The Democratic Party commemorated today the dissident poet Havzi Nela who was hanged 34 years ago in his hometown of Kukës for anti-state activity, agitation and propaganda only because he dared to express his free opinion that differed from that of the ruling communist party.

Nela was hanged in August 10, 1988, after a parliamentary commission refused the request of his relatives to spare his life. Albanian Premier Edi Rama’s father, Kristaq Rama, was one of the commission members that refused to let him live.  

The poet’s brother, Shukri Nela requested from Edi Rama to apologize for his father’s signature in the approval of Havzi Nela’s hanging.

“Minimally, he must apologize. He has always said he does not believe his father signed Havzi Nela’s death decision. Here is the signature. This is Kristaq Rama’s signature, along with six others’”, said Shkuri Nela.

The poet objected the collectivization of farmers’ lands, the banning of religion and the demolition of religious objects, and, on top of that, he and his wife once passed the border to Yugoslavia, but were turned back by the Yugoslav authorities. The illegal border passing was a very serious criminal offense in the communist Albania and he was sentenced with 15 years in prison, to which was added another sentence of 8 years for agitation and propaganda in prison.