Albanian Refugees in Italy Giovama Campani

In March 1991 the Albanian exodus to and lack of confidence in the democra- creating a purely autarchical socialist Italy involved over 20,000 refugees, who tization process and in those who were country. Enver Hodja, who was the hero arrived in precarious and rotten boats. supposed to promote it.' It is also of the Resistance against the Germans They waited in the rain and wind in the possible that this mass migration is the and Italians, as well as the leader of the bay of Brindisi to be allowed to stay, but Albanian government's manoeuvre to Party of Work (the name of the the Italian government was cynically pressure the West, and particularly Italy, Communist Party in Albania), broke indifferent to them. into giving them more help. relations with Tito and turned to Stalin. In August 1991desperate Albanians But apart from these reasons, this Later he refused to "de-Stalinize," and jumpedinto the sea from a crowded ship, exodus can be seen as an explosion of took the China's side against the the Valona, as it came into Bari harbour. claustrophobia (Colafato 1992) in people Russians. China was Albania's main But this time, the Italian government's who were confined within a small partner until 1978 when it stopped reaction, which may have been country for forty years. These people do providing military and economic aid condoned by other European states, not wish to wait any longer for change in because of ideological and political went far beyond indifference. These conflicts. Albania was always portrayed people were all sent back. Since then the as the "bright spot" of world socialism in Adriatic Sea, which divides Albania It seems paMd0xica.l that official propaganda. One refugee from Italy, is guarded day and night. As when the Albanian interviewed in the study commented: Ruotolo (1992) said, "the sea as a place of freedom or transit towards freedom has government wants to join the I thought that Yugoslavia was not a become inaccessible for Albanians." Western democratic world, Communist country any more. They told Italian patrol vessels, military ships the Werrequests that us that it wascommunist until 1948, then and coastguardstry to prevent any flight. it changed its way because it was no longer Albanian harbours are watched by Albanian citizens be in agreement with Enver Hodja. Until 1960 we were friends with Russia, then soldiers. Still, illegal immigrants manage restricted inside the country they told us that Russia had also changed to reach Italy, as on July 7 when a boat and even shot ifthey attempt its way. Hodja was frmds with China. with 109 men, women and children on Then when Mao died, that finished too. board tried to force its way into Italian to get out. And they told us that we were the only waters. All of them were sent back. bright spot. It seems paradoxical that when the Albanian government wants to join the Albania. It is certainly difficult to This change of ideologicaland trade Western democratic world, the latter generalize, but refugees' statements to partners had a devastating effect on the requests that Albanian citizens be journalists at the time of their arrival and counby's already weak e~onomy.~The restricted inside the country and even comments made during the indepth results were outdated industries and shot if they attempt to get out. Albanians interviews we conducted: express this technology, poor agriculture, hard have obtained the right to vote, but they sense of claustrophobia and wish to working conditions, no contacts with the have not obtained the right to leave their enjoy a way of life known only through rest of the world and widespread country or to travel. Albania is still a huge Italian tele~ision.~We did not encounter poverty. The government's attempt to jail, as it was at the time of Enver Hodja. the will to fight for changein Albania and remain ideologically pure did not to construct a new country during any of succeed either. Despite the propaganda, Reasons for the Flight the interviews conducted between young people were sceptical of socialist ' November and December 1991. Only in principles and would rather have In no other Eastern European country some very recent interviews conducted consumer goods. has the end of Communist dictatorship in May 1992 was the will to go back to The regime's crisis began after been accompanied by such large-scale Albania expressed. Enver Hodja's death on April 11, 1985, emigration. There are different reasons Albania's recent history partly but it only became evident five years for it: economic disaster, fear of civil war explains these attitudes. This country later. In 1985 Rarniz Alia became the new seems to be suspended in time (Ferraris Secretaryof the Party of Workand began Giovanna Campani teaches at the Universitb degli 1991).It was isolated from the rest of the modest liberalization, a kind of Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy world by Enver Hodja's dream of "Albanian Spring," following the

Refuge, Vol. 12, No. 4 (October 1992) 7 examples of other East European exodus are also very complex. There was In March 1991 the Italian gov- countries and especially that of a rumour that there were boats in ernment received 26,000 refugees and Gorbachev's perestroika, but this relative Albanian harbours to take people toItaly. found them places to stay. Only one boat liberalization resulted in an economic The same rumours sparked the exodus went back to Albania. Although crisis, and living conditions began to get in August 1991 and the most recent one Albanian refugees are beginning to worse. of 10,000 people who wanted toleave the realize that the myth of Italy does not In July 1990 approximately 5,000 Albanian harbour of Diirres on July 7 correspond to reality, they have nowhere people occupied different European and 8,1992. else to go. Italy is the closest European embassies in Tirana. Thanks to How can these rumours be country and a gate to Europe, both in a international intervention, 4,500 explained? Were they manufactured by metaphoric and geographic sense. As Albanians arrived in Brindisi on July 13. the government to push people out of the one refugee said, "I would have liked to They were brought from Tirana to country and to show the world the extent go to Germany, but I could not get a Diirres. Most of them will not stay in of Albania's misery? Were there visa-the embassy was always closed. Italy. They will go to Germany, which information networks to link those who There was no choice but to emigrate to agreed to take them. It was the only wanted to leave withownersofboats?Or Italy or to Greece. I wanted to go to Germany. I was in Austria to study and - I speak the language." Although Albanian refigees are beginning to realize that the So the exodus continued between myth of Italy does not correspond to reality, they have nowhere March and August 1991. Most of the rafts else to go. Italy k the closest European country and a gate to were stopped and people were sent back--often in a harsh way--after an Europe, both in a metaphoric and geogmphic sense. exhausting trip (DIAngelis 1992). In August 1991 there was another mass exodus. This time, the myth of Italy was "planned" exodus and the only time was it an explosion of claustrophobia that definitely shattered. Albanians when Albanians were received and occurred when it seemed possible that a understood that they could be sent back consequently treated as political dream might become reality for people in the most humiliating way. Still, there refugees in Italy. After the "crisis of the who lost hope for the future? were new attempts to leave in July 1992. embassies," the exodus continued Regardless of the origin of the As one refugee explained, "There is slowly. People leave individually or in rumours, they prompted people to rush nothing to do in Albania, at least for small groups, sometimes by boat or to the harbours without taking any of twenty years." "How many years willgo plane. It is still possible toget touristvisas their possessions. They squeezed in the by before Albania becomes rich, in some European embassies. It is easier boats. People who lived in the ports of democratic and prosperous? We will be to get an Italian visa than a French or a Diirres andvalona had abetter chance of old and Europe will always be better," German one, even though it is necessary getting on the boats first. From the said another Albanian refugee. Western to wait for a few months. It is quite northern town of Diirres boats went to aid is not sufficient. It is just enough to difficult but not impossible to obtain a Valona and left for Brindisi and Otranto. enable the country to survive. The passport, especially for those who are Most Albanian immigrants in Italy are victory of SaliBerisha's Democratic Party not well-known dissidents, or for those from Diirres and Valona. has not performed any miracles. The who pay bribes or have friends in the Protests against the government are West did not give any more aid just ministries or in the Party. the strongest in urban areas. Rural Al- because the Democratic Party won the By March 1991 the economic bania is still supportive of the Party of election. situation continued to deteriorate and Work. Ramiz Alia and the Party of Work there was still much politicaluncertainty. will win in the elections, thanks to rural Attitudes of the Italian Govern- On December 1, 1990 Ramiz Alia voters. ment and the Italian Population promised free elections on February 10, Because of the Italian government's to the Albanian Exodus 1991. On December 12, the Democratic negligence, Albanians met bad con- Party was founded. But on January 16, ditions in Brindisi during their first few If in March the Italian government 1992 Ramiz Alia rescheduled the days, but the government'sresponse was adopted a cynical and neglectfulattitude, elections for the end of March, and on compensated for by the generous in August it used a "mixture of force and February 20 he formed a new attitudeof the Italian people, or at least of astuteness" (Rusconi 1991) to send back government. those living inBrindisi and Otranto.Most the Albanians, which provoked shame The March exodus was a response of the Albanians whom we and some among the Italians. Paolo Giuntella to the uncertainty and insecurity within journalistsinterviewed felt grateful to the (1991) wrote, "It is one of the most the country a few weeks before the people of Brindisi and Otranto. Only a shameful pages of our recent history." elections. However, the dynamics of the few complained of exploitation. No real effort was made to communicate

Refuge, Vol. 12, No. 4 (October 1992)

--- - with the Albanians or to analyse Italian will push many Albanians to become August, the situation was different. The public opinion. In fact, the media illegal immigrants in order to avoid impending war in Yugoslavia produced expressed hardly any opposition to restrictions. much anxiety, since it promised to receiving the refugees. Only one At the end of October 1991, provoke mass flights. Furthermore, newspaper, Zl Manifesto, suggested that Margherita Boniver announced that difficulties created by the first exodus perhaps receiving 20,000 or wen 40,000 among 24,157 Albanians, 645 obtained reduced solidarity to a minimum. Still, people was not so dramatic, considering political refugee status (17,718 had Colafato (1991) insists, present socio- what other countries had done solicited it); 2,715 were sent back; 315 cultural processes in Italian society leave (Germany with East Germans and were expelled; 9,452 found jobs; 711 room for attitudes of solidarity, but tend Turkey and Iran with Kurds). For the rest found vocational training courses; and much more towards defending ,indi- of the press, it was more or less clear that approximately 8,000 had not yet found vidual welfare and particular interests. the arrival of so many people would jobs. The rest became illegalimmigrants. provoke crises in social services, the Although theMinisterof Emigration and A Sea and a Prison labour market and everyday life. In February 1990 Law 39 (known as "I left Albania for personal reasons. I like the Martelli Law), which sets new 'Yt is so close! We would go the Communist theory-no rich, no procedures for immigration, was for a weekend and come poor-I like it, but I didn't like my town. adopted. One generous provision of this back and work here. But if I wanted to see the world and to cross the law allowed 223,000 illegal immigrants, sea," said a young Albanian fromDiirres, mainly from Third World countries, to we go, we cannot get out." who arrived in Italy ir? March 1991 and obtain residence and work permits. The who is now living in Portocannone, law also established procedures for Immigration was pleased with the Molise, a small Italian-Albanian village. regulatingimmigrationinthefuture. The results, she did not wish to accept more His case is certainly exceptional: in our immigrantintake for 19% was set at zero. Albanians. In fact, she approved of the thrty-four interviews, he is the only one The mass arrivalof Albanians forced treatment Albanians received in August who considers himself a Communist and the government to review this plan, and and contended: is favourable to Communist theory. Still, in March Albanians received temporary his case is interesting: he wanted to permits that were valid until July 15, "We were able to respond quickly to the travel, to see the world, to cross the sea he 1991. If they found jobs or vocational dramatic events of last August. In the had seen since his childhood.To do so, he training courses by then, the permits meantime, political conditions in Albania had to get in a crowded boat, risk his life would become permanent in agreement changed as a democratic government was at sea and be humiliated by the Italian with the provisions of the Martelli Law. formed, which gave an opportunity to all the main politicalforces to participate. By government. Other refugees told us that In April the Italian government repatriating 17,476 Albanians from they would go back to Albania every establishedanew Ministryof Emigration August 8-13, and another 3,400 month if they could. "It is so close! We and Immigration, headed by Margherita (including 700 soldiers) on August 17, we would go for a weekend and come back Boniver, a socialist deputy. On May 11, were able to show respect to Law 39/90" and work here. But if we go, we cannot Margherita Boniver was also designated (Boniver 1991). get out." an "Extraordinary Commissary for the On September 4, 1991, the Italian Albanian Emergency," replacing the What Boniver refers to as "respect to government, in agreement with the former Minister for Civil Protection. Law 39 / 90" translated into terrible Albanian government, decided to create In early March, it was decided to images of Albanians trapped in a the XXII Navy Group to prevent another disperse Albanians throughout the stadium and being thrown sandwiches, mass exodus. Two coastguard patrol country instead of keeping them in as if they were animals. Many were taken vessels (vedettes)stay inDurres harbour. Puglia. In May there were still over 9,000 away in the middle of the night. They There is also an Italian ship and Italian Albanians in the Puglia, so Margherita included children who found Italian headquarters. One hundred Italian Boniver had to accelerate their families ready to take them. Shameful as soldiers watch the Albanian Sea. The resettlement in other regions. The these memories are to many Italians, XXII Navy Group works with Albanian attitudes of local authorities in these nevertheless even the public failed to ships. Since August, the Albanian regions varied. Some were generous and show as much hospitality to the authoritieshave required ships to anchor did everythmg to find lodging and work Albanians in August as they did in in roadstead to prevent exodus. The for Albanians, while others refused to March. Italian vedettes patrol 300 km of the take them. Colafato (1991) explains this Albanian coastline. The Albanian Albanians lived under the threat of difference by relating the Albanians' soldiers control the harbours. On July 7, expulsion. Eventually, their temporary arrival in March to the Gulf War. After 1992 10,000 Albanians protested against status was extended to July31and finally the trauma of a homble war, the public this tight control and were shot at by the to March 1992, but fear of being sent back expressed an "after-war solidarity." In soldiers.

Xefuge, Vol. 12, No. 4 (October 1992) 9 Albanians in Italy 3. The importance of Italian television in creating the Italian myth in Albania has In general, the present situation of the been emphasizedby many observers and 24,000 Albanians in Italy is no longer as journalists. Albanianrefugeesreferredto desperate asit was earlier. Many of them Italian television when they explained how they gained knowledge of Italy. It found work in agriculture in the South. was not by chance that in March 1991the In CentralandNorthemItaly, they found director of an Italian channel felt it was workin construction, small factories and his duty to explain to Albanians that janitorial services. Local authorities, Italian reality is not the one that appeared despite the negative attitudes of some, on television. assisted Albanians in findingwork They 4. The level of development is not found warm reception in Italian- comparable to that of other former Albanian villages. The fact that Albania sodalist countries. In Albania 50 percent is so close could make travel to and from of the population worked in agriculture Italy easy if there were no barriers. in 1988, 66 percent were rural. In Migrants could play an important role in Romania it was 22 percent and 49 the development of Albania. Seasonal percent, respectively; in Poland 22 percent and 39 percent; in Bulgaria 14 migration could be a solution for some percent and 34 percent @e Agostini people. The Albanian immigrants 1991). Albanian cities are quite small. interviewed last May were critical of the Tiranancounts, the capital, has only violence and drug problems in Italy. 225,000 inhabitants; Diirres 80,000 and They lamented for a more simple life. Valona 70,000 @e Agostini 1991). The Some were thinking of going back. total population in Albania is Let's hope that in the not-too-distant approximately three million people. future the Adriatic Sea will become a place of exchange, crossed not by References vedettes and military ships or by rafts of Boniver, M. "Relazione sull'attuazione delle desperate people, but by boats of people norme urgenti in manteria di asilo at home on both sides of the water. rn politico, di ingress0 e soggiorno di cittadini exra-comunutari e di regolarizzazione dei cittadini extra- Notes comuniatri e apolidi gi& presenti nel 1. Some people in the present government, territori nazionale." In Vita Italiana like Ramiz Alia, used to be in Enver Specinle (511991):7-40. Hodja's government. Carnpani, G. "L'immigration en provenance In October 1991 I began research on des pays de YEst vers l'Italie. Le cas de eastern immigration in Italy. The goal Yimmigration albanaise." In Hommes et was to conduct about fifty qualitative Migrations (Juin 1992). interviews in Tuscany, Liguria and Colafato, M. "Le onde albanesi e la riva Emilia-Romagna. I hoped to conduct italiana." In I1 Mulino, no. 6 (November- return interviews with some people to December 1991):1072-1081. see how they integrated. Unfortunately, it was possible to interview only twenty- De Agostini. Guide geografice, Novara, 1991. five people, twelve of whom were D'Angelis, E. "Fuggire dall'Albania. Diario Albanians. In May we interviewed other di Sconfitti." In L'impero del mare, I1 refugees, including six Albanians. All the Manifesto del mese, no. 5 (1992):X-25. Albanians were living in Tuscany (Florence, Signa, Scandicce). At the same Ferraris, S. "L'altra sponda del mare." In time, a student from my department did Arancia Blu (April 1991):7-11. research on the Albanians in Girntella, P. "Italiani Braba gente." In Portocannone, a small village in the Senzaconfine, nos. 68,69,70,71,72 (1991). Molise, foundedby Albanian refugees of Ruotolo, G. "Zattere di speranza per gli Skanderberg in the fifteenth century. The Albanesi." In L'impero del mare (1992):23. student conducted sixteen interviews. Although our methodologies were Rusconi, G.E. Introduzione of conregno, different, we were still able to compare Immipione in Europe impatco culturale e results. In the article I referred to thirty- probelem ol'cittasliusune. Rome: Goethe four interviews, and I also made use of Institut, 34/12/1992. press releases.

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