Sali Çekaj (22 June 1956 – 19 April 1999) was a Kosovo Albanian political activist, rewowned commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosovo (FARK) and Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), who was killed during the Battle of Kosharë.[1][2][3]
Sali Çekaj | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s) | Kommandant Veterani |
| Born | 22 June 1956 Broliq, Deçan, SFR Yugoslavia (today Kosovo) |
| Died | 19 April 1999 (aged 42) Koshare, Gjakovë, FR Yugoslavia (today Kosovo) |
| Allegiance |  Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosovo (FARK) Kosovo Liberation Army |
| Years of service | 1991–1999 |
| Rank | Commander |
| Battles / wars | Insurgency in Kosovo (1995–98) |
| Awards | Hero of Kosovo (posthumously) |
Early life
editSali Çekaj was born on 22 June 1956, in the village of Broliq, Deçan. Raised in a family that valued patriotism, he pursued legal studies and graduated as a lawyer. His education and contacts with prominent figures worldwide shaped his strong sense of justice and national identity. His early legal career involved political activism, where he advocated for the rights of Albanians under Serbian administration.
Political activism
editÇekaj's political activism began in the 1980s during the mass demonstrations in Kosovo in 1981. He was a vocal opponent of the oppressive policies[4][5][6][7][8] of the Yugoslav government and became a key leader in his community. By the early 1990s, he played a significant role in organizing protests in support of the Trepça miners' strike and mobilizing resistance against Serbian rule.[6][9]
Sali Çekaj was one of the primary contributors to the drafting of the Kaçanik Constitution in 1990, which aimed to assert Kosovo's autonomy.[10] He worked closely with fellow activists to establish a communal statute for the Deçan municipality, making it one of the few areas with its own governing framework in defiance of Serbian laws. His unwavering commitment to the cause led to an arrest warrant issued by Serbian authorities, forcing him to flee to Germany in 1991.
Military career
editFounding the Armed Resistance
editAfter moving to Germany, Çekaj continued his political activism and became involved in organizing the Albanian diaspora for military resistance. He was one of the first to initiate military training for young volunteers in Albania during the early 1990s.[11] Alongside later prominent figures such as Adem Jashari, Zahir Pajaziti or Ilaz Kodra, he led a group of 34 men, who crossed into Albania to undergo military training, facilitated with the knowledge and support of Albanian President Ramiz Alia.[11] Çekaj established several training centers in Albania, including those in Tropojë, and helped organize the armed guerilla tactics that would later be used in Kosovo.
Formal dissolution of FARK and joining the KLA
editBy 1998, with the Kosovo War intensifying, Çekaj became deeply involved with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosovo (FARK), where he played a leading role in organizing military brigades in Dukagjin. He coordinated closely with Tahir Zemaj, setting up three operational brigades. These units would go on to participate in numerous battles, including the Battle of Loxha.[12]
On 21 June 1998, after the Oslo Agreement, Commander Çekaj and Major Tahir Zemaj, along with hundreds of soldiers and military officers of the FARK, took an oath in the presence of Defense Minister Ahmet Krasniqi, which ended in the formal dissolution of the FARK and integration into the KLA.[13]
Death
editOn 19 April 1999, Sali Çekaj was killed while fighting in the Battle of Kosharë,[14][15] a significant confrontation between the Kosovo Liberation Army and Yugoslav forces. Çekaj, along with famous commanders like Agim Ramadani and soldiers like Harun Beka, played a key role in the battle, which became one of the most notable military engagements during the conflict.[16][17] His death occurred amidst intense fighting aimed at securing the area and advancing the KLA's objectives.[15]
Legacy
editÇekaj's involvement in key military operations, including the Battle of Kosharë and his efforts in organizing armed resistance and his leadership within the KLA are acknowledged as part of the broader struggle for Kosovo's independence.[1]
Sali Çekaj is recognized as a notable figure in the history of the Kosovo Liberation Army.[14] His roles as a political activist, lawyer, and military commander contributed to the organizational and operational efforts of the KLA were posthumously honored with the title "Hero of Kosovo"[18][19] and a statue of him was placed in a major place of his hometown Deçan.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ a b "Sali Çekaj, jurist, politikan, diplomat, ushtarak, vizionar". epokaere (in Albanian). 18 April 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ "The President: Heroism of Sali Çekajt will remain an inspiration and pride to young generations". president-ksgov.net. 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Me rastin e 25- vjetorit të Betejës së Koshares, u mbajt sot manifestimi Ditët e Shqipes 2024, në Koshare të Komunës së Gjakovës, nën patronatin e Presidentes së vendit, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu". paparaci (in Albanian). 9 April 2024. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ J. Perritt, Henry (2010). The Road to Independence for Kosovo: A Chronicle of the Ahtisaari Pla. Cambridge University Press. p. 236.
- ^ Perica, Vjekoslav (2002). Balkan idols: Religion and nationalism in Yugoslav states. Oxford University Press. pp. 43–44. ISBN 978-0-19-517429-8.
- ^ a b Clark, Howard (2000). Civil resistance in Kosovo. Pluto Press. p. 16. ISBN 9780745315690.
- ^ Mulaj, Klejda (2008). Politics of ethnic cleansing: nation-state building and provision of in/security in twentieth-century Balkans. Lexington Books. p. 45. ISBN 9780739146675.
- ^ Petersen, Roger D. (2011). Western intervention in the Balkans: The strategic use of emotion in conflict. Cambridge University Press. p. 142. ISBN 9781139503303.
- ^ Meier, Viktor (1999). Yugoslavia: a history of its demise. Routledge. pp. 84–5. ISBN 9780415185967.
- ^ Krieger, Heike (2001). The Kosovo Conflict and International Law: An Analytical Documentation 1974–1999. Cambridge University Press. p. 522. ISBN 9780521800716.
- ^ a b "Përgatitja dhe stërvitja e luftëtarëve të UÇK-së". sotal (in Albanian). 18 February 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2024.
- ^ "West Corner of Kosovo tense after village battle - Serbia". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
- ^ Rathfelder, Erich (22 October 2012). Kosovo: Geschichte eines Konflikts (in German). Suhrkamp Verlag. ISBN 978-3-518-79620-7.
- ^ a b "Präsident Osmani gedenkt des Helden Sali Çekaj am 25. Jahrestag des Sturzes". Kohavision (in German). 19 April 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
- ^ a b "Haradinaj kujton heroin Agim Ramadani: Ishte ndër komandantët të shquar të UÇK-së". ATV (in Albanian). 11 November 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
- ^ Giovanni, Janine di (9 April 2012). Madness Visible: A Memoir of War. A&C Black. ISBN 9781408834251 – via Google Books.
- ^ "KLA shock at Nato blunder". the Guardian. 24 May 1999. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
- ^ "The President: Heroism of Sali Çekajt will remain an inspiration and pride to young generations". president-ksgov.net. 19 April 2018.
- ^ "Commander Sali Çekaj was one of the most outstanding strategists of the war, an indomitable activist in the engagements of the people of Kosovo for its freedom". president-ksgov.net. 19 April 2023.