MYSTERIES OF THE REGIME / The fate of the former Prime Minister’s remains is still shrouded in mystery “This is how they exhumed Mehmet Shehu” Gravedigger’s son: “They took my father away at night” INTERVIEW His son Bashkimi speaks “A lost village in Lezhë, my mother Fiqret Shehu’s grave” “Zylyftar Ramizi called for Mehmet Shehu’s body to be disposed of after the burial” SOKOL BALLA TIRANA—Fiqret Shehu’s grave has been found. It is her son Bashkimi who reveals the secret to the newspaper. Meanwhile, he and his family continue their efforts to find his father Mehmet Shehu’s remains. The chilling testimony that, after the death, Zylyftar Ramizi had called for the body to be disposed of does not deter Bashkimi from trying to find his parents, despite the absence of records of their final resting places, destroyed by the regime, which extended the class war even to the graves. What is the story, in brief, of your efforts to find the remains of your father Mehmet Shehu and your mother Fiqret Shehu? “I explained this more or less in my book ‘Autumn of Anxiety’. I had only recently been released from prison—it was the summer of 1991—when a friend sent word that a cousin of his who worked at the Sharrë cemetery knew where my father’s remains were. A cellmate had told me the same thing in Burrel prison. The information had come from the first relocation of the body from the grave of ... [text cut off at the lower edge] ... they too had given up on this tragic reenactment of the legend of Rozafa. But only two weeks after the burial, in a simple operation carried out by special forces accompanied by powerful searchlights, my father Mehmet Shehu’s body was taken out of the ground.” “Why should a person who was already dead have been transferred and ‘buried’ somewhere else from his final resting place?” “According to what Neshat Tozaj said, the fearsome Zylyftar Ramizi had asked him at the time to dispose of Mehmet Shehu’s body. But Tozaj refused, on the pretext that he was not a doctor.” “When he died, I was the one who buried him with my own hands. But later it was my father who took him out of there. They came and called him to the house. Now we don’t know where he is.” This is the latest testimony concerning the former Prime Minister’s grave. The speaker is an employee of Sharrë cemetery. “Only the driver who transported him that Monday night in 1983 could know the real location...” Bashkimi’s testimony claims that ... [part of the article cut off at the lower edge] My friend sends me Sharra cemetery knew where my father’s remains were. The same thing had also been told to me in Burrel prison by a friend of mine from the cell. The information concerned the first moving of the body from the grave where we, the family, had buried him—there were several such graves. For two weeks, my father Mehmet’s grave, although it was guarded closely at all times by soldiers, was subjected to disturbances every night. According to the cemetery worker, the grave was put in order every day, but was disturbed at night, until “According to Neshat Tozaj’s account, the then-terrifying Zyliftar Ramizi had asked him the grounds that he was not a doctor.” The disposal of Mehmet Shehu’s body has also been mentioned at other times in books and the press. Did you believe this version? At the time, I became convinced that it was true and stopped searching. Several years have passed since 1991. Has this view changed for you? “Now I have learned some new information, which …” They thought that it was the last love, a man who was already widowed? ... ... saying that, for the political prison, during the years of his sentence, it was impossible to obtain such information. But after March 1992, after I contacted the Ministry of Public Order, they provided me with permission to search the files. There they told me exactly where my mother was. Figret sheu had been buried 100 kilometers from the place where she died, in a remote village in Lezhë. So what are you waiting for... “I’m waiting to find my father and bury them both, finally together again, even after death...” Mehmet Shehu Bashkim Shehu (photo: H. Pustina) On page 3

In the photo: The car ... [text partially cut off] TIRANA — Abaz Ermenji arrives in Albania and thousands of people “take over” Rinas. A spectacular welcome for the historic leader of Balli Kombëtar took place yesterday at the Albanian airport. Hundreds of cars and buses had come from all over Albania to honor their solitary leader. “Welcome to the homeland, Mr. Abaz Ermenji.” These were the words on the many banners put up throughout the vast area. Red-and-black flags waved along the entire national highway, where the long “marathon” of cars continued. The festive atmosphere had begun two hours before the arrival of the plane carrying Ermenji. Those who had come from Skrapar, Vlora, Durrës, Elbasan, Laç, Përmet, Peshkopia, Korça, Gjirokastra, Saranda, Delvina, Shkodra and elsewhere could not hide their joy, their longing for home, and their curiosity to see the resurrected Chairman of Balli Kombëtar. The leaders of the Right-Wing League, Selfo, Godo, Kola and Durlari—the organizers of the enthusiastic reception—did not conceal their “anxiety” about how Ermenji’s first minutes with his supporters would go. “We’ve been waiting so long for our Abaz,” said an old driver from Vlora, visibly moved. A man who had come with his family from Dukat in Vlora to Rinas to meet, for the first time, the leader of his ideals was overcome with emotion. Who was Abaz Ermenji? For many years, he has continued to be regarded as the historic leader of Balli Kombëtar and one of the principal founders and organizers of the Mukje Conference. A sworn enemy and opponent of Ahmet Zogu—the nationalist organization he founded was the main opposition to the Legality Movement—but also an opponent of Enver Hoxha, he fled in 1944, after the Communist Party came to power. A prominent figure, educated at Europe’s best-known universities, he lived in Brussels. Ermenji had vowed that his return to Albania was conditional on the Communists’ departure from power. While his organization had reorganized the party he founded in Albania, Ermenji had remained the chairman of Balli Kombëtar and an exile. More than recounting his biography—and a meeting with members of Balli-Ermenji had been organized at the Academy of Arts in Tirana—he reminded them of the history and suffering of the Albanian people. “If you want to win, I advise you to unite,” said the historic leader of Balli Kombëtar.

A special report on Albanian migration, where ... A special report on Albanian migration, featuring a significant study on its motives, social-demographic structures, and socio-economic structures. It includes points from the legislation of Western countries dealing with cases of deportation of migrants from those countries, as well as a presentation of the “Schengen” agreement. On page 7

VLORË Police blitz uncovers five sacks of drugs On page 3

BERAT Alarm in two villages: “We have no water” On page 3

SHKODËR They wore masks: robbing merchants On page 3

Ziebendrit in Kombinat American diplomat at the SP rally Yesterday, the Political Secretary at the socialists’ meeting On page 3

Elbasan Education scandal: Thousands-of-dollars fraud uncovered State Audit report: 5 people under accusation On page 3

Bosnia: Pagia descends to the war front For the first time, a Muslim commander meets his Serbian counterpart On page 2

Motion of no confidence in the Government. The left defends the Prime Minister On page 2

In the photo: The cars that accompanied the Balli leader to Tirana yesterday, during Abaz Ermenji’s arrival. (Photo: T. Mustaqi)

Yesterday during the Olimpik-Elbasani match The champions secure first place in the standings with three points On page 5 Goal drought at the stadiums: only 11 On page 5 “Teuta” held in Lezhë. “Partizani” drops 1 point in Patos On page 5 Yesterday in Europe’s most exciting leagues On page 6