On a poignant Thursday, the Albanian Parliament stood united in solemnity, marking a day against the genocide in Chameria with a minute of silence. This day, June 27, 2024, commemorates the 80th anniversary of the brutal massacres and forced displacement of the Chameri Albanians—one of history's darkest chapters, often overshadowed and forgotten.
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| The deputies of the Parliament of Albania observe a minute of silence on the day of the genocide against the Albanians of Chameria |
The leader of the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity (PDIU), Shpëtim Idrizi, delivered an impassioned speech, casting a harsh light on the atrocities committed against the Chameri Albanians and the unresolved pain that continues to haunt their descendants. His words resonated deeply within the walls of the Parliament, a stark reminder of the resilience of a community that refuses to let its suffering be erased.
“Genocide has no age,” Idrizi proclaimed, his voice heavy with the weight of history and justice. “My colleagues and I stand here to affirm that the memory of a nation surpasses that of any individual. It is said that a people who forgets perishes. We have defied forgetfulness. We do not blame the Greek people, but the politics of the time and the stance held today.”
Idrizi's speech did not shy away from the bitter truths. He accused Greece of continuously honoring the perpetrators of these crimes, transforming them into national heroes, and erecting monuments in their name. His message was clear and unequivocal: the genocide against the Cham Albanians is not a matter of the past, but a wound that remains open and unhealed.
“For 80 years, they have trampled upon our lost lives and declared that the Cham issue is not an issue,” Idrizi stated, his words cutting through decades of silence and denial. “It is astonishing how Greece proclaims criminals as heroes and builds statues in their honor. I am here to give voice to thousands of victims who can no longer speak.”
The Parliament's moment of silence was not merely a gesture of respect but a powerful act of remembrance. It served as a collective acknowledgment of the profound suffering endured by the Cham Albanians and a call to the world to recognize the genocide that has been neglected for far too long.
In his address, Idrizi underscored the need for accountability and reconciliation. He called upon Greece to confront its past with honesty and to accept responsibility for the atrocities committed. “The Greek people should feel ashamed of their politics and the fact that they have never acknowledged the genocide,” he asserted, emphasizing that true reconciliation can only come through recognition and remorse.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of the violent June of 1944, when Cham Albanians were massacred and forcibly expelled from their homeland. Despite the passage of time, the scars of these events remain vivid. “Many say that many years have passed, but my colleagues and I are here to say that the memory of a nation is greater than that of a person,” Idrizi declared. “We do not forget the massacres against our ancestors; we remember them. We do not blame the Greek people today, but the politics of that era and the fact that the current politics never took responsibility for their predecessors' actions. It is shameful that a European people ignore and deny the existence of the Cham Albanians.”
Idrizi’s heartfelt plea was a call to action for justice and remembrance. It was a reminder that the pain of the past must be acknowledged for healing to begin, and that the memory of those who suffered must be honored to ensure such atrocities are never repeated. The silence observed by the Parliament was a moment of collective grief and solidarity, a tribute to the lost lives and the enduring spirit of the Cham Albanian community.
In condemning the massacres of Greeks in southern Albania and highlighting the ongoing suffering of the forcibly displaced Chameri Albanians, Idrizi's speech transcended politics. It was a moral imperative, a cry for justice, and a demand for the recognition of historical truths that have been too long denied.