In Malësia e Jushit (Rranza e Bushatit, Shkodër), Prek Cali was born, an activist of the Albanian national movement. He led the anti-Ottoman wars of the Kelmendi tribe in the years 1908–1911 and 1912. In 1914, he supported the government of Prince Wied. After the decisions of the Ambassadors’ Conference in London (1913), he led the wars to defend the northern borders of Albania. In August 1920, leading a group of highlanders, he participated in the Battle of Koplik as a commander. During the June Revolution of 1924, he aligned himself with Fan Noli. Leading the fighters of Kelmendi, he entered Tirana on June 11, 1924. During Noli’s short-lived government, he served as the commander of the forces of Greater Highlands. After the return of Ahmet Zogu and his election as president, Prekë Cali was interned, for about three years, in the city of Gjirokastra. He was released with the intervention of Father Anton Harapi. After the proclamation of the monarchy (1928), he was promoted to reserve captain and for many years performed the duty of public security and border protection of Kelmendi. Later, he was elected commander of the gendarmerie for the Greater Highlands. He participated in the Assembly of Broja, convened on January 13, 1945, to organize anti-communist resistance. He led the Kelmendi Uprising, which took place on January 12 and 13, 1945. After its failure, on February 17, he surrendered to Battalion IV of Brigade XXIII. The trial against Prekë Cali began on February 28, 1945. He was executed on the morning of March 25 of the same year, behind the wall of the Rrëmaj Cemetery in Shkodra, along with thirteen other men. On August 15 of the same year, the Executive Committee of the Subprefecture of Greater Highlands ordered the seizure of all his property. This order was repeated by the same committee on April 25, 1946. On June 25, 1993, the President of the Republic awarded him the “Martyr of Democracy” medal. (Pictured: Touch Cali)
Text: Encyclopedic dictionary of victims of communist terror – Vol. I , “West Print”, Institute for the Study of Crimes and Consequences of Communism, Tirana, 2012, page 225-226.
Photo: © https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prek_Cali
Graphic processing: AHCF
