Kolonjë, February 25, 2025 – History cannot remain hidden. Neither those who wrote it with pain and blood, nor those who tried to erase it.
In a meaningful meeting with the Mayor of Kolonjë, Erion Isai, and his leadership team, the Authority for Information on the Former State Security Documents (AIDSSH) highlighted a series of initiatives aimed at shedding light on the past and encouraging societal reflection on it.
At the center of the discussions was the “Path of Freedom” Memorial, a project to commemorate Albanians who lost their lives trying to escape the totalitarian regime, crossing the border between danger and hope. Renowned visual artist Anila Zajmi presented the artistic concept of this memorial, which will become a landmark for future generations.
Another major initiative of this collaboration is the marking and protection of suspected burial sites of the missing, a commitment to ensure that the disappeared do not remain just a number in a file. With the help of the Municipality of Kolonjë, this process will ensure the documentation and safeguarding of the places where those forgotten by history rest.
In respect of the law and historical justice, the application of the manual for verifying individuals proposed for honorary titles was also addressed. This is a fundamental challenge to ensure that the personalities honored by the municipalities have a clean past, without any ties to the repressive mechanisms of the communist regime.
This meeting confirmed that opening the files and revealing the past are not only a legal obligation but a necessity for a society that wishes to build its future on the foundations of truth. The “Open File” initiative will continue to support this process, providing opportunities for researchers and individuals to learn about history and seek their truth.
Kolonja today becomes an example of how historical memory should not remain in archives but become part of the collective consciousness.