Sak Faslia

Sak Faslia (Born 1885 Rugova - dead 1944, Pec) was an Albanian bajraktar (flag-bearer) from Rugova who fought Montenegrin and Serb invaders from 1911 to 1944. He was the grandson of Sali Jaha.

Early life
Sak Faslia was born in 1885 in Koshutan Rugova, same as Zhuj Selmani. The family belongs to Kurtdedajve who was known for bravery and generosity since the 18th century. He was the grandson of Sali Jaha, the ruler and commander of the leaders of Rugova who fought to protect the Albanian border against Montenegrin forces led by King Nikolas Petrovich and Mark Milani (Montenegrin: Marko Miljanov). Sak Faslis grandfather also participated in the League of Prizren in 1878. In 1911, when the Ottoman Empire was experiencing tensions in the Balkans and Montenegros desire to expand on Albanian lands, Sak Fasli began fighting. The battle of Berane took place and Sak Fasli stood out as a leader and strategist although he was still young. After fierce battles they defeated the Montenegrins. They returned during the occupation of Albanian lands in 1912 headed for Rugova and Dukagjin. Sak Faslia, with his Rugova fighters, joined in and confronted the Montenegrin forces and defeated them at the battle of Mokna. Sak Fasli and his fighters continued the struggle throughout the period during the Serbian occupation of Kosovo. There were rarely any periods of peace.

World War 2
With the invasion of Yugoslavia in Versaille in 1941, the Albanian lands were divided between Germany, Italy and Bulgaria. the Rugova province was part of the prefecture of Pec (Peje) and belonged to the Italian protector and alater to the German. The Albanians were granted freedom during the Axis power. In 1941, in Peja, at the end of June, Albanian forces led by Major Rexhep Gilani and Kole Bibe Mirakaj with the intention to defend the border agaiinst Montenegrin forces. They were joined by Kosovar-Albanian irregulars and volunteers. Later Sak Faslia met up with the military administration of the government of Peje. Major Kole Bibe Mirakaj entitled Sak Faslia as commander of the defensive forces against Montenegro and told him that "You are the grandson of Sali Jaha, the bajraktar of Rugova, and you are destined to fight for your land, we believe that you will fight bravely". He was then given military decorations. Shortly the forces under Sak Faslia and the Albanian army units were deployed on the border line of Morina. The Montenegrin invasions were halted by the Albanian forces and were defeated several times to which Keniq Vukosava, the Montenegrin commander, decided to try and assassinate Sak Faslia from behind but failed. Montenegrin forces attacked Velika Morina, Zhanice, Pepaj, and Nokshiq (Serb: Niksic). Volunteer forces numbered 3000 and forced the Montenegrins to withdraw.

Novi Pazar
On November 4, 1941, Chetnik forces attacked Novi Pazar (see Bislim Bajgora) and the attack was repented by the Albanian volunteers. Volunteers also came from Istog, (Alb: Burimi), Mitrovica and Drenica. The forces of Drenica were led by Miftar Bajraktari and Cen Bajraktari, as well as Shaban Polluzha and Mehmet Gradica. Montenegrin forces attacked Velika Morin then in Zhanicë, Pepaj Nokshiq. Volunteer forces in 3000 reached its opposed and forced the enemy to withdraw forces. After that victory on its own Saku turned back at the border. The forces around the border of Peja numbered 6000 and waged wars against the Chetniks in Novi Pazar. During the fight Sak Faslia was wounded in the leg.

Death
After a certain time in the hospital, Rugova returned to the front to protect the border. The heads of the Albanian government, Mustafa Kruja, visited Kosovo in 1942. He met up with Sak Faslia and decorated him with the title of "Defender of the Border". He was given another decoration with the letters SFBR meaning "Sak Faslia Bajraktar Of Rugova. In 1944, 30th of April, Sak Faslia was injured but continued to fight. He died at the Montenegrin border during an Montenegrin attack the same year in the Mountains of Smilovica. His last words were "Oh hold up, you Montenegrins. We shall never let go of our lands, for here we call it Rugova." He was buried in the mountains at the Albanian-Montenegrin borders.

In 2004, at the 60th anniversary of the death of Sak Faslia, he was remembered and celebrated by Ibrahim Rugova who gave him the title of "Hero of the Nation".