Rome, 15 October 1952

BARDHOK SHKURTI from Peja (Yugoslavia) on 27.IX.1952 wrote to Kapidan Gjon Marka Gjoni:

“Most esteemed Kapidan,

I am in good health as I hope you are too. I have not written to you for a long time because I had not yet settled into a permanent place due to the continuous hospital transfers.

Now I am quite well in health since the wounds on my arm and right breast have healed, but the one on my cheek is not yet well, as I cannot open my mouth to eat, and I live only on milk and rice. However, I believe that in a few days this wound will also heal.

I wrote to you from the hospital in Prizrend and a letter from you or perhaps from Gjet (the Kapidan’s nephew) arrived here but due to my absence it was returned. This made me very sad and caused some concern.

I read your letter addressed to Marka Zef Ndreca and I thank you very much for your interest in me.

Mark had worried you a little with a letter of his, the content of which I had no knowledge at all, but I can tell you that he’s suffering only from his personal sadness of exile, is angry with his companions and nothing else.

Please forgive us Kapidan, because we are young and can make mistakes, but for the honor of our fathers it is necessary that you always teach and advise us.

I will not give you a report on the situation in our country, since I have informed Llesh Karaqi about this in order to report it to you, and he assured me that he had already written to you.

We are doing well, except that the amount of assistance has been reduced from 5,000 Dinars to 3,000 Dinars per month, something that worries us a lot for our livelihood.

Later, after your response, I will send you some poems dedicated to the heroes who fell for the liberation of our homeland.

Mr. Kapidan, I beg you to excuse the inconvenience I am about to cause you, not knowing who else to address, and the need to speak with Mr. Ismail(Verlaci) and Ndue (son of the Kapidan) if there is any possibility of sending me a coat for the winter that is raging here. I am without one and I can’t leave the house because of the cold.

Here I cannot get it having requested it from the U.D.B.A. who answered me: tell your Kapidan Gjon Marka Gjoni. So at the risk of losing my life from the cold I no longer turn to them.

In the meantime, please accept my warmest greetings and praying to hearing from you.

Signed

Bardhok Shkurti

COMMENT: As is known, the undersigned is one of the brave supporters of our mission in Mirdita which suffered heavy damage, loss of connections, discomfort and injuries in order to facilitate the task of the Gjon Gjinaj group in the area below the Drin.

When he refers to the letter of the other supporter Mark Zef Ndreca who had his father and brother in one of our skermishes with the government, he is referring to certain complaints about the behavior of some of our men in Jugoslavia. They are natural and inevitable outbursts after years of dangerous hiding. But the Kapidan’s letters always bring peace and serenity to our people.

As can be seen, the information about the subsidies granted by Jugoslavia to Albanian refugees is contradictory. For some, the subsidy was increased and for others decreased. Bardhok is one of those often sent into the interior of Albania by the Jugoslavs and has recently also suffered painful wounds. In spite of this, he received a harsh response from the U.D.B.A. officers when he asked for a coat for the winter. The evasion to the Captain in the response of the said officers is significant.

Signed

Bardhok Shkurti

 

 

 

 

Translation courtesy of Bianca Gjomarkaj