Letters from Prison
Sulo Veshi
By Decision No. 18 dated 18.06.1964 he is sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment on the basis of Article 73/1 of the Penal Code, and by Decision No. 12 dated 08.04.1969 he is sentenced to 15 years and 6 months of imprisonment on the basis of Article 64 of the Penal Code.
By Decision No. 38 dated 21.07.1973, for the crime of sabotage as a participant in an organization against the people’s power and on the basis of Articles 72–76 and 28 of the Penal Code, for the crime of agitation and propaganda that have caused particularly grave consequences on the basis of Article 73/2 and 28 of the Penal Code, as well as on the basis of Article 49 of the Penal Code in cumulation of sentences, he is sentenced to 16 years of imprisonment, confiscation of property, and the loss of electoral right for 5 years.
In the archival material with reference “AIDSSH, Investigative-Judicial Fund, Investigation file, No. 2365-A” specifically on pages 126–130, there are 5 letters written respectively between the years 1972–1973 by a former convict during the time he was serving his sentence in the Spaç prison-camp, Sulo Veshi. Written with longing and concern, the letters convey the pain of separation, the lack of news, and a deep sense of responsibility for the family he has left behind. Beyond the simple words, the letter written in May of the year 1973, on the “eve” of the Spaç Revolt, is a strong testimony of resistance, of faith in God, and of the courage not to bow, even when you face a repressive state, in a time when thought shrank without being woven by words, where rights faded one after the other, and faith was forbidden. In the letter there are underlining in red made by the Security, precisely of these sentences written by Sulo Veshi, which may have been used against him during the investigation process.
Spaç
15.05.1973
Dear Rubie and you children. From afar I embrace you with longing. I rejoice that you are well, and I am well, too. It has been a long time that you have not written to me; I do not know what has happened to you. Nevertheless, I must know what has happened to you, and in case you have suffered something, stand like men, for you have a government over you that fights you. I have understood it to some extent, but I do not know with accuracy; therefore, upon receipt of this letter, I ask in detail how the matter stands.
It doesn’t matter what they promised …do not bow at all, for every bad thing that we have, the great God will help you.
I embrace you with longing and love.
Yours
Sulo Veshi