Thugs and trash are making the rules Thickheaded and, as always, present, crime appeared in Korçë. Around five wounded, one in critical condition—seriously threatening the armchairs of the Ministry of the Interior. In the space of a month and a half, attacks have appeared in public squares in Albania’s main cities; generally, those targeted escape, while passers-by pay the price. Korçë was the latest sensational incident, coming right after a press conference by the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Shamata. Fate’s irony is that his conference can no longer convince anyone of the authority of the police department he heads. Passers-by, on their unsafe journeys, have begun filling hospital emergency rooms thanks to the police’s feeble work. Korçë brought the number of victims to five, while the perpetrators of the attack remain a mystery, even though they disappeared in front of the local SHIK headquarters. It was Durrës that first opened the chapter of public attacks, followed by Vlora, then Tirana, and now Korçë. These kinds of crimes are taking place in Albania’s largest cities, where political, economic, social and cultural interests are at their greatest. The armed threat against the largest urban centers expresses an obscurantist provincialist will, which in this case bears the stamp of thuggery and vulgarity. These can no longer be dismissed as sporadic shootings by hotheads. The brave men in “cowboy” trousers leave clear traces behind them, yet no one catches them. One forgets a car, another leaves bloodied people behind, and all of them leave victims. No one understands the role of the “tough” police anymore. Their legends are almost over, since lately even they have had the barrels of trashy people’s guns pointed at them with considerable accuracy. Instead of issuing a threat, Mr. Shamata is content with a press conference, leaving behind a crippled civic order.

Figures according to the Ministry of the Interior: 25 wounded, of whom five were in uniform, 20 heads of household taken to Police Station No. 2, described as organizers of the protest and the blockade of the national road Photo: Ms. Terpini

“It is true that I went to the scene, although the residents’ behavior led me to believe that I had not arrived at the right moment. It is also untrue that I made them any promises, let alone gave them any material assistance, much less such a large sum, 5 million. The only promise I made them was to help, but within the laws of the state.”

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P. 2

Laws in every social system are drafted in such a way that their primary aspect is preventive. Therefore, in this case too, the law prohibiting construction on other people’s property should be enforced from that very moment. This would not only have spared the effort, sweat and money of those whose houses were demolished, but enforcement of the law at that moment would also have served as an example that in a democratic state the law is sacred and is therefore applied rigorously. While calling this “freedom of movement,” the president did not trouble himself to understand that they were settling on land that did not belong to them P. 4

The “trick” of setting the strike date is to choose October 4 rather than 5, thereby avoiding the penalty under the law, which bans strikes 15 days before elections P. 3

Ajax at the new stadium for the first time, while Milan faces the Norwegian freeze. The president of “Fenerbahçe”: “Juventus will leave the field with its head bowed” P. 8