A party betrayed a people at the point of a half-barrel gun. And that was the Party of Labour. A party sold its own Homeland. And that was the Party of Labour. A party destroyed the people and impoverished them to the extreme. And that was the Party of Labour. Faced with this accusation, hundreds of members of this party felt offended, condemned without guilt. These members, themselves people who had suffered and been ruined, defended themselves by pointing to the criminal gang that had led them toward the betrayal of people and the Homeland. And this is the truth. A truth that does not correspond to the truth about other countries under dictatorship, because although other dictatorships, too, humiliated people and destroyed the country, there is no other case like Albania’s, where the Homeland was sold and betrayed. Albania is the only case. The criminal gang installed at the head of the party-state managed, through its criminality, to betray even the national interests. But this is not a closed chapter in Albanian politics. Unfortunately, it is not a closed chapter, however shameful and unforgivable it may be. It seems the same criminal gang has today been installed at the head of the so-called Socialist Party. Blind with ambition, it seeks power, even at the tragic cost of selling out the national interests. This leadership, which includes many intellectuals (and why should we not recall in this connection the intellectuals who served Hitler’s National Socialist party, for example), has demonstrated this very betrayal of national interests on more than one occasion. Out of goodwill, such cases have been called sporadic and not representative of the line of the renewed PS leadership. But the latest case, in which the PS leadership appeals to the Council of Europe for Albania not to become a member of the Council of Europe, cannot be explained away as an isolated, unrelated occurrence. It is precisely that criminal gang of this party that has seized the leadership of an entire party, entirely like the criminal gang of the Party of Labour. It is undoubtedly an unprecedented case for a party to ask what today’s PS leadership asked of the Council of Europe: that Albania not be admitted to the Council of Europe. Which ordinary member of this party would agree with this logic? Albania does not belong to one party. It does not belong to the Democratic Party. Does the PS leadership know this—that is, does Fatos Nano, who directs things from prison, know it; does Dokle know it; and does Dritëro Agolli know it? Did the writer Dritëro Agolli vote “in favor” of Albania not joining the Council of Europe? If Agolli, Brokaj, Pellumbi, Ruçi, and right down to Dokle and the others have judged that Albania should not join Europe, we have a supposition and a question: If elections were to be held a month from now and bring Dokle and the other members of the PS criminal gang to power, would it not be better for them if Albania were already a member of the Council of Europe? This question should be asked first of all by the ordinary members of what is called the PS, because the others know, and they will not allow Dokle’s, Agolli’s and the others’ seats of power to be placed on Albania’s face.

Kostandin Micotaqis, the current prime minister of Greece, has been accused of taking part in the massacres of the Albanians of Çamëria at the end of the Second World War. Kostandin Micotaqis, the current prime minister of Greece, has been accused of taking part in the massacres of the Albanians of Çamëria at the end of the Second World War, when he was a member of Napolon Zerva’s criminal hordes. “This moment deserves to be illuminated with greater zeal and presented to international bodies and institutions,” writes the newspaper “Rilindja” in its September 9, 1993 issue, analyzing the openly anti-Albanian stance of Micotaqis’s “New Democracy” party.

Serbia closed its borders with Montenegro. The announcement is confirmed by Radio Deutsche Welle in Serbo-Croatian and its broadcast dated August 8. According to this source, the above action was taken because of the shortage of essential goods in Serbia.

“I do not want to draw an analogy with the clean pens” in Italy, an investigating judge told our correspondent, “but some of the Albanian newspapers, I am sure, are involved in another kind of corruption.” “I do not want to draw an analogy with the clean pens” in Italy, an investigating judge told our correspondent, “but some of the Albanian newspapers, I am sure, are involved in another kind of corruption. Their funding sources must be verified. The income generated by their sales is far below the cost of production, because of the outdated technology. There are several newspapers whose circulation does not exceed five thousand copies, and they should have ‘thrown in the towel.’ That has not happened. Who finances them, and how can we clarify the sources of this financing? This has nothing to do with the publication of advertisements. It is perhaps something more far-reaching. I will submit,” the investigating judge insisted, “a detailed report on this matter to the competent authorities.”

“I want to testify that he is alive,” T.R., 42, told our newspaper. “Enver Hoxha’s double is alive. I can present documents and photos of Hoxha’s double. He came to make a statement here,” said T.R., “after I read an article in ‘Gazeta Shqiptare’ and ‘Koha Jonë’ that had come from England. He looked exactly like Enver Hoxha, except that he was somewhat shorter. For the most part, he travelled by car. To match Hoxha’s height, his double would put on several pillows. After his death, Enver Hoxha’s double even earned a doctorate in medicine. Later he also served for a time as a minister. Hoxha’s double is a member of parliament today. He is the only one of the dictators’ doubles who is still alive, and, strangely enough, they have not killed him. This is Sabit Broka,” T.R. said. I will send a copy of the photos and other documents, T.R. concluded, to K.B.’s son as well, so he can give them to the newspaper ‘Sunday Times’.

Today: ELECTIONS in two areas of the country This headline is not seasonal. But on September 12, elections will be held in two areas of the country. So, even if these involve a small part of the population, they are still important events for that area, because voters must decide on the head of the local government who will represent them and address their problems. Elections will be held in two districts, Bulqizë and Peshkopi. The elections are being held in two municipalities, Zegjan in Bulqizë and Luzni in Peshkopi, to elect municipal mayors. What are the reasons for holding these elections? New elections are being held for two reasons: In Zegjan, the former municipal mayor is under criminal prosecution and, by decree of the President of the The elections are conducted in accordance with the electoral law. Naturally, for these elections, the district municipality and the municipal commission are organized, and there is no central commission. To monitor the voting procedure, the Association for Democratic Culture has appointed its observers, who will be present on election day. They will strive to ensure that these procedures retain their free and democratic character. At the same time, the Association’s activists have established contact with the municipalities where voting will take place and are working to ensure the fullest possible participation in the vote and that the elections are as fair and well-conducted as possible. M. QAÇE

The Foreign Minister of the PR of China, who is also Vice Premier of the State Council, Qian Qi Chen, has arrived in our country. He will meet with senior Albanian officials as well as President Berisha. For the readers of “Republika,” we are briefly presenting some economic indicators for China. China is the economic favorite of the world today. Although it is the world’s most populous country—with 1.2 billion people—it is becoming one of the world’s greatest powers. Gross domestic product grew by 12% during 1992. According to the International Monetary Fund, China is considered the world’s third-largest economic power, after the USA and Japan. It is precisely the large American companies that are trying to get their share of this development; they are especially pleased now that President Klinton has renewed China’s status as a “most favored nation” in trade for another year. From an economic standpoint, China appears to be a balloon ready to burst. Japanese and Chinese investments tripled during 1992, reaching around 4 billion dollars combined. Powerful firms such as General Motors, Nissan and Suzuki have announced major plans for the future. Another giant, Coca-Cola, will also invest an additional 150 million dollars in bottling plants, bringing its total invested capital in China to 250 million dollars. In all, there are 200,000 investors who have put hundreds of millions of dollars into China. Economic developments in China have led to the growth and strengthening of a powerful class of domestic millionaires.

At last, what had been awaited for a long time and long sought by diplomats was signed. Israeli Prime Minister Jitzhak Rabin signed the recognition of the State of Palestine. The Palestinians did the same on their part. These are historic decisions that could change the history of the Middle East. Washington’s reaction was favorable. President Klinton said: “It was a difficult road. Congratulations are due to both sides.” He urged the senior representatives of both states to sign the final agreement. But not everything is considered settled. Right-wing forces on both sides oppose this agreement.

They are demanding their rights once again On September 5, around 6,000 participants from the Association of Former Prisoners and the Politically Persecuted gathered in Skënderbej Square for a rally to once again demand the integration of their members into Albanian democratic society. “We want to show our tolerance in the face of communist brutality,” said Kurt Kola, chairman of the National Association of the Imprisoned and Politically Persecuted. He also called for support for today’s democratic Government, on condition that it continue the fight against communism and economic corruption, while showing care for the integration into the country’s economic and political life of the association’s members, whom he leads. He called the Socialist Party’s conduct “a political game to smooth over and disguise the Party of Labour, the cause of the tragedy of thousands of Albanian families.” Eqerem Kavaja, chairman of this organization for Tirana, also spoke at the rally. He raised the need for a new [unclear] to integrate into the country’s political and economic life. He described the establishment of the Trade Association of Political Prisoners as a first step toward their economic integration into today’s society. All the speakers at the rally called for tolerance and understanding. They again emphasized their demands for the return of property confiscated from them during the communist period. Also present on the platform were the chairman of the Republican Party, Sabri Godo, and the chairman of the Property with Justice Association, Rrapo Danushi.

The article continues on page 2. The text is very small and partly unclear in the image; readable transcription: AGIM LLANAJ The White Caps “Yes, man!” rang out clearly the voice of the one who was dying, and, after breathing heavily, he added: “I entrust you to know each one, if Lumi wills it, may you leave here alive and bear witness before the men of the bajrak just as I will bear witness before Almighty God, for myself and for all of you!” The nephew’s back bent even farther, and in a very faint voice he asked him what his final wish was. The old man raised his hand wearily and pointed a finger toward the bundle of belongings nearby. “Put my white cap on me and send word to Pater Ndue Shkalla about the state’s [unclear] and confession.” But this was no easy task, since communication between prisoners from one room to another was forbidden. Burrel prison had its own rules, specially devised for it—rigid, cruel, strict and absurd rules. Under these rules and regulations, the return of homes, the passage of years, life itself and death were governed in an unchanging way by the hours of the guards’ routines, the cadence, the ring…ring…ring…of the regular inspection of the registers and the roll calls twice a day, morning…evening, by the orders and shouts of the guards, by the clatter of the wooden clogs as they echoed through the narrow corridors, the queues for the bathroom and the distribution of the thin soup, in which the number of grains of rice was in balance with the disgusting droppings of the rats. Then came the day in the exercise yard, with its high walls, from which one could see only the sky, the flight of some wandering bird, and the row of white caps on the ridges of Malli i Macukullit, caps of gleaming whiteness that were renewed every Christmas. It was January 1961. Our room for the gravely ill was next to the prison infirmary. The medical profession—from pediatrician and surgeon to nurse and even dentist—had fallen to Eqerem Zeko from Gjirokastra. Years later, he would be pecked to death from the top of the candle by the guards’ towers at the camp of ... [the remaining lines are difficult to read]. [The columns continue with the story of the prisoners, the Old Man, Pater Ndue Shkalla, Eqerem Zeko, and life in Burrel prison. End of the visible section: “(continued on page 2)”]

The madwoman N. of Tirana, on the last two days of the week, to the astonishment of all the curious onlookers, passersby and numerous followers, was seen on the main promenade dragging an old woman along. “Don’t be afraid, you made the madwoman. As you can see, her teeth have fallen out. She can’t bite you. The dog was growling, ‘gam-gam-gam.’ ‘What should she do?’ one of the curious people asked. ‘Tell us what this dog is saying.’ ‘It’s very happy,’ said the madwoman. ‘It’s happy that Albania didn’t join the Council of Europe.’ The dog went ‘gam-gam-gam.’ ‘It’s going mad with joy,’ the madwoman said. ‘You intellectuals, why weren’t you pleased with that? Are you against this dog or are you with it? Are you intellectuals or are you m…’ “Whom did you bring inside? – In Serbian and Shkija, I have [unclear] there.” “Have you ever coveted or laid hands on someone else’s property?” “No, never in this century. The property of Tirana has been dear to me, and I have treated it as if it were my own.” (Continued on page 2) Passersby gathered his belongings and began selling them off piece by piece. “And you, Namik Dokle, why are you opening up the goods?” the madwoman shouted. “And where are you going to sell the dog’s belongings for money?” After all this wandering, madwoman N. went back, perhaps to the Puppet Theatre. The next day, while dragging the same dog, she made this speech in front of the curious onlookers: “Do you like him? Look at him—you put him there for a few days. He’s going to leave to study in Germany. If you protest, he might even leave for America. There’s also an idea that the dog should become Minister of the Interior or Prime Minister. He’s not all that provincial and he’s got golden heads. Or we’ll make him chairman of the Writers’ League, or make him Minister of the Interior again.” “Minister of the Interior, no,” someone in the crowd said, “because his teeth might grow back. He’s better suited to become Minister of Health. Or let’s make him the red-and-blue minister of ‘Zëri i Popullit.’ He’s an old dog with experience,” said the madwoman. “Can’t we make him a professor of philosophy?” The dog growled. The dog was old. “He’s got the mange,” someone in the crowd said. … [part of the article is cut off at the right-hand side and partly illegible] ...of the other. Hates ... [The section of the article in the left-hand column is cut off and partly illegible.] ATSH

...of the other. Hates ...

The elections are conducted in accordance with the electoral law.

“Interview” with Like Rehova

Rally of former prisoners