We March for Truth, Justice, and Equality

Washington, D.C. - Honorable cleric Father Anton Kcira of St. Paul's Albanian Catholic Church, distinguished speakers, dear friends of Malesia, and my treasured compatriots of Ethnic Albania:

At this critical time, I am behooved to assert that substituting Milo Djukanovic with Filip Vujanovic still leaves us with a vic, and unfortunately for us, their past and present history reassures us that once a vic always a vic when it comes to the Albanian people. Therefore, rather than continue my monologue with Djukanovic or his replacement Vujanovic, I stand before you this morning because my conscience dictates that I make a passionate plea to you - my people - and not Ambassador Miodrag Vlahovic even though we are in front of the Embassy of Montenegro.

I am mindful that many of us, including myself, still hope that Montenegro will finally come to her senses as a so-called "newly democratic nation" by living up to the democratic values and principles that the name signifies and grant our people, who reside on their ethnic Albanian lands, the same constitutional rights as their occupying Slavic counterparts enjoy. Meanwhile, as our people continue to be exploited, humiliated, and oppressed, we must do more than hope for constitutional truth, justice, and equality. We must persist with our peaceful protests until these fundamental rights are once and for all guaranteed to the Albanians! And dear brothers and sisters, protest we have, as today marks the fifth demonstration on behalf of the voiceless victims of Malesia. For it is transparent that our marches are not about hatred towards anyone. Rather they are about the universal truth that all of God's children, including the Albanians, are born with certain unalienable rights that no man or government can deny because this truth has been ordained by the Lord Dear God!

Since 9 September 2006, we have eagerly waited for our 14 fellow Malesors [highlanders] to finally have their day in court. And let us remind our U.S. officials that three are American citizens. Having said that, we are well aware, that if the international community does not intervene to secure a fair and impartial trial based on the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, our brothers are doomed in the politicized and corrupt judicial system of Montenegro. Brothers and sisters, have they not been detained for over one year? Yes! Does this reflect the constitutional right of a speedy trial? No! Furthermore, according to the testimonies of the detainees, have they not been physically beaten and mentally tortured in the infamous prison of Spuz? Yes! And at the hands of whom have they senselessly suffered? I'll tell you - at the hands of those who supposedly have been sworn to uphold law and order. But how can law and order be upheld by hate-filled abusive police officers that have spat at them, viciously kicked them, brutalized them, and cursed them daily by calling them "f...ing Malisori"?! Has this truth been acknowledged, condemned, or rectified by the Montenegrin authorities? No! It has not. Therefore, because of high moral grounds I am placed in the precarious position to ask: Is this justice? No! You are correct; for it is not! Is this equality? No! Again, you are correct; for it is not! Is this the democracy that our people voted for? No! Once more you are correct; for it is not! Nevertheless, make no mistake about it - this is Montenegrin truth, justice, and equality for its Albanian citizens. For that reason, as law-abiding tax paying citizens of the United States, we cannot and must not allow our elected representatives to continue to turn a deaf ear to their Albanian-American constituents and simultaneously continue to send our hard earned tax paying dollars to the oppressive regime of Montenegro. Thus, we must flood their offices with petitions, letters, e-mails, and phone calls until we have the assurance that our U.S. government demand that Montenegro conduct fair and impartial trials for all of the accused.

As your sincere fellow Malesor, I fully comprehend why most of us are distressed and appalled at Judge Ivica Stankovic, another vic needless to say, who three times postponed the beginning trial date only to choose September 11: the six-year anniversary of the most horrific terrorist attack in the history of our adopted country - The United States of America. [And if I may, at this time, I ask that we take off our hats and bow our heads in silence and utmost reverence for those who have fallen and are now in the glory of the Almighty Himself (Silence). May their memories forever remain in our mind, heart, and spirit] This date selected by Judge Stankovic, we can and we do publicly declare with the highest degree of certainty, was not arbitrarily selected. Instead, we know that it is a diabolical calculation on the part of the corrupt courts in Montenegro. However, believe me, my brothers and sisters, that their estimation of correlating 9/11 with Malesia has backfired on them because the truth is so evident. Albanians have nothing to do with the Day of Tragedy as it has been called. Instead, we also mourned with our fellow Americans and the rest of the civilized sympathetic world, while others shamelessly celebrated this heinous crime perpetrated against humanity. America knows, my brothers and sisters, how the Albanians grieved: especially us, the Malesors of an inseparable Malesia of Shkodra.

Yes, America knows my brothers and sisters. America knows that we do not belong to that despicable group who danced in the streets celebrating America's tragedy. Rather, America knows that we, as a people, and we, as a region, not only mourned for America but Malesia also lamentated for the loss of two of her sons: Rrok Nosh Frani Camaj and Simon Marash Kole Miri Dedvukaj. America truly knows and values our fallen brothers because it was America who eternally placed their respective names along side the numerous courageous souls who distinguished themselves on 9/11. For example, Camaj not only mobilized nearly 200 people and kept them calm on the 105th floor of the South Tower before it eventually collapsed. But, in the 1st World Trade Center bombing of 1993, he assisted a pregnant woman for two-and-a-half hours as they descended down the seemingly endless stairs to safety. This act of compassion by Camaj not only saved her, but also the unborn child. Likewise, Dedvukaj displayed unselfishness for humanity as he reentered the blazing tower seeking to assist more people out of the building only to never make it out alive. America knows, my brothers and sisters, because these acts of valor appeared in newspapers, periodicals, and documentaries written and produced by Americans. As a footnote, I am obliged to mention another Albanian-American and dear friend of Malesia who also perished in 9/11, Man Alija Gjonbalaj.

You see, September 11 will, until the end of time, be a day reckoned by lawlessness, barbarism, and terrorism upon innocence. Therefore, does this not resemble what the Slavs have done to the Albanians ever since their assault on the Illyrian Peninsula, more commonly known as the Balkan Peninsula? Yes, for we have most definitely undergone centuries of lawlessness, barbarism, and terror since their uninvited arrival to our ancestral lands. As a result, Judge Stankovic opted for 9/11 in an attempt to create an imagery of guilt by association. Indeed, this is despicable. However, if truth be told, 9/11 illustrates the tragedy that Albanians in the piece of Malesia outside Mother Albania has continually experienced since their annexation to Montenegro.

Accordingly, as a people of faith, we must continue to stand united and remain strong, knowing full well that Sacred Scripture assures us that, "God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress. Thus we do not fear… The Lord of hosts is with us" (Psalm 46:2,3&8). And with us God is! For God will not desert his Albanian children. Indeed, fellow compatriots, how proper and fitting it is that on the eve of September 11 we march for truth, justice, and equality with our Lord - just as it is written, "It is the Lord who marches before you; he will be with you and will never fail you or forsake you. So do not fear or be dismayed" (Deuteronomy 31:8). Friends! Brothers! Sisters! How can our moral struggle for truth, for justice, and for equality be denied if the God of righteousness is marching with us? It cannot, and it will not, because we, as a people, and we, as a region, deserve the same God-given rights that the Montenegrins celebrate. Consequently, Malesi, our beloved Malesi, we will not abandon you! If need be, we will continue to hold peaceful rallies in anticipation that truth, justice, and equality will eventually be bestowed upon you - yes you - our precious Malesi! Together, we shall overcome. We shall endure.