Nes Com. Au
November 4, 20156:37am
La Vlora, leaving the Albanian port city of Durres in 1991.
IT WAS a hot day in August, 1991, when Adrian Kokthi decided to risk it all.
He
and two mates climbed aboard a rickety old truck packed to the brim
with Albanians searching for a better life, amidst the chaos that was
the volatile nation at the time.He rode for 85km — from Kucove to the port city of Durres — on the bonnet, holding on to the headlight for dear life. He’d never seen anything so crowded, at least not until he arrived at port.
There, 40m off shore, La Vlora bobbed up and down and its cargo — 20,000 Albanians — squeezed shoulder-to-shoulder into every available inch of space.
They filled the cabins and hung from the sides of the giant ship. It was “torture”, but it was better than home, where the whole country was imploding.
Mr Kokthi, 22, was dreaming of a better life in Italy when he jumped from the dock and started swimming.
A truck like this one carried Mr Kokthi and his friends to port.Source:Supplied
When he reached the top, he realised there was no room for him. The ship sailed across the Strait of Otranto with him holding on to the ladder for most of the journey.
“It was a long time sailing, it was like torture,” the 46-year-old told news.com.au.
“It was packed, we were like sardines, but everybody had dreams, different dreams.”
Images of La Vlora’s voyage emerged on social media last week, but the story was completely different. The pictures were attached to a narrative about WWII. The authors declared the migrants were fleeing Europe for Africa.
That’s obviously false, but the pictures were shared thousands of times regardless.
Mr Kokthi says it’s about time people hear the real story, one that changed his life forever.
Absolute chaos: Migrants searching for a better life in Italy, 1991.Source:Supplied
Things were changing in Albania in 1991 and not for the better.
Elections left the communist-backed Labour Party of Albania in power but a coalition government was soon formed and decades of communism gave way to a new outlook.
With change came social unrest. Mr Kokthi said Albania imploded.
“Everything was shut down, the whole country. The economy collapsed, factories were
closing, there was nothing to do there. We couldn’t see a future there.”
Mass departures from Adriatic ports followed and huge crowds gathered to board overcrowded ships. That’s where Mr Kokthi’s story started.
On board, he said it was hard to breathe. He said there were people with guns and no food, water or shelter.
“I have never seen so many people. My God. The boat was fully loaded.”
He doesn’t quite remember how long it took to reach the Italian port of Bari.
Official records say it was no more than 36 hours, but it must have seemed like a lifetime.
When the ship docked, it was absolute chaos.
“People were jumping from the ship and using ropes to get off. Police were everywhere but they weren’t ready for us. There was no way they were ready for so many people,” Mr Kokthi said.
Many escaped into Italy, but others waited to be processed. It was a long and arduous journey that ended in a packed football stadium without food and without order.
Incredible scenes at Bari, Italy, in 1991.Source:Supplied
Almost 20,000 people were transported from the port to an empty stadium. There, they waited to be processed, but they would eventually all be returned to Albania.
Inside the stadium it was every man for himself. Mr Kokthi remembers food being delivered and then everything going wrong.
“The Italian personnel brought food and tables and everything to the stadium and tried to make sure women and children line up first. Some people lost patience,” he said.
“They start pushing around and everything got out of control. A man in uniform pushed somebody out of the way. A guy got pissed off, went into a room and grabbed a piece of wood and came back and hit the man in uniform like hitting a baseball. He collapsed right away to the floor.”
Adrian Kokthi today.Source:Supplied
Adrian Kokthi dreaming of a better life in 1994.Source:Supplied
At one point, shots were fired inside the stadium and a group of people ran into the stands. Their collective weight caused the stands to collapse.
Mr Kokthi said he wanted to be processed, but a government decision to return everybody to Albania left him without a choice. He says he and others were treated with respect and with love by the people they met, despite other reports.
It wasn’t the end of the line for Mr Kokthi’s journey. He would return to Albania to complete his fifth year of university before taking a job in Canada. He is now a high school teacher, happily married and living in Toronto. He admits it was tough to become part of the community initially, but he was determined to take on Canadian values, and is happy in his new home.
Migrants “disembark” La Vlora, many injuring themselves on the way down. Picture: Ferdinando Scianna/Magnum PhotosSource:Supplied
Watching millions of people flee from their homes in Syria reminds Mr Kokthi of his own journey, though he admits the two are starkly different.
“It wasn’t about a threat the way Syrians are facing,” he said.
“For them, it’s far, far worse. We left because we wanted a better future. They leave now because they want to exist.”
He said he hopes for the best for those fleeing war.
“I can empathise with their situation. I imagine what they’re going through; kids and women and fathers, trying to make a better life. I know what that’s like. I was very scared.”
Mr Kokthi said he hopes governments don’t turn their backs on those in need.
“I have the feeling that politicians are disconnected from real life in Europe. It’s their politics they can do anything they want. It’s not my business, but I hope they don’t just turn their backs.”
He said he received help, eventually, and he wouldn’t be where he is today without it.
“We’re happy here, even though it’s far away.”
No comments:
Post a Comment