On 14 July 2018, the Cham House of Peace was officially opened in the town of Vërvë, overlooking Chameria. It will serve as a meeting point and become a peace institute for the Balkan region.
On a hilltop looking out over Chameria stand several historic buildings that have witnessed many of the sufferings of the Cham people. These buildings are in the quiet town of Vërvë which is now mostly abandoned, having less than one hundred citizens. The town hasn’t always been so peaceful. During the great exodus of the Cham people in 1944, when they were on the run from Greek militias trying to destroy everything Cham-Albanian, the town of Vërvë was the main channel through which the Cham escaped certain death. The vast majority of Cham quickly moved further north into the cities of southern Albania, while just a handful remained in the town.
A reminder of the masses of Cham-refugees going through the town is the Cham House of Peace, consisting of several buildings on a hilltop looking out over Chameria on one side and Albania on the other. This House of Peace served as a meeting place for Cham-Albanian interests and aided the various Cham leaders to remain committed to the dream of a free Chameria and a peaceful Cham community. However, the Cham House of Peace was soon abandoned and under Albanian communist rule any activity to support the Cham was oppressed. The town of Vërvë declined, most people moved away and many buildings were abandoned and the infrastructure neglected.
Decades later, the president of the Democratic Foundation of Chameria, Festim Lato, is committed to take up the struggle of the Cham people for historical justice. He has started many activities over the years and in 2018 decided to re-open the Cham House of Peace and reconstruct the dilapidated infrastructure of the town. The property was bought by the Democratic Foundation of Chameria and initial assessments of the needs of the town were done.
The town of Vërvë is situated at the border and overlooks large swaths of Chameria. The only route to the town leads through a small and difficult to traverse path through the mountains. Usually the road is used by people who herd their goats who only need to be aware of the occasional car from one of the few remaining citizens of the town.
However, this all changed in July 2018. Twenty people from the Democratic Foundation of Chameria moved into the town in the first week of July to prepare for the coming celebrations intended to mark the start of the reconstruction of Vërvë and Chameria. This move did not go unnoticed by the public and the authorities of Albania and Greece. Several television crews visited the site to film and interview the workers from the Democratic Foundation of Chameria. Most of the accounts were fairly positive, however on 13 July 2018 nine Cham were arrested by the Albanian authorities when they were travelling from Sarandë to Vërvë. The Albanian and Greek authorities became restless and suspect unlawful provocations from the side of the Cham. However, the nine Cham activists were quickly released, since no crime was committed.
On 14 July 2018, a large number of people travelled to the town of Vërvë to witness the historic opening of the Cham House of Peace. The Cham House of Peace is one of the most outer lying buildings of the town and directly faces Chameria. The various buildings composing the Cham House of Peace were decorated with many flags of supporting nations, like the USA, Germany, Austria and the Netherlands. The national flag of Chameria also waved proudly in the mountain winds. Furthermore, several meters-long photos of international political leaders decorated the front part of the main building.
The opening ceremony of the Cham House of Peace was attended by many Cham and their supporters. Mr. Ali Aliu was present as well as Mr. Jeroen Zandberg who in his capacity as European diplomat and assistant to the president represented President Festim Lato who was unable to attend due to security reasons. Ms. Petra Keppler from the Berta von Sutner Institute in The Hague, the Netherlands was also present as well as many others who have dedicated their professional life to getting justice for the Cham people.
The opening ceremony was broadcast live by several television stations and through various social-media channels, including Facebook and Twitter, people could witness first-hand a historic moment in the struggle of the Cham people to return to their lands. On behalf of President Festim Lato, Mr. Jeroen Zandberg cut the ribbon thereby officially opening the Cham House of Peace. The ceremony was accompanied by the sounds of music from Chameria as well as the national hymn. After the official opening the site was inaugurated by festivities including traditional Chamerian food and drink, while several participants enjoyed a traditional dance in the afternoon sun.
It is envisioned that the Cham House of Peace will soon be restored to its former glory. In September 2018, the most urgent renovations are scheduled to have been finalised and the first major international conference will be held in the town later in the year. Furthermore, the Cham House of Peace will house a permanent photo exhibition that documents the atrocities committed against the Cham People between the period of 1913 and 1944. The exhibition will also be duplicated as a travelling photo exhibition that will visit the capital cities of Europe to inform the European leaders of the crimes committed against the Cham.
The Cham House of Peace will become a major hub for the promotion of peace and Peoples’ rights in the Balkan. It will serve as a meeting place and official institution of the Republic of Chameria and will be permanently staffed. Due to its historic legacy and its strategic location looking out over Chameria, the Cham House of Peace will soon regain its prominent position as a major springboard for Cham activities to get historical justice for the Cham people.
