Revista Haemus nr. 30-32 - Libraria pentru toti

government in Tirana was in jeopardy. He stated that he would be serving
as commander of the "Comrade Mehmet Shehu" Operation and would
convey to it his positive recommendations for them and the Franciscan
Monastery.
Another, even more savage wave of terror was brought to Shkodra by
Mehmet Shehu himself. Early one morning, he appeared at the Franciscan
Monastery accompanied only by his partisan driver. Over his shoulder was
the rifle of Gjeçovi that they had stolen. Visiting the museum, he removed
the rifle from his shoulder and put it back where it had been originally.
When he got to the library, which at that time was the best one in Albania,
he expressed his admiration for the cultural activities of the Franciscans.
After a short visit to the classrooms of the Illyricum secondary school, he
met with the members of the Franciscan Order. During the talk, he took the
Catholic clergy to task, and in particular criticised the periodical Hylli i
Dritës for its oppositional stance on "Bolshevism," claiming that the latter
guaranteed "genuine brotherhood among all peoples under the flag with the
proletarian star." Then he turned to the young people and asked them:
"What do you young people think about these matters?"
I replied that real internationalism could not be brought about by oppressing
nationalism."
"Where are you from?" he asked me.
"From Shkreli."
"That's the most reactionary part of the country," he replied.
Everyone's attention was concentrated on Shkreli at that time. Llesh
Marashi, commander of the one-time gendarmerie in Shkodra, came from
that region and had organised regular units to fight against the communists.
One incident, much spoken of, took place in the village of Bajza near
Shkreli. The communists gave orders for the whole population to assembly
in the church and then began their terrorist action. But, at the same time,
Gjon Martin Lulati and Mirot Paloka from Bajza, who had organised many
men in underground units, surrounded the church, the population and the
partisan commander with his men. An order was given for all those who
were for the communists to step aside, including the partisans. The partisan
officers in the church prepared for the inevitable conflict. At this critical
moment, Father Ciril Cani intervened. He was one of the great patriotic
figures of the nation and was serving as parish priest in Bajza at the time.
He took the mighty cross from the main altar and placed himself between
the two sides, shouting loudly:
"God be with you! Stop, do not spill one another's blood. Oh, Gjon Martin
Lulati, I order you in the name of Christ to lift the siege! And you, partisans,
go away and leave the people here in peace and quiet. Consider well what I
have said for we are all Albanians and brothers!"
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