In certain periods, when discipline in the camp was exerted more aggressively and prisoners revolted more, violence and punishments also increased. In these cases, when several prisoners were punished at once, up to six or seven prisoners were put together in a single cell, who considering the very confined space of these cells, could not even sit or straighten their feet on the ground.

Temperature in pyrite tunnels changed extremely compared to temperature out of tunnels, where prisoners got out to empty their wagons. Inside, temperatures varied from 50 to 60 degrees Celsius, whereas winter temperatures hit -20 degrees Celsius outside. In winter, prisoners worked naked inside the tunnels, whereas outside they wore fur coats they stored at the entrance to protect themselves somewhat from the extreme change of temperature. This was the cause that the predominant disease of the camp was the cold. It accompanied prisoners for as long as they were forced to live in that hell.

If a convict was serving the last days of his sentence, he was never sure he would really be released. It was not uncommon for Spaç convicts to be arrested in the camp, too, sent to the interrogation office at Rrëshen’s Interior Branch and be judged on all kinds of charges, such as escape attempt, agitation and propaganda, violence towards prison command etc. Charges were almost always trumped up and evidence was collected by spy inmates. The majority of re-convictions were for agitation and propaganda.

Afternoon at the camp for first-shift prisoners continued after roll call with what was called ideological education. In the camp library, the literature and press of the Labor Party of Albania was read. We learn from many testimonies that this process started from 05:10 pm to 7:30 pm. For the prisoners of conscience, this was another form of psychological violence.

This is a view of the prisoners’ cafeteria in the ‘70s.After performing their morning routine in the toilet, prisoners who started first shift would hurry to the cafeteria to have breakfast and go to work.   At 6:00 am, all prisoners who’d work first shift had to have finished their breakfast and be ready to go to the tunnels.For the first shift that worked in the mines, breakfast was soup with seasonal vegetables and sometimes a little meat.But this menu did not apply to those working above ground or in supporting sectors, as they had a poorer diet and they never had meat.