (1950), Lena K. Rrukaj (1945), Prek D. Rrukaj (1920 – 200), Tring Gjok Rrukaj (1929), Gjon D. Rrukaj (1927), Rrok D. Rrukaj (1928), Gjeto D. Rrukaj (1945), Lena Lucja, who fled to Yogoslavia two years later (1953) helped by some friends in Kelmend. She is the mother of Pret, the family in law of Dod. Kola took with her the two young children, Tom and Lena.

The Albanian lands in Montenegro became the second motherland for the Rrukaj family. The Yogosllavia army at the border took in its hands the women, men and children of the family. For every Albanian that passed on the other side of the border, it was a rule of the Forces of Defense of Montenegro and the Civilian Intelligence Forces to question in details the men and grown up boys. The same rule was followed by Sigurimi (Secutity) in Albania for people that came from the other side of the border. Rrukaj fa,ily was placed in Gusi and started a normal life. The father of Theresa, Fran Kol Kola (1879 –1966) was connected to Broja. A good patriot, when he died in Podgorica, he was biried with religious honors in Tuz. Dod Kol Rrukaj (1882 – 1969) changed life, being happy that his family was safe from the communist crimes. Though Kol Dod Rrukaj (1918 – 1974) the oldest son of Dod died in Gusi, his remains lie calmly close to the remains of his father.

Hoti for many centuries has been the field of armed uprising: in years 1565, 1567, 1570, 1575, 1576, 1582, 1688, 1690, 1701, 1708, 1714, 1716, etc. and the highlanders always had fought for freedom. Today, half of the lands of the Highland, are within the political border of Montenegro, rapsha, Starja, Brigjeja, and Kushja of Hot are in Albania, while Traboini and Dumja of Bora, together with a part of the field of Hoti, as well as the villages of Vuksanlekaj, dreshaj, Sukruq, Narhelm are included politically in Montenegro.

On Sundays I go to the “Our Lady of Shkodra” Church in Hartsdale in New York. I stop for a few moments, to meet Pjetër K. Smajlaj. He speaks Albanian, Serbocroatian and English. In his house in the waiting room are placed the folk clothes, on the wall is placed the Albanian Flag, in a sculpture Gjergj Kastrioti and Mother Theresa. The history of the family is based on the family book, a manuscript of Rrok Preçi, in disussion in 1937 with Pjetër Gjoli (grandfather) and the sousins of Pjetër, like Lek Uli, Ndoc Deda, Prek Nika and Pllumb Lula. During the compilation of the family tree, carefully the compiler has not included the children that had died under 1 years old. The New Pjetër (Jounior) speaks slowly about the events that the family has ecperienced when they lived in Hot.

The grandfather of Drane, Ujk Mashi was a typical highlander of Broja of Kelmend that has lived in Breg of Gjeth in Broja. Ujk Mashi (1870 – 1945) and his cousin Gjon Sokol Luci (1870 – 1945) were loyal co-fighters of Prek Cali. The sons of Ujk Mashi, the young boys Luca and Zef rrukaj had taken up the arms and had joined the resistance forces in Kelmend, that were preparing to protect their houses from the destructive assault of the punitive communist forces. They were being followed step after step by the communist forces in the villages of the Highland. One of the partisans, who seems to have been the commander of the operation of arresting the two highlanders from Kelmend, addressed at first to Ujk saying: “You highlander, say “Down with the Christ religion, because we are going to pardon your life.” But Ujk, was brave and he was not scared. He respended: “Long Live to Christ!”, “Long Live to Albania and Kelmend!”.

After the last words of Ujk, the noise of the guns was heard, covering ith the pure blood the heroic land of Kelmend. After 6 weeks, the brothers Luc Rrukaj (1905 – 1989) and Zef Rrukaj (1909 – 1997) that were in the mountain as soon as they heard where his father and cousin were buried, took aut of the collective grave the remains and organized a ceremony according o the traditions of the highland in the cemetery of the village of Broja. Luca and Zef after a very b siege by the communists, surredered. They were imprisoned and after the sentence, they were sent to serve in the army, where they were sent to the most difficult jobs, mining. Then, they started their family life. Luca was married to Mare Ded Rrukaj, from the village of Bujaj, from Pojata of Selca. They had 10 children, 6 sons and 4 daughters. Dranja is the seventh child from the Rrukaj couple, after Sokol Luc Ujkaj (Rrukaj), Prena, Fran, Nikoll, Age (who died and the other daughter was also named Age), Gjoka, Gjon and Fran.

In February 1952 the Mashi Luca family together with the wife Mare took the son Nikoll, Gjok, Drane, Gjon, Fran, Zef (the brother of Luca) and wife of Zef, Diella and also, all the cattle and escaped to Yugoslavia. Dranja (1941), the forth and the youngest daughter, together with the family were placed in Podgorica. She took care of the house wrk and for the parebts and brothers. At the age of 20, she got married Pjetër Kol Smajlaj. In 1961 in Gusi the marriage ceremony took place accoding to all Albanian traditions and customs. Two years later the firt chil Liza (1963) was born in Gusi, followed by Mark (1965), Agia (1966) Vaseli (1971) in New York.

27 years have passed from the death of Kol Pjetër Smajlaj (1898 – 1978), but in Hot, Kelmend, Shkodra still is mentioned the name of this well – wisher, noble and brave anticommunist, Kol P. Smajlaj, that was able to pass carefully the border of the bolshevic darkness, at night, through the mines of the state border. The friendship of Kola with the priest from Mirdita, Father Dr. Zef Oroshi, in order to write about the close friendly relations, between the family of the emigrant Kol P. Smajlaj, the spiritual shepherd, are needed many books. He has respected Kol, the son of Pjetër and Tereza as dear friends of the Catholic Church in USA. On September 7, 1993, Pjetër is spiritually calm, because the father rests in peace in the land that he loved so much. On May 17, 1996, Kol was awarded post mortum “The Order of the Martyr of Democracy” by Sali Berisha, the former President and the present Prime Minister of Albania.

Kola and Theresa as a new family was happy to give birth to a new child, but he didn’t live long. From 12 children that Theresa had, 7 were daughters and 5 sons. This is a great pain, for the parents that were able to pass the misfortune in their family. The only person that has remained alive, as a proof of the history of Smajlaj family is Pjetër K. Smajlaj, and his 92 years old mother, Theresa (1914). This family has live on the edge of the political border with Montenegro. Towards Smajlaj family and relatives, time of arrests, mitreatment, imprisonment started. Nikoll Dod Smajlaj (1927 – 2001) who is the the nephew of Kol P. Smajlaj, found the proper moment to escape, when in Tirana, Enver Hodga, was crying tears of pain for the dictator Stalin. Nicole was 26 years old and was arrested at the presence of his family members. This happened on January 21, 1954. He stayed in the prison of Shkodra and later was transferred to the prison of Tirana.

After investigation and torturing, he was given death penalty. After 15 days, his life was pardoned. The sentence now was 25 years in prison, and forced labor in Tirana, Terbuf, Lushnja, the Factory of Chemical Fertilizers in Laç, and 12 years and 6 months inside the cold cells where he suffered the deprivation of civil freedom. Pjetër K. Smajlaj was born on July 15, 1941 in Rrapsh, the domain of Hoti. He was the seventh child, the family then had three daughters and three sons. From 1941 – 1953 for 13 years the family lived in the motherland. The Sent Mark is celebrated as a saver of Kol, Pjetër and Theresa. Kol P. Smajlaj as old resident knew very well the territory and the land of his region. At the time in 1954 he took care of 354 ship. Pjetër recalls: “The difficulty to pass the border was greater, because the mother and the father knew that the border was mined.”

The last one to joinus on the other side of the border was the mother. It was 9 o’clock in the evening, when we arrived to the Yogoslavian land. We entered in the middle of a forest and after that was a valley. We were xonfronted suddenly by the Yugoslavian patrol. With an electric, they addressed un in the Serbian language: “Stop!”. The father responded immediately “albanes (Albanian)”. Their border guards took us to the valleys where the cattle of Vuksanlekaj stay during the summers, in the stay of village Traboin of Hoti. That night we slept in the house of Marash Gjek Breli, that was a friend of our family. It was really a very generous family, that respected the Albanian traditions and customs. Smajlaj family was placed in Gusi. The owner of the house Kola was thinking that it was no good to live in the district of Tuz because of the climate.

On August 9, 1967, Pjetwr and four friends of his Prel Gjelosh Dushaj, Gjon Kol Rrukaj, Gjon Luc Rrukaj and Gjeto Dod Rrukaj escaped from Youslavia and went to Trieste of Italy. They were sent to the refugee camp of “Capo” in the Southern part of Italy, where there were many Albanian refugees. Pjetër knew Don Prek Ndervashaj (1828 – 2004) there. The members of the Smajlaj family on November 1, 1967, after two months and a half joined them in Bar of Italy. His parents Kola and Theresa, likewise Dranja, a noble and brave mother, together with the three children Elisabeth, Mark and Age joined them. They were very happy because they reunited in the free world. Pjetër and his family left by plane to go USA on Fefruary 28, 1968. They arrieved at JFK aiport. After 13 days came their parents, Kola and Theresa. During the first days of the arrival, the family of seven members was welcomed by the maternal uncles of Pjetër and the maternal uncle of Dranja, the generous and noble highlander, Tom Pjetër Pepaj, who had undertaken to help them in USA.

During that period of time friends and relatives of the Smajlaj family visited them, wishing then: “Let America take you on the good side”. At first he started to work in an armament factory in Queens of N.Y. and Dranja was taking care of the house works. Then she started to work in Bank in Manhattan, NY, where she is still today, after 37 years. Pjetër together with 104 religious people had been a pilgrim in 1988 from New York to Vatican to Papal John Paul II. They were received in an audience by the Pope, for 30 minutes. Amoung the numerous presents, in the name of the pilgrims, he was given a golden Kelk, paid from the untiring benevolent Mr. Simon Simolacaj. He herad whispering among the believers that had their relatives in Albania that they had started to talk to them by phone from Italy. He recalls: “I had also an idea, to try to contact my people, not telling them my name in order not to cause harm to my relatives in Shkodra. I sent them a telegram quickly. I assigned the time when they could call me.

I was connected has parted us alive.” The visit of the Pop Johm Paul (1978 – 2005) in Shkodra and Tirana on April 1993 will remain for ever in the 2000 years old history of Christianity in Illyria. Catholic Albanian believers have gone frequently as pilgrims to saint places. He recalls the Pilgrimage of Hope in 2000 as one of the unforgettable events for his family. For 11 days the pilgrimage sent them to Europe, in the itinerary New York, Santarem, Fatima, Burgos, Lourdes, Avignon, Arles, Niece, Assisi, Roma, Gennazzano, New York.