Harun Beka
Harun Beka was a prominent Albanian nationalist, activist, and soldier of the Kosovo Liberation Army, who became famous for his assassination attempt on a Yugoslav ambassador, and was later killed in the Battle of Kosharë.
Early life
Harun Beka was born on June 3, 1951, in a poor Albanian family in Gushac, Mitrovicë. He was one of twelve children who grew up in poverty. His early years were shaped by the stories of hardship faced by the Albanian people during the oppressive regime of Aleksandar Ranković, particularly the mass displacement of Albanians to Turkey, as recounted by his father.He completed his primary and secondary education in Mitrovicë. In 1972, after completing a geology qualification in Ljubljana, Slovenia he moved to Germany in search of better opportunities. While in Germany, he became deeply involved in the Albanian diaspora's political activities, especially following the 1981 protests in Kosovo, which called for greater rights for Albanians in Yugoslavia.
Political career
Early activism
In Germany Beka became acquainted with Kadri Zeka, a key figure in the Albanian nationalist movement, who later would be assassinated along with the brothers Jusuf Gërvalla Bardhosh Gërvalla, in a small town near Stuttgart, by members of the Yugoslav secret service. Zeka's influence left a lasting impression on Beka, leading him to dedicate his life to the defense of Albanian national interests. Beka participated in numerous demonstrations organized by the Albanian diaspora across Europe, supporting the cause of Albanians in and outside Kosovo.Assassination attempt
In 1983, during a Yugoslav government-organized event in Sundern, Germany, in which an Albanian-speaking Yugoslav diplomat aimed to portray the Yugoslav state as democratic and the life of Albanians in Freedom, Beka interrupted the proceedings by protesting against the treatment of Albanians. In the chaos that ensued, he fired a revolver in the direction of the Yugoslav consular officials, an act that led to his arrest. Following an investigation, Beka was released, with political motives recognized for his actions. Despite Yugoslavia's demands for his extradition, Germany granted him political asylum.Late political advocacy
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Beka remained an active figure in the Albanian nationalist movement. He maintained close ties with Albania, particularly through its embassies, and collaborated with several diplomats from the Socialist Republic of Albania. He was also an active member of the "Emin Duraku" Albanian Club in Düsseldorf, which played a significant role in organizing the Albanian diaspora against Yugoslavia.In addition to his activism, Harun joined the Kosovo Committee for the Information of World Opinion, an organization that played a critical role in internationalizing the Kosovo issue. Through this committee, he worked tirelessly to inform the global community about the violations of human rights and the political situation faced by Kosovo Albanians.
Harun Beka was also instrumental in the founding of the Revolutionary Organization of Albanians, a group that would later evolve into the Revolutionary Party of Albanians. The party was established to unite and organize Albanians around revolutionary ideals and the armed struggle for Kosovo's independence. Harun held key leadership positions within the party, actively directing its political and military activities.