Written by Petrit Latifi
Sali Rama was born in Bogë, Rugova in 1892. Commander (major), military strategist and prominent leader of Rugova who fought for the defense of the Albanian border against the Montenegrin forces of Knjaz Nikola and Marko Milanjov (alb. Mark Milani
The period of the Albanian League of Prizren
The existence of Rugova was constantly great. Every historical period produced worthy people who dedicatedly stood at the head of the masses and led them in wars for the defense of territorial integrity and national dignity. The time of the Albanian League of Prizren produced its people in Rugova. Rexhë Avdia, Celë Shabani, Sali Jaha, Hysen e Kadri Bajri, Balë Alija and others, became legends of the resistance. In the great war of Nokšić, this generation of Rugova fought side by side with Jakup Feri, Ali Ibra, Mic Sokol, etc. where they achieved victories on the battlefield.
Period 1900-1946
Sali Rama of Bogë is one of the Rugova chieftains, as they are called in this area for the frontline fighters, who fought for the defense of the homeland all his life, until he was imprisoned.
Rugova produced many chieftains, kaçaks. The main leader of the Rugova chieftains was Sali Rama. He became a legend for the Rugova people, and a terror to his enemies. This first kaçak of Rugova became famous everywhere and was respected everywhere, among Albanians. He was a middle-aged man with a mustache, fearless although calm, wise, generous and with many virtues.
The results of all the battles and wars that took place in these parts, from the war of Berane, the war of Pazar, the war of Mokna, which are the biggest wars, are due to the war strategy of Sali Rama. Sali Rama participated in all the important events and distinguished himself as an important personality.
In 1911 he participated in the war of Berane, where the Rugova people had gone to help the population of that area. In 1912 he participated in the first battle of Mokna. In 1919 he stopped the disarmament of the Rugova population by the Serbian invaders who were doing it throughout Kosovo, under the right of the newly formed kingdom of the Serbian SSR. This year he led the resistance from the mouth of the First Tunnel, to prevent the Serbian militarists from reaching Rugova. This same year he crossed into Albania through Junik.
In 1920 he returned to Rugova, mobilized the masses and organized a popular rally, attended by representatives of the Dukagjin Plain and Plavë. In 1921, the Kosovo Liberation Movement was in full swing, with Sali Rama and Ker Sadrija reporting that they had more than 100 regular fighters available for this cause.
In 1923, Sali Rama was in Krumë, where he had written to see about the possibility of an agreement with the Albanian government for joint resistance. In order to avoid the liquidation of his entire family by Serbian-Montenegrin forces, he surrendered. In 1947, Sali Rama and Zhukë Haxhija were sentenced to death by shooting squad, as enemies of the former Yugoslavia, for whom this sentence was later commuted to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment (8 years in Niš and 8 years in Goliotok). The prosecutor was Ali Shukri.
In 1946, his son Azem was sentenced to 3 years in prison in Smederevo, Serbia. In November 1956, his sons Azem and Beka were severely mistreated and imprisoned, as well as his brother Avdiu, who died after being released from prison. On 26.01.1993, the Republic of Albania, the President of the Republic, gave Mr. Sali Rama the Order for Patriotic Activity of the 1st (first) class, “Leader, propagandist, and fighter for the defense of the lands from the invaders and re-invaders, being an example for the followers in the fight for independence and liberation.”
The “National Defense of Kosovo” Committee was founded in complete illegality on May 1, 1918 and on November 7, 1918 it was finally established in Shkodër by prominent patriotic figures such as: Bajram Curri, Hoxha Kadri Prishtina, Niman Ferizi, Hasan Prishtina, Bedri Pejani, Qamil Bala, Sali Rama. The primary goal of this national political organization was the defense of the independent Albanian state, for its democratization, for the liberation of Kosovo and other Albanian regions of Yugoslavia, which were unjustly separated in 1913 and for their unification with Albania.
It should be noted that there were two armed groups from the Peja region, one led by Keri i Sadri Bardhi and the other armed group that also had the role of conciliator for the fighters of the National Center in case of any disagreement, and which was led by Sali Rama.
Sali Rama was Rugova’s representative in the Second League of Prizren in September 1943. It should be noted that in support of Aqif Bluta’s demands, Rugova’s representative, the patriot Sali Rama, would strongly stand up, who would emphasize:
“I, too, as a Malesori, want to speak in this Assembly, to speak for the good of the Country, to speak, to plead, to beg our Government in Tirana to try to save those completely Albanian lands that are there from Mitrovica, in Pazar and in Senica. Those are our lands because the people there are Albanian, with hearts and customs, like us here. I know the same place, because I had to fight, together with my friends, against the Albanians, who wanted to go there to kill and slaughter, except that they are both Albanians with the same flaws as us. “
Confiscation of property
On 27.10.1946, the decision was made to confiscate the movable and immovable properties of the brothers Avdi and Sali Rama and this decision came into force on 20.11.1946, where all their property was confiscated as enemies of Yugoslavia/Serbia. In Boga, 8 hectares and 29 are confiscated. In the village of Trebovic in Peja, 4 hectares and 98 are confiscated. Also confiscated were 200 sheep, 32 cows, 32 goats and 2 horses.
Memorial of Sali Rama.
Reference
Balkan Academia 