The parliamentary commission, in its report on the events in Shkodër, called before the deputies for the dismissal of the head of the General Investigative Directorate, Qemal Lame, the Prosecutor General, Rapi Mino, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, Gramoz Ruçi, as well as other measures against lower-ranking specialists who bear responsibility for those tragic events, both for their inability to prevent them and for the delay in bringing the truth to light. Yet this report offered nothing else new, because the investigation has encountered difficulty after difficulty, driving it into the Greek calends. But what did the gentlemen deputies say about this report, and does it speak for its own people, speaking in the name of honesty and truth? Mr. Dritëro Agolli acted likewise. After he finished speaking, we heard applause. A rare occurrence. But why? Because, with civic courage, as a creator and a person of vision, he said that no one is permitted to use murderous violence. This is the warning of this assembly. In Albania, there have been no mass killings of crowds as in China and Romania. But there have been more than a few isolated killings. These are evil and clandestine, base and cunning, for they are shrouded in obscurity and give the killer the opportunity to hide. This method reached its peak in Shkodër. Because of this, all public opinion rose to its feet; it speaks in the name of truth, for the truth. And feet ... Albanian and worldwide, but false official statements only deepened the fog. The investigations have produced no conclusions. Apparently, the investigators did not consider these events important, because an opposition member was killed and that was all. He calls on the political parties to work harder to establish calm. He says that the martyrs’ blood demands honor, and also describes our parliament, which should have observed a minute of silence, because the blood of those who fell recognizes no nomenklatura. The proposed measures are appropriate. If four activists of the Labour Party had been killed, would those proposed for dismissal not have been dismissed? Certainly, they would not only have been dismissed. But, rather than speculate, let us shed some light on the event through the account of a deputy who was present. This is the doctor Ali Spahia. He had reason to help disperse the assembled crowd. He was together with Arben Broci. Both had been sent in by the law-enforcement forces. They tried to get the law-enforcement forces, who had pursued the students, to leave and get into their vehicles. As he was helping ... the students. While he was helping a wounded person there, Arben went 30 or more metres ahead, towards the square by the PPSH committee. At that moment, a volley of shots rang out. Two minutes later, Arben was killed. There were no forces or people in the square. Who fired? Why should there have been snipers on buildings overlooking Shkodër? When law-enforcement personnel were there, when the PPSH committee officials were bloodied, when the situation was calm, how can it be that no one knows who fired or whose orders they were following? Why was the film recorded by the specialist from the district branch of internal affairs supposed to be archived in the safe of the PP committee, when the situation was calm and vandalism against the central institutions of the PP in the district began only more than an hour and a half later? What was the camera doing in that committee, just as what was the Zagreb radio reporter asking for at that moment, to film and broadca- There was polarization. The deputies of the “Party of Labour” expressed regret and called for the murderers and those who ordered them to be punished, but few pointed clearly to the delays in the investigation, to the first false official information, to... There were also some who disagreed with the release of the Minister of Internal Affairs. The gentlemen of the Democratic Party, as a bloc, made their powerful voices ring out, calling for the guilty to be held accountable, for Shkodër to regain its calm, for the truth to be seen—or they cast it as plain as day. Of course, there were also a few who went too far; yet the blame for this event, the grief of an entire people, is always deeper and greater than any uncontrolled expression, and the slab? is nowhere to be seen. But I would like to dwell on the accounts of two deputies concerning the PPSH, who rose above narrow party interests in the name of truth. The first is Mr. Shaqir Vukaj, deputy for Shkodër. His speech is an honest effort. Why was the investigation team late in going to Shkodër? Why was the chronology of events incorrectly given in the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ information? Why is there unemployment in Shkodër, and why are raw materials lacking? He directly blames the leading members of the Party of Labour in the district, who should have gone out to speak to the demonstrators, especially since they were mostly school students. Had this been done, more than one tragedy would have been avoided. The government, too, should have gone there as soon as possible, to the people, so they could see that the government was concerned. To put it briefly, if one looks at the matter, we are dealing with unemployment: there are 30–40 thousand unemployed in Shkodër, a very large city with a poor standard of living. Calls were made there for cooperation among political forces and religious communists... Shkodër does not ask its brother to ... [partly illegible] The deputy is deeply concerned and ... ... to prevent them, and also to bring the truth to light. But there was nothing else new in this information, because the investigation has encountered difficulty after difficulty, which is pushing it into the Greek calendar. But what did the gentlemen deputies say about this information and the tragic event? Of course, they would not only be dismissed. But, rather than speculate, let us recount the event briefly in the words of a deputy who was present. This was were brought in by the forces maintaining public order. They tried to prevent the police forces who had pursued the school students from leaving and getting he was helping an injured person there, Arbeni went 30 or more metres ahead, towards the PPSH committee square. At that moment the volley began. Two minutes later Arbeni dominant buildings in Shkodër? When the bloodied, when the situation was calm, how is it that no one knows who fired and who gave the order? Why was the film made to be archived in the PPSH committee’s safe, when the situation was calm and the vandalism against the central institutions of the PPSH committee, just as what was the Zagreb radio correspondent asking for at that moment, to film and to trans- The respected Naim Karriqi connects the events in Shkodër with those in Kavajë and concludes that the actions there, too, were directed by the PPSH committee. Mr. Thoma Miço of «Omonia» asks why the investigations began late. Who fired, and who has weapons? We see armed people everywhere who are not members of the public-order forces. Fair criteria must be established for who should be allowed to carry weapons. This concern comes from the minority area. Acts of violence have taken place there, too. They are tragic. It is a true tragedy. A few members of the minority have left their bones at that border, hoping to see brother meet brother on the other side. And they demand an end to violence and killings. Those who committed the crime in Shkodër must come forward. This is not a matter of finding two or three scapegoats. No, absolutely not: those in power who gave the orders must be found as well. Democracy cannot flourish through killings. Why should a person or group of people who break the rules (and they are not right to do so) and go out to demonstrate peacefully, or even chant slogans, be gunned down? That offence certainly carries a specific penalty, and nowhere in the world—not even under our law (since, formally, we are very democratic)—is taking a life prescribed as punishment. The events in Shkodër were obscured, but Artan Lenja was killed in Tirana in front of his home—what happened to the murderers? Why are they being protected, and whom does that serve? The people—no; nor does the Party of Labour, because any party, in any country in the world, loses its reputation and its supporters if it remains silent in the face of criminals. The four party ... crushed in Shkodër after 2 April are the best argument for this. Why must the murderers be found, and as soon as possible? This is the appeal of the whole people. This is what the deputies are asking for, too. PETRO DHIMITRI ... there are killings and the camera is burned?! Not only that, but, as the Chairman of the Investigation Department Qemal Lame said, the MPB authorities did not carry out the transfer. Nor did they block and inspect the weapons. Thus, they did nothing, because they knowingly violated the law. Why? Because the perpetrators were their own forces. Had it not been so, every action would have been carried out with the greatest speed, as in other cases. The Albanian home will be built by bringing down the “Berlin Wall” between Albanian brothers. Let us make our home a place where we are united and equal. As a nation, we have taken part in Europe’s glorious history. This should make us cast off every inferiority complex once and for all.

He now lives and works in Brussels. He was only nine years old when he left Albania, but there, in the capital of Belgium, he always signs his name: Dr. Idriz Basha, Novosej, Brussels. Novosej, then, is the name of his birthplace. Psychoanalyst. Well-known publicist. Expressive and active, even in the European Parliament. His motto: the Albanian national cause. His great ambition: to establish the House of Albania! ... “National identity is indispensable,” he says. “I live to make the House of Albania a reality. Our country, Albania, needs all its sons and daughters. The climate of relations among all Albanians must be changed from top to bottom. Everywhere in the world. Whoever they may be. Emigrants, political prisoners. Those who have achieved success abroad for whatever reasons. A mother house: for the Kosovars, for the Chams, for all Albanians. For a united and active nation. For an Albanian nation worthy of its existence within the noble European family. Albania must finally return to Europe as a respected and unscorned sister. With dignity. Through genuine intellectual work. With courage and contemporary European competence. Enough of archaic partisan ways! Let us become, in our own home, the most hospitable of the hospitable. We have taken part in the glorious history of Europe in every nation. This makes us close to Europe and valuable partners in cooperation with it. On the other hand, the entire repressed Albanian reality must be unblocked. This will open the great gate to modern, contemporary civilization.” Dr. Basha has lived, and continues to live, every moment and with every beat of his heart alongside the beautiful image of the Fatherland. He has always been there, and is still there, as a friend of light and civilization, as an apostle of Albanianism, constantly raising the House of Albania, the home of all Albanians. Only on Albanian soil does he feel “like a fish in water.” This beautiful house that he is building, which he makes nobler day by day, gives him vitality and even makes him young and strong. His voice, when he speaks of the house of all Albanians, is as gentle as a spring breeze, yet as fierce as winter storms. Words feel inadequate before such a personality. They are too little, far too little. In truth, in this case words merely make an introduction possible. To understand him, love him, and admire him, you must know him. Then words become a powerful instrument, and Dr. Idriz Basha’s great ambition appears to you too, making you feel as if you had seen it and conceived it yourself. Thus, the thought naturally takes hold that this great ambition truly belongs to all genuine Albanians. Now he is once again in Bru- Brussels. At the same time, he is always among us. Is this not an open foundation stone for building the House of Albania? ... FATMIR ALIMANI ... with a smile. With dignity. With of archaic partisan methods! equal among equals. once and for all. Dr. Idriz Basha has committed himself to accelerating the all-Albanian democratization process, so that Albania may receive concrete assistance from international organizations, in order to achieve the most genuine ... intellectual. With of archaic partisan methods! equal among equals. once and for all.

On May 2, 1991, a conference of the Republican Party branch for the Mirditë district was held in the town of Rrëshen. Members and supporters of the party took part. Ndue Gjaci, Chairman of the Initiating Commission for the establishment of the Republican Party branch in Mirditë, delivered a report on the work carried out so far. Bardhok Pepkola, chairman of the Republican Party branch in Rubik, introduced those present to the branch’s program for the future. Members and supporters from various parts of the district also took part in the discussion. Agim Zeka, a member of the Initiating Commission for the establishment of the Albanian Republican Party, also spoke at the conference. He discussed the Republican Party’s future work and its expansion throughout Mirditë. He also ...

In recent days, the Republican Party branch in Berat has been organizing meetings and sessions at the neighborhood level in the city and in the villages’ local areas, to hold elections and analyze and discuss the Republican Party’s tasks for expanding its ranks and improving the functioning and consolidation of its organization. On May 3, a conference with members and supporters of the Republican Party was held in Kuçovë. — Correspondent of “Republika”

For many days, a strike has been under way in the carpet section of the arts-and-crafts enterprise, causing concern among the citizens and other workers of Fier. Eight hundred women have gone on strike to demand something for their fully legitimate rights. The district Executive Committee of the People’s Council, working together with the political parties, the justice authorities, and social organizations, reached the conclusion that they should help these women, who are subjecting themselves to hardship in order to secure their legitimate demands. The Republican Party branch, having been aware of and closely following their problems, maintains that these problems remain unresolved, even after the meeting with government representatives and the representative of the relevant ministry. FATMIR MEDIU

Glory to the sublime heroism of Albania’s martyrs for its liberation from the foreign yoke. They sacrificed their dreams, shed their pure blood, and gave their youth and lives to the Fatherland. A curse upon anyone who violently tramples the lofty ideal of those who are honorably ranged in the pantheon of the Fatherland. All the sons and daughters of the Albanian people who yesterday, today, and tomorrow remain at the nation’s altar for freedom and democracy shall have our eternal gratitude.

We are sending you this telegram-appeal, approved at the large assembly of former political prisoners, internees, deportees, and politically persecuted people, held on April 28, 1991, in Tirana. In addition to this telegram-appeal, we have also sent the honorable deputies of the People’s Assembly a petition containing extremely serious demands of particular importance. In that document, we appeal to the reason of the State and the Law, to humane principles, and to the tens of thousands of families whose basic human rights have been violated and denied. The democratic future of Albanian society is making this appeal. But, unfortunately, we observe that the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, despite the attention of the press and the Albanian public at large, did not consider it appropriate to make such a serious document known to the public and the deputies. The petition concisely summarizes urgent problems and legitimate humanitarian demands. By acting in this way, we do not think the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly has done Parliament a service; quite the contrary. At the very least, through this inexcusable indifference he is polarizing an already extremely tense social climate. The rostrum of the People’s Assembly is not an armchair for posing, but a podium of honor where the people’s grievances are voiced and resolved. Mr. Kastriot Islami should know such a simple thing. Mr. President! What the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly failed to do is for you to make good. Prove yourselves to be a true statesman, courageous and wise. Cast off the nostalgia and complexes of the past, and begin your new mission by publishing and fulfilling the legitimate demands in these two documents, as you swore to do before your honor and the Albanian nation. Do not hesitate any longer, Mr. President! Put ... (continued on page 4)