Rome, 21 April 1952

Bardhok Ndreu from Tito-Veles (Yugoslavia) on 22-3-52 writes to Kapidan Gjon Marka Gjoni:

The letter you sent me on the 8^th of this month (I received it on the 19^th) and I learned with satisfaction that you are in good health, and I am very happy that you have deigned to write to me asking for news.

First of all, I offer you my deepest condolences for the loss of your two sons Mark (Marco) and Llesh (Alessandro) and may God keep the others healthy and give you courage. Do not despair because there are many Albanians who have suffered as you or worse.

Kapidan, of the Merlika family you ask me about, sadly few remain. Some have been killed and others as you will see below:

Killed: Shyta, Sulo, Sefa, the latter’s granddaughter with her son. I left Qazim, Faik and Dalip, son of Mustafa, in prison when I took refuge in Yugoslavia and I do not know their sentences. Confined: Mustafa’s wife with her daughter-in-law and grandson.

Kapidan! In our region there have been many killings and many destructions of which I can only report a part.

I inform you that in hiding in Skuraj are: Preng Llesh Gjergji, Ndue Pal Gjin Pjetri and Geg Zefi. In Gallatë: Pjeter Nikoll Mehilli, Pjeter Marku and Gjok Pjetri; in Zhej: Gjon Lek Piroli; in Laç: Nikoll Arapi. In my village of Mali e Bardhe: my uncle, Gjergji son of Nikoll and the three nephews of Llesh Gjok Lala, my cousins, who are called Ndue Lala, Pal Lala and Jak Lala as well as Kol Ndreu son of Ndrec Prenga.

There were many killed, but I will only mention a few. In Kruja: Brahim Kupi, Cen Taga, Hasan Meça, Fran Miri, the three sons of Dod Pervuka, Ndue Gjergji Lleshi, Tom Nikolli, and four of his brothers and cousins, and Mark Piroli. The number is four times bigger but I don’t want to go on too long with this letter. These were killed in combat in the mountains because to list those who were shot would take two newspaper pages.

Now I will describe to you a little of our suffering. Brahim Bami and his family were interned for 7 years; I found him in Shokpje and he is well, I left him 20 days ago. For Llesh Gjoka I have no news, I left him at his home, he suffered a lot. In 1949 I went on the run with 5 men from my family; among my cousins, many were killed, my uncle Gjergj I left in the mountains and I was able to enter Jugoslavia on the 22 September 1951 with 10 men and my wife.

I left behind my father Nikoll in prison sentenced to 20 years, 4 people interned, some at home and others on the run in the mountains; that’s how we separated. I resisted for two and a half years in the mountains, I was able to secure release for my family from prison in Kruja and went to the mountains for 9 months with them. From there we crossed into Jugoslavia and here we find ourselves fairly well, thanks to the Jugoslavian government for their welcome and hospitality I now benefit from.

Here we are all united and organized against Hoxha-Shehu’s slavery regime driven by stalinism.

Kapidan! I am in correspondence with your son Nikoll.

The 12 people from Kruja-Shejaku with whom we arrived in Jugoslavia are the following: Brahim Bami, Ramazan Keçi and Mer Keçi; from the region of Ishem Shejaku: Ndrec Gjet Qaçi, Ramazan Vogli, Marka Zymi, Hider Xhemali, myself and my wife. Additionally, here I have many acquaintances from Dibra, Korça and more, but I am not able to name them all.

Your friend who will never forget you

Bardhok Ndreu 

 

 

 

 

 

Translation courtesy of Bianca Gjomarkaj