1) Bajram Curri in the Albanian National Movement
Originating from the well-known tribe of Krasniqe (Gjakova Highlands), born in Gjakova, Bajram Curri became an activist of the national movement of the Renaissance period, being one of the political and military leaders of the anti-Ottoman popular uprisings and the war for liberation and the national unity of the country, writes Veli Haklaj.
He was one of the organizers of the Albanian League of Peja (1899-1900) and its activist for the autonomy of Albania and for the protection of the territorial integrity of the country; main leaders in the anti-Ottoman uprisings in the period 1908-1912, which were finalized with the declaration of independence. After 1912, he fought in Kosovo for its protection from the Serbian invaders. It did not agree with the decisions of the London Conference of 1913, which separated Kosovo and other eastern and southern Albanian territories from the independent Albanian state. In 1918, he was elected a member of the "National Defense of Kosovo" Committee and was one of its main leaders.
In a portrayal of Bajram Curri, Father Zef Valentini would point out: "Bajram had his share, we remembered the name of his family, Curraj, and he said: I am Curr!" In the spiritual building of the Shqipnis, the foundations will be laid of curras, of characteristic virtues of the tribe; when these stay, even Albania has; when these are removed, Shqipnis is played "carân i votra."
2) Contributions to the consolidation of the Albanian State
also
"Albanians succeed on the battlefield, but lose in negotiations"
At the Lushnja congress, Bajram Curri was elected a member of the National Council, which appointed him minister without portfolio in Sulejman Delvina's government.
In the years 1920-1921, as the commander of the Operation, he collaborated with the Minister of the Interior, Ahmet Zogu, to realize the establishment of the authority of the Albanian state in the entire territory of Albania recognized by the London Conference in 1913. By decree no. 846, dated May 30, 1920, of the Council of Ministers, Bajram Curri was appointed commander of the Operation against the Movement of Central Albania; on June 30, 1921, Bajram Curri was appointed commander of the Operation against Marka Gjon's movement in Mirdita.
3) Armed action against the institutions of the Albanian State
Conflicting political developments, where there were also armed movements, positioned Ahmet Zogun and Bajram Currin in opposite camps. Oral tradition evidences the marriage of Ceno Beg Kryeziu with Ahmet Zogu's sister as the cause of their cooling; the Curri and Kryeziu families had inherited a history of conflicts between them.
From March 1922, Bajram Curri chose the path of armed action against Albanian state institutions. He was one of the main protagonists in the movement of 1923 and in the June Revolution of 1924. After the Triumph of Legality (December 24, 1924), he retired to Krasniqe, staying as a friend of Krasniqe's bajraktar, Sali Mani, from where he continued his efforts desperate to organize a new movement against the legitimate government in Tirana.
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2) The suicide of Bajram Curri
On January 2, 1925, Bajram Curri gathered the Krasniqe leadership and a day later Krasniqe's allegiance was declared to oppose any government teaching. On January 8, around dawn, Curri's forces from Krasniqja attack Gashi, and after a fight in which 10 were killed and one wounded by government forces and one killed and one wounded by Curri's supporters, Bajram Curri takes only Tropoja. the center of Gashi. On January 9, Curri's force left Tropoja for Bytyç, targeting Kruma, the center of the Kosovo Prefecture, where other forces had also left from Krasniqja, thus presenting a serious threat to the stability of the state.
In order to extinguish this new rebellion in the North of Albania, the President of the Republic Ahmet Zogu, in the capacity of Prime Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs, had appointed Operation Commander for the North Ceno Beg Kryeziu. Meanwhile, Ceno's brother, Hasan Kryeziu, served as the prefect of Kosovo (Kukës, Has, Tropojë).
In the conditions that the situation was getting worse by the hour, assessing the potential of Bajram Curri for armed movements, with the reserve telegram, no. 19, dated January 8, 1925, the Northern Operation Command is ordered to "use the strictest and definitive measures against Bajram Curri so that there is no need for more operations in those countries...". A day later, on January 9, another urgent telegram was sent to Ceno Beg by Prime Minister Ahmet Zogu with the order: "Curri should be captured alive and dead and his power should be completely destroyed and all measures should be taken to extinguish the revolution in Kosovo." and don't repeat it again."
Surrounded by gendarmerie forces and with no hope of escape, Bajram Curri killed himself on March 29, 1925, in a cave in Dragobia Gorge (Tropojë). On March 30, 1925, from the mountains of Dragobia, the commander of the gendarmerie company that carried out the operation, lieutenant Kadri Malësia (Mustafa), telegraphed Tirana: "We inform you that in a bloody war, the enemy of the Albanian state, Bajram Beg Curri, escaped Deku was killed and Shefqet escaped from Draga and was taken prisoner. I also got seventy hidden weapons. In this war, 5 men were killed and XNUMX wounded. Nalt i dekuni ex have with all the fugitives. The leader of the war against the army [was] Bajraktar Sali Mani. Long live the Albanian Republic!"
On March 31, the Ministry of the Interior telegraphed the prefectures, sub-prefectures, and central and local newspapers informing them of the event. At the end of the telegram it was stated: "... Since Bajram Curri has always played with the fate of the Highlands of Kosovo, his disappearance in this way will ensure the happiness and rest of the people of that region".
On April 1, 1925, instead the Minister of Internal Affairs, Kostaq Kotta, sent this telegram of thanks to the Prefecture of Kosovo, which was forwarded to the Press Office for publication: "This minister considers it a moral duty to thank you for the care and activity you showed in the killing of Bajram Curri, and I wish the head of that Prefecture, Mr. Hasan Kryeziu."
On April 1, 1925, in recognition of his contribution to the establishment of order in the North of Albania, the President of the Republic, Ahmet Zogu, appointed Ceno Beg Kryeziu Minister of Internal Affairs. For this, congratulatory telegrams came to him from all the prefectures and sub-prefectures, as well as from the people who showed him their warm congratulations and joy. Based on the content of these telegrams, the newspaper of the time "Shqipëri e Re" (Constanța, Romania) notes that "the people of Albania seem very satisfied with the appointment of Mr. Ceno Kryeziu as Minister of P. Interior".
3) The murder of Bajram Curri in the pages of the newspaper "Politika"
The murder of Bajram Curri echoed in non-Albanian newspapers, especially in neighboring countries. In number 6096, dated April 13, 1925, the Belgrade newspaper "Politika" publishes this description of the murder of Bajram Curri:
The celebration of Bajram Curri
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Damascus is the place of refuge and cradle for Kosovar nationalism
I end up as a troublemaker and a big criminal
Bajram Curri was considered the most honest
Brekofc, on April 12, 1925
The relative and guardian from whom I heard the death of Bajram Curri, from the only one of Bajram Curri, Mahmut bey Zajmi informs me with "belief":
According to his words, he says that "Bajram Currin was not killed, but he killed his wife".
- I washed it (in the coffin), Mahmut Beg told me, and there were men's clothes. He confessed everything to me, so I asked him.
He says: - Until the last ten minutes, I was in the middle of the war with Bajram Curri, thirty full years.
Mahmut bey Zajmi tells me:
- When Ahmet Beg arrived in Tirana, Bajram Curri neither wanted to run nor surrender. He knew Albania and the Albanians and believed that Ahmet Bey would not stay in power for long. He took with him people, many villages and many places. You hid in Çerem, Guci; once he also went to Montenegro in order to surrender to them, but he still repented. Then I return to Mal i Shala to the first of the Catholics, where I spent most of my time. Then he went to Dragobi, but a month ago he went to Krasniq. Then it was investigated and he and 28 others went to a cave not far from Kerstenič village (Krasniq). He spent 27 days in that cave. His people left him alone out of fear. With him, the last brother of Ferhat bey Draga, Shefqet bey Draga remains. They have been in a difficult situation from the great winter that all of them have lost a leg (frozen) from the great cold and the burning of their legs is so great that they have no money to cut their legs. When the gendarmerie had surrounded the cave where they were, Bajram Curri immediately put his rifle on them and fired 37 bullets with his Mauser, then he took out his revolver and held it to the head and killed him. After two hours, the gendarmerie entered the cave and found him dead. Shefqet Beg was kept alive and buried in Krumë [the center of Kosovo Prefecture]. The hall lasted two days. For us Albanians, the hall is a sign of misery. There I asked my relatives about everything because I was "in the blood". They told me that he started all the pranks before he killed the vedi and they said: "Go, I am releasing you from the faith, because it is a sin for young people like you to be killed. When you go, say that Bajram Curri mâ well wanted to die with honor rather than surrender. I wanted you to surrender to someone, I only surrendered you to Serbia, but I didn't want to sell you for money". We buried him in Kruma at the largest Mosque, with the greatest honors, where friends, authorities and the army were presented.
This is how Mahmut bey Zajmi finished his speech. After these questions that I asked and the answers that I received from my friend, I have heard these things about Bajram Currin before.
About two thousand people attended his funeral, unfortunately, they are known for many in these countries. These were the delegates of all provinces: Malet e Gashi, Krasniqe, Nikaj and Mertur. And the biggest surprise was that all the representatives of the authorities, both soldiers and civilians. As a sign of respect, a group of soldiers emptied their rifles when Bajram Currin was released.
Hasan bey Kryeziu, Prefect of Kruma, in his speech, among other things, said the following: "Today Baba i Shqipnis was killed. The friend is wondering why we are honoring him like this. Although his body is gone, his Spirit will forever remain among them. ... He has followed Albania like a mother to a small child and has fought for its growth ... " The representative of the Government finished his speech like this: "Cry, O people, for the Father of Albania".
It was noticeable that at his funeral there were many Catholics from Northern Albania. After the Prefect, Kadia i Kruma spoke and at the end an active captain of the Albanian Gendarmerie spoke. I characterize these words of the deceased Bajram Curri: "... Listen, Kosovars of Dukagjin! Today we are burying the freedom of our Kosovo."
In this way, that barbarian, Bajram Curri, was buried, who has always tried to collect his mistakes and rank them in the same way that he got them from others. Why in this way, since the Albanian Government has given him the responsibility and honor for his burial, we will find out in a little while.
BG
Translated, April 22, 1925
also
Restoration saves Bajram Curri's Mill from collapse
(signature illegible)
(Sources were removed by the editor)
