In March 1980, the Puka District Prosecutor’s Office reported a serious scandal in the military unit no. 5636. Violations of the guard service rules, systematic negligence and lack of control by the commanders revealed an alarming reality: military facilities were left unprotected, while the guards slept in groups at the guardhouse. This report, classified as “Secret”, was also sent to the Deputy Minister of People’s Defense, Veli Llakaj.
March 21, 1980: a night without guards in Puka
The culminating event occurred at 3:30 in the morning, when during a surprise check, it was found that:
“All guards on duty at guard posts 1, 2, 3 and 4 were asleep in the guardhouse, having left the premises under surveillance in an organized manner.”
In addition, the person who held the post commander’s position, Bilal Murati, not only did not prevent the departure, but agreed with the action and notified the last guard to join them in the guard corps. This, according to the Prosecution, indicates “coordination of the guards to leave their duty at once – in flagrant violation of it.”
A recurring, not random, situation
The March 21 event was not the only one. The archival report summarizes:
- 19 violations during January and February 1980:
- 7 cases of falling asleep at guard posts
- 15 cases of leaving guard duty
- 5 cases of non-implementation of the regulation on the preservation of the facility
- In March , 5 more cases of sleeping on duty were recorded, in addition to the common case of leaving all guard posts.
Word for word from the Prosecution’s report:
“The service personnel are not in sound positions, the organization of the service has pronounced flaws… an antisocial psychosis has formed because there is no control, violations are not followed up, etc.”
“Guards Ndue Daka, Nikoll Nikaç, Gëzim Vulaqi and Tosum Lome are repeat offenders – even on 5-6 previous occasions.”
“Almost every member of the service personnel had committed a violation at a guard post.”
Why was this happening? Cadets in command, officers asleep
Instead of the guard detachment commander being a trained officer, as provided for in Article 36 of the Internal Army Regulations , a cadet from the School of Instruction was appointed every 24 hours. These cadets often:
- They felt no real responsibility,
- They neglected their duty,
- They allowed the creation of a culture of impunity.
Even the guard in charge, instead of organizing the check during the night hours, had fallen asleep , according to the official document.
Prosecution’s proposals:
- Review the composition of the guard detachment , removing undisciplined soldiers.
- Criminally prosecute the most disorderly persons.
- Officers or non-commissioned officers, not cadets, should be appointed to command .
- Strengthen the guard detachment’s dependence on another school or department for more control.
A realistic picture of the situation in the garrisons of communist Albania
This event, documented in a secret report, shows not only a lack of discipline , but also a failure of the chain of command in one of the most delicate defense structures: the physical security of military facilities.
Finally, the report clearly states:
“Leaving objects of special importance unattended is an event that should wake up anyone in command.”
