"Topography of Terror" in Rreshen

A democratic society cannot go forward if it does not know and face its past. In particular, the young people in a country such as Albania, which faced a very unique kind of communist regime, do not have in-depth knowledge in the so-called phenomenon of communism in their country. Hence, considering that Albania is in the wave of attempts to open the communist files, the Institute for Democracy, Media & Culture organized a study trip to the prison of Spaç in Rreshen, which was a political prison during the communist period. The Spaç prison is the place where many convicts of communism were subject to suffering, humiliation, torture, and violence.

The purpose of this study trip was to give students the basis for a better understanding of the communist regime in Albania and to assist them in learning about Spaç, the labor camps and the political prisons during communism, more than what is offered in the media and the history books. In addition, in order to better understand what time in this prison was like, the students were guided by historian Dr. Enriketa Papa and a former political detainee Mr. Agim Hakcani. The latter shared his personal experience, having served 14 years of his life in Spaç.

Students were involved in the narrative of Mr. Hakcani, expressing great interest in knowing not only the difficulties, the physical and spiritual suffering, but also the details of the daily life in prison, foods, hygiene etc. After visiting the remaining sections of the former prison of Spaç, the activity ended with an informal discussion where students were invited to reflect on the importance of historical commemorations in their process of education. The students demanded for an objective and undistorted look at the history of their country. In this regard, IDMC's initiative, to bring the youth closer to the past through study visits in sites of memory, will continue with other groups.

Sites of memory, such as internment camps, political prisons and labor camps should be brought more often to the attention of young people, for two essential reasons. First of all, to commemorate the victims of communism; and secondly, to become familiar and confront the past and the so-called Albanian communism phenomenon. Because the familiarity of Albania's young people with the past of their country helps them to meditate not only on the nature of the Albanian totalitarian regime and the legacies of the time, but it also raises their awareness about the threats of totalitarian tendencies in present times. By knowing these tendencies better, a democratic society is able to prevent history from repeating.