Azem Bejta – Galica was born in Galica, Drenica, a fighter in the anti-Ottoman movement and leader of armed groups against Serbia and Montenegro after 1912. His father, Bejta, was killed in 1907 in a fight against the Ottoman army. In November 1912, along with 26 other villagers, he was captured by the Serbian army, sentenced to forced labor in Zaječar and then imprisoned in Pozarevac, from where he escaped with his comrades in 1915 to join the guerrilla bands. He collaborated with Shaqir Smaka until his assassination in 1917. From then on, he emerged as the leader of the bands. In 1915, he married Qerime Halili – Shota, from Radisheva, whom he had known before being imprisoned by the Serbs. In June 1915, along with his brothers and Shota, they fought the first battle against the Serbian army. That same year, he met Hasan Prishtina and Bajram Curri, to whom he remained loyal until death. With the establishment of the Committee of Kosovo in November 1918, he was appointed commander of the armed bands. In April-June 1919, he led the General Uprising against Serbia, in which over 10,000 insurgents took part. As the leader of the bands, he played a role in the formation of the Neutral Zone of Junik. In 1923, after the dissolution of this zone, he formed the Free Zone of Drenica, initially in the municipality of Prekaz and then narrowed down to three villages: Galica-Mikushnica-Lubavec, until July 1924, when he was attacked by 2000 Serbian army and gendarmerie forces. The villages were completely destroyed, with many casualties. Azem Bejta was seriously wounded, survived for several days in Çiçavicë, and then, with his comrades-in-arms, fled to the mountains of Perçeva. He passed away in 1924 from his injuries. To prevent his body from falling into the hands of the enemy, his comrades buried him in a cave.
In 1971, his remains were found by teacher Abdyl Krasniqi and buried in Galica.
(In the photo: Azem Galica)
Text: Encyclopedic Dictionary of Kosovo – Vol. I , Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, Prishtina, 2018, page 143.
Photo: © https://pashtriku.org/bedri-tahiri-veprimtaria-luftarake-e-azem-galices-gjate-luftes-se-pare-boterore/
Graphic processing: AHCF
