TIRANA, May 5 – The annual Martyrs’ Day commemoration on Saturday, was marked by clashes between anti-communists and a group of nostalgics holding pictures of Enver Hoxha, the country’s former communist dictator.
The group, mainly consisting of elderly communists, was visiting the Nation’s Fallen Cemetery in annual ritual made controversial by Hoxha’s pictures.
The anti-communists were mostly supporters of the main opposition Democratic Party. They were awaiting for DP leader Lulzim Basha and other officials to arrive when they saw the pictures. Screams and a physical attack on the people holding Hoxha’s portraits ensued. Police intervened to stop the brawl.
Hoxha’s Stalinist regime was one of Europe’s most brutal communist dictatorships, resulting in the murder and political detention of tens of thousands of innocent Albanian men, women and children.
“It’s like pouring salt into an open wound,” one of the anti-communists told local media. “The regime murdered my father and uncle simply because they wanted a free and democratic Albania.”
Communist dictatorship supporters, a tiny minority in Albania, have previously caused debate for showing up in public holding Hoxha portraits at public events; however, the violent clashes are an unprecedented event.
Asked concerning DP followers’ action after the commemoration, Basha did not condemn their actions, but said his party is set to bring the law prohibiting public exhibition of communist symbols to parliament.
Celebrated on May 5, Martyrs’ Day in Albania originates from May 5, 1942, when Qemal Stafa, whose activity became a symbol of the Anti-fascism National Liberation War, was killed by Italian Fascists forces.
