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By:
Shaban Maxharraj
- 11 January 2021 23:43
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The state officially protects it as part of the cultural heritage, but in practice it does so only on paper. The house in Gjakovë, which Ferdonije Qerkezi has turned into a museum, was flooded and some of the exhibits were damaged by water. "The institutions have visited me, but they have not offered me anything for house maintenance", said Qerkezi on Tuesday, while talking about the damages
The ground floor of Ferdonije Qerkezi's house in Gjakova is a mess. The water has displaced the work tools of her late husband and sons. A part of the house that practically serves as a museum has been flooded. On Tuesday morning, the water level reached almost one meter. He also moved heavy equipment such as the refrigerator, damaging the exhibits that have been stored for almost 21 years. It is about sewage that has exploded after the recent rains.
Another problem turns out to be the contamination that has included the other two floors of the house-museum, located on "Martirët Qerkezi" street.
Ferdonije Qerkezi keeps the belongings of her four sons and husband who were kidnapped by Serbian forces in March 1999.
On the ground floor, she had arranged the working tools of the family members. In the 90s, they had opened a shop in Gjakova where they dealt with meat processing. It also served as a kind of fast food space. The equipment covered by the water still remained in the same condition. In this space there were also children's shoes and other things.
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"Other times, up to 15 centimeters of water entered. But this time up to 85 centimeters, which did not happen", said Ferdonije Qerkezi, who turned the house into a museum.
She has asked for help to repair the damage caused by the water.
"Now we have to slowly clean it. The institutions have visited me, but they have not offered me anything for house maintenance", said Qerkezi. Acting Minister of Culture, Vlora Dumoshi, has said that she will see what they can do.
"We will see the possibility of how to act", she said on Tuesday.
In the space covered by the water, there are dozens of machines for processing meat, other work tools, such as knives and various tools. Qerkezi has preserved everything she met with her sons and husband. On the ground floor there are also shoes and other clothes.
Accompanied by the then Prime Minister of Kosovo, Agim Çeku, on April 27, 2007, the former Minister of Culture, Astrit Haraqija, unveiled the commemorative plaque that reads: "From this house, local Serbian police forces took and disappeared these martyrs of the nation on March 27, 1999," to continue with the 11 names of those who were killed. "The plaque was erected by the MKRS", is written at the bottom of the black marble.
Since then, the Ministry of Culture has not taken care of this house. The state officially protects it as part of cultural heritage as it is on the List of cultural heritage for temporary protection. It is marked as "Historical Museum of the year '99".
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When the newspaper reported on this house in January 2014, Nysrete Kumnova, head of the association "Thirrjet e ninave", said that not a single cent was allocated for maintenance.
"There were promises, but no realizations", said Nysrete Kumnova. It was promised that they would engage the maintenance manager. Qerkezi possesses all the documents.
"They are all written on paper, but they have not been implemented in practice. I myself hire a worker who helps me", she said.
During the years 2018 and 2019, the Municipality intervened in the house by renovating the roof and extending the central heating.
Apart from the ground floor, the other two floors of the house are filled with photographs and personal belongings of the family members who were abducted by the Serbian forces.
On the night of March 27, 1999, Halim Qerkezi, 53 years old, his sons, Artani 25 years old, Armendi 24 years old, Ardiani 19 years old and Edmondi 14 years old, were taken out of the Qerkezi family's house. Together with them, the guests Vegim Qerkezi, 19 years old, Shpejtim Ymeraga, 35 years old, Skënder Dylhasi, 59 years old, Myrteza Dylhasi, 26 years old, Fatos Jetishi, 21 years old, and Shpend Jetishi, 20 years old, were forcibly taken out of the house. After being taken by the Serbian police, they never came back alive, and some of them don't even know their graves.
Ferdonije Qerkezi, who lost her husband and four sons that night, has been waiting for visitors for 20 years and unfolds the story of the terrible night. The memories are the photographs of the murdered people and their belongings in the house that she also calls a museum. Ferdonije Qerkezi himself lives on the second floor. The living room space is filled with photos of his sons. During the summer months, it hosts hundreds of visitors.
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"There are also visitors who ask me why I made it a museum. I tell you to show what the Serbs have done in Kosovo. Because the Serbs are unfaithful," she said. On the third floor are the boys' rooms. In addition to the photographs, Qerkezi has laid out all the brides' dowry and also her sons' clothes. He maintains them fanatically.
"I have not removed anything. I have saved them all. It is necessary to know what the Serbs have done", she says. He has many memories. There is an explanation for each exhibit. The only thing I don't know is what fault her husband and sons have committed to be kidnapped by the Serbian police and never come back alive.
