Prek Cali

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Prek Cali
Birth name Prek Pjetri (Cali) Hasanaj
Born (1872-07-29)July 29, 1872[1]
Vermosh, Kelmend, Ottoman Empire now Albania
Died March 25, 1945(1945-03-25) (aged 66)
Shkodër, People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Years of service 1908–1945
Rank Commander
Commands held Kelmend
Battles/wars Albanian Revolt of 1908
Albanian Revolt of 1911
Albania during the Balkan Wars[2]
Anti-Communism 1944-45
Awards Martyr of Democracy[3]
Hero of Albania(after 2010)

Prek Cali or Prenk Cali was a guerilla fighter [4] of the Kelmendi Catholic clan in the northern Albanian region near Vermosh,[5] protector of Albanian border and anti-communist. Born in Vermosh, he fought in the Battle of Deçiq against the Ottoman Empire, and later against the Kingdom of Serbia, and finally against the communist forces under Enver Hoxha. Hoxha had him lured and killed him on Palm Sunday.[6][7]

Plav and Gusinje

At the beginning of the Second World Prek Cali had between 200[8] and 1,200[9] armed men around Vermosh under his command. He took control over Plav and Gusinje in 1941, before Italian forces occupied it.[10]

Conflict with Zog's government

After fall of the Fan Stilian Noli cabinet, Cali came in conflict with Ahmet Zogu(1895-1961) while trying to establish some sort of autonomy for the Kelmendi Catholic region out of the Albanian state.[2] Prek Cali heard about secret deal between Ahmet Zogu and Nikola Pasic, to give Vermosh to Yugoslavia,and part of deal was also denial Kosovo as Albanian land. Cali and the rest of Albanians didn't accept that. Prek Cali was arrested and sent in prison of Gjirokastra in 1924. Padre Anton Harapi intervened and asked King Zog to release Prek Cali,because he was already known for defending borders of Albania in 1913. King Zog couldn't make the deal with Yugoslavia,because he could risks his throne,in 1927 he decide to release Prek Cali,and after that he apologized to him,and named him reserve commander of Albania.[11]

Communist Propaganda

The cooperation with Serbian chetniks is denied by ocular witness,which are alive yet. Prek Cali was in cave of Tartashica together with 13 men and one women (Sworn virgin) called Tone Toma (Bikaj),they stayed 7 days in the cave. The Communist forces were informed for their location,the partisans started to shoot than they stopped the fire. They couldn't enter inside,Abaz Fejzo contacted with Albanian Catholic priest,David Pici and asked him to make Prek Cali and his group to surrender. Abaz Fejzo said "Prek Cali is our enemy" and Fr. David Pici replied: "No,they are brave highlanders,and good believers ,they decide to sacrifice their own life to liberate their motherland". Abaz Fejzo said that Partisans will stop the war in Kelmend if they surrender. Prek Cali agreed to surrender,and they left the cave without resistance. Anyway Abaz Fejzo wrote in his book the opposite of the event,he said that they resist, and he calls Prek Cali a cooperator of chetniks and a criminal. All these accuses are false,but the witness denied these informations which were written by Abaz Fejzo.[12] When they arrested Prek Cali, Mehmet Shehu said to him :"You would be written in gold,but you decide to be against us", Prek Cali replied : "The blame falls on you because you choose to ally with our sworn enemy,Serbia and Montenegro",all my life i fought against Serbians and Montenegrin which wanted to take our fatherlands" -said Preka.[13] The second propaganda is written by Sejdin Avdija,commander of partisans.[14]

Based on instructions of Draža Mihailović, Chetnik officer Rudolf Perhinek established the communication with leader of Albanian Catholics of northern Albania.[15] According to Perhinek, Prek Cali was politically opposed to the Muslims from Kosovo and he openly admitted that he used Cali to inspire conflicts between Catholics and Muslims in northern Albania.[16] Prek Cali invited Chetnik officer Marko Vučeljić to have a meeting in Vermosh.[17] Marko accepted Cali's invitation and sent his brother Tomo to meet with him above Vermosh.[17][18] Despite communist propaganda all facts prove that Prëk Cali had never friendly contacts with Serbian Chetniks or Fascist.[19]

Chetnik captain Marko Vučeljić established Chetnik military base in Vermosh.[20]

Prek Cali was blood brother of Chetnik commander Pavle Đurišić.[21][22]

Pavle Đurišić was transferred to Plav in 1939, after Italian occupation of Albania, and was given a task to establish and maintain intelligence network to be used in case of Axis attack on Yugoslavia. This network was not much helpful during Axis invasion of Yugoslavia but was successfully used for struggle against communists in Montenegro and Albania.[23] Pavle Đurišić successfully agreed with Prek Cali support and bases for Chetniks on the territory of northern Albania, Plav and Gusinje.[24] Draža Mihailović paid money to Prek Cali for his services and also delivered him some arms.[25] In April 1944 Chetnik commanders reported to Mihailović that Prek Cali distinguished himself by supporting Chetniks, not only through providing Chetniks with accommodation in Vermosh but also trough participation with a number of his men on Chetnik side in the campaign Chetniks undertook towards Andrijevica, sometimes with Vulnetari from Plav and Gusinje.[26]

At the end of 1944 Prek Cali was a member of delegation sent by Đurišić to agree with Albanian government the safe retreat of Chetniks to Greece through Albania.[20] According to one Chetniks' account, at the meeting with members of the Albanian government, Albanian prince appointed Cali as member of Albanian delegation responsible to define technical details of the agreement after Đurišić first informs Mihailović about it. Chetniks laughed at this and stated that prince took away Prek Cali from Chetnik delegation, which is a guarantee that everything will be arranged properly.[27]

Mehdi Frashëri, Albanian politician who was Prime Minister of Albania's Quisling government under Nazi Germany, believed that after Cali's death, Albanian and Yugoslavian communists disseminated stories about Prëk Cali being a fascist, enemy of Albania, and secret supporter of Chetniks. Frashëri believed such accounts were untrue because Prëk Cali and his whole family fought together with Kelemendi tribe against 800 Serbian partisans, and in August 1912 protected the northern borders of Albania.[28] Luigj Martini also believes that cooperation with Chetniks is a propaganda[19] thrilled by Albanian-Yugoslavian communist alliance.[29]

Prek Cali historically memory did not entered for any merit to the high post but by being active in the flow of events of a very delicate period of years as it was the creation of the Albanian state, to come to the determination of borders state administrators (Which he protected), and it was unfairly denied memory in 1944 when the communist regime of prejudice in advance . So it usually happens when the winners write the history . During my research it happened to hear more about the figure and authority findings of Prek Cali . I found sources for his own good personality, and malicious sources written by malicious authors. Undoubtedly, some of these estimates are true and not and a lot of it are not true. Throughout the dictatorship regime,it was carefully covered the truth of personality and especially the events of the war that brought many victims in Kelmend .During dictatorship regime the historically events were misinterpreted in the extreme that you were deliberately to destroy Prek Cali's heroic image. Many author wrote about Prek Cali during the dictatorship . They have stereotyped as typical Bayraktar who was evil. With regret the Malësia e Madhe rhapsody calls blind all those who write what were dictated and not the truth, making spokesman of falsified History. You can say whatever you want about Prek Cali,but you cannot never describe him as a bayraktar,exploiter or traitor(chetnik cooperator). Primarily the portrait he presents spiritual, physical, brave, intelligent and organizer of the "Malësia e Madhe" and "Kelmend". He gave his contribution to Albania according to the circumstances as his judge, regardless of the little mistakes he remains in a unique place on the altar of the history of Albanian Nationalis,which always will be remembered as notable personality of Albania." [30] Also Daniel Gazulli considered Prek Cali as a legendary hero,he was executed together with Albanian poet and Catholic priest Ndre Zadeja [31] Also communist's claimed that he was against National Liberal Partisans in 1924,which Prëk Cali,and the witness denied![32]

Death and aftermath

By the end of the Second World War, the main military and political force of the country (the communist partisans) concentrated to the north of Albania to destroy the anti-communist forces and to eliminate their rivals. They met an open resistance in Nikaj-Mërtur (adjacent region in Tropojë District), Dukagjin and Kelmend, which chieftains were openly anti-Communists. In January 15, 1945, a battle between partisans of the first Brigade (supported later by 23rd and 24th Brigade plus Yugoslav partisan forces) and anti-communist forces was fought at Tamara Bridge. Partisan forces lost 52 partisans; conse­quently, their communist terror was unmatched. About 150 Kelmendi people were kil­led, burnt alive, had their eyeballs out, were buried in holes or cruelly tortured. Their leader Prek Cali was surrounded in a cave in Vukël for a week; after that he surrendered. He was executed by communists on Palm Sunday feast.[7]

After fall of communism in Albania, Prëk Cali was decorated and honored with the Medal "Martyr of Democracy" in 1993 by President of Albania Sali Berisha. Seven years later, in 2010, actual President of Albania Bujar Nishani honored him with Order "Honor of Nation".[33] In 2000 the monument of Prek Cali was set put in Shkodër.[34]

In literature and arts

Mihailo Lalić mentioned Cali in his novel "Pramen Tame"[35] and short story "Posljednje brdo".[36]

References

  1. ↑ Luigj Martini (2005). Prek Cali, Kelmendi dhe kelmendasit (in Albanian). Camaj-Pipaj. p. 66. ISBN 9789994334070. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Zef Pllumi (2008). Live to Tell: A True Story of Religious Persecution in Communist Albania. 1, 1944-1951. IUniverse, Inc. p. 12. ISBN 978-0595452989. "..and who had led Kelmendi people against the Montenegrins...
    He also led them in opposing King Zog, insisting that Kelmendi remain Kelmendi, without having to submit to anybody"     
  3. ↑ Klajd Kapinova (8 July 2005), Historitë e pavdekshme të Bacës së Kelmendit Prekë Pjetër Cali (1872 - 1945) (in Albanian), Trepca.net, retrieved 2014-01-23, "...Martiri i Demokracisë: Prek Pjetri (Cali) Hasanaj...[Martyr of Democracy - Prek Pjeter (Cali) Hasanaj]" 
  4. ↑ Prekë Cali, Piramida e kufijve të Shqipërisë, Gjekë Gjonaj
  5. ↑ Neuwirth, Hubert (2008). Widerstand und Kollaboration in Albanien 1939-1944. Harrassowitz Verlag. p. 216. ISBN 978-3-447-05783-7. "... Prenk Cali, dem Bajraktar von Vermosh...(Prenk Cali, the Bayraktar of Vermosh)" 
  6. ↑ Markus W. E. Peters (October 31, 2003), Geschichte der Katholischen Kirche in Albanien 1919-1993, Harrassowitz Verlag, p. 144, ISBN 978-3447047845, "Und am 25 März, so der Päpstliche Gesandte, werden auf dem katholischen Friedhof der katholische Menschenrechtler Prek Cali und der Pfarrer Dom Ndre Zadeja zusammen mit drei muslimischen Intellektuellen der Stadt erschossen.(According to the envoys of the Pope, on March 25th the catholic human rights activist Prek Cali and the priest Dom Ndre Zadeja were shot on the catholic graveyard together with 3 of the town's Muslim intellectuals)" 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ndue Bacaj (Gazeta "Malësia") (March 2001), Prek Cali thërret: Rrnoftë Shqipnia, poshtë komunizmi (in Albanian), Shkoder.net, retrieved 2013-12-25, "...Megjithatë luftimet sollën viktima të konsiderueshme, rreth 52 partizanë dhanë jetën, që edhe sot nuk dihet pse, pasi Kelmendi ishte i çliruar [Anyway, the skirmish caused considerable victims, circa 52 partisans gave theit life, even today no one knows why becase Kelmend was already liberated]
    Pas një jave rezistencë, në shpellën, që sot quhet e Prek Calit në Vukël, duke llogaritur edhe premtimet e tradhëtinë e komunistëve, Preka u dorëzua [After one week of resistance at the cave that today is name after him, considering even the promises and treason of the communists, Prek Cali surrendered]
    ...Në shkurt e mars të vitit 1945, Kelmendi numëronte 150 burra të pushkatuar...[During February and March 1945 Kelmend region counter 150 men as executed]
    ...fjalët e fundit para pushkatimit të Prekës, që ndonëse 75 vjeç, komunistët ia prenë jetën...[The last words of Prek before being executed, which life the communist took even though he was 75 years old]"     
  8. ↑ Borozan, Đorđe (1995). Velika Albanija: poreklo - ideje - praksa. Vojnoizdavački insitut Vojske. p. 503. 
  9. ↑ Zbornik dokumenata i podataka o narodnooslobodilačkom ratu naroda Jugoslavija. Belgrade, Serbia: Vojnoistorijski institut. p. 203. "...са Пренк Цалем налази се око Врмоше око 1.200 бораца" 
  10. ↑ Kostić, Dušan (1954). Krajevi i ljudi. Narodna knjiga. p. 27. 
  11. ↑ Dr.Luigj Martini, "Prek Calii dhe Kelmendasit" page 142-147
  12. ↑ Dr.Luigj Martini,"Prek Cali dhe Kelmendasit" Page 288
  13. ↑ Dr.Luigj Martini,"Prek Cali dhe Kelmendasit" Page 289
  14. ↑ Dr.Luigj Martini,"Prek Cali dhe Kelmendasit" Page 287
  15. ↑ Marović, Miodrag (1 January 1995). Balkanski Džoker: Albanija i Albanci : istorijska hronika nastajanja i razvoja albanskog pitanja. Kulturni centar. p. 339. 
  16. ↑ Marović, Miodrag (1 January 1995). Balkanski Džoker: Albanija i Albanci : istorijska hronika nastajanja i razvoja albanskog pitanja. Kulturni centar. p. 339. "... otvoreno stupio u političku borbu protiv muslimana Kosovara....Perhinek ne skriva da Prenka koristi u rasplamsavanju sukoba između katolika i muslimana u sjevernoj Albaniji..." 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Narod andrijevičkog sreza 1978, p. 357.
  18. ↑ Lekić, Radovan (1961). Andrijevički srez, 1941-1944: prilog istoriji NOB Crne Gore. Obod. p. 335. "... капе- тана Марка Вучељића на нени пријател>ски разговор. Марко није отишао, већ је послао свога брата резервног потпоручника Вучељића Тома, који се састао са Пренком изнад села Врмоше. Разговор између Пренк Цаља" 
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Dr.Luigj Martini, "Prek Cali dhe Kelmendasit" Page 290
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Redžić, Vučeta (2002). Građanski rat u Crnoj Gori: Dešavanja od sredine 1942. godine do sredine 1945. godine. Stupovi. p. 313. "Тих дана капетан Марко Вучељић је формирао четничку базу у Врмоши (Албанија) са ослоном на Куче. Тада се у долини реке Црње (подно Комова) окупила јача четничка група. Водио ју је Милан Мартиновић." 
  21. ↑ Ашанин, Чедомир И (2006). На крсту српства. Студио "Огњен". p. 95. "Дошао је н>ихов вој- вода Принц Цал>е, то је био побратим Павла Ъуришића" 
  22. ↑ Jokić, Branko. "Fragment from manuscript "(Un)recognized patriot"". Selo-velika. Retrieved 17 January 2014. "Чак је смијенила злогласног Пренк Цаљу, касније и побратима војвјводе Павла Ђуришића, са којим се, према партизанским документма, током рата више пута састајао..." 
  23. ↑ Pajović 1987, p. 12.
  24. ↑ Bojović, Jovan R.; Titogradu, Istorijski institut SR Crne Gore u (1985). Prelomni događaji narodnooslobodilaćkog rata u Crnoj Gori 1943. godine: zbornik radova sa naućnog skupa održanog 19. i 20. XII 1983. Istorijski institut SRCG. p. 224. "Једини стварни успјех четника Павла Ђуришића да на просторима Плава, Гусиња и сјеверне Албаније створе своја упоришта и обезбиједе сарадњу у борби против народноослободилачког покрета остварен је у договорима са барјактаром племена Клименти Пренк Цаљем, који је био у директној служби италијанског окупатора, са чином фашистичког мајора." 
  25. ↑ Milovanović & Kljaković 1985, p. 25Mihailović je usluge Prenka Galje novčano nagrađivao, a doturao mu je i nešto oružja.
  26. ↑ Đaković, Spasoje (1986). Sukobi na Kosovu. Narodna knjiga. pp. 142, 144. "Држиш ли везу са Пренк Цалом (барјактар из Северне Албаније са седиштем у Врмоши и често је са вулнетарима са територије Плава и Гусиња нападао на партизане Црне Горе - Андријевицу и Беране...Војвода Пренк Цале је редак пример, који не само да помаже наш покрет пријатељским примањем нашег људства, него је са извесним бро- јем својих војника учествовао у нашој борби ка Андријевици." 
  27. ↑ Glasnik Srpskog istorijsko-kulturnog društva "Njegoš".. Njegoš. 1959. p. 57. "Кад смо чули име Пренк Цаље, ми смо се са задовољством насмејали и Вуксановић је одмах до- дао: "Ви нам га узесте, то нам је најбоља гаранција, да ће све поћи добрим путем"." 
  28. ↑ Mehdi Frasheri, Kujtime – vitet 1913-1933, p. 185
  29. ↑ Luigj Martini (2005). Prek Cali, Kelmendi dhe kelmendasit (in Albanian). Camaj-Pipaj. p. 68. ISBN 9789994334070. 
  30. ↑ Dr.Luigj Martini "Prek Cali,Kelmendi dhe kelmendasit" page 273-291
  31. ↑ http://albanovaonline.unishk-history.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=863&Itemid=58
  32. ↑ Dr.Luigj Marini "Prek Cali dhe Kelmendasit" Page 293
  33. ↑ Frank Shkreli, Kelmendi, Nderi i Kombit [Kelmendi, Honor of the Nation] (in Albanian), Kosova.com, retrieved 2014-01-23, "Presidenti Nishani ia dorëzoi Këlmendit – fisit të luftëtarit legjendar Prek Cali - dekoratën Nderi i Kombit" gjatë aktivitetit artistik dhe kulturor (President Nishani handed over the decoration Honor of the Nation to the Kelemendi - tribe of legendary fighter Prek Cali)" 
  34. ↑ Gjovalin Bzheta (Gjovalin Bzheta). Monumenti i Prek Calit Shkoder 2000-Fjala e Gjovalin Bzheta [The monument of Prek Cali in Shkoder, 2000 - Gjovalin Bzheta's speech] (YouTube) (in Albanian). 
  35. ↑ Lalić, Mihailo (1979). Pramen tame: roman. Nolit. p. 44. "Lijevom stranom, Zeletinom, vodi Prenk Caljo klimenačke palikuće iz Vrmoše da se osvete što su dugih dvadeset godina bili prinuđeni da žive bez pljačke." 
  36. ↑ Lalić, Mihailo (1967). Posljednje brdo: Pripovetke. "Nolit,". p. 211. "... води Пренк Цал>о католике од Врмоше и Вусан>це да се нашьач^у и прославе; да иза н>их не заостане," 

Sources

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