Memory Days '20

The Institute for Democracy, Media & Culture (IDMC) in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) would like to invite you on the 5th edition of MEMORY DAYS, which will be organized in Tirana, on 13–20 February 2020.

Albanian communism is considered as one of the most repressive systems in Southeastern Europe, often referred to as a "Stalinist regime". The activities during Memory Days, in collaboration with other actors such as ISKK, PEMC, OSCE Presence in Albania, "kujto.al", ALBNA etc., aim at raising the awareness of the Albanian society about the consequences of the crimes of dictatorship and strengthening the dialogue about the past through debates, exhibitions, international conferences, books presentation, workshops, visits on the memory places etc.

The activities that will take place this year include:

• MEMORY DAYS Opening Ceremony, February 13th
  
• Panel Discussion: "Repression and Stalinism in Albania and Eastern Europe in Comparison", February 13th
• Open Air Exhibition: "Totalitarianism in Europe", February 13–20th
• International Conference: "History Education and School Curriculum after 1990s", February 14th
• Exhibition: "Life Beyond Darkness" at the Site of Witness and Memory in Shkodra, February 15th
• Publications on the Dictatorship, February 17th
• "The Persecution of Cham Population during Communist Regime", February 18th
• Project Presentation: Establishment of the Center for Justice and Transformation at University of Tirana, February 18th
• Commemoration Event at the Former Communist Prison in Gjirokaster, February 19th
• Documentary Screening: "Children of the Dictatorship", February 19th
• Digital Map of Places of Suffering in Albania, February 20th
• "Ask Your Grandparents" – Awards Ceremony, February 20th

1st Day, 13 February 2020: MEMORY DAYS Opening Ceremony

Raising awareness and strengthening dialogue on the crimes and consequences of the past dictatorship

The opening of the fifth edition of Memory Days 2020 began with the international exhibition "Totalitarianism in Europe", a collection of graphic information about the totalitarian systems of over 13 European countries. The exhibition gathered diplomats, citizens, former persecuted and dozens of young people in "Skanderbeg Square".

Further in the ceremony held at the Tirana Hotel, welcome addresses were held by IDMC director, Jonila Godole, director of KAS in Tirana Tobias Ruettershoff and the Austrian ambassador Christian Steiner The keynote speaker of this edition was the German professor Jörg Baberowski who talked about repression and Stalinism in Albania and Eastern Europe.

In a panel composed of the writer Alma Liço, Albanian researcher Idrit Idrizi, Austrian publicist Paul Lendvai, Polish historian Łukasz Kaminski and professor Jörg Baberowski discussed the problems and consequences that a totalitarian system leaves in society and the similarities of Albania case with the other European countries.

2nd Day, 14 February 2020: "History Education and School Curricula after 1990"

The international conference "History Education and School Curricula after 1990", brought to attention the treatment of communism period in preuniversity textbooks. Foreign experts from Germany and Poland brought expertise from their countries. IDMC director, Jonila Godole, and all the invited experts, addressed issues such as the low treatment of communist period in school curriculum, the incorrect explanation of terms and concepts related to this period and the work done with teachers and students over the years to improve these issues.

The experts in this conference included Przemyslaw Gasztold from the Institute of National Remembrance in Poland, the director of the Institute for the Crimes and Consequences of Communism (ISKK) Çelo Hoxha, historians Petrit Nathanaili and Justina Dhimitri, the director of ALBNA, Vojsava Kumbulla; researcher Myrteza Sharra, writer Alma Liço, Authority for Information of Former Security's Documents (AIDSSH) expert Skënder Vrioni and also a high school student, Kristina Shahinaj.

3rd Day, 15 February 2020: "Light Beyond Darkness"

New exhibition at the Site of Witness and Memory

A photographic and infographic exhibition was opened at the Place of Testimony and Remembrance in Shkodra. "Light beyond Darkness" has focused on atheism and the persecution of the clergy in Albania during the communist dictatorship. The exhibition is dedicated to the fight against religion, the administrative measures that the communist state took to oppose it and also the strong and savage propaganda that accompanied the lives of Albanians for 45 years.

This exhibition describes the fate of all those people who were convicted, suffered in prison, died in torture or executed, just because of their faith and religious function. An important part is devoted to the cult objects that were transformed. The activity was welcomed by KAS Tirana, Mr. Tobias Rüttershoff, the mayor of Shkodra, Mrs. Voltana Ademi, and Archbishop of Shkodra, Mr. Angelo Massagra who spoke about religion during the communist regime.

4th Day, 17 February 2020: Book Presentations

"Against the Stream" and "Encyclopedic Dictionary of Victims of Communist Terror"

The Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) promoted the new picture book "Against the Stream" and the "Encyclopedic Dictionary of Victims of Communist Terror, Vol. VIII" in collaboration with the Institute for Research of Communism Crimes and Consequences.

The picture book "Against the Stream" is presented, which is addressed mainly to children and young people. It tells the life of biologist and ichthyologist Sabiha Kasimati, through illustrations from the perspective of fish, which she studied so intensively. This book aims to help young readers, to understand the terror of the communist regime in Albania, as well as to make them aware that creativity in science and in life can flourish only in freedom.

5th Day, 18 February 2020: The Conference

"Persecution of Cham People by the Communist Regime"

The Institute for Democracy, Media and Culture (IDMC) in cooperation with the Cham Association and with the support of the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), organized the conference "Persecution of the Cham Minority during the Communist Regime". The conference was attended by dozens of family members, former persecutors, researchers and representatives of various organizations with interest in the field of remembrance.

The conference addressed the issues related to the low media coverage of the Cham population, the low information of young people about the history related to this minority and the low commitment of the authorities to detect crimes committed against them during the communist period.

"Center for Justice and Transformation" in Tirana

On this day, the OSCE Presence in Albania presented its newest project, "Center for Justice and Transformation", which consists of establishing a center for the promotion of scientific research in the field of transitional justice in Albania that will be set up at the University of Tirana. The meeting was attended by officials of the Authority for Information on Former State Security Documents (AIDSSH), representatives of former political persecuted, students and persons interested in the topic of transitional justice.

The project was attended by researchers, national law experts; historians who presented the modules on transitional justice. The OSCE Presence is implementing the project for the establishment of the Center for Justice and Transformation in cooperation with the Faculty of Social Sciences, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of History and Philology, and with the financial support of the German and Swiss governments.

6th Day, 19 February 2020: "Children of the Dictatorship"

Documentary screening

The Institute for Democracy, Media and Culture in cooperation with the EU Delegation in Albania, within the fifth edition of Memory Days, re-screened "Children of the Dictatorship", an autobiographical documentary on the lives of four Albanian children Alma Liço, Ridvana Mena, Lurian Mena and Simon Mirakaj, born and raised in prisons communist and internment camps between 1945–1990. This activity gathered historians, civil society representatives, young people as well as an international audience at Europe House.

Memorial Academy "We Do Not Forget!"

KAS and the Anti-Communist Association of the Politically Persecuted of Albania organized today the memorial academy "We Do Not Forget!". In honor of the anti-communist martyrs and prisoners of the communist dictatorship prison in Gjirokastra's Castle, as one of the most cruel dictatorship prison during 1944– 1967. In this activity, in the presence of the Mayor of Gjirokastra, a memorial plaque was placed at the entrance of Gjirokastra's Castle. Also ex-prisoners, their relatives, historians and others shared experiences, thoughts and other historical facts about this prison.

7th Day, 20 February 2020: Map, Competition Winners

Supported by Konrad Adenauer, at the Faculty of History and Philology it was presented for the first time a digital map of internment camps, prisons and forced labor camps during the communist period. The video presentation was made by "kujto.al" in cooperation with KAS. A nearly 20-minute trip to internment camps, prisons and forced labor camps that marked the map of Albania for almost 45 years during the communist period. The purpose of this video presentation is to introduce to the public to unimaginable dimensions that a small country like Albania had on its map of suffering.

Winners Announced for the "Ask Your Grandparents 4"

Afterwards, the award ceremony of the competition "Ask Your Grandparents 4" took place at Hotel Tirana. Students, parents, teachers, former persecutors, journalists and embassy representatives were present at this event. Over 100 young people from all over Albania, competed with their multimedia works in order to win one of the 4 awards. The jury that analyzed the works represented of the director of IDMC, Jonila Godole, history expert Fatmiroshe Xhemalajt, actor Rozi Kostani, writer Ylljet Aliçka and the former prosecuted Lekë Tasi.