The women of Vlora ask Hilari Klinton for help. Berisha: The Government is to blame. Protesters fill the courts.

Yesterday around midday, two unidentified people took Genci Çobani, secretary of the Editorial Board, from the newspaper’s office. He was transported in a “Golf”-type ambulance.

journalist of “Republika”, Çobani, secretary of the Editorial Board, from the newspaper’s offices. He was transported in an unlicensed “Golf”-type car to the hills by the lake. The assailants demanded information from him about the report Çobani is to publish on Tuesday concerning his visit to Vlora and Fier on the first day. Çobani reminded the assailants that the newspaper featuring his article would be put on sale, and that they could satisfy their curiosity on the day it appeared. Dissatisfied with this response, they struck him brutally on the back of the head, causing concussion and internal bleeding. The violence inflicted on the “Republika” journalist is a continuation of the violent scenes perpetrated against journalists in recent days. Irresponsible people, cowards, blind puppets are exerting unprecedented pressure on the press—pressure not seen even in the darkest times of these years of pluralism. This is the second time Çobani has fallen victim to violence by these forces operating in the shadows of power. During the election campaign for the 26 May elections, Çobani was beaten near his home and his arm was broken. The people responsible then, who remained hidden and were never identified by the police, are still on the prowl; it seems they have come out again, brutally assaulting for the second time the secretary of the “Republika” Editorial Board. Recent events have involved not only arson and leaderless mob violence, but also widespread beatings of prominent figures in the Albanian press and journalism. Çobani’s uncompromising articles and the newspaper’s positions seem to have upset someone. Someone hot-headed, someone empty-headed. For days, anonymous calls have been coming into the “Republika” newsroom. Yesterday, another “Republika” journalist, Denion Ndrenika, also received a threatening phone call at his home. The anonymous threats and the violence directed at “Republika” will not affect its work, which to this day has been in the service of its readers, not of cowardly lackeys who know only how to use the telephone line and their fists. On Tuesday Çobani will publish his report, not to challenge the tough guys in civilian clothes, but to inform the public about what is happening in this country called Albania. Perhaps on Tuesday someone will be angered by his truth, but ultimately that is not up to us. It is enough for us to show what the truth is, so that people know what to believe and know whom to protest against.

At around 2 p.m. today, two civilians unknown to the editorial staff entered the offices of the Republican Party, where the offices of the newspaper “Republika” are also currently located. The only person present on the premises of this newsroom was the secretary of the newspaper’s editorial board, who is also the PR secretary for the Tirana branch, Mr. Genci Çobani. The two civilians asked to clarify a few things with him and insisted that they have a coffee at a nearby café. Accepting their invitation, the journalist got into a small, unregistered “Golf” car. Taken by surprise, after the car had headed toward the artificial lake, the journalist was brutally beaten. The assailants were seeking information about what he would write concerning Republican leader Godo’s visits to Vlora and Fier on Friday, where he was very warmly received by the people of these two districts. We emphasize that the journalist who fell victim to the civilians’ brutal blows to his head and other parts of his body had accompanied Secretary Godo on these visits. The newspaper “Republika” vigorously protests the disgraceful incident that took place yesterday. The violence inflicted on its journalist is an attack on the Albanian press and freedom of speech. The anonymous threats that have come to the “Republika” newsroom in recent days reached the ultimate degree of brutality and ignorance yesterday. The “Republika” newsroom calls for the perpetrators to be found and punished, and for fellow newspapers in the Albanian media to show solidarity against acts of violence, which have become frequent lately. REPUBLIKA

Today at the Tirana rally Photo: A. Babani Today at the Tirana rally. Photo: A. Babani

Should national assets be put up for sale? P. 4 The President gathers people in the Ballet Hall Let us trust in God... P. 3 Down with the Government! The police are with us P. 2 Homes have turned into pieces of paper, money into draft laws P. 5

Sude’s clients beaten with a whip. New draft law for those left homeless by pyramid schemes. Those gathered at “Kamberi” are demanding Ferdinand.

1- The state must resolve the problem of the people’s losses from pyramid schemes by fully compensating them, including through the partial sale of national wealth. 2- The Government must resign. 3- Drafting a Constitution and holding a referendum on it. 4- Dismissal of the heads of TVSH. 5- New freedom for the elections. 6- Free general elections by November 1997.

Newspaper “REPUBLIKA,” “Sami Frashëri” Street, near “Petro Nini Luarasi” High School, Tirana. Account No. BTK 986/110. Tel/Fax 259 88. Tel. 230 90