Tirana Appeals Judge Astrit Kalaja lost his life yesterday in the courtroom, after being shot dead by a person who was a party to the proceedings. Astrit Kalaja was from Shkodra and with the judicial reform, he was transferred from the Appeals Court there to Tirana.
Even the parties who were in court and who were to be informed of the verdict yesterday were from Shkodra and had been claiming rights to a plot of land in the "Skënderbeg" neighborhood for years.
Journalist Anila Hoxha has published today two poems/reflections by Judge Astrit Kalaja, which were written a year ago. She says that he was not only a magistrate, but also often shared the verses he wrote with his friends.
"These messages are from the last few days, one is dated September 20, a few days after he became a grandfather," writes journalist Anila Hoxha, as she publishes the following two poems/reflections:
Astrit Kalasa's poems:
1- I became a grandfather. After 14 days I had my first conversation with my grandson.
I called him a friend.
He was crying.
While talking to him, I stroked his head, rubbed his chest and stomach.
I told him that he was very beautiful. I told him that I loved him very much. I wished him to be given love, to be happy with his father and mother.
With my words, with my caresses, and with the sounds of Shkodra serenades, he fell asleep.
It was very beautiful. I felt a kind of spiritual liberation.
I will never forget it. I thank God for giving me this peaceful moment.
It seemed to me that my voice gave him peace, security!
Another message for Shkodra, my hometown!
2- For you, Shkoder, my soul is!
For me, Shkodra is the breeze of freedom, the breeze of honor and pride.
I am from Shkodra, I am as ancient as Shkodra itself, I am free like Shkodra, I am humane like Shkodra, I am broad like Shkodra, I know how to forgive and give faith and hope like Shkodra.
In fact, I fight every day to be like this.
These words are for Shkodra, they are words from the heart.
It doesn't matter who doesn't like it.
I didn't write about them.
I wrote it for those who love Shkodra.