Labour camp for prisoners and internment site.
It operated as a labour camp for prisoners from 1953 to 1955, when Camp no. 2 convicts worked to open the Vjosë – Levan – Fier irrigation canal in Shtyllas. In 1953, internees from barbed-wire camps were sent there, as these camps were closed by law, but since there were prisoners working here, internees continued to be surrounded by barbed wire.
In 1954, 1011 convicts and 47 internees worked at the camp. The unit guard staff was made of 56 people. At the time, Camp 3 operated along with Camp 2.
The camp stayed in Shtyllas until 18 March 1955. In January 1955 there was a total of 715 political and 172 ordinary convicts, amounting to 887 prisoners overall.
A special story is told of this camp: the brave attempt of political convicts to escape the Shtyllas Camp. Around June 1954, they built a tunnel 25 metres underground, through which they would be able to escape. Using the fact that the sleeping areas were underground, they had the opportunity to dig out the soil. Three Greeks were included in the group, internees or prisoners. They would then lead the way to Greece. The brave attempt failed at the second metre, as convict Dhimitër Zonjatis was caught in action on 07 September 1954, digging in the beds of his two mates Syrja Zenelaj and Duke Gremi. The place chosen was a good spot, as it was opposite the camp gate. The canal had been dug by knives and pickaxes. The soil would be taken out with a wooden suitcase. For this brave act, the Gjirokastra Territorial Martial Court, which operated in Vlora, convicted on 23 November 1954 the following persons:
1-Nexhi Ago Nexha (born in 1930) from Nivica, convicted for escape in 1950. Sentenced to 21 years in prison.
2-Syrja Toto Zenelaj (1930) from Kuç, convicted for escape in 1949. Sentenced to 25 years in prison.
3-Maksut Mustafa Kalemaj (1921) from Kocul, Vlora, convicted for selling grain in 1951. Sentenced to 22 years in prison.
4-Muharrem Bektash Llanaj (1912) from Levan,Tepelena, convicted for agitation, former comrade of Vojo Kushi, the only person who came out alive from the Kodra e Kuqe Battle in Tirana. Sentenced to 25 years in prison.
5-Duke Ramadan Gremi(1933) from Belin, Fier, convicted for housing criminals in 1950. Sentenced to 12 years in prison.
6-Dhimitër Andrea Zanjoti (1925), born in Corfu, who came as a Greek immigrant in 1949, convicted for escape. Sentenced to 10 years in prison.
7-Kristo Jorgji Aleksi (1924), born in nëJaninë, Greek democrat (communist), convicted for an escape attempt. Sentenced to 8 years in prison.
8-Serafinos Kosta Safo (1917), born in Vollo, interned Greek. Declared as innocent.”
This camp remained an internment site until the collapse of the communist regime.
Prisoners:
- Dom Mikel Koliqi
- Ibrahim Sokoli
- Tefik Bekteshi
- Mark Temali
- Nexhi Ago Nexha
- Syrja Toto Zenelaj
- Maksut Mustafa Kalemaj
- Muharrem Bektash Llanaj
- Duke Ramadan Gremi
- Dhimitër Andrea Zanjoti
- Kristo Jorgji Aleksi
- Serafinos Kosta Safo