Statement by the Albanian Right-Wing League On May 9, the Government approved the draft law on the purchase and sale of agricultural land. The Albanian Right-Wing League considered this act illegal and demands its immediate withdrawal. The division of land per capita under Communist Law No. 7501, dated 19.07.1991, signed by Ramiz Alia, is an outright theft of private property and a serious violation of human rights. With this law, the authorities declared themselves the general owners of the land and divided it according to a criterion that not even Enver Hoxha’s dictatorial regime dared to apply. With the draft law on the purchase and sale of land, [tike] imposes unacceptable laws on the country. In addition to the law on the purchase and sale of land, as Mr. Meksi stated on television on May 1, it is also preparing a draft law to grant foreign parties concessions over plots and land—something it is doing even today, always according to the principle that the government may freely dispose of plots and land, without taking into account the fact that every inch of the country has an owner, and that only this lawful owner has the right to sell or enter into partnerships with domestic and foreign investors. But if the government violates the rights of the individual, which means violating the rights of the entire people, citizens, for their part, must openly [?] tell the authorities that the land cannot be sold. If we do not do this, hopes of returning the land to its owner must be considered lost; a democratic state will not be established on the legal foundations that prevail throughout the free world, and our economy will remain stagnant. The purchase and sale of land will be put into effect only after it has been returned to its lawful owner. Citizens! The government’s neocommunist laws on property are paving the way for the Socialists to take power, and they declare every day that they have secured victory in the upcoming elections. This overt threat, made for psychological effect, must not that even Enver Hoxha’s dictatorial regime had not dared to apply. With the draft law on the sale and purchase of land, the authorities intend to carry the seizure through to the end and erase all traces of land ownership, putting the next parliament before a fait accompli. The government’s brief communication of its decision seeks to present the matter as a simple administrative act, whereas it is a major national issue. The Albanian Right-Wing League notes that, having a majority in the current parliament, which was elected under different circumstances, the government of the Democratic Party— [The text is interrupted here.] …lawfully rights of the individual—which means violating the rights of the entire people—citizens, for their part, must openly tell the authorities that they will not allow themselves to be trampled upon. Citizens! The Albanian Right-Wing League notes that the time has come to show the authorities that they cannot speculate without limit, as they have done with today’s privatizations, turning state corruption into the norm and enacting laws that take the country backwards. The first and most urgent action to demonstrate our will is to sign the nationwide petition to stop [Text missing.] …the government’s actions concerning ownership while the coming elections. This open threat, made for psychological effect, must not confuse us. Political persecutants, property owners, and all right-wing political forces, if they act together, constitute a force capable of bringing about social change and definitively aligning Albania with the countries of Western democracy. One proof of this unity will be the signing, without distinction, of the Right-Wing League’s petition to stop Let all those who do not want, or pretend not to want, to believe in the Land Sale and Purchase Law wait and see. Even the communists were thought to be merely patronizing us, but they stayed for 50 years. At first glance, the law seems unbelievable; it even looks like a joke. But considering the government’s conduct so far, this draft law should be taken seriously. The government is doing anything but joking, even when it is not being serious. You know very well that it is easy to bargain with someone else’s goods. The government will act as a broker in the sale of the land. From the commission it earns, it will compensate people for their privatization vouchers. The Socialist Party has split between the young and the old. Nothing new. They split up like this in ’41, too. Then they began building socialism. In truth, there is one difference. Those of yesterday built socialist democracy, while those of today have promised to build democratic socialism.

Mr. Selami, you may have prepared beforehand for a “very deep” and prolonged loneliness, but one cannot know what happens when loneliness comes down upon you. Deep loneliness can shake even a sound mind. The pure truth lies hidden beneath several layers, though it may also happen to be in plain daylight. In this second case, hypotheses are a waste of time, or perhaps signs that the intellect is being influenced by external factors, such as, for instance, loneliness. Until then, you were the person who knew Berisha’s thoughts best. You must know that in very intimate circles he has expressed regret about the Republican Party’s ties with some allies who, in his view, are not entirely suited to it. You know very well that the creation of the Right-Wing League, with the participation of the Republican Party, came as a surprise to Berisha. Your party does its own calculations, and you may call the alliance with the Right-Wing League “logical” and useful. You have said so yourself. Mr. Meksi spoke in London and Mr. Arbnori in Rome. But you know, Mr. Selami, that an alliance always takes two sides. The Right-Wing League is clearly in opposition to today’s authorities, and hypotheses cannot change this situation, given the program formulated by the Right-Wing League and its day-to-day political activity. Let’s get to the point: although, until January of this year, when the League was formed, you personally were aware of every political discussion in Berisha’s cabinet, had you ever heard anyone speak of the PR joining the Right-Wing League? If so, lay your cards on the table. That would be more interesting for journalists than your conjectures during this time of “siege” and “loneliness.” In any case, we value you as a politician who may make an occasional mistake, but who generally stays within the bounds of propriety. B. M

According to the latest information from Durrës, 4,300 signatures have been collected for the LDSH petition opposing the law on the sale and purchase of land (3,000 in the city and 1,200 in the villages). The PR branch in Durrës is taking its first steps in the petition campaign and has initially focused its work at the enterprise level, among PR activists. The first meetings of the members of the Steering Committee of the PR branch in Durrës were held in Manëz, Sukth, and Katund i Ri. Tomorrow, a meeting for this purpose will be held at Durrës Beach.

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Drawing: a person holding a large clock; vertical text: Tenali