Discovery by Mark Palnikaj

Transcribed:

“To the High Leadership of the Society “National Martyrdom of Kosovo” in Shkodër The thoughts and intentions of the Serbs and Montenegrins regarding Plavë and Guci are known. Despite the solemn promises from the Great Powers as well as the assurances, the Serbs and Montenegrins are trying to harass us by putting us into our own prisons. They are committing evils and have criminal intentions to break our fortresses.

They have closed the road to Peja, have stopped communication, and do not allow anyone to leave. In order to carry this out they have found military patrols in the place called Bluke in Plavë. There they are robbing the people of their livestock, cattle and horses, and are acting forcibly against the people. The commander of Plavë sent 15 volunteers with their leaders from Gucia to Peja with military identity cards.

These were accompanied by a military patrol, and 4 men, after overcoming [obstacles] in Peja, were to load [supplies] because they had enough of their own leaders, so as not to return. These men bought and loaded grain for themselves. When they arrived in Bluke they were attacked by the Montenegrins.

They imprisoned the men and mistreated them politically, and finally robbed them of 4 loads of grain. These poor Albanians returned disappointed to their homes. Peja is the throat of our soul; so is it possible for us to defend it once it has been seized by them? We hope that the Great Powers will not allow us brothers to remain slaves and in chains.

The intentions of the Serbs and of the Montenegrins are clear: to chain us, to enslave us and then to wipe us out. We beg you, as soon as this letter reaches your hands, strive to open the road for us, to stop the criminal intentions of the Serbo-Montenegrins and their contempt
against our lands.

We hope you will take this request with the greatest urgency
so that you do not delay even one minute in your steps. We also emphasize this: the masters of the remaining [people] who were left in Peja have been killed by the Serbs and Montenegrins; they have been imprisoned and tortured in every possible way. We beg again that you protect us without delay and ensure that our places remain under
an international administration. — (?) February 1919. In the name of the inhabitants.

From the leaders of Plava  From the leaders of Gucia
Hasan aga Peri     Shaqir Halili
Shaban Beu      Ismail Hysenji
Shelko Ajdín aga    Pëdi Zuka”.

Souce

Central State Archive in Tirana. 1919. Kosovo Committe.