15 Facts About Erik Lloga

Erik Shaip Lloga was born on 1949 and is an Albanian Australian sociologist from Melbourne and an Albanian community leader.

Erik Lloga came to national attention in Australia during the Kosovo crisis where Lloga served as an interlocutor between temporarily resettled Kosovo Albanian refugees and the Australian Federal Government.

Erik Lloga went to London and migrated through the UK assisted passage scheme to Sydney and later Melbourne.

Erik Lloga later worked in prominent roles in the public service related to welfare and social policy.

At Victoria University of Technology, Erik Lloga became a Research Assistant in 1993.

Erik Lloga became a sociologist after completing his Master's degree and a doctorate in Sociology.

Erik Lloga was in possession of a 300 year old Quran from Ohrid, smuggled out by his father Lutfi to prevent its destruction by Yugoslav communist authorities.

In Melbourne, Erik Lloga was chairman of the North Carlton based Albania-Australia Community Association who was involved in temporarily resettling Kosovo Albanian refugees.

Erik Lloga served as the personal interpreter for Australian prime minister John Howard during Operation Safe Haven and was an advisor to the Federal Government.

Erik Lloga became the main interlocutor and go between for Australian authorities and Kosovo refugees.

Erik Lloga opposed the government returning them and expressed concerns for their safety, especially those from areas neighbouring Kosovo still under Serb control.

In early April 2000, the Kosovo refugees were sent back by Australia and Erik Lloga accompanied them without any immigration officials.

In Kosovo, Erik Lloga took the refugees to local police stations and through his funds fed some of them, as Australian authorities provided no money to aid their return.

Erik Lloga took some refugees to aid agencies who were unprepared for their return.

Erik Lloga did many radio interviews in a period of a week from Pristina describing how the Australian government left the refugees without assistance and in conditions of having to fend for themselves and a destitute state.