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By:
Gjekë Gjonlekaj
- June 25, 2019 01:06
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(On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the fall)
The house where I live is no more than two minutes by car from the "St Mary's" cemetery in Yonkers, New York, where the three Bytyçi brothers rest in eternity. From the highway that passes by, he sees their graves every day. They are in the most beautiful and visible part of this city, opposite the main street.
In those steep meadows you can see three black marble stones where the portrait of the three brothers in the KLA uniform is engraved. They were killed in July 1999. Ylli was 25 years old, Agroni 23, and Mehmeti 21. These 3 graves of the 3 martyrs of Kosovo are today the most honored Albanian-American graves in the United States. They are special because in the entire history of America's wars, only once during the First World War were 3 brothers killed. And several books have been written about their heroism and tragedy, even movies have been made about them in Hollywood.
The Atlantic Battalion in cooperation with the Consulate of Kosovo every year at the beginning of March, pay the appropriate respects by placing wreaths on their graves. The family of the Bytyçi brothers is always present on this memorial day. The parade ground and military oath from where they went to war is close to that cemetery, no more than a 15 minute walk. I remember like today April 11, 1999 when Ylli, Agroni and Mehmeti in the uniform of the UÇK stood next to each other as mountain Albanians in the ranks of the Atlantic Battalion. The day of their departure for the Kosovo War had been the most historic and tragic date for Albanians in America. The founders of this Battalion had authorized me to give a speech in English about their participation in the Kosovo War. When I went up to the pulpit and saw all the boys prepared for war, I prayed to God for their safe return to America. It didn't happen like that because the 3 Bytyçi brothers were killed, 3 others were seriously injured, one without a leg and the other without an arm, and another almost lost one eye. The newspaper "The New York Times" dated April 12, 1999, in a very long article about the "Atlantic Battalion" going to war, also noted the case of the 3 brothers. Their comrades-in-arms show that they had been very brave on the Pashtrik Front.
After the war had ended, they had gone to their home in Prizren, where there were a mother, a brother and a sister. A Roma family had helped their family during the war. After the war, the Roma family had asked for their help to leave Prizren because they were afraid that some disaster might happen to them there. The Bytyçi brothers, in order to return that honor better, had undertaken their approach to the border of Serbia, but not knowing the terrain, they had mistakenly entered the Serbian territory and were immediately captured by the Serbian military forces. This barbaric army had tortured them for several days, and after those cruel tortures had shot them. Dead like that, hands tied with irons and eyes closed, they were sent to a military torture camp in Petrovo Sello near the Hungarian border, where they opened a mass grave and shot 74 other Albanians in that Serbian black hole. On July 2, 2001, Congressman Joseph Dio Guardi had organized the very successful promotion of the book "Waging Modern war" by General Wesley Clark. Atlantic Battalion soldier Uk Lushi had asked General Clarke if he had any information about the loss of the three Bytyçi brothers. The general was not aware of their tragedy, but had publicly stated that day that he would do everything possible to uncover the truth. A week later, it was announced in the world news that they had been found in a mass grave in Serbia. The discovery of the three Bytyçi brothers was the main international news that day. Some members of the Atlantic Battalion had gone together to Ahmet Bytyç's house to give them that black kumt. Those days, some well-known Albanian-American activists had gone to their house in Long Island to give interviews to American and European television channels, despite the fact that his sons were able to explain the tragedy of Agron, Ylli and Mehmet to American journalists. At that time a part of this family lived in Prizren.
The USA is asking Belgrade for justice for the Bytyçi brothers, today is the anniversary of their murder
In those days there was a lot of talk about their burial. Some had thought that it would be good for their burial to take place in Prizren, because they had gone to war for the freedom of Kosovo. Some of us thought that America is more suitable because they were born here. I personally had it stuck in my head that they should be buried in New York, for the reason that they were citizens of this country and that Kosovo after the war had graves in every corner and that the respect for the Bytyçi brothers would probably be at a higher level here in America. On the other hand, we Albanian-Americans would have a part of the tragedy and heroism of Kosovo in America. We thought that their cemetery will be a point of unity for Albanians everywhere. One day in July I met their father Ahmet Bytyçin on Arthur Avenue. We stayed together for a couple of hours at the Two Star cafe. During that conversation, I asked Ahmet where he wanted to be buried? He said that New York was the most suitable place. I immediately informed Shefki Mexuanin, chairman of the "Friends of TMK" Association, about his attitude and desire. He seriously accepted Ahmet's opinion and mine, calling for cooperation with the "Atlantic Association" which at that time was led by Arbër Muriqi, a soldier of the Atlantic Battalion. They called a meeting attended by a large number of soldiers of this Battalion and some friends of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Ahmet Bytyçi also participated in that meeting. We all thought that the expenses for their reburial would be covered by the American government. The committee authorized me to speak with State Department officials.
The director of this Section said that they do not pay any dollars for their return to America, because they had volunteered for the freedom of their ancestors' land. Although they were natural born citizens of this country they had not gone to that war recruited by the United States and therefore America had no responsibility for their reburial in this country. You have to pay 15.000 dollars for the passage of their dead bodies from Petrovo Sello to Pristina. The check must be drawn from a bank in the name of the Department of State. On that occasion I begged him to give me an interview on the radio of the National Liberation Army in New York. She accepted my request and explained everything. After this decision, the two aforementioned associations collected the funds for the reburial in America. Most of the funds were given to the Atlantic Battalion by the Friends of TMK. Then some individuals also made notable contributions. It should be noted that a significant contribution was made by Florim Krasniqi. Uran Rexhepi and I did the fundraising campaign in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Even finding suitable graves was a problem. We searched in some parts of this city, we even searched for a place in the cemetery where Mithat Frashëri and many other Albanians were found. It was not a suitable place because they did not allow any carved stone to be placed on their grave. They only allowed on a small plate with name and surname and nothing more. Finally we went to the cemetery near the house where I live and found a great spot there. They were Christian tombs. I told Ahmet Bytyç about the religious character of these cemeteries. He said, this matter is fine, don't discuss it. Preparations for the ceremonies in Kosovo were made by Shefki Mexhuani and Arbër Muriqi in cooperation with General Agim Çeku in Pristina. A week before departure I had talked with Ambassador William Walker about his participation in the ceremonies in Pristina. He had accepted our request. Our group consisted of 18 people, most of whom were soldiers of the Atlantic Battalion. On February 27, 2002, we arrived in Pristina. There we were received with honors by American and Albanian officials. The next day, the funeral ceremonies took place, starting from the square in front of the Theater of Pristina, because their coffins were placed there. At the head of our queue were William Walker and Ahmet Bytyçi. After the tributes, the three coffins placed in 3 vehicles passed through Mother Teresa Boulevard and were placed in the Gymnasium. This hall was full, and high Albanian and American dignitaries were sitting in the first rows. Senior military personnel from Bondsteel were also present. There were also American diplomats from Pristina and Skopje. The ceremony began with the singing of the Albanian and American national anthems. Fatmir Limaj, William Walker, Admiral Skënder Doçi, General Butka, Hysni Syla, Arbër Muriqi spoke there, and I spoke last. Others may have spoken but I don't remember their names. My words: "TODAY WE CAME FOR TRAGEDY, TOMORROW WE WILL COME FOR INDEPENDENCE AND THE DAY AFTERNOON FOR ALL ALBANIAN NATIONAL UNITY". We got a lot of applause and for these words, everyone present stood up. Those days we visited the American embassy. Our group was led by William Walker and welcomed by Ambassador John Menzis. We returned to the United States all together. At New York's Kennedy Airport, many Albanians had come out to welcome us, and there were even some American television channels. The next day, Sunday, the ceremony took place at the Faranga Bros. Funeral Home in the Bronx, New York. When I walked in with a wreath of flowers, I immediately noticed 3 parallel coffins. I felt very spiritually shaken and moved to tears at their tragedy. I have never seen so many coffins at a funeral. Parents, brothers, sisters and sisters-in-law stood so sad that they were frozen. The following day, Monday, March 2002, XNUMX, in Yonkers, New York, in the courtyard of the Royal Regency Hotel, from where they had left for the war, the appropriate honors were given. They had slept in this hotel two nights before going to war. The graves were a 15-minute walk from the courtyard of that hotel. Their dead bodies carried the soldiers of the Atlantic Battalion. Their three coffins were placed on those 3 graves and the gravediggers had mechanically prepared their fall slowly but all 3 fell into the graves at once. It was a very sad scene. We were all there. Family was closer than others. Everyone was looking at their mother Bahrien. When she saw them fall into the graves, she suddenly raised her hands and her words were heard: "O Great God…." But before they fell into their graves, American school musician Anton Vulaj played the trumpet that American soldiers play for their dead before burial. Many Albanians from America participated in this ceremony. Activist Luigj Gjokaj also participated with friends from Detroit, even he had campaigned to raise funds for these expenses. The Imam of Paterson in New Jersey Muhamet Osmani deserves to be remembered for his religious services. At this ceremony, he showed himself to be a true Albanian-American citizen.
Ahmet Bytyçi and his family had shown themselves to be very honest and noble throughout the action for the return of their dead sons to this country. This family sincerely cooperated with everyone. At no point did they show boast or pride in the heroism of their sons. They were always modest. The family of Adem Jashari in Kosovo and the family of Ahmet Bytyç in America are the most respected families in the Albanian world. They are modest, honest and kind. I personally have many painful memories of this glorious family. Ylli, Agroni and Mehemti were heroes and martyrs. Their brother Ilir Bytyçi, who has been working day and night for years to discover the truth about his brothers' tragedy, also deserves honors. Iliri with his excellent behavior is honoring his brothers, his family and the Albanian nation.
"NO DAY SHALL ERASE YOU FROM THE MEMORY OF TIME"
Kurti: The Bytyqi brothers, clear evidence of Serbia's crimes
"NO DAY WILL BE DELETED FROM OUR MEMORY"
ENEID-VIRGIL
