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| A L I P A S H A O F J A N I N A |
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| Courtesy of Iliriapress |
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| This article is dedicated in remembrance to Dr. Astridhis Kolia, an Arvanitis or Albanian, of Epirus, who got mysteriously murdered by the Greek secret Police. When Dr. Astridhis Kolia openly declared himself as an Albania, he was murdered by Greek government. |
| The War of Ali Pasha With Suljas |
| Page 3 |
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| The Suliots day by day were weaker and weaker. Ali Pasha had capabilities to destroy the entire Suli, but he had no great benefit of it. Suliots were living in mountains, and their bravery was known. Ali Pasha was a brave man himself, and he wanted them to join his army and revive the country of Gjergj Kastriot Seknderbeu and create Albania. In the other side, Ali Pasha kept the war with Suliots only to avert paying large tributes to Sultan. The Suoliots were surprised for being betrayed by French and Russian after all promises. The Suliots did not get much help from French and Russians. The fear of any war with Ali Pasha, Russia and France stopped all the humanitarian help to Suliots and cancelled all the contacts with them The region of Suli was under famine. People were poor and hangry. Many of them laid down the arms, and the fear left their homes, and some of them with ships from Corfu went to Italy, France, and other places. Ali Pashas� two sons, Myftar and Veli were grown up, and they were leading the armies of his father. The army of Ali Pasha captured alive some Suliots, but Ali Pasha did not kill them. Ali wanted to destroy the force of 1500 men left in Suli. (Sabri Godo, pg 74.) Suliots did not give up, but they gave resistance to the Ali Pashas force. As high the army was going in the mountains, the more resistance from Suliots it was getting. The Suljas killed all the animals, even though the famine was in highest peak. The Suljas had no food, and no water to drink. (Sabri Godo, pg 75). Battle after battle, the Sulitos did not want to give up, but they were getting weakened. There were more Suljas than 1500 men, but not enough to resist an army of Ali Pasha. |
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| Photo Xhavella, the son of Llambro Xhavella went to Corfu, and he asked for the help promised from French. He did not get the support that was promised to Suliots. Photo asked to get a temporary protection for the refugees of Suli, but this was not wanted by the local people and the French. They did not like the Suljas in the Corfu. (Sabri Godo, pg 143.) The people of the island of Corfu were Albanians, and they wanted to help to refugees. The island was governed by French, and the French military was punishing those who helped. It was punishable by death for helping the refugees from Suli. Photo Xhavella did not get any support from the French, and he was very disappointed. |
| Most of the villages of Suli were occupied by the army of Veli, and they were afraid that he might burn and destroy all the villages; they agreed to sign a piece and capitulation to Ali Pasha�s son Veli. On December 18, 1803, the chieftans signed the piece with Veli. All were agreed that the village of Kungi, and three other villages must give up their arms and immigrate to other places guarantied from Ali Pasha. Ali Pasha would provide them food and animals in other places. Next morning, people of those villages started to move in other areas. (Sabri Godo, pg 143, 144). Kungi in Albanian language means pumpkin. While the villages were moving, someone blows the depot of ammunition in the village of Kungi. The �Besa� trust was broken. The Bochars blew the depot and then started again the war. The officers of Ali Pasha�s armies, Myhyrdarin Aga and Beqir Lojtarin, the Sulijas were attacked and in the battle that lasted three days 200 Suljas were killed and 55 were captured alive. (Sabri Godo, pg. 144.) A priest of Russian origin whose name was Samuel talked about a dream, and he talked that Ali Pashas� end. The priest Samuel refused to surrender; with five other men he stayed at Kungi, and blew up the fort as the enemy approached. (William Plomer, pg 112). The thirteen-year-old war with Suli was over. People of Suli were moving toward Corfu, and other places. Ali Pasha stood and looked sad on them and told them, �You can go whenever you want, but the foreign land will never keep you. Do not forget the words of your old men Gjergj to have a good relation and be a friend with me. �For second times, Niko and Kicho Borchari were captured and brought in front of Ali. Ali released them. (Sabri Godo, pg. 145). The first refugees that started to move from Suli were of the tribe Bochar. Ali Pasha met with the chief of Bochars, Gjergj, in Llak, and spoke to him. Ali Pasha told to Gjergj, �Father Bochari you are the only man left in Suli to advise the Suliots, and they leasten you! �No�, said the old man Gjergj. Ali Pasha continued, �I have chosen you as the leader of Suli because only you can lead this place. Help me to form the future of your sons. �The old man replied, �I am too old to lead the Suljas, but my family will be in your service.� Ali replied, � Whole your life you have been protecting this soil and those stones. Now, help the Suli to get rebuilt, and convince Suljas to stay.� The old man was not surprised, with his shaky head thought that the Vezir was not asking him to kill his co-country men, but he was sure that Ali spoke clear with a good intention. Ali confirmed, �You are not a traitor of your people. You will help me to rebuild Suli. We are of one blood, and we have one language.� �Kicho with his 70 fighters will be in your side, and more than this I cannot do,� said the old Suliot. ( Sabri Godo, pg 128) |
| Foto Xhavella tash 24 vje�ar, dogji sht�pin e vet dhe u largua nga Suli. Ali Pasha premtoi se Suliot�t do t� jen oficer t� ushtris s� vet. Ali Pasha nd�rtoi nj� pallat n� Sul, dhe familja Bu�are kujdeseshin p�r at� pallat. Foto Xhavella p�r inat t� bashkvendas�ve t� vet, kur nd�gjoi se ata ishin oficer t� ushtris t� Ali Pash�s, u k�thye n� Janin� dhe bisedoi me Ali Pash�n. Pas takimit me Ali Pash�n, Foto Xhavella u b� oficer n� mesin e oficerave m� t� lart n� ushtrin e Ali Pash�s.(Fq. 129, Sabri Godo) Suliot�t t� lodhur, t� varf�r, dhe t� mallzuar p�r Sulin, kontaktuan me Foton dhe u k�thyen prapa, dual�n para Ali Pash�s dhe mor�n lejen t� kthehen n� Sul, dhe disa nga ata u b�r�n oficer n� ushtrin e Ali Pash�s. Maxhore Mosho, e �ma e Fotos u k�thye n� Janin� dhe u martua me tjet�r bur.(Fq. 117, William Plomer) |
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