Yesterday, as soon as our Parliament began its proceedings, it was forced to suspend them, because events in the city center escalated rapidly. There was a reaction against the security forces, followed by vehicles being set on fire, windows being smashed, and even the vandalizing and burning of the Ministry of Internal Affairs club. Under these circumstances, MP Sali Berisha proposed that representatives of all three parliamentary groups go out and try to calm the people. And so they did, but the people were shouting, “Down with the government!” Nevertheless, they were promised that their demands would be put before Parliament. Meanwhile, representatives of the parliamentary groups and political parties met with President Ramiz Alia to find a way out of the situation, putting forward concrete proposals. After work marked by great tension and a strong sense of responsibility, it was decided that, in order to emerge from the grave situation the country is in, the People’s Assembly would work for three days toward a new political solution. The aim, as also emerged from MP Napoleon Roshi’s remarks, is to move toward forming a government of unity or national salvation, comprising all political forces, and toward new elections whenever this Assembly deems it appropriate. An appeal was made for all sides to work toward public calm and, under no circumstances, to interrupt the transport of bread and food supplies for the people. The Assembly continued its discussions amid nervous tension until 11 at night. There was also discussion of declaring those who fell in Shkodër martyrs, as demanded by the miners taking part in the Valias hunger strike. But the Labour Party deputies objected. And yet, on the eve of 5 May, were they not the very ones who proposed visiting their families and did so? Or had they forgotten that on 5 May visits are made only to the families of martyrs? In any case, in this extremely difficult situation, at last a just solution is being pursued. May it save Albania. Republica Correspondent

— A LOW PROVOCATION — DOES THE PEOPLE LIE? NEVER! To ask to live like a human being? To ask to struggle by peaceful means to secure the life we love so much and that they refuse to let us have, no matter what? What is illegal today about wanting to be called a HUMAN BEING? The citizens of Tirana gathered in Skënderbej Square at a peaceful demonstration asked for nothing more. It is true that the people had been warned that the law-enforcement forces would intervene forcefully if the law were broken. Yes. The people knew that. Just as they knew, a day earlier, that no one would intervene at the illegal rally of the illegal «Enver Hoxha» gang. And the people poured into the streets, taking everything into account. And as with us», the police officers gathered in formation move away and distance themselves from the demonstrators and the sambists. People are [??] as they were on 20 February. One scene cannot help but remain in your mind. Three vehicles belonging to the sambists, opposite the Palace of Culture, are burning, [??] clad [??] in thick, black smoke, as if they wanted to conceal what was happening there. Shots are heard. Some think they may be blank rounds. Who knows? The shots grow more frequent; now they are no longer from pistols or rifles, nor automatic weapons—they are machine-gun shots. The people have all gathered behind the Mosque, on the road between the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Theatre. They push forward, then are driven back by the action of the law-enforcement forces, who form a block. Down by the little park in Skënderbej Square, hundreds of people wait impatiently for some opening to continue toward Parliament and the Prime Minister’s Office. The shots continue, but the people ... MIMOZA EREBARIA (continued on page 4) Miners on hunger strike Photo A. Babani ... which [partially cut off] in a particular way. Achiev- ... ... peacefully, to secure the life that we love so much and that they absolutely refuse to let us have? HUMAN BEING? Well, the citizens of Tirana gathered in «Skënderbej» Square in a peaceful demonstration asked for nothing more. Exercising the right of every person, they asked only for the right denied to them for 46 years. The people were calm. Slogans were shouted: «Down with the government!», «The miners are our brothers», «Enver-Hitler», «Albania belongs to us», and a few others. The law-and-order forces took no action until one of their «Ife» vehicles sped right through them. Then the demonstrators rose and began to move. The water cannon came in and began spraying people with its red and blue water. The people retreated, only to gather again in the square, now irritated. It is ... ... at ambassadorial level, beginning on 1991 their respective delegations would meet to discuss a cooperation and contacts scientific, etc. fields. ATSH

REPORTAGE: THE CHAIN OF PATIENCE HAS SNAPPED In Valias, it seems as though the earth is trembling. As if it were groaning under the pressure bearing down on the hearts of the miners, confined 160 meters underground for five days. For the second day, I descend into the gallery. The hunger strikers are still there. Now pale-faced, unshaven and..., but resolute in their demands, as if they were prepared to leave their very lives down there. I met them one by one. Here you find miners from different parts of Albania, so many that you get the impression every place sent its own representative to the hunger strike. Why have the miners chosen this course, the hunger strike? I ask myself this question, and then one hunger striker and another. Sami Karriqi, chairman of the underground miners’ strike, tells me: «The decision came from the Prime Minister’s indifference. On 23 May we asked Mr Nano to meet with us on the 24th, as the Independent Union of the Tirana Coal Basin. On the morning of the 24th, two of us went. We were told that the Prime Minister was in a meeting with a delegation. We went again, but apparently he had no time to leave the banquet tables with the delegation. What were workers compared with the Prime Minister? Let them wait!» ...The hunger strikers came down here by the stairs, while some others came through the ventilation shaft. Anyone who has worked in a mine understands what it means to enter through the ventilation shaft. The striking workers are demanding that all 17 demands be met, along with three others they have added in recent days. In recent days, journalists from opposition publications and foreign journalists have visited the hunger strikers, as have deputies such as Napoleon Roshi and Dritëro Agolli, etc., and representatives of political parties such as Spiro Dede, Industry Minister Drini Mezini, etc., but a solution has still not been reached. Several days have passed, and the miners’ condition is growing worse. They have headaches, dizziness, and their knees are giving way. We leave one group to go to another. A strong smell could be felt in the crosscut, like the smell of ... GANI LEKA (continued on page 4)

(JOINT ALBANIAN-ENGLISH COMMUNIQUÉ) The Government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the United Kingdom, wishing to develop relations on the basis of equality, non-interference, respect and mutual interest, agreed to restore diplomatic relations at ambassadorial level, effective 29 May 1991. Both sides agreed that on 7 June 1991 their respective delegations would meet to discuss the full and final resolution of the outstanding issues between the two countries. Both sides also agreed to develop and exchange cooperation and exchanges between the two countries in the economic, trade, cultural, technical and scientific fields, etc. ATA

The first question that our acquaintance, the elder, Mr Bajram Mula, a Kosovar from Shushica e Pejës who lives in Berlin, asked us was how the miners confined in the Valias mine were doing on the second day of their hunger strike. «I want to go and join my brothers in the hunger strike» — he said firmly. — «I know, I know the mines well, because I have worked underground and above ground in the mines of Kosovo and in Germany.» The elder came to Albania around the time the general strike began, which, as he says, reached its climax with the miners’ hunger strike. He became acquainted with the Albanian poet Merita Rama, a biology student, who invited him to her black daughter’s wedding; the elder gladly accepted. Drinking two coffees one after the other, after an almost sleepless night, he calmly agrees to answer some of our questions. He begins to tell us: — Three years ago, someone of mine died here in Tirana. I wanted to come and bury him. Our embassy in West Germany agreed and told me to go to our embassy in East Berlin. But there the embassy secretary, Pellumb Hysi, told me I had to fill out forms, which would be sent to Tirana, from where an answer would come as to whether I could come here or not. Oh, God!... We ask him why he says “our embassy.” He replies firmly: «I say our embassy because I am neither a Serb nor a Chinese, but an Albanian.» «How proud we feel to be Albanians,» the elder continues, «but ... ... we feel even more deceived. I served falsely in Germany for years, as did the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit.” Through this “people’s” newspaper we learned about Albania, a garden of flowers. We served the Labour Party blindly...», the elder continues remorsefully. «Now, with the conviction of pluralism, I have asked for the newspapers “Republika” and “RD” from ATA, but I have received no answer. Our brothers in Germany want to learn the truth about Albania. But the truth is being learned only by coming here and seeing our suffering Albania for themselves...», the elder concludes wistfully. We hope everything will get better. AGIM ZEKA

ONLY ONE MERCHANT HANDED OVER 45,000 GOLD NAPOLEONS I will cite only facts recounted by the person who experienced them herself, Mrs Krisavgji Leka, wife of Mr Aristidh Leka, one of Durrës’s wealthiest merchants, though not the wealthiest. «My husband,» says Mrs Krisavgji, «handed over 45,000 gold napoleons, in addition to several quintals of silver and various pieces of jewelry of immeasurable value. All of this was documented with receipts.» As for the way this wealth was taken from the person concerned, the account that follows is harrowing: «My husband was in prison, and by then he had handed over the gold, silver and jewelry in question. There was still a box of personal jewelry left, which we had hidden and decided not to hand over. One night, four men from the Internal Affairs Branch came and told me to go with them to see my husband, who was in prison. Frightened and bewildered, I obeyed. The road they took me along did not lead to the Internal Affairs Branch, but to a newly excavated house. My fear turned to terror. I was surrounded and unprotected. At night. I figured that, if I shouted back and forth, someone might help me. I could not understand exactly what they wanted from me, but I felt that a dreadful fate awaited me. In the cellar, in complete darkness, lit only by a flashlight, I saw my husband’s head alone above the floor. He had been buried alive; they had left only his head above the ground, while the rest of his body was covered with slabs. He told me to hand over the last box I had, containing all the personal jewelry. Of course, I complied as quickly as possible, and I had nothing left.» As is known, there was no law for the state to collect gold. By what right was this wealth taken by force in such ways? In the name of what justice, and on whose orders? Were receipts issued for taking individuals’ gold when this was not provided for by law? But that is another chapter, concerning legality and human rights. As for the quantity, the conclusion is this: The methods were such that it was impossible not to hand everything over. When just one person who, I repeat, was not the wealthiest merchant, handed over such sums, what about all the other merchants Durrës had: the Manushes, Shkiakët, Dovanat, Kosovat, Dakolët, Fani, Botikianët, Gjatat, etc.? And what about all the other cities in Albania that had many merchants? There is no need even to use the rule of three to calculate it; a simple addition is enough. I think the figures will exceed those given in the magazine «Në shërbim të popullit». ELYANA PILIKA

Seeing that the parliamentary commission investigating the tragedy of Shkodër continues to remain silent, I want to return to this event, which, it would seem, someone had an interest in seeing happen. HOW DID THE INFORMATION ARRIVE? Mr. Ruçi said that he was informed simultaneously about the killing of a person and the burning of the PP Committee building. It is now known that there was a considerable time gap between the two events. And how can the failure to report immediately a killing in broad daylight, among people, be justified? Could it also be connected to the malicious disinformation that reversed the chronology of events and called the martyrs terrorists? Do certain people in the PB branch have other things to answer for? But is Mr. Ruçi’s account true? Could it be that the PB branch issued reports before the events took place, but that the minister, knowing the time gap, accepted the reversed chronology of events? Did he accept it because of pressure or involvement on the part of others? Was the investigation of such a possibility pursued by the investigative authorities? If not, why? Was it considered unacceptable to put the former PB minister on trial, something that in this case would have been improper? The trial of the minister in the PB, because legality had not been established, given that in these 46 years we have had two ... DASHAMIR TRAGACI (continued on page 3)