Prek Cali, an activist of the Albanian national movement, was shot in Shkodër. He was born in Jushi Mountain (Rranzat e Bushatit). He led the anti-Ottoman wars of the Kelmendi’s people in 1908–1911 and 1912. In 1914, he supported the government of Prince Wied. After the decisions of the Conference of Ambassadors in London (1913), he led the wars for the defense of the northern borders of Albania. In August 1920, at the head of a group of highlanders, he participated in the Koplik War as a commander. During the Democratic Revolution of June 1924, he joined Fan Noli. At the head of Kelmendi’s fighters, he entered Tirana on June 11, 1924. During Noli’s short-lived government, he served as the commander of the forces of Malësia e Madhe. After the return of Ahmet Zogu and his election as president, Prekë Cali 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 Kingdom (1928), he was promoted to reservist captain and, for many years, performed the task of ensuring public peace and guarding the borders of Kelmendi. Later he was elected gendarmerie commander for Malësia e Madhe. He participated in the Assembly of Broja, which met on January 13, 1945, to organize the anti-communist resistance. He led the Kelmendi Uprising, which took place on January 12 and 13, 1945. After its failure, on February 17 he was handed over to the IV Battalion of the XXIII Brigade. The trial against Prekë Cali began on February 28, 1945. He was shot on the morning of March 25 of the same year , behind the wall of the Rrëmaj cemetery in Shkodër, along with thirteen other men. On August 15 of the same year, the Executive Committee of the Sub-Prefecture of Malësi e Madhe ordered the seizure of all his property. The same committee repeated this order on April 25, 1946. On June 25, 1993, the President of the Republic awarded him the “Martyr of Democracy” medal. (In the photo: Prek 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
