IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author): “Update to ALB43163.E of 19 November 2004 concerning "Miaionaret E Paques Dhe Pajtimeve Te Shqiperse" (The Peace Missionaries of Albania); whether this is a government-funded organization; to whom does the organization report; founders of this organization; their mission; whether the "missionaries of reconciliation" are volunteers or salaried employees of this organization; whether victims of blood feuds pay any fees to missionaries; whether the cost of a working day for a "missionary" is from 1000 to 1500 leks; whether this organization has taken over the files of the former "Peace Missionaries' Union of Albania" whose Chair/Head was Emin Spahija; whether the Committee of Nationwide Reconciliation is a government-funded organization; when was it founded who is its chairman and to whom he reports (November 2004-February 2005) [ALB43380.E]”, Document #1151772

Update to ALB43163.E of 19 November 2004 concerning "Miaionaret E Paques Dhe Pajtimeve Te Shqiperse" (The Peace Missionaries of Albania); whether this is a government-funded organization; to whom does the organization report; founders of this organization; their mission; whether the "missionaries of reconciliation" are volunteers or salaried employees of this organization; whether victims of blood feuds pay any fees to missionaries; whether the cost of a working day for a "missionary" is from 1000 to 1500 leks; whether this organization has taken over the files of the former "Peace Missionaries' Union of Albania" whose Chair/Head was Emin Spahija; whether the Committee of Nationwide Reconciliation is a government-funded organization; when was it founded who is its chairman and to whom he reports (November 2004-February 2005) [ALB43380.E]

The Peace Missionaries of Albania

According to the head of another organization working in the field of blood feud reconciliation, the Tirana-based Committee of Nationwide Reconciliation (CNR), "Miaionaret E Paques Dhe Pajtimeve Te Shqiperse" (the Peace Missionaries of Albania) were founded by Mustafë Daija, "last year [2004]," after the death of Emin Spahija (head of the Peace Missionaries' Union) (9 March 2005; CNR 10 March 2005a).

The same source said that the chairman of the Peace Missionaries of Albania "is interested [in] hav[ing] the files of [the] late [...] Emin Spahija" (CNR 9 March 2005). The organization's name is slightly different, and according to CNR, people in Northern Albania do not consider the organization to be credible: "[T]rue missionaries don't work with these associations" (ibid. 10 March 2005a). No info could be found as to whom the chairman of the Peace Missionaries of Albania reports.

The Director of the Albanian Foundation for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation of Disputes (CRRD) stated that the organization of Emin Spahija, "Misionarët e Paqes dhe të Pajtimit në Shqipëri" stopped operating after his murder (9 March 2005). Country Reports 2004 stated that, in August 2004, the head of the "Peace Missionaries League," Emin Spahija, was murdered in the city of Shkodra and that no one had been arrested in connection with his death (28 Feb. 2005).

The chairman of CNR stated that he "[had] heard that some missionaries take money in the reconciliation process, 1,000-1,500 lek [Cdn $12,72 and $19,08 (Xe.com 10 March 2005)] in one day" (9 March 2005). In order to denounce this practice, his organization has sent letters to all the other associations who work in this field (CNR 9 March 2005).

Committee of Nationwide Reconciliation (CNR)

The CNR was founded in 1990 to foster political pluralism, but between 1998 and 2000 focused on blood feud reconciliation (CNR n.d.). Gjin Marku is the chairman of this non-governmental organization which allegedly has very few financial resources (CRRD 9 March 2005).

The Chairman of the CNR stated that his organization started its work in 1991, and that, by 2000, it had registered branches in every district of Albania (10 March 2005b). He added that his voluntary organization does not receive any government funds (CNR 10 March 2005b). Country Reports 2003 identifies the CNR as a non-governmental organization (25 Feb. 2004). According to the Committee Website, Gjin Marku reports to a board of directors (CNR n.d.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Albanian Foundation for Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation of Disputes (CRRD). 9 March 2005. Correspondence from the Executive Director.

Committee of Nationwide Reconciliation (CNR). 9 March 2005. Correspondence from the Chairman.

_____. 10 March 2005a. Correspondence from the Chairman.

_____. 10 March 2005b. Correspondence from the Chairman.

_____. S.d. "Republic of Albania; Committee Of Nationwide Reconciliation." http://www.pajtimi.com/index.php?faqe=rrethneshang [Accessed 7 March 2005]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2004. 28 February 2005. "Albania." United States Department of State. Washington, DC. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2004/41666.htm [Accessed 7 March 2005]

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003. 25 February 2004. "Albania." http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27820.htm [Accessed 10 March 2005]

Xe.com. 10 March 2005. "Universal Currency Converter." http://www.Xe.com /ucc [Accessed 10 March 2005]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources: The Albanian Helsinki Committee (AHC), the Albanian Human Rights Group and an academic source did not provide information within the time constraints of this Response.

Internet sources, including: Albanews, Albanian Helsinki Committee, Albanian Human Rights Group, Amnesty International (AI), Balkan Human Rights Network, The Balkan Human Rights Webpage, Country Reports 2003, European Forum for Victim-Offender Mediation and Restorative Justice, Freedom House, MJAFT!, Mondo Times, WNC.

Associated documents

Document ID 1151772 Related / Associated
10 March 2005 | IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Albania

Response on the "The Peace Missionaries of Albania": Organisation, founders, personal structure (update to ALB43163.E of 19 November 2004 concerning "Miaionaret E Paques Dhe Pajtimeve Te Shqiperse")
Update to ALB43163.E of 19 November 2004 concerning "Miaionaret E Paques Dhe Pajtimeve Te Shqiperse" (The Peace Missionaries of Albania); whether this is a government-funded organization; to whom does the organization report; founders of this organization; their mission; whether the "missionaries of reconciliation" are volunteers or salaried employees of this organization; whether victims of blood feuds pay any fees to missionaries; whether the cost of a working day for a "missionary" is from 1000 to 1500 leks; whether this organization has taken over the files of the former "Peace Missionaries' Union of Albania" whose Chair/Head was Emin Spahija; whether the Committee of Nationwide Reconciliation is a government-funded organization; when was it founded who is its chairman and to whom he reports (November 2004-February 2005) [ALB43380.E] (Response, French)
fr ID 1037033

ecoi.net description:: Response on the "The Peace Missionaries of Albania": Organisation, founders, personal structure (update to ALB43163.E of 19 November 2004 concerning "Miaionaret E Paques Dhe Pajtimeve Te Shqiperse")
Country:: Albania
Source:: IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Original link:: http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca:8080/RIR_RDI/RIR_RDI.aspx?l=e&id=412339
Document type:: Response
Language:: English
Published:: 10 March 2005
Document ID:: 1151772 (former ID 55382)

Associated documents

Response on the "The Peace Missionaries of Albania": Organisation, founders, personal structure (update to ALB43163.E of 19 November 2004 concerning "Miaionaret E Paques Dhe Pajtimeve Te Shqiperse")