Written by Luan Tetaj, translated by Petrit Latifi.

Abstract:
Montenegro committed very serious crimes in the Baran Valley in 1913. The Montenegrin army and gendarmerie, in coordination with the Serbian Orthodox Church, made very serious plans to expel Albanians from their lands. Before the Montenegrins began the process of converting the Albanian population to the Orthodox religion, they first carried out the process of disarming the population to ensure that the conversion process would be successful. Through threats of weapons, the Montenegrin army, led by Savë Lazarević, took the Albanian population out onto the streets, directing them to convert to the Orthodox religion in the Church of Gorozhdec and the Patriarchate of Peja. Families who opposed the Montenegrin order were shot in the most cruel way by the Montenegrin army and gendarmerie. To protect the Albanian population of the Barani Valley from converting to the Orthodox religion, Selim Gërvalla at the Stone Bridge in Peja had torn down the Montenegrin flag to oppose at all costs the plans of the Montenegrin invaders.

Keywords: Montenegro, Serbia, King Nikola, Savë Lazarević, Barani Valley, crimes, Selim Gërvalla.

The formation of the Balkan Alliance between Serbia, Montenegro, Bulgaria and Greece was met with great concern by the most prominent leaders of the Albanian uprisings, and the entire Albanian people, since the Albanians were not included in the Balkan alliance to fight against the Ottoman rulers. The Balkan monarchies had drawn up plans against the Albanian people.

Serbia and Montenegro, in full cooperation and support of the Serbian Orthodox Church under the banner of Serbian-Montenegrin nationalism, began the occupation of Albanian lands. As throughout its history, even today, the Serbian Orthodox Church has served and been part of Serbian-Montenegrin nationalist policies. Albanians became the target of fierce Serbian-Montenegrin nationalism, finding support from other Balkan countries.

The political, economic and social circumstances in Kosovo during 1912 and 1913 were very difficult as Serbian-Montenegrin forces began their military expedition against the Albanian people. The Montenegrin army, supported by its allies, began military attacks in the direction of Shkodra and in the direction of the sandzak of the Dukagjin Plain. The Montenegrin army forces under the command of Radomir Veshović, after occupying Bjellopoja and Berane on 8 and 9 November 1912, marched towards Plav and Guci.

The Montenegrin army encountered strong resistance from Albanian insurgents under the leadership of Bajram Curri, Hasan Ferri and Riza Bey Kryziu. The Albanian insurgents resisted the Montenegrin forces until 17 November. The resistance of the Albanian insurgents was impossible to continue, because the Montenegrin army was numerically larger and possessed the most modern weaponry of the time.

The Montenegrin army after the occupation of Plav and Guci was strongly prepared to occupy first Rugova and then Peja. The Montenegrins encountered strong resistance from the Albanian insurgents in Rugova, but it was impossible to stop the march of the Montenegrin forces. The Montenegrin army, after occupying Rugova, rushed towards Peja and easily occupied it.

The King of Montenegro was officially informed by the commander of the Montenegrin army in the field that: “After five days of bloody fighting in Qakorr, Rugova, Moka, Shtedim and Zhleb, our army took Peja and established order and peace”. Montenegro established the administration of the army and gendarmerie in the occupied Albanian territories to act against those who opposed the occupation of Montenegro.

Montenegrin expansionism and te Patriarchate of Peja

The Patriarchate of Peja, in close coordination, cooperated with the Orthodox Metropolis in Cetigne, and with the Montenegrin army operating in the field to advance their nationalist projects. Montenegro had drawn up a plan for the disarmament and forced conversion of Albanians to the Orthodox religion in the Province of Rugova, Peja, Baran Valley, Deçan and Gjakova.

One of the reasons that prompted Montenegro to take extreme measures to convert the Albanian population in the Baran Valley and beyond was to convince Western countries that the population of the territories in question is of Slavic origin. According to Montenegrin claims, the Albanian people, under the influence and constant pressure from the Ottoman Empire, were forced to embrace the Islamic religion and then become Albanian.

The Montenegrin authorities were convinced that the Albanians would oppose conversion to the Orthodox religion at all costs and then through genocidal forms they aimed to realize their plans at the expense of the Albanians. This was the best method that through repression, torture, violence, etc., the Albanian population of Kosovo would be forced to migrate to Turkey and Albania, and as a result of this policy, the number of inhabitants in Kosovo would decrease and then Serbo-Montenegrin colonizers would be settled.

Closing of Albanian schools

When it comes to the education of the population Albanians in the countries occupied by Montenegro, the latter acted even more violently than the Ottoman authorities in allowing Albanian schools in the native language. Montenegro closed schools in the cities of Peja, Gjakova and Zllakuqan. After the Albanian schools were closed by the Montenegrin authorities, they were replaced with Serbian schools. Albanians not only opposed the closure of Albanian schools, but also boycotted teaching in Serbian schools, because they feared that they might be denationalized. During this time, Austria-Hungary supported and materially supported Albanian schools in Peja, but it had no power to prevent their closure by the Montenegrin invaders.

During 1912-1913, the Serbo-Montenegrin authorities insisted that Albanian children continue their education in the Serbian language. “The opening of our schools is very necessary because here the new generation would learn the Serbian language and in that way very soon, in addition to other measures, the Albanian (Arnaut) masses would create a Serbian feeling and would feel like Serbs”.

Also, the curriculum of Albanian students had to be changed so that it would not be the same as that of Serbo-Montenegrin students. “But, it should be reduced only to the Serbian language, Serbian history and Serbian music (song)”. Montenegrin authorities had drawn up plans for the assimilation and denationalization of Albanians, and one of the best and most efficient methods to achieve their goal was to close schools in the Albanian language. They were also prevented from holding lessons in the Albanian language even in places of worship, so they took strict measures and controlled everything to prevent lessons in the Albanian language.

The King of Montenegro, Nikola, had issued an order for the conquered territories in the Dukagjini Plain that all the inhabitants of the villages without exception had to convert to the Orthodox religion, otherwise they would be severely punished. To implement the order of King Nikola, Savë Lazarević, popularly known as Savë Batara, who was the commander of the gendarmerie in the municipality of Peja, was appointed.

He called on the inhabitants of Peja, Lugu i Baranit and beyond that King Nikola’s order should be implemented so that everyone returns to the old religion, where according to him, Bulgaria had also followed this example among the countries it had conquered. You are one nation, therefore you should be of one religion. Sava told the inhabitants of this area that sooner or later you will undoubtedly change your religion.

Mass murder and collection of arms

The Montenegrin invaders knew that the Albanians were able to defend themselves from any plan that was contrary to their national interests. Therefore, the invaders, for their own purposes, began the action to collect weapons, which was also accompanied by mass murder. By the beginning of March 1913, 9,325 rifles were collected in the Peja district, and during this time 1,777 rifles were also collected in Gjakova.

The Montenegrin authorities used various methods to disarm the population in the Dukagjin Plain and especially in the Baran Valley, the plan of taking people hostage was implemented, while the Montenegrins considered it to be the most efficient way to disarm the population. Various categories of the elite were taken, such as bajraktars, chiefs, agallars, village elders, merchants, etc.

In the document issued by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Montenegro, number 553, February 5, 1913 Cetinje, it is stated that at the time when the weapons were collected the most and when it seemed that many regions would be subject to Montenegrin power in the full sense, His Majesty the King immediately issued an order to postpone the collection of weapons until January 25 of this year.

This was because time had to be given to the regions that had not yet surrendered their weapons. After this order was given by the king, rumors came that the worried Catholic Albanians were preparing to attack Gjakova. The Serbian authorities asked for two hills to be vacated to better defend themselves and at the same time protested why the weapons had not been collected when they had also collected them from the Serbs in order to place them under the supervision of anti-state elements as quickly as possible.

Although the deadline set by the king’s order had passed, the collection of weapons had again begun in all the occupied territories. Considering what it means to have disarmed areas that have never recognized anyone’s power, just as the gathering of weapons was very difficult when a Roman Catholic national Albania appeared right next to those elements, do not do favors to those who have already used weapons against its power once and who will not consider it as a grace but as a weakness of our state.

Reports from the Montenegrin army and authorities on the ground informed King Nikola that the population of Lugu i Barani was not accustomed to respecting and recognizing the occupation, and was not afraid of the occupations regardless of the punitive measures. To suppress this population that did not obey orders was not easy at all, but in the field the Montenegrin army used strict repressive measures that had to be carried out very carefully in a tactical manner.

According to the information we received from the field, a large number of residents from Lugu i Barani were hiding in the mountains for committing crimes, who during the spring managed to mobilize and create unrest. Having already known the character and disobedience of the Albanians in Lugu i Barani, the Montenegrin army was afraid of a possible uprising.

The Montenegrin army, in order to stop a possible revolt by the local population, began a very rigorous expedition to collect weapons in the villages of Lugu i Barani. Before the weapons collection operation began, the Montenegrin authorities, in order to facilitate the collection of weapons on the ground, began to use the authority of influential families in the Baran Valley.

The family of Selim Gërvalla of Kryshec

Undoubtedly, one of the most influential families in the Baran Valley and beyond was the family of Selim Gërvalla from the village of Kryshec. However, Selim Gërvalla had been unofficially informed through various channels about the plan of the Montenegrin authorities and in his family circle and beyond had categorically opposed such a move, regardless of the punitive measures that could be taken against his family and circle.

In order to protect the population of the Baran Valley, Selim Gërvalla, in addition to his fellow villagers in the village of Kryshec, also informed the residents of other villages, as much as possible, about the weapons collection operation by the Montenegrin authorities. During that time, the possibilities of information and the movement of people in the villages were very difficult after the entry of the Montenegrin army. Their every move could have been observed by the Montenegrin authorities and the consequences were great.

General Camović

The Montenegrin authorities were dissatisfied with the situation on the ground, and in order to speed up the process of collecting weapons and to put everything under control in the villages of Lugu i Barani, they sent a brigade under the command of General Camović. The forces of the Montenegrin army and police, organized and supplied with artillery, began the expedition to the villages of Lugu i Barani and beyond. Savë Lazarević was ordered to start the action to collect weapons in almost all the villages of the Dukagjini Plain.

All actions that were carried out to collect weapons were strongly supported on the ground by the Montenegrin army and gendarmerie. Sava had received orders from the highest Montenegrin authorities that those residents found with weapons should be shot, while those villages where weapons were not found should be taken out of their homes and baptized in the presence of the priest.

Those families who would oppose the Montenegrin projects for the assimilation and oppression of the Albanian residents of the Baran Valley would be shot in the presence of their family members. The Montenegrin authorities, after collecting weapons and committing crimes against the innocent Albanian population, began to take very rigorous measures to convert Catholic and Muslim Albanians to the Orthodox religion.

Executions of Albanian villagers

According to Montenegrin sources, in 14 villages of the Baran Valley considerable weapons were found hidden and buried in stables and other similar places. The order to shoot those families whose weapons were found was immediately carried out. Commander Savë Lazarević in the village of Dubovik found six (6) rifles and hidden ammunition among the residents.

As soon as they confiscated the weapons found, the residents were immediately shot on the spot. There were also cases when ten (10) men who had sworn according to Albanian tradition to surrender their weapons and save their families, these men were sent to the guard of the headquarters in Lugu i Barani and in their attempt to escape they were killed by the Montenegrin army. That is, the Montenegrin authorities, using all anti-human forms, aimed to implement their project for the assimilation and disappearance of the Albanian people in Lugu i Barani and the Dukagjini Plain.

Savë Lazarević, in close cooperation with Veliko Kapetani, who was in charge of work in Gorozhdec, had informed the latter that the villages of Lugu i Barani had to be submitted, otherwise it would be very difficult to implement their projects. Savë Lazarević, after receiving Veliko’s advice, in collaboration with him, drafted a plan in Gorozhdec to undertake the action to convert the population of Lugu i Barani.

Montenegrin atrocities

Sava began the expedition to convert the villages of Graboc, Lluzhan and Dobërdol, but encountered strong resistance from the inhabitants. The Montenegrin gendarmerie forces took revenge on the inhabitants of the villages in question who opposed their plan. In response, the Montenegrin gendarmerie had killed about ten (10) people. It was also a clear message to the inhabitants of other villages who dared to oppose their plan.

After the massacres in the villages in question, Sava Lazarević together with Veliko Kapetani and his associates under the escort of the Montenegrin gendarmerie went to the village of Kryshec to the family of Selim Gërvalla and ordered all the men of the village to gather and surrender their weapons. Sava’s going to the Gërvalla family was not accidental, because through the authority that the Gërvalla family enjoyed, he tried to achieve his goals and plans.

The village of Kryshec was among the largest villages in the Baran Valley, where submission and surrender of weapons according to the Montenegrin plans would have a negative psychological impact on the population of other villages in the Baran Valley.

The Montenegrin plans were very clear, because by collecting weapons they would ensure that they would not encounter armed resistance from the inhabitants of the village of Kryshec and other surrounding villages. Only in this way could the Montenegrin authorities, led by Sava, realize their plans for the conversion of the population in the villages of Lugut i Barani.

Sava’s order was final and had to be carried out to the end or everyone would be shot. Sava, under the threat of the Montenegrin gendarmerie, gathered all the men of the village of Kryshec in the Zeqir Kurtëve Tower. Sava made it clear to all the men of the village without exception that they should surrender their weapons, but, aware of the grave consequences that awaited them, Sava’s demands were subsequently rejected by the men of the village.

In response to the rejection of the demands, Sava ordered all the men who refused his request to be tied up. Selim Gërvalla arrived late at the Kurtëv tower to take charge of rescuing the men of the village from execution by the Montenegrin gendarmerie. The arrival of Selim Gërvalla gave hope to the men of the village and he asked Sava to release all the men, because they were innocent.

Sava asked Selim who you are that can order me to release them, Selimi Gërvalla replied with these words: “I am the brothers of these men that you have tied up, you should have released them because they are unarmed and it is unfair that they are cruelly tortured and kept tied up”. Sava knew very well that Selim Gërvalla enjoyed great support in his village of Kryshec and beyond, and he addressed Selim Gërvalla with these words: are you able to guarantee for these men of your village who are unarmed.

Selimi without hesitation took responsibility, assuring Sava that they had no weapons, and as a result, Sava ordered the gendarmerie to release all the men of the village. Sava was very clear and blunt with Selim Gërvalla, letting him know that he had taken on great responsibility and risk that if weapons were found in the village of Kryshec, the consequences, up to execution, would be borne by you and your family.

Selim Gërvalla was aware of his actions and was not at all afraid of Savë Lazarević’s words, even though he knew very well that his fellow villagers possessed weapons. Selim Gërvalla’s courage and authority greatly impressed Sava, intending to use Selim’s authority to more easily carry out the Montenegrin plans. But, on the other hand, Selim Gërvalla also had plans to use the Sava to save the men of the village from the Montenegrin massacres. Selim Gërvalla was aware that a similar situation could be prepared much better to save the villagers from the Montenegrin massacres.

Referring to Montenegrin documents, on the occasion of the disarmament of the population in the city of Peja and its surroundings, strict and violent measures were taken, all suspects were imprisoned and thanks to the use of inhuman torture, 50 rifles embedded in the ground were discovered, and for this reason the Montenegrins shot them (according to them, the perpetrators) and the highest structures of the Montenegrin state were regularly notified of this information through telegrams.

Through a statement, Montenegrin authorities announced that many weapons were found dumped in the streets and neighborhoods of the city, it is seen that a great fear continues to reign among the residents and as a result, all weapons are being thrown in the villages and on the streets, out of fear of the order given by Commander Savë Lazarević. It is known that in this matter, according to this order, all necessary measures will be taken, because this is the only way against those who are preparing an uprising.

So, the military court has also been engaged in combating this phenomenon, which has sentenced 8 people who were suspected of being involved in this affair to be shot. The minister has also been informed about this and it seems that for him too, this is the best way to restore order and peace. If these measures of coercion and torture continue, they will convert to the Orthodox religion, after many, many warnings, those who are found with weapons will face very serious consequences.

So, in every village, a patrol of soldiers will move and where they come across weapons, everyone will be shot. The Montenegrin authorities, led by Savë Lazarević, after completing the process of collecting weapons, and making sure that the inhabitants of the villages of Lugu i Barani no longer possess weapons, began a procession of converting the Albanian population to the Orthodox religion.

Religion is one of the most important elements that has a direct impact on the spiritual feelings of human society. The expedition of changing religion by force and shootings has continued in the part occupied by Montenegro. But the most pronounced conversions were in the Dukagjini Plain, especially in Lugu i Barani.

The Provincial Directorate of Peja, in a telegram sent to Minister Plamenac-Cetina, announced that the entire municipality would convert to the Orthodox religion. In the absence of clergy, I ask you to contact the clergy in the Berane district and order them to leave for Peja. In another telegram, he announces that the great mass of this district that will convert to the Orthodox religion, in addition to the lack of clergy, also lacks teachers who should explain to the people about the nationality and the new religion that they are embracing.

There is also a lack of money that is more than necessary for the development of propaganda. There is also a lack of Montenegrin caps that the crucified should have. It was requested that a number of teachers and priests, who could speak Albanian, be sent within the possibilities, a number of funds be made available, and that a large quantity of Montenegrin caps be sent from Podgorica, all these requests are more than necessary without which it is almost impossible to achieve the goals we have before us.

In April 1913, a part of the inhabitants of the villages of Lugut i Barani were sent to the Church of Peja, including children, to be baptized. Inside the Church courtyard, the order had come from the Montenegrin authorities that Albanian men should remove their caps and women should uncover their faces. The Albanians were concerned that the change of religion was being done against their will, but they were forced to do so by force.

A speech was given to the Albanians by Father Maksimi:

“Brothers and sisters who have gathered in this place with joy and heart, I say two words to you, since the Kosovo war we have been separated and today God willed that we unite again and return to the old religion as they were to our ancestors. Before the Kosovo war, you were all Christians, but with the Ottoman occupation, the Albanian people were forcibly converted to Islam, unfortunately embracing the Islamic religion and killing each other without knowing that you are brothers. I am very pleased to see you gathered in the courtyard of this church who have expressed the desire to be baptized and return to the religion of your ancestors. The headscarf will no longer exist in these places, but all united in one religion, you with us and we with you will make this country flourish. You will be educated and you will have a better life than you had before. I thank God for this good thing that He has given us and we wish all the best to Krajl Nikola.”

The provincial directorates and police bodies in their reports sent to the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Cetinje, stated that the abandonment of the Islamic religion and the embrace of the Orthodox religion was done willingly and without pressure expressed through written prayers. While, the documents show the opposite about the difficult situation of a people oppressed in the worst way.

After leaving the village of Kryshec, Savë Lazarević, accompanied by the Montenegrin gendarmerie, went to the village of Vranoc, which was received with great concern by the residents. Savë entered the tower of Ali Bajraktar and informed them that King Nikola had issued an order for the entire population of Lugu i Barani to change religion since as brothers we cannot live separately.

There were about 30 villages under the banner of Vranoc, but the banner gathered in Kryshec because it was closer to Peja and in case of need to prevent the danger that could be put to them. The Gërvalla family were odabash (wise and loyal man who stays close to the bannerman or standard-bearer) of the banner of Vranoc, a fact that guaranteed them the most privileged positions in the Barani Valley.

Forced conversions to Orthodoxy

Ali Bajraktari requested sufficient time to inform and talk to the inhabitants of the villages about the order that King Nicholas had issued. After consultations, the inhabitants of the villages of the Barani Valley opposed the king’s order to convert the Albanian population to the Orthodox religion. Savë Lazarević did not take the news well and ordered the Montenegrin gendarmerie to expel all the inhabitants of the villages of Lugu i Barani from their homes at gunpoint and march them straight to the church in Gorozhdec and Peja to convert.

After Savë left for the village of Vranoc, Selim Gërvalla, urgently needed to take protective measures with his fellow villagers, because he felt that very soon the Montenegrin gendarmerie would return to search every house in their village. Selimi, in conversation with his fellow villagers, asked them to collect all the weapons and hide them in the mosque of the village of Kryshec.

The idea was welcomed by all the residents without exception and that same night the weapons were sent and hidden in the village mosque. The reason why the weapons were hidden in the mosque was that the Montenegrin authorities would not think of such a thing, because the mosque is a place of prayer.

During the collection of weapons, a horse-drawn cart was filled to the brim. But, unfortunately, it did not take long for Savë Lazarević to be informed the next day that, on the recommendations of Selim Gërvalla, the men of Kryshec had collected the weapons and hidden them in the village mosque. The next day, Sava sent a courier to Selim’s house to notify him to urgently come to the infamous police station in the village of Qallapek.

Although the situation in the Gërvalla family was very serious, he did not give up in the face of the pressure coming from the Montenegrin authorities. Selim Gërvalla responded positively to the call of the Montenegrin authorities. Selimi greeted the family and hugged his two young sons, Rexhepi and Demushi, which left them upset and in pain. He was convinced that based on the political circumstances created on the ground, he would be shot by the Montenegrin gendarmerie as soon as he reached the police station in Qallapek.

On the way to the police station in the village of Qallapek, Selim Gërvalla thought about how to act to overcome this situation with as few consequences as possible. As soon as he entered the station, Sava addressed Selim with threatening language, saying that he had guaranteed that the residents of the village of Kryshec did not possess weapons, but the reality was completely different.

Selim had not been registered at the station to obey Sava’s orders, but to protect his family and fellow villagers. Selim, without being afraid at all, addressed Sava with the words, I take responsibility for all my actions that have occurred in my hometown. For a moment, Sava was stunned by Selim’s courage, he silently left the office to consult with his associates regarding Selim Gërvalla’s positions.

After returning to the office, Sava addressed Selim with the words: “You have been pardoned by King Nikola, for this pardon you will lead people with the Montenegrin flag in hand to the Church of Peja to change their religion.” Selimi Gërvalla had two options: either accept Sava’s proposal, or else he would be shot. Selimi accepted the proposal because he wanted to resist and fight together with the people of Lugu i Barani.

After Selimi accepted the proposal of the Montenegrin authorities, the latter took care to provide him with a uniform and a Montenegrin flag to lead the column of the population to go to the Church of Peja to convert to the Orthodox religion. The inhabitants were forcibly removed from their homes by threats of weapons, without sparing children, women and the elderly.

Albanians who refused to convert were killed:

The inhabitants who refused to join the column for the change of religion suffered even with their lives. In Upper Baran, within a day, the village mufti Hazir Alia and his son Haxhiu, Abdyl Rrustemi, Shyqer Hasani, Abdyl Hasani, Hazir Abdyli, Cubel Zeqiri, Niman Plava, Abaz Jaha, Ali Abazi, Shaban Ademi, Mic Sadiku, Sadri Hasani were shot, while in Kpuz: the brothers Ramë and Smajl Meta, Cen Salihu, Abdyl Salihu, Zenun Jusufi, Ymer Zenuni, Rexhep Qerimi and Elez Osmani. In Dobërdol, all the men were mistreated and beaten, while Miftar Elezi was massacred with bayonets.

In Peja, Sali Bajraktari from Vranoc, Arif Halili from Poçesta and Hamëz Kundra from Zllapek were killed. The situation of the inhabitants was extremely difficult in psychological terms, because it was followed by the Montenegrin army and police. In an organized manner, the Montenegrin authorities ordered the residents to march towards the Church of Gorozhdec and Peja.

The number of residents was large and the Church of Gorozhdec did not have the capacity to baptize everyone into the Orthodox faith. The Orthodox clergy recommended that the rest of the population, under very rigorous supervision by the Montenegrin gendarmerie, march towards the Patriarchate of Peja. Selim Gërvalla, on the way to Peja, had made his plans by consulting with the closest people he had in the column, saying: “Look at the possibility and talk to the people in the column if we can become about thirty (30) men to oppose the projects of the Montenegrins, because today I will give up my soul.”

Selim Gërvalla had informed his fellow villagers in the column that as long as I am alive, no one will change our religion. For a moment, Sava was stunned by Selim’s courage, and he silently left the office to consult with his associates regarding Selim Gërvalla’s positions. Sava, after returning to the office, addressed Selim with the words: “You have been pardoned by King Nikola, for this pardon you will lead the people with the Montenegrin flag in hand to the Church of Peja to change their religion”.

Selimi Gërvalla had two options: either accept Sava’s proposal, or otherwise he would be shot. Selim accepted the proposal because he wanted to resist and fight together with the people of Lugu i Barani. After Selim accepted the proposal of the Montenegrin authorities, the latter took care to provide him with a uniform and a Montenegrin flag to lead the column of the population to go to the Church of Peja to convert to the Orthodox religion.

Residents were forcibly removed from their homes at gunpoint, sparing children, women and the elderly. Residents who refused to join the column for conversion suffered even with their lives. In Baran i Epërm, within a day, the village mufti Hazir Alia and his son Haxhiu, Abdyl Rrustemi, Shyqer Hasani, Abdyl Hasani, Hazir Abdyli, Cubel Zeqiri, Niman Plava, Abaz Jaha, Ali Abazi, Shaban Ademi, Mic Sadiku, Sadri Hasani were shot, while in Kpuz: the brothers Ramë and Smajl Meta, Cen Salihu, Abdyl Salihu, Zenun Jusufi, Ymer Zenuni, Rexhep Qerimi and Elez Osmani. In Dobërdol, all the men were mistreated and beaten, while Miftar Elezi was massacred with bayonets. In Peja, Sali Bajraktari from Vranoc, Arif Halili from Poçesta and Hamëz Kundra from Zllapek were killed.

The psychological condition of the inhabitants was extremely difficult, because they were being followed by the Montenegrin army and police. In an organized manner, the Montenegrin authorities ordered the inhabitants to march towards the Church of Gorozhdec and Peja. The number of inhabitants was large and the Church of Gorozhdec did not have the capacity to baptize everyone into the Orthodox faith.

The Orthodox clergy recommended that the rest of the population, under very strict supervision by the Montenegrin gendarmerie, march towards the Patriarchate of Peja. Selim Gërvalla, on the way to Peja, had made his plans by consulting with the closest people he had in the column, saying: “look at the possibility and talk to the people in the column if we can become about thirty (30) men to oppose the Montenegrin projects, because today I will give up my soul.

Selim Gërvalla had informed his fellow villagers in the column that as long as I am alive, no one will change our religion and they will find out very soon who Selim Gërvalla is”. After consulting the men in the column, they informed Selim Gërvalla that everyone was able to sacrifice themselves to oppose the Montenegrin projects for changing religion at all costs.

On the way to the Church of Peja, the Albanian population was not beaten, but was threatened to be more obedient. As soon as the column reached the entrance to the city of Peja, at the Stone Bridge, a citizen known as Ristë Bojaxhija, from the threshold of his shop, provoked Selim Gërvalla by saying “for goodness sake, let the old religion be.” Selim Gërvalla had known Ristë for a long time and had even helped him materially on several occasions.

Selim Gërvalla broke the Montenegrin flag and threw the Montenegrin cap

Selim Gërvalla became extremely angry, driven by national feelings, and was waiting for the right moment to break the Montenegrin flag. Enraged, Selim took off his Montenegrin hat and threw it, broke the Montenegrin flagpole, tore it up and kicked it to the ground.4Then Selim Gërvalla addressed the column in high tones, saying: “point your fingers, calling for resistance.” The crowd immediately began to clash with the Montenegrin army and police.

After Selim’s action, the Montenegrin forces began to mistreat the Albanian population. The Montenegrin army divided the column of the population into two parts, on one side the men and on the other side the women and children. Part of the population, taking advantage of the chaos created, managed to flee the scene, escaping conversion to the Orthodox religion. The Montenegrin army and police arrested many men, including Selim, and sent them to the Peja prison.

Selim Gërvalla and others were tortured

There they were cruelly tortured to death, to prove whether the tortured prisoners were still alive, the Montenegrin army and police crushed their fingers with stones, those who had survived the torture were taken at night and sent to be shot at the Long Graves on the outskirts of Peja. Witnesses who had escaped have confessed that the Montenegrins had thought that Selim Gërvalla had died from the torture he had received.

After Selim regains consciousness and hears the screams of his friends, he calls out to his friends, “Stay, men,” and when they see that Selim is still alive, they decide to take him and send him to be shot. But, thanks to his vigilance, Selim manages to escape the shooting by hiding, and then leaves for Prizren to Ukë Peshku’s house.

The fighting lasted until the evening hours. Meanwhile, Agim Gërvalla, the brother of Gani, Haki and Besim, who was operating in Aarau, Switzerland, had made a great contribution to the arming of the villages in Lugun e Barani. Agim Gërvalla had been elected president of the humanitarian association “Krysheci” with headquarters in Aarau, Switzerland.

The association had a large number of members and thanks to their contribution they had managed to collect about 300 thousand Swiss francs for the purchase of weapons in Albania. Agim Gërvalla had taken over and had gone to Tropoja four times to coordinate the work on the purchase of weapons. The last time Agim Gërvalla met with Agim Ramadani and Rrustem Berisha in Tropoja, who had signed the documentation for the arming of the villages of Kryshec, Dubovikë, Prapaqan and Broliq.

During that time, the coordination for the purchase of weapons in Tropoja was very challenging for various reasons. But, thanks to vigilance and courage, Agim Gërvalla had managed to complete his mission to arm the villages in Lugun i Barani.

The brothers Islam, Agron, Bujar, Nuredin, and Haradin Gërvalla also joined the ranks of the Kosovo Liberation Army. Islam Gërvalla had gone to Albania to obtain weapons, where he also participated in the battles of Loxha and Junik. Bujar Gërvalla participated in the battle against the Serbian army for the defense of the “Gërvalla” neighborhood. While Agron Gërvalla and Nuredin Gërvalla on April 7, 1998, returned from Switzerland and joined the ranks of the KLA.

Nuredin initially fought in the Drenica Operational Zone where he participated in many battles, such as: the battle of Llapushnik, Likoc, Zatriq. Nuredin Gërvalla was then transferred to the Dukagjini Operational Zone. Nuredin participated in the battle of Gllogjan, Ratish, Jabllanica, etc. During the transportation of wounded KLA soldiers to Albania, Nuredin Gërvalla on May 24, 1999, in Bogiqe in the Albania-Kosovo-Montenegro border triangle, heroically fell on the battlefield.

Agron Gërvalla was a distinguished activist of the Kosovo People’s Movement (LPK), who made a valuable contribution to the national cause. Agron also made a great contribution as a member of the KLA logistics in Europe and even the USA. Haradin Gërvalla after the September 1998 offensive participated in the battles of Kralan, Prilep, Pozhar, etc.

The brothers Xhafer, Demush and Sefadin Gërvalla joined the ranks of the KLA. Xhafer and Demush participated in the battle against the Serbian army to protect the “Gërvalla” neighborhood. During the fighting in the line, in addition to the battle in the “Gërvalla” neighborhood, he also participated in the battle of Loxha and Sefadin Gërvalla in Junik. Demush Gërvalla was wounded in the KLA units. The crimes of the Montenegrin army and police in the Dukagjini plain and especially in the Baran Valley were very serious. The Montenegrin army used the most inhumane methods against innocent Albanians living in their ancestral lands. Albanians never submitted to Montenegrin rule, regardless of the constant persecution they were subjected to.

Reference

Luan TETAJ, “KRIMET E MALIT TË ZI NË LUGUN E BARANIT DHE THYERJA E FLAMURIT MALAZEZ NGA SELIM (AHMET) GËRVALLA NË VITIN 1913”. kud: 371.12(496.51) 323.282(496.51).