THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY MET The day before yesterday, at 10 o’clock, the National Council of the party met in the hall at the headquarters of the Republican Party, under the direction of its chairman, Mr. Sabri Godo. After presenting the Republican Party’s tactics and strategy during the election campaign, he spoke about the party’s current situation on the eve of the election. “The meeting we are holding today,” he said, among other things, “to discuss the lists of all 100 Republican candidates as well as the Republican Party’s multi-name lists is of particular importance, since the candidates will play a major role in the election campaign. In drawing up the lists, we have taken several special criteria into account: members of parliament should be people who can represent us best, should have different professions, and should come from different areas, especially from those districts that have more electoral areas. It has not been easy for the Executive Committee to get this far. This is precisely why we organized this meeting of the National Council: to discuss the matter more broadly and reach a common conclusion, with the highest aim of representing the Republicans as honorably as possible in parliament.” Next, the floor was taken by the deputy chairman of the PRSH, Mr. Zef Bushati, who reviewed the work done so far and the preparations the PR is making to enter the election campaign fully prepared and confident. Then Mr. Marenglen Gjonaj, head of the PRSH electoral section, presented the proposed candidates selected by the Party. The selection of candidates has been subject to the laws of democracy. The proposals came from the people of the area themselves and were approved by the branch executive councils. There followed lengthy and open discussions about each candidate. The PRSH National Council unanimously decided that wherever Mr. Sali Berisha and Mr. Skënder Gjinushi run, the PRSH will not field a candidate.

This strange union began at the 10th Congress of the PP. In other words, an institute that dealt with inventing fairy tales joined with “Zëri,” which told these fairy tales every day, and created the PP(S) version. As the socialists are fond of telling us, there were three possible versions that could bring this creation to light. The first was the dissolution of the PP and the creation of a genuine socialist party. This might have been an honorable path, but the armchair-eater Fatos Nano and company categorically rejected it, calling it “Hungarian self-annihilation.” In reality, in this case Mr. Nano had the self-annihilation of his armchair in mind. The second version was the emergence at this congress of a powerful communist faction... After that, the “Nano group” would appear as a “clean” version, and the communists would take the blame, but... what if the factionalists remembered and said that the owners and members of parliament were their own? Then—God forbid!—Comrade Fatos would come out even more exposed than in the first version. Under these circumstances, another version had to be found. And Mr. Nano, as a former employee of an institute capable of making up anything, pre[...] The first ZP-ist journalist to rise to the heights of the PP leadership was Xhelil Gjoni, while Nexhmija was the director from the M-L Institute. However, given the specific circumstances of these two cases (the commander's wife and the trusted Xhelil), it cannot be said that they paved the way for the fabrication of the PP(S). The person who paved the way for this union was the former ZP journalist, former M-L Institute employee, former PP Central Committee secretary, and former poet, Spiro Dede. He was the first stone of the PP(S). Still, the first stone, it seems, is not necessarily destined to be first violin. That task has been entrusted to one of Enver’s most zealous distributors of works, the M-L Institute employee Fatos Nano. A more suitable person for this job could not have been found in all the M-L parties of the East. Nearly a year has gone by in which Mr. Nano has said nothing but disorganized words. That, in fact, is also the PP(S)’s first task. The day Comrade Fatos formulates words, the Party’s renewal will begin. Another important figure in the PP(S) who comes from the M-L Institute is the economist Leontiev Cuçi, who is suspected of having crossed the rainbow... For Tirana, there was Halil Lalaj. Without a doubt, the more powerful, more energetic, and more foul-mouthed one was Musa Muçini. These days the PP(S) press summoned him again and, alas, using his considerable intellectual abilities, he declared that he had discovered a new communist Europe... one that does not accept the Democratic Party. As if all those mentioned above were not enough, the deposed former director of RTSH, the depoliticized Fatmir Kumba[o], was called onto this party’s leadership. The highly figurative journalist Bashkim Zeneli was also summoned from that institution. Above all stands out the man called to the post of PP(S) deputy chairman, Servet Pëllumbi. He was called to this post in his capacity as a philosophy lecturer in Marxism-Leninism. Known as the first go-between against Gorbachev in ZP and as the author of the philosophical-atheist work “Religion Is the Opium of the People,” he is said to have been thanked and even received an invitation from the Pope. Among the younger ones, said not to write under his own name and proposed for PP(S) deputy chairman, is Luan M. Raba. However, Mr. Xhixa, applying the communist principle (don’t let subordinates become bosses, or they’ll take your head), did not allow him to. the members and deputies had their own people. Then... (God forbid!) comrade Fatos appeared less often and wove [it] into an institute that could vilify anything, preferred changing the PP into the PS. Thus, the continuity version prevailed. In this version, the property, members and deputies remained. What remained was to create an ... UNC0RRUPTED leadership to replace the corrupt leadership. And comrade Fatos, whom the Albanian people brought into the world only to LEAD, formulated the famous version: Marxist-Leninist Institute + ZP = PP(S). This is the leadership of the PP(S). This is also the only transformation the PP has undergone, while the PP(S) has been renewed in just one respect: its chairman, beloved comrade Fatos, unlike the late Enver, was the first ... of the PP(S). The day comrade Fatos formulates [his] words, the renewal of the Party will begin. Another important figure in the PP(S), coming from the Marxist-Leninist having crossed the rainbow... Without a doubt, the journalists of ZP have the greatest influence in this party’s leadership. The electoral campaigning in the 31 March elections served as the main criterion for selecting them. Those who slandered, cursed and insulted the most received positions and titles. And, of course, their number-one man was editor-in-chief Namik Dokle. They say that one stroke of luck that Mr Dokle “took upon himself” was a visit to Castro’s Cuba. This man rose so high that he almost became President. Another journalist, an expert in insults, who was trusted as much as Xhelil Gjoni, took the post of first secretary of the first pluralist Parliament. Among the young people said not to write under their own names, and proposed for deputy chairman of the PP(S), is Luan M. Rama. In particular, Mr Xhihha, applying the communist principle (“don’t make the poor people bosses, or they’ll eat you alive”), did not allow it. These days, the election campaign has begun. The ZP-ists have launched into every kind of cursing, slander and insult. If the SOCIALISTS win, Mr Nano and his team will concern themselves only with forming the government, while the PP(S) will fill its ranks with the ZP contingent. The first to grab some important post (if he doesn’t end up in prison) will be comrade Përparim Xhixha. The second, comrade Hamdi, and so on, down to the journalists who use pseudonyms, like comrade Enver during the war... YLLI RAKIPI

— REPORT FROM THE SHKODËR COURTROOM — On 13 February 1992, the trial in Shkodër concerning the massacres of 2 April resumed, amid widespread public curiosity and anxiety. ...

REPORT FROM THE SHKODËR COURTROOM On 13 February 1992, the trial in Shkodër concerning the massacres of 2 April resumed, amid widespread public curiosity and anxiety. A TRIAL THAT REOPENS resumed, amid widespread public curiosity and anxiety. What new things, then, would the Investigation bring us in this trial, which had been sent back twice for further investigation? The courtroom was packed well before 9:00, the time set for the resumption of the trial. The lawyer for the martyrs of democracy and their families, Mr. Nafiz Bezhani, had requested and was expecting a table to be placed in the courtroom for him, because, above all, the honor and dignity of such a serious trial demanded it. Meanwhile, the door opened and the court entered the courtroom. The lawyer took a seat at the end of a bench, as if he were an ordinary citizen. The news that nothing had changed in the original indictment greatly worsened the atmosphere in the courtroom. People with fiery feelings erupted in anger, even as the presiding judge warned them; people with pain in their hearts expressed hatred toward injustices, even when ordered to leave the courtroom. They are people who cannot overcome the grief of losing their sons and brothers. No matter how barbarically they were wounded, no matter how much time passes, although this righteous anger is also met with all sorts of explanations. And amid this uncontrollable hubbub, their lawyer steps forward and addresses them with just a few words: “Have faith in your lawyer! Find the strength to contain your grief. Listen calmly to the court, listen to the prosecution, and then it will be my turn, your lawyer’s.” After this appeal, such silence fell that one might have thought the courtroom had never been in turmoil, that these people had never been angry. The presiding judge calmly opened the proceedings; then the prosecutor spoke, calmly presenting the indictment, and after him the lawyer rose from the bench where he had been sitting and made the following statement: “Mr. Presiding Judge, gentlemen members of the Shkodër military court! We ask for your understanding and for democracy to allow the families to be represented by counsel in this trial. We believe this decision would be of national significance for our judicial practice, because it would break through the framework of monist procedure, which is unfortunately still in force, and establish a precedent for the future, until a new criminal procedure is created. Nevertheless, I cannot exercise this right, because all four defendants brought here for trial have been charged with abuse of office, that is, under Article 106 of the Criminal Code, which concerns the separation of the proper activities of state power bodies. The families I represent, Mr. Presiding Judge, have put a question to be resolved: ‘Who killed our martyrs?’ No one answers this question. The charge brought against the defendants deprives me of the right to demand this answer from them and, in practice, also deprives me of the right to find the answer in this trial. When I say it deprives me of this right, I mean the families of the martyrs, who have been waiting for more than 10 months for the killers of their sons to be uncovered and punished; I mean Shkodër, which is waiting for the perpetrators of the 2 April massacre to be identified and punished; I mean all democratic public opinion, which demands that violence and organized crime be punished and brought to an end. Mr. Presiding Judge, by your decision No. 59 of 29.7.1991, you returned the case to the General Investigation Directorate, underlining the need to combine the crime of abuse of office with that of murder. But it returned the indictment, changing only the date. By decision No. 104 of 4.12.1991, you again returned the documents, with the categorical assessment that: ‘The matter of abuse of office cannot be separated from that of murder. These matters are connected to one another and cannot be tried separately...’ This correct decision allowed only one of two possible responses: either to protest or to complete the investigation. Strangely, neither action was taken, and the indictment was returned to you with only its date changed, in an irresponsible show of disregard. Perhaps grave considerations are compelling you to retry the case without the requests you made having been fulfilled, but this action is unlawful, because it contradicts Decision 104, which you yourselves issued, and procedure does not give you the right to annul it. The other serious problem, I believe, is the indictment against the defendants, which conflicts with the provision it cites. All four defendants have almost... [text as supplied is garbled and repeats the preceding passage about the families waiting for the killers to be punished and and punished, and about democratic public opinion demanding an end to violence and organized crime.] (Continued on page 4)

With special honors and profound human sorrow, thousands of citizens of Shijak, relatives and well-wishers from across the country, on Sunday, 16 February 1992, bid a final farewell to their beloved son, who, as is known, died accidentally while on duty in Italy, where he had gone to secure aid for his hometown. It is Shijak’s tradition to honor those who deserve its respect. But this time, the respect of the people of Shijak, who were parting from Petrit with tears in their eyes and sorrow in their hearts, was joined by tributes from the progressive political forces of the opposition: the PD, PR, PSD, the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, the district Muslim Committee, as well as many citizens who had come from Italy to bid farewell and lay a wreath for the deputy who had sought them out and met them in every corner of the Apennine Peninsula. In the evening, after the decree was announced, his coffin was placed in the courtyard of the “Muharrem Dollaku” eight-year school in Shijak. For a time, the whole population paid its respects, along with thousands of other citizens who had arrived. Paying their respects were the Presidium of the first pluralist Parliament, the chairman of the PD, Mr Sali Berisha, the chairmen of the two parliamentary groups, Messrs Arben Imami and Namik Dokle, the chairman of the PSD, Mr Skënder Gjinushi, and others. Orphaned at a very young age, Petrit worked at the hardest jobs, as a blacksmith and a fisherman. But he always had a desire for knowledge and culture. He completed secondary school and university, worked as an ordinary fisherman, and with the same passion wrote five books and school texts. Everyone recalls Petrit’s wise and thoughtful words in Parliament. He was a determined fighter against communism and for democracy. That is how he will remain in the people’s memory. Carried by the military honor guard, the coffin was taken to the cemetery. Various speakers spoke about Petrit’s life and work as an employee and deputy, as a determined fighter for democracy and a sworn enemy of communism. His body was accompanied by rifle shots. Wreaths were laid as a mark of respect by members of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Kastioti Islami and Aleksandër Meksi; on behalf of the PD, by its chairman, Mr Sali Berisha, and deputy chairman Arben Imami; and on behalf of the pluralist executive committee of the Durrës district, by Arben Babameto. A wreath was also laid by the Shijak and Durrës branches of the PRSH, the PSD, the Independent Trade Unions, and others. Later, the PD deputy chairman, Mr Azem Hajdari, addressed those gathered, who also observed a minute of silence for the patriot Zef Margjinaj, who had lost his life, as Petrit had. Hundreds of members of his family took part in the ceremony. Correspondent on the scene

THE CRAB CLASS The crab class includes various kinds of crabs. The crab has adapted to salty waters. Recently it has tried to spread into the fresh waters of the northern region as well, such as the rivers of D. Mat and Shkumbin. The crab thinks it has many enemies, so it does at night much of the work it could do alone. When the crab is in a tight spot, it leaves a leg behind and escapes danger. Another leg grows in its place, but it is smaller than the first. Thus, crabs have regenerative abilities. TWO YOUNG MEN IN COMA In the resuscitation ward of Hospital No. 2, the young men Petrit Masha and Petrit Allushi are in comas. They were brought to the emergency department on Friday afternoon. The doctors found wounds on their backs caused by a powerful firearm. Their family members explained that the young men had be-

On 18 February, on the television magazine programme, Albanian television viewers had the good fortune to hear for the second time a typical English joke: “Ramiz Alia, International Man of the Year 1991–1992.” The first time was when Albania won first prize for feeding its people. L. DERVI[?] Alia for... electoral... division of the conditions... RTSH. elections... past historical factors... communist... experiences... I believe... on the eve of the Albanian...