Kristo Mema, the anti-communist resistance fighter, the icon of Elbasan's suffering, has passed away

2024-10-09 10:00:00, Aktualitet CNA

Kristo Mema, the anti-communist resistance fighter, the icon of Elbasan's

Kristo Mema, one of the politically persecuted of communism, has passed away at the age of 89.

The news was announced by Besim Ndregjoni, the President of the National Union for the Integration of Prisoners and the Politically Persecuted of Albania.

Ndregjoni describes Kristo Mema as a resistance fighter and an icon of suffering in Elbasan, while he says that he is the son of the big Mema family.

It tells how the former political persecutor and his family clashed with the communist regime and were tortured for years.

Full statement:

A nobleman of Elbasan, the son of the great Mema family, died, the one who tried prison and political exile, Kristo Mema!

Kristo Mema, the anti-communist resistance fighter, the icon of Elbasan's

He comes from a rich family from Shtermen of Elbasan, and this family clashed with communism, as early as 1943. In August 1943, my father's brother was shot by the partisans, and from that time the secession took place. Before, they were common in the war, against the invaders. In 1944, they aligned themselves with the forces of the National Front of Mid'hat Frashëri. The father's grandson, Jorgji, was appointed as the general secretary of the Elbasan district, for the National Front and others with duties to protect the dignity of the people. In 1944, we moved and mourned in Tirana because Jorgji was wanted by the communists, and we as a family. In '43, two houses were burned by the partisans: the house of Stefani and the house of Trifon, both of my father's brothers, and in '44 they burned the third house, that of my father's brother, Mihal Mema. So we moved. In November 1944, Jorgji was killed in Tirana, by partisans. Then, through friendship, our parents surrendered. The three uncles surrendered, the two nephews fled, an older brother, Trifon, was captured in Kukës and disappeared with torture. So there were three: in 1943, my father's brother, in November 1944, Jorji, and in December of 1944, Jorji's father, my father's other brother, disappeared from torture... The war had begun from '43, but it was a political war, now from '45, the economic war began. In 1946, the Agrarian Reform took place and all the wealth, lands, forests that we had, movable and immovable private property were confiscated.

Kristo Mema was one of the most resistant figures, one of the resistance members of Democracy, Kristo Mema. Born and raised in Shtërmen of Elbasan, being involved in the democratic movement to change the system, after a long period of suffering in the prisons of the communist dictatorship, he became one of the central figures of the Association of the Persecuted, and equally one of the active supporters of DP in years. Kristo Mema stood out for his maturity and composure, intellect and mature thinking in all his engagements. Kristo Mema was humane and patriotic. He was a man of sincerity and manliness. Determined and transparent in thinking. He became one of the main initiators for finding the remains of those killed and shot without graves by the Communist Dictatorship. Thus a pure democrat in spirit, a determined democrat, he never made a mistake and was not one of those who sought revenge, but always spoke of reconciliation, forgiveness and inclusiveness. In fact, he was always at the side of the brightest names of the Albanian democratic movement and always at the forefront of the values ??aimed at freedom, integrity and the movement to make Albania like all of Europe. Kristo Mema was one of the central figures who supported the first years of Democracy in Elbasan, he ranks alongside the Elbasan patriots for his bravery against communist executioners. Kristo Mema was also one of the close friends and supporters of the immortal, Pjeter Arbnori Father Zef Pllum Hafiz Sabri Koç, He was a supporter of Lef Nos and Visarjon Xhuvan and many icons of the anti-communist elite who suffered in the terrible camp of Spaç. Thus, his departure forever is a great loss for Democracy, for the family, for us survivors of the dictatorship, for the city of Elbasan. May you be in Heaven, Christ Mema. Condolences to George, his family, and all relatives and friends. Condolences to all who knew him closely and felt the loss of his painful departure. May the earth be light!/ CNA