— To everyone’s surprise, the Minister of Internal Affairs is not dismissed Our formally pluralist parliament devoted three days of discussion to the tragic events in Shkodër, even though it was known that it could not find a solution to this problem. This was simply because the investigation is ongoing and the killers have not been identified. Nevertheless, the discussions had their value, because they brought about nationwide Albanian concern over that event. Indeed, from the outset, when the deputies of the Party of Labour did not rise to honor the martyrs of Shkodër with a minute of silence, while their colleagues from the Democratic Party honored those four sons of Albania as was fitting, during the discussions there was a certain change in the attitude of many of them. Certainly, the hearts of quite a few Labour Party deputies also spoke. Not only that, but Mr. Namik Dokle’s proposal was unexpected: he invited his fellow deputies to send a parliamentary group, headed by Mr. Kastriot Islami, to visit Shkodër on 5 May and, together with representatives of the other parties, to visit the graves of the four martyrs of democracy as well as their homes. Mr. Sali Berisha and other Democratic Party deputies asked that they be declared martyrs, because they fell while carrying out the duty assigned to them: dispersing and calming the demonstrators, at the request of the security forces. This proposal was rejected, because the view of the Party of Labour prevailed and became law. Fine, when it is right; but even when the case is so blatant, must the practice of waving the majority’s conductor’s baton continue? Even when this “baton” is a political attack on democracy in general and an open, grave insult, especially to the people of Shkodër, who can in no way accept such a defense of the minister who bears direct responsibility for those events?! Let us pause to analyze the event. It was conclusively established that the public-order bodies violated the law on the use of firearms. It became clear that these bodies, which should have remained at the scene and immediately begun working to catch the killers (who were among them), gathering the necessary material evidence as well, failed to act, once again breaking the law. These same bodies, through the spokesperson of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, deceived public opinion with the false information they gave, altering the course of events. And yet both the public-order bodies in Shkodër and the head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs depend on this same highly important central department, headed by Gramoz Ruçi. And what consideration is shown by the communist gentlemen for the dignity of a minister in a provisional Labour government who has resigned and may no longer be entrusted with this office, when the people—including the few faithful communist Shkodrans who remain—are demanding that the killers be found? Does this vote not show that the Party of Labour, despite having considerably renewed its programme, still presents us with a monist act of the dictatorial type, in which a cadre, good or bad, was appointed from above and removed from above—or not removed at all—even after exceeding retirement age? Then we say that we want to become like Europe, that we have pluralism like Europe, and that we want Europe to help our economy, which is breathing its last, when it is well known what positions Europe and the pluralist, democratic world take in analogous cases. No, gentlemen of the Labour Party, the people will no longer accept such actions! If you were not prepared to analyze this event democratically, you should have limited yourselves to presenting the two reports of the parliamentary group and the questions the deputies might have put to it. Or you could have proposed concrete measures once the investigation had concluded, and then dotted the i’s. Meanwhile, the headlines from the lower page are partly cut off at the edge of the image. …of democracy, as well as in called for them to be declared martyrs, because they fell while carrying out their assigned duty, to disperse and calm proposal, both noble and timely, was supported by not a single PP deputy. I was pleased. I felt an inexplicable satisfaction, because respect was being shown to a human being, a martyr, one who had shed his blood for democracy without being at fault. But these feelings were not destined to last long and be crowned with handshakes, and perhaps even embraces, in the early hours of May 6, when the parliamentary group’s specific proposals were put to a vote concerning those responsible for the killings and for the delays in concluding the investigation into this event. The deputies voted almost unanimously to dismiss Rrapi Mino, head of the General Prosecutor’s Office. The same was true of Qemal Lame, head of the General Investigation Directorate. But when it came to the third, most important one—to the dismissal of Interior Minister Gramoz Ruçi—the consensus broke down, and blatant monism reared its head. Strangely, with the exception of one or two deputies, all the other PP deputies voted against it, while all the Democratic Party deputies supported his dismissal. Thus, our pluralist parliament lost its requ… …altogether, they ended up completely blocking the opposition through misinformation and sowing doubt about the course of events. Yet both the law-enforcement agencies in Shkodër and the spokesperson of the Ministry of Internal Affairs are subordinate to this same highly important central ministry, headed by Gramoz Ruçi. We understand that he was new to the position, and we believe he may not have ordered anyone to shoot. Personally, I liked some of his speeches during earlier parliamentary sessions. But no officeholder, however good, can justify such a tragic event, such a terrible mistake or crime, to the point that he (even if uninvolved) remains untouched in that post. All the more so when measures are taken against the Prosecutor General for delays and lack of diligence in holding the investigators to account, and against the head of the General Investigation Directorate for the delay in the investigation—a matter for which the police also bear some responsibility. Therefore, this unjustified protection being given to the Minister of Internal Affairs cannot be justified in any way. It leaves the door open to unspoken suspicions that the real killers are not in Shkodër, but somewhere higher up, much higher up. This idea was also voiced in parliament. For if that were not the case, why should this minister be clad in iron armor against the consequences of the incompetence he showed in preventing the event, as well as against the consequences of the event itself? Why should more be taken… PETRO DHIMITRI

— An appeal from an ordinary citizen after reading two articles in Republika — I read the articles by E. Zaloshnja and T. Gjergji in Republika dated 28 April and 2 May about the Constituent Assembly, and they prompted me to sit down and write this appeal, although I do not have deep knowledge of constitutional law. (But I can say that I have a thorough understanding of how the People’s Assembly is conducting its proceedings—I have followed the “Today in the Assembly” column attentively every day, to the point that my wife tells me: “You’ve become like football fans who don’t miss a single World Cup match.”) Well, from the Assembly sessions I have watched on TV, I have concluded that the new Constitution should be adopted by a Constituent Assembly, as the two gentlemen mentioned above have proposed. In support of this proposal, I address this appeal to Parliament: Honorable deputies! Issue a call to yourselves. Are you the most capable people in this country to discuss the new Constitution, which we hope will last as long as possible? During the election campaign, you may have promised the voters in your respective districts that you would work to pave a road, yet now you are to decide the hundred-year future of our Homeland and our nation! Has your parliamentary seat perhaps begun to warm you too soon? Honorable deputies! I ask you to call upon your conscience and reconsider that article you approved the other day! It would be best for some of you to give your place to more capable people in your parties who have been left outside the Assembly when the time comes to approve the new Constitution. Believe me, you would be of much greater value to society by working in your professions while the Constitution is being discussed than by sitting in the Assembly without saying a word, or saying something without having anything to say. If you do not accept this option, at least agree that other people, more capable than some of you of discussing a constitution, join you when the time comes. Honorable deputies, I am troubled by the fact that you did not accept your own revocation from your parliamentary seats when the voters in your districts no longer want you to be their representatives. I was also displeased that you quickly raised your hands to approve the article granting you the right to adopt a new Constitution. You have spent hours on a word or a comma in provisions that will last 8–9 months, yet you have not spent a single minute discussing whether or not all of you are capable of deciding the future of our homeland and nation? Allow me to conclude my appeal in the hope that you will understand me. SH PEND PRELA … but only with patriotism. SHPEND PRELA

Today, 9 May, as we commemorate 5 May, the day of the fall of fascism, my thoughts turn once again to our own commemorative day, 5 May, the day of our brave martyrs, who spared no effort and gave their lives for Albania, the day of Qemal. And it was precisely this great hero who prompted this piece. This year’s 5 May was commemorated with pluralism. As every year, visits were made to the families of heroes and martyrs. All the events were recalled, views were exchanged, and on some occasions there were also extreme political displays. This year there was no fruit on the tables, because the authorizations were missing… (perhaps the drought was to blame). But, of course, the well-known Albanian hospitality was not missing. Everywhere, doors stood open, except for the door of the hero’s family—the date of whose death commemorates all those who fell, namely Qemal Stafë… Strange. Unbelievable. But true. I remembered that Qemal Stafë’s name did not appear on the lists of heroes and martyrs drawn up by the executive committees of Tirana’s districts. What need was there to put the chief hero on the list, I thought… Or… So many questions came to mind as we waited in vain, as representatives of the PSH, before an open door or a metal door locked from within. — Several cars came before you, but the door wasn’t opened to them. …of the event, re- a woman living nearby tells us. The question prompts us to insist on clarifying the «gialos» (yellowish fluid), but to no avail. Further visits must be made. Many people have long been talking about Qemal, about… The Albanian people say: «The truth may be delayed, but it does not fail to come». Let us wait a little longer… In the evening, as every night, at 20:00 in front of the TV, to watch television. Like everyone else these days, to follow the television report commemorating the important day. Will it be as always?! The same protocol? First the Party of Labour and then… No, at the head the president and then the prime minister, followed in order by parliament and government officials, while at the end (is it really at the end?) «the mother of the nation», Mrs. Hoxha. Why is she in line with the other statesmen? I wonder, is she a member of parliament? We haven’t seen her in parliament. The government has not yet even been elected. So? Could she be some protocol official? I don’t think so. Protocol officers never make mistakes. So then? I remember an expression from Caesar’s life… Someone once said to Caesar: Sit here, this is the corner seat! Caesar replied: «I’ll sit here at the end, because the corner is always wherever Caesar is!» AGIM ZEKA

The day before yesterday, Fatos Nano, appointed Prime Minister by the President of the Republic of Albania, Ramiz Alia, received at the seat of the Council of Ministers representatives of the PR: Vangjush Gambeta, secretary of this party’s Initiating Commission, and Hysen Çobani, a member of the commission. Among other things, Prime Minister Fatos Nano said that the good of the Homeland requires experts from all parties to participate in the new government. The PR representatives expressed their party’s view that the… This…

…Initiating Commission, Hysen Çobani, an expert on agricultural issues. The meeting discussed the current state of Albanian agriculture, its problems, and the ways proposed by the Republican Party to solve them.

…their participation in the new government, because, being a non-parliamentary party, they consider it more valuable, in the interests of the Fatherland, to remain in realistic and honest opposition. Correspondent of «Republika»

On May 5, 1991, the first Assembly of the Democratic League of Kosovo concluded, with 293 delegates from all over Kosovo, as well as foreign guests, taking part. During its proceedings, the Assembly adopted the political declaration, which states that the Democratic League of Kosovo will work in the future for the full subjectivization of Kosovo and of Albanians wherever they live. The Assembly elected the League’s Council, made up of 55 members, which elected the party’s Presidency. At the proposal of delegate Najp Zeka from Gllogovi, the Assembly elected Dr. Ibrahim Rugova as president of the Democratic League of Kosovo by acclamation.

On Monday, May 6, 1991, a meeting was held at the headquarters of the Republican Party between experts in economics and politics, representative prof. Marcello Gorgoni, representative of FAO, and prof. Tohn D. Pell, representative of UNDP, and Hysen Çoba-ni, a member of the Initiating Commission and state of Albanian agriculture, its problems, and the solutions proposed by the Republican Party. TIRANA On May 5, Martyrs’ Day, on behalf of the Republican Party, the secretary of the Initiating Commission, Vangjush Gambeta, and… laid a wreath at the monument to the martyrs of the nation (Continued on page 2)

To President Ramiz Alia To Prime Minister Fatos Nano To Parliament To the Democratic Party, Mr. Sali Berisha To the Republican Party, Mr. Sabri Godo Tirana We are the family of Artan Lenja, a 20-year-old soldier in the «Partizani» sports club, who was killed. From the latest information given by the parliamentary commission of inquiry into the events of April 2 in Shkodër, we see that the same procedure is being followed in the investigation into our son’s murder—that of dragging it out and deliberately concealing the truth. We, as a family, protest. Why has the murderer of our son, patrol commander Mikail Themollari, an officer in unit 6802, and those who ordered the killings, been released? If, in the case of Shkodër, it is claimed that it is difficult to find the guilty parties, then in our case, where everything is clear, why is no action being taken? We urgently demand that the case be resolved. Respectfully, the Lenja family V. Çapo St., L. 10, Bldg. 71 Tirana

To the Chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha To the constituency’s deputy, Besnik Mustafaj Tirana We, the family of 14-year-old Spartak Deliu, who was killed on March 6, 1991, near the Writers’ League during the events and gatherings outside the embassies, are distressed and outraged that the criminal hand of our son’s killer has not been revealed. We are indignant, because we see that the familiar strategy of the Party of Labour—obscuring and sidelining the killers, as in all crimes analogous to ours—dominates the sessions of the People’s Assembly. The family of Spartak Deliu «Bajram Curri» St., Bldg. 6, entrance 3 apt. 26 — Tirana