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Bishqem Camp

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Emri Bishqem Camp
Vendndodhja: Elbasan
Viti i Ndërtimit: 1950
Viti i Mbylljes: 1950
Burimi i Informacionit: Burgjet dhe kampet e Shqipërisë komuniste, Kastriot Dervishi, ISKK

Bishqem is a village of Elbasan, a place where the Peqin-Elbasan railway passes. In 1950, it was considered as one of the most important forced labor camps. On 30 January 1950, prisoners were taken to the constructed camps.

Around 800 prisoners were taken to the camp in very harsh living conditions. Work placement was unorganized whereas prisoners were inexperienced for the type of work they would perform. In the assigned work site, hard work was performed such as transport of gravel (more than 100 meters by wheel cart), carrying of rails, connectors. According to the data, more than 65,000 workdays were performed. Profit figures are large, but the documented amount is corrected and is not clearly legible. Prisoners were also exploited to open the railway tunnel in the most primitive of conditions. The work continued further and it took 40,040 workdays to open the tunnel, followed by other works. In September 1950, the prisoners of this site were transferred to the Beden Camp.