- Massacre of Levan
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Part of the 1997 rebellion in Albania Fighting groups Forum for Democracy · Committee of Public Salvation · Government of National Salvation · Operation Alba · Volunteer Forces Gang of Çole · Gang of Gaxhai · Gang of Altin Dardha · Gang of Pusi i Mezinit · Gang of Cërrik · Gang of Lushnje · Gang of Tepelena · Gang of Haklaj Family Massacres in 1997 Massacre of 28 February 1997 · Massacre of Qafë-Gjashta · Massacre of Levan · Massacre of Cërrik · Massacre of Ura Vajgurore Tragedies of 1997 Otranto Tragedy · Qafë Shtama Tragedy Treasury thefts Krraba Stealing · Nortgern State Stealing Rescue missions Operation Silver Wake · Operation Libelle Agreements 6 March 1997 · 9 March 1997 UN Resolutions Resolution 1101 · Resolution 1114 Important events Opening of the depots · Desertion of 4 March 1997 · Attack of 7-8 March 1997 on Gjirokastër · Visit of Romano Prodi · Albanian parliamentary election, 1997 · Albanian monarchy referendum, 1997 See also Pyramid schemes in Albania · Role of media in 1997 · Literature on the events of 1997 · Conspiracy theories about 1997 Levan Massacre occurred on 28 March 1997, and was the bloodiest clash of the riots of 1997. In this violent crash were killed 24 people, 18 white and 6 Roma. The collision was betweengang pit of Brother and Roma residents of the village of Levan in Fier. Banda was known as an opponent of Gang of Çole led by Myrteza Çaushi and was supporting the Democratic Party. Its members were people with criminal history from the period of communism originated from Vlora, Tepelena, Memaliaj, Fier, Gjirokastra and Shkodra.
Contents
Crash
On March 28, 1997, in the neighborhood of Roma in Levan, Fier, namely the location of the Demos had bujtur evening, at 20:30 on the evening, about 20 guys who were in their generation pistols so demonstrative. Were seated and after they ordered alcoholic beverages, had asked to talk with exactly the master of space. Demua, then reeve of the neighborhood, was approached. One of the boys, which was of Fier, was ordered to go to the village and bring out an insert for each, since they, "arixhinjtë" kallashë were wholesale. According to a variant of the police, people who had gone to the neighborhood of Roma in Levan, were criminal elements, mostly convicted of Fieri, Vlora, Tepelena, Ballshi, Tirana and Korça, the sapodalë from prison and sought to armatoseshin Heavy weapons as pistols, which kept since ancient times, was looked less reliable or arising out of fashion in those days. Army depots were opened before they "earned" freedom and so had not the armatoseshin like everyone else, or as desired. According to another variant, the group demanded heavy weapons in order to explode the bank of Fier, perhaps the only one left standing throughout the south.
Massacre
Strong south had arrived in Levan with a terrain and 2-3 small cars, which were parked on the side of national road Fier-Vlora, along the road turning heads to Frakull. Once there were careful to leave no guard of the car, all were introduced to club kryeplakut Roma, Demiri. This one, request or order to bring out an insert for each of the "guests", responds negatively. He explains that the Roma had only one insert "to keep their head" and all that over, he had loaded into a car and had submitted to the Police Station of Fier. A fact, that investigation led police to the real event. But it seems the fittest mentality and drink, does not allow "guests" of logjikojnë and heard many explanations. One of them, "frustrated" pistol and snapped off a shot Demos. A move that paracakton tragic fate of all. Powering shots of Roma. From one of the tables in a dark corner bar, where some young people in the neighborhood were not feeling too, was heard a hysterical call "Demon killed." Strong south had not left the same to open his mouth for a second time, having been shot in the back. Meanwhile, all the Roma jump bar followed by the bullets of pistols. Two others shot and they fall dead. It was a time when people moved the gun to the side and only a few seconds mjaftuan toward the bar pouring the first breshëritë Kalashnikovs. As a start, without any precise address. Furthermore, Roma realize their superiority and were looking strong south to surrender. However, the aggressors continue to shoot from inside and outside his premises, because it seems so telling and drinking. But this situation does not continue long after bullets were fulfilled. Furthermore, the last fly without an address, when some of the Roma through the smoke of gunpowder appear to kallashët ngrehur. It is at this time, Roma hit with long bursts, killing most of the "guests", about 11. According to witness accounts, only three of the strong, who were apparently less intoxicated than the others manage to flee through the night running because none of the cars which had been not used. Two of them slightly wounded, first aid to them in the hospital surgery ward of Fier, while the remaining seven-member remember to raise the hands upwards.
The fate of the seven
Around 22:00, a car tip FIAT - 132 blue busy, which is lamented all screw being parked near the boat shaking as Station of Fier. Down from her two angry Roma, directed to the information window and start a conversation with the officer concerned guard: "In Levan 'ca' have captured the hostages ten people, only to come and take them to Tirana, evil, (it comes to Tirana's Special Forces) that these Fier release (it was time that Albania was the only country in the world without the prisoners), that if they came from Fier, 'they' will kill ... " Guard officer kicks the Roma from windows, as promises to inform "those of Tirana" and immediately inform the Station executives, who give orders to two armored car fires and two vans with troops preparing to Levan. Among zhaurimës of armor-plate engines was quite negligible noise FIAT's lighting bucket, which starts immediately to Levan, by prescribed so the fate of the seven. Apparently, two Roma were not removed on the advice of the officer, but had kept the mouthpiece ears to learn what the troops will be sent to Levan.
Disaster
When police first autoblindi approaching Demos club, Roma leave all in panic, abandoning a pile of bodies and pieces of people, most of which were conducting animal ritual revenge. In fact, autoblindi inserted between the bodies and Roma at the moment that the latter was attempting to burn it down. In the square was found abandoned a bucket of fuel, which had managed to sprinkled only a fraction of corpses. What had happened? With Levan agreed that there are forces arrived in Tirana, but police in Fier, Roma pushkatojnë seven survivors, who had lined up before the club on tel. It is likely that they will be executed by a single bullet, after 5-6 of the corpses, the doctor of law, everyone had a small hole in the heart area. Afraid of what happened and especially of retaliation that may follow, the Roma were clearly appears that no one should remain alive. Further, one above the other corpses collected and relatives of three murdered Roma, without listening to others, throw some grenades on them. The explosion causes a portion of the broken bodies. An attempt to set fire to terminate at the time of the final arrival of the police. Working all fear among countless shooting coming from the village, the police charge of their bodies and debris in one of the armor-plate and head rapidly toward Fier. But that night in the hospital "mounted" by doctors and relatives of victims 5-6 disintegrating bodies and become their identity. The bodies were a total of 18. Two of them were identified from the outset. List arrives at Police Station the next day, on March 29, 1997. In the early hours of the morning identified the seventeenth and final only after nearly 24 hours after information was given in Tirana for the 17 killed. On the side of Roma had only three dead after kryeplaku Demo escaped injury after moving from the counter and by hiding in a bunker which was built on the premises. Relatives of victims react strongly that night. They want the police to launch blind and together with them to attack the Roma neighborhood, but it's not true. However, everything does not end there.
Revenge
The revenge of the Whites against Blacks didn't late. Just ten days after the event, close to Tepelena, friends of the victims killed in Levan, massacred seven Roma from Levan. There were three couples with age ranged from 20 to 35 years old and an eighteen-year-old boy. It seems the killers were informed that they were exactly the Roma Levan. After close to a month, men from Vlora armed with 100 mm antitank cannons placed at the railway and opened fire towards the Roma neighbourhood just 800 meters away. As a result there was material damage and two or three wounded. Roma were responding with all kinds of weapons causing abandoning men from Vlora withdraw heavy weaponry. Roma have to pay a disproportionate retaliation. They was shot from all sides, even the cars passing on the road Fier - Vlore. As a result was 4-5 to kill others. A serious case of murder was considered a Roma of Levan with infant son.
Trap charges
Former bodyguard of Sali Berisha, and the organizer of the coup of 14 September 1998,Izet Haxhiaaccused 'Agim Shehu and the director of the Vlora Police Station during 1997, 'Kordhën Milton (located in this office illegally Rescue Committee) that have raised the trap band of Vlora: "Members of that gangwere some among the strongest of those years as Tit Saleci, Felja and members of the tribe of Mukajve in Vlora. Most of them were former prisoners and supporting the Democratic Party and had thought that on 28 March 1997, the day would be the collection of Salvation Committee, to go to South and kill all the participants along with Causey Zani, defense them. It is at this moment comes into play Agim Shehu and Milton Scimitar. They were persons who entered the trap, and not arixhinjtë .".
Killed
- Gang members
- Ferdinand Sali Nanaj (Felja), from Memaliaj
- Adriatik Shehu, from Memaliaj
- Abaz Xhelo Bara, from Qesarat, Tepelenë
- Roland Komira, from Gjirokastër
- Dritan Nanaj, from Gjirokastër
- Luan Bedaj, from Tepelenë
- Petrit Madallozi (Titi i Rukies), from Tepelenë
- Astrit Duraj, from Tepelenë
- Medi Aziz Backa (Buç Backa), from Zhupan, Fier
- Astrit Selaci (Tit Selaci), from Fier
- Edmond Pano, from Fier
- Sokol Muka, from Vlorë
- Kastriot Muka, from Vlorë
- Petrit Muka, from Vlorë
- Roma from Levan
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- Seven persons were not identified
See also
- List of massacres in Albania
References
- Masakra më e madhe e vitit 1997, rihapet dosja
- Gazeta Tema :Të vërtetat e vitit 1997
- Top Channel :Viti 1997
Categories:- 1997 in Albania
- Massacres in Albania
- Crime in Albania
- People murdered by organized crime
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