TIME IS RUNNING OUT: REMOVE THE MONIST CLAWS FROM ALBANIA In 1924, the Democratic Revolution triumphed, taking its name from that historic June. Albania suddenly became a beacon of progress in the Balkans. But Noli’s government faced many difficulties and, after six months, reaction, with the help of foreign bayonets, crushed the democratic spirit of a people. Among the many internal and external causes, no small part was played by the fact that during the months of that great change, almost the same corrupt and antidemocratic administration remained in place. I recall this truth, which appears to us somewhat as it descends, like every recollection, but I will not dwell on it, because before me stands the victory of June this year. It was the time when the general strike of the Independent Trade Unions and the sublime heroism of those roughly one hundred Valias miners (confined in a hunger strike for 13 days, heading towards certain death) shook the Communists’ (read: leaders’) last inhuman efforts. They were forced to halve their power, setting aside Mr. Fatos Nano’s workers’ government. To see how much that prime minister and his government cared about the workers and Albania, it is enough to say that he did not deign to visit the miners who were sacrificing themselves for democracy, because in them he saw the destroyers of his dreams of absolute power at any cost. With the national unity government, the victory on the political front is very great. It is enough to mention, one after another, the visits of the highly respected gentlemen De Mikelis, Gensher and Bejker, as well as Albania’s immediate acceptance into the European family, to understand how wrong the Communist leaders were—whether politicians with higher education, experience and several schools—compared with the practicality of Albania’s miners and workers, who went on strike everywhere. To see how willing the new representatives of this government are to change, even if they are socialists (read: Communists), it is enough to mention Prime Minister Ylli Bufi’s speech at the Tirana rally on the occasion of Mr. Xhejms Bejker’s arrival, or Mr. Muhamet Kapllani’s two fingers raised in the air. We will say no more about the democratic spirit, or the great efforts this government is making to draft laws and map out the transformation of our society, because a new structure is needed; everything must be started from scratch. All the worse that, in this confused and unprepared beginning, we have made a rotten system—socialism—which is breathing its last, but still resists in various forms and continues to obstruct us. Along with the system, the mentality and slowness are doing us even more harm: the “revolution” achieved through the consensus reached to form the government is not being immediately extended throughout our state apparatus. Mr. Muhamet Kapllani really did raise two fingers, but how many Communist ambassadors or officials in his ministry—even those with party cards, loyal red politicians who have spared no effort in insulting the USA and European governments—have been replaced? So far, it seems, not a single one. We are not even mentioning the cuts to the apparatus, because they always affect the lower-level people, with fewer privileges. So how will this ministry gain credibility in the outside world? How acceptable will the U-turn of these puppet-like diplomats be, when until yesterday they were seen only with Westerners, if they were not insulting them, while today they go to embrace them?! Would such an embrace be convincing? No, never. Therefore, for the good of Albania and true democracy, at least these diplomats, permanently in command, must be repla- with young people, whether socialists or members of the opposition, according to the consensus that has been reached. In other words, it is essential that they be young. There is no reason to regret this. In every ministry, including at the grassroots, we must use an iron broom to remove all those responsible for the chaos and the people’s misery, and put in their place the best people: clean, uncompromised, trustworthy and honest. How can that Communist (of the fascist type) who called for an attack on Tirana or for Vlora to become the capital be trusted as a director? Or how can some such person still remain a member of parliament when a host of abuses weighs on his shoulders? Even if he did not commit them personally, he is the one who allowed them to happen while heading the ministry he directed! Therefore, we can say without hesitation that while in Tirana we have a pluralist government seeking to do something to save Albania, especially at the grassroots—in districts, enterprises, people’s councils and executive committees—the same bureaucracy remains, and it has driven its claws deep into this country. Until yesterday it left the country so far behind; today, some of its members are trying to transfer political power into economic power. The Kolaneci, Kapo, Peçi, Kule... families, to name only a few, have used their political power to enter today’s business world—that is, the very system they denounced until yesterday. If that were all, the damage would be only moral; but this or that enterprise director or agricultural cooperative chairman starts doing business not with his own capital, but with the people’s. Should these new faces, these almost legal forms of theft, be allowed simply so that a certain caste can once again take charge? We are not saying they should be subjected to revenge. If they are not guilty of abuses, let them work honestly in their professions. But we cannot accept that a person who has spent his entire life working for the Sigurimi, because he is a specialist in that field, should turn into a businessman thanks to the connections he had with this or that capitalist owner, for whom he facilitated the sale of goods in Albania. To avoid experiencing the bitter taste of these people’s “transformation” on our return, it was urgently necessary for Mr. Ramiz Alia not to delay as he always does, and to cast off his weakness for the socialists. He should first have called for pluralism to be established in every executive committee, every enterprise and institution, every cell of our life, without waiting for local elections. We must act before it is too late, so that events do not escalate. This idea is not the product of this or that journalist’s mind. It is the people’s opinion. I heard it at the rally organized on Thursday at the Valias mine, where the workers demanded that the monist bureaucracy be smashed and pluralism established everywhere, so that no decision or instruction from the national salvation government falls on deaf ears, but is put into practice. There is no other alternative. And this voice should have been heard several weeks ago, Mr. President. Even though this imperative demand runs counter to the personal interests of many members of our three-quarters-red Parliament, it is for the sake of the present and future of the Homeland. Therefore, they must vote unanimously to put an end to monism everywhere in Albania. And if they do not do so, this Parliament will be worthless, even if Mr. Xhejms Bejker applauded all these fraternal and historic pieces of advice he gave us. At a time when the world wants to be convinced that our democratic processes are great, indeed unprecedented—

We had the opportunity to “get acquainted” with the Albanian-American-Hungarian-Vizian firm (FAAHS), whose arrival in Albania and ultimate purpose are unknown. But what is the «FAAHs» firm? Several letters from citizens have arrived at the newspaper’s editorial office, expressing legitimate concern about the speculation they see being carried out at their expense. Most of the letters are filled with accusations against Mr. Fatmir Xhafa, first secretary of the youth, who has definitively left the post by which we should know him in future. We believed that «FAAHS» was a legitimate firm and that Mr. Fatmir had helped it without any improper intent. However, there are “malicious tongues” saying that the goods stored in the youth house, which has been assigned for use as a discotheque, belong to Fatmir Xhafa. We clarify to readers that the goods do not all belong to Fatmir. But Fatmir helps these goods to be sold illegally, securing handsome profits for himself and for those linked to him by mutual interests. In other words, he breaks the law while being a lawyer himself (!). It is not known where the goods sold as products of «FAAHS» come from, how they enter our territory, or what financial and legal controls are exercised over them. We made inquiries at all the departments of the relevant ministry to see whether at least the firm «FAAHS» was registered. It is not known whether it is a state or private firm. At the Ministry of Finance, in the Taxation Section, where foreign state firms are registered, ERMAL DRINI was not listed (Continued on page 2) have arrived at the newspaper’s editorial office expressing concern about the legality of Most of the letters are full of organization for Tirana... A few days ago, we met with Mr. Xhafa. We wanted to find out how accurate the accusations, complaints, and “slanders” by citizens about Mr. Fatmir were. Regarding the problem of the discotheque at Youth Center No. 5 not being put to use, Mr. Fatmir said: “The electronic equipment has arrived, but bureaucracy is creating obstacles to our obtaining the marble and velvet for the wall coverings.” The fact is that the equipment brought by the Italian firm for the discotheque is being damaged. When will it be put into operation so that 5,000–7,000 lekë a day are not lost? Who knows! for some time, and every day it pays our “Rinia” enterprise 500 new lekë a day, as Mr. Fatmir said. The firm in question has sold goods and will bring more. These were among the things we discussed. The representative here, Mr. AR, confirmed them to us and informed us that this firm would soon bring equipment for a modern surgical hospital. Up to this point, everything seems to be in order. The firm has brought its goods and expects to continue with greater activity in the future. Likewise, the “Rinia” enterprise’s making a profit again seems normal. However, it is precisely this “harmony” that gives rise to suspicion. First and foremost, the mysterious enigma begins with Mr. Fatmir Xhafa. We say this because even after establishing the facts, we could not understand whom we had spoken with: the youth secretary for Tirana, the director of the “Rinia” enterprise, the firm “FAAHS”’s assistant businessman, or all of them together. It is up to him to clarify

Yesterday, representatives of the Croatian Party of Rights, Mr. Dobroslav Paraga, deputy chairman, and Milan Vukošić of the Alb-Amerika association, paid a visit to the headquarters of the Republican Party. Mr. Godo gave them an overview of the party’s programme and the political situation our country is going through. The guests from Croatia expressed concern about recent events in Yugoslavia, including the violation of Kosovo’s right to self-determination. Mr. Paraga, for his part, gave an overview of his party and its activities. The Croatian Party of Rights was founded in 1861 by Dr. Ante Startević with the aim of defending against Serbian chauvinism. One of the prominent figures of this party was Dr. Milan Shuflaj, a historian, distinguished politician and scholar of Albania’s medieval period, who visited Albania several times, completing his accounts of Shkënderbeu. After the last leader in Albania, King Aleksandër had him killed in a plot in February 1931. Shuflaj was considered the great ideologue of this Party. Einstein and other Nobel laureates strongly protested the murder and accused Yugoslavia of being an artificial state and King Aleksandër of being a murderer. The current chairman of this party, Mr. Dobroslav Paraga, was born in 1960 in Zagreb. In 1980 he began studying theology and law, but was arrested in Zagreb because he had signed a petition calling for amnesty for political prisoners in Yugoslavia, which was sent to the Yugoslav authorities and the CSCE. Forty-three distinguished individuals had signed the petition, most of whom suffered Paraga’s fate: imprisonment. The charges were propaganda, sending information abroad, and hostile activities. His friend, Ernest

THE TRIAL PANEL SENDS THE CASE BACK TO THE INVESTIGATION OFFICE FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION THE KILLER LUDOVIK VATA JUMPS FROM THE SECOND FLOOR INTO THE STREET. What I saw in those last days of February, when I passed by the place where a military patrol killed a young man of forgotten career. At the site of the murder was a mountain of freshly bloomed mimosa, and people of different ages passed by in silence, weeping. They cursed the killers and the Enverian dictatorship with all the anguish in their hearts, for it had forever torn Artan, their only son, away from his loved ones. Everyone demanded that the killers stand trial and be punished. And this long-awaited trial began, but... On July 1, the trial began in one of the halls of the Tirana District Court. The hall was packed. Civilians, but also military personnel, with pistols at their belts. At about nine o’clock, the first session began, with judge Petrit Klosi and prosecutor Petrit Bicli. From the outset, what stood out was the usual privilege afforded to an accused person. Officer Mikail Themolari appeared in the dock with a pistol at his belt. What is this? A provocation of our nerves? The trial was conducted under pressure from witnesses. Seven witnesses were questioned, some of whom gave testimony contradicting what they had said during the investigation. The defendants, officer Mikail Themolari and soldier Ludovik Vata, do not admit the charge of “violating the rules of guard duty, Article 146 of the Criminal Code.” To give a complete picture, we present the chronology of events. On 24.2.1991, a patrol consisting of 3 soldiers and 1 officer arrived by car at 19:30 from «Ndre Mjeda» Street to the bus park. On this street, as Mikail said, the patrol was also supposed to guard an apartment building inhabited by officers. A resident informed the patrol that someone had turned off the light in the building. The patrol went upstairs and encountered a boy, Gentian Marku, together with Saimir Zari. Gentian Marku’s testimony: “Saimir and I climbed onto the roof of an apartment building to catch pigeons. Accidentally, we turned off the light in one of them. As we were going downstairs, the patrol arrived, with 3 soldiers and an officer. I told them I lived here. I lied out of fear. They searched us and found nothing. Then they took us. My friend, Sai- — The trial panel sends the case back to the investigation office for further examination. — The killer Ludovik Vata jumps from the second floor into the street. mirë, left. Meanwhile Artan arrives. — Why are you taking him? — Artan said to the patrol — he hasn’t done anything. Come on, let’s go, — he said to me. The officer told me, “You wanted to blow up the building.” As we were getting ready to leave, Mikail fired his pistol into the air. Mikail Themolari, patrol commander: “... I searched everyone. They had no weapons or anything else suspicious. We took them downstairs, but not by force and without beating them. When we got downstairs, Gentiani shouted: ‘Hey, Tani, hey, Tani!’ A civilian came up to us. He pushed us, saying: ‘You have no right to do this.’ I said: ‘Wait, let us clarify the situation.’ I fired into the air. Artan wanted to take the soldier’s gun. I did not give an order to shoot.” Ludovik Vata, soldier: “Artan wanted to take my gun. I fired in self-defence.” Let us clarify further what happened. After the officer fired into the air, the soldiers loaded their automatic rifles and fired into the air too. Ludoviku shot Artan, whom these diplomats, permanently in command, must be repla-

TIRANA Acts of violence, banditry and criminality have reached an intolerable level. Citizens feel safe neither in the streets nor in their homes. The acts of violence and banditry reported on television are only one hundredth of what is actually happening. The public-order forces are completely losing control of the situation and, in most cases, appear to be taking an indifferent stance. The absence of a statute for military personnel and law-enforcement employees did not in any way justify such an attitude in the past, and even less can it justify it from now on, when the People’s Assembly has adopted the relevant law. The Republican Party strongly protests. The law-enforcement bodies’ stance of watching and waiting in the face of the open acts of daily lawlessness violates the citizen’s fundamental right to be protected by the state and, at the same time, strikes at democracy. We are left to suspect that someone is pursuing the dark aim of increasing banditry simply in order to create terror. The government must compel the Ministry of Public Order to assume its proper role and take charge of ending this unprecedented civil anarchy and eradicating vagrancy of every kind, which is wholly incompatible both with our people’s traditions and with citizens’ unanimous desire for a peaceful and secure life. The Republican Party calls on its members and all other political forces and other allies to unite firmly to uproot this threatening evil, which is added to the people’s profound poverty; it calls on the government to take vigorous measures without delay or hesitation. Otherwise, the government of stability and all of us will be answerable before our children and wives, before the entire people, today and in the future. CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SABRI GODO