Prek Cali

Prek Cali or Prenk Cali was a bayraktar of the Kelmendi Catholic clan in the northern Albanian region near Vermosh, protector of Albanian border and anti-communist. Born in Vermosh, he fought in the Battle of Deçiq against the Ottoman Empire, and later against the Kingdom of Serbia, and finally against the communist forces under Enver Hoxha. Hoxha had him lured and killed him on Palm Sunday.

Conflict with Zog's government
After fall of the Fan Stilian Noli cabinet, Cali came in conflict with Ahmet Zogu(1895-1961) while trying to establish some sort of autonomy for the Kelmendi Catholic region out of the Albanian state. Later the two would reconcile after Zog concentrated power on his hands and the separatist movements were not a thread anymore.

Plav and Gusinje
At the beginning of the Second World Prek Cali had between 200 and 1,200  armed men around Vermosh under his command. He took control over Plav and Gusinje in 1941, before Italian forces occupied it.

Cali participated in the Italian counteroffensive in August 1941, during the Uprising in Montenegro. Italian General Alessandro Pirzio Biroli reported that Albanian forces from Vermosh commanded by Cali supported Division Venezia that advanced from Podgorica to insurgent-controlled Kolašin and Andrijevica and re-occupied them despite fierce resistance.

Comumnist propaganda
For a long time, communists wrote false facts about Prek Cali, which were supported by Yugoslavian communists which supported Enver Hoxha theory, many author wrote about his history which were based on Albanian communist propaganda, during Communism in Albania he was known as a traitor of Nation and Enver Hoxha airbrushed out Cali from history, but after fall of communism he is estimated as a National Hero, and Martyr of Democracy. After Cali's death communists claimed that he opposed muslim Albanians, but that was untrue because Cali had good relations with Albanian muslims, he fought along side Hamëz Kuçi, Hamid Gjylbegu (which were muslim Albanians )in battle of Koplik in 1920 against Yugoslavia, he had good relations with Bajram Curri. Mehdi Frashëri, Albanian politician who was Prime Minister of Albania's Quisling government under Nazi Germany, after Cali's death, Albanian and Yugoslavian communists disseminated stories about Prëk Cali being a fascist, enemy of Albania, and secret supporter of Chetniks. Such accounts were untrue because Prëk Cali and his whole family fought together with Kelemendi tribe against 800 Serbian partisans, and in August 1912 protected the northern borders of Albania. After fall of communism Dr. Luigj Martini wrote the real history of Prek Cali according to ocular witness's and real facts, also the cooperation with Chetniks was propaganda thrilled by Albanian-Yugoslavian communist alliance. Mehmet Shehu, Albanian communist invited Cali to join them, and promised him to announce him as the great hero, but Cali refused to join them, because Albanian communists were allied with Yugoslavia.

Communist theory
Communists used many false facts about Prek Cali, which were supported by Yugoslavian communists which supported Enver Hoxha, many author wrote about his history which were based on Albanian communist propaganda, during Communism in Albania, he was known as a traitor of Nation. After fall of communism in Albania, communist theory was denied.

According to Yugoslavian literature based on instructions of Draža Mihailović, Chetnik officer Rudolf Perhinek established the communication with leader of Albanian Catholics of northern Albania. Prek Cali invited Chetnik officer Marko Vučeljić to have a meeting in Vermosh.

According to Perhinek, Prek Cali was politically opposed to the Muslims from Kosovo and he openly admitted that he used Cali to inspire conflicts between Catholics and Muslims in northern Albania, that was untrue because Cali had good relations with Albanian muslims, he fought along side Hamëz Kuçi, Hamid Gjylbegu (which were muslim Albanians )in battle of Koplik in 1920 against Yugoslavia, he had good relations with Bajram Curri.

Marko accepted Cali's invitation and sent his brother Tomo to meet with him above Vermosh. Despite communist propaganda all facts prove that Prëk Cali had never friendly contacts with Serbian Chetniks or Fascist.

Chetnik captain Marko Vučeljić established Chetnik military base in Vermosh.

Prek Cali was blood brother of Chetnik commander Pavle Đurišić.

Pavle Đurišić was transferred to Plav in 1939, after Italian occupation of Albania, and was given a task to establish and maintain intelligence network to be used in case of Axis attack on Yugoslavia. This network was not much helpful during Axis invasion of Yugoslavia but was successfully used for struggle against communists in Montenegro and Albania. Pavle Đurišić successfully agreed Prek Cali's support and bases for Chetniks on the territory of northern Albania, Plav and Gusinje. Draža Mihailović paid money to Prek Cali for his services and also delivered him some arms. In April 1944 Chetnik commanders reported to Mihailović that Prek Cali distinguished himself by supporting Chetniks, not only through providing Chetniks with accommodation in Vermosh but also trough participation with a number of his men on Chetnik side in the campaign Chetniks undertook towards Andrijevica, sometimes with Vulnetari from Plav and Gusinje.

At the end of 1944 Prek Cali was a member of delegation sent by Đurišić to agree with Albanian government the safe retreat of Chetniks to Greece through Albania. According to one Chetniks' account, at the meeting with members of the Albanian government, Albanian prince appointed Cali as member of Albanian delegation responsible to define technical details of the agreement after Đurišić first informs Mihailović about it. Chetniks laughed at this and stated that prince took away Prek Cali from Chetnik delegation, which is a guarantee that everything will be arranged properly.

Death and aftermath
By the end of the Second World War, the main military and political force of the country (the communist partisans) concentrated to the north of Albania to destroy the anti-communist forces and to eliminate their rivals. They met an open resistance in Nikaj-Mërtur (adjacent region in Tropojë District), Dukagjin and Kelmend, which chieftains were openly anti-Communists. In January 15, 1945, a battle between partisans of the first Brigade (supported later by 23rd and 24th Brigade plus Yugoslav partisan forces) and anti-communist forces was fought at Tamara Bridge. Partisan forces lost 52 partisans; conse­quently, their communist terror was unmatched. About 150 Kelmendi people were kil­led, burnt alive, had their eyeballs out, were buried in holes or cruelly tortured. Their leader Prek Cali was surrounded in a cave in Vukël for a week; after that he surrendered. He was executed by communists on Palm Sunday feast.

After fall of communism in Albania, Prëk Cali was decorated and honored with the Medal "Martyr of Democracy" in 1993 by President of Albania Sali Berisha. Seven years later, in 2010, actual President of Albania Bujar Nishani honored him with Order "Honor of Nation". In 2000 the monument of Prek Cali was set put in Shkodër.

In literature and arts
Mihailo Lalić mentioned Cali in his novel "Pramen Tame" and short story "Posljednje brdo".