Bringing together protagonists, firsthand witnesses and researchers, the event offered a powerful reflection on the 1989 Trepça miners’ strike; a protest widely regarded as a turning point in the political unraveling of Yugoslavia.
The discussion featured Burhan Kavaja, a central organizer of the strike and former director of the Trepça flotation mine, along Linda Shala, a journalist at that time and daughter of Trepça general director Aziz Abrashi. The event was moderated by Korab Krasniqi of Pro Peace Kosovo.
Speakers emphasized that the Trepça strike was fundamentally political. Around 1,300 Albanian miners remained underground for eight days in February 1989, protesting constitutional changes that effectively stripped Kosovo of its autonomy.
“There was no discussion of salaries or working conditions,” Kavaja recalled during the discussion. “All demands were political.” The strike, he argued, represented one of the largest political labor protests of its kind, signaling a broader civic resistance against increasing repression from Belgrade.
The event dialogue highlighted the extreme conditions faced by the miners, who remained 1000 meters underground the mine shafts under constant risk. Kavaja described the immense pressure of ensuring the safety of hundreds of miners, some of whom had access to explosives and threatened drastic actions. Despite the risks, the strike ended without casualties; a result he attributed to the discipline and composure of the miners. Yet, the outcome was bittersweet. While authorities appeared to have accepted some miners’ demands, later they realized these commitments had not been formally met, leaving a lasting sense of betrayal.
Journalist Linda Shala shed light on the media landscape of the time, marked by tight information control and limited communication channels. With no independent communication platforms, state-controlled television and newspapers dominated public discourse. Initial reports about the strike were scarce, with clear tendencies to suppress information.
Still, journalists have found ways to circumvent these restrictions. Through professional networks and international colleagues, news of the miners’ resistance reached audiences beyond Kosovo, amplifying its political impact. “The fact that the information got out was crucial,” Shala noted, reflecting on how media exposure shaped both domestic and international reactions.
The discussion also challenged common perceptions of industrial labor. Trepça miners, speakers noted, were not only skilled workers but also politically aware citizens. “They were informed, they followed the news, and they understood what was at stake,” Shala said, emphasizing their active role in society. This awareness helped transform the strike into a coordinated and meaningful act of resistance, rather than a spontaneous outburst.
Author Anna Di Lellio highlighted the years of research carried out by Pro Peace Kosovo and Kosovo Oral History Initiative, which draws on oral histories, archival material, and testimonies from those directly involved, that informed the writing of book.
Originally written in Italian and later translated into Albanian, the book’s English edition aims to broaden the conversation about Kosovo’s past and make these histories accessible to a wider audience.
The project, implemented in partnership between Pro Peace Kosovo and Kosovo Oral History Initiative, and supported by Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, reflects an ongoing effort to document and critically engage with the difficult past.
As Kosovar society continues to grapple with questions of memory, identity, and justice, the Trepça miners’ strike remains a powerful symbol of resistance.
The event in Pristina served not only as a book launch but also as a reminder of the enduring relevance of 1989. Through personal testimony and scholarly reflection, the event underscored the importance of preserving such histories, not only as records of the past, but as tools for understanding the present.
