Bank counters open for two hours. No money! Kamberi in Italy. Customers wait.
The Government responds to “Republika” with a whip
Those who beat Çobani were either sent by the state, or the situation has gotten out of control for the PD
Those who beat Çobani were either sent by the state, or the situation has gotten out of control for the PD
PD
“Republika” feels offended by the state; it did not deserve the violence inflicted in its offices and against the secretary of the editorial board, Genci Çobani. For some time, the newspaper had been conveying through its pages messages of understanding between Albanians and the state. In its editorials, “Republika” had attacked the Government uncompromisingly and called on the President to use his authority to calm the Albanians. They thought one of us would not find it difficult, or that our messages had not reached the Government’s ears, but that was not so: apparently, the Government had taken our messages to heart. And it responded as it knows how—with a whip and a lash. Shame on a state that claims to function through democratic structures. The events in Vlora are a pretext; then came the [unclear] and the photograph; the violent act carried out against the journalist was an escalation of the warnings and the psychological terror inflicted on the editorial staff. The aim is for the newspaper to change course, stop criticizing the state and grovel before it—something that is not going to happen.
What has “Republika” asked for? That the Government not deceive its own people, that it talk with them not in the language of the whip and deceit, but in the language of transparency; that it not pretend to be innocent in the economic crisis caused by the pyramid schemes; that it publicly admit its guilt and the extent of the corruption; that it give up its stubborn insistence on governing against the people’s wishes.
On February 8, in the editorial “Stop the violence, Mr. President,” “Republika” predicted what befell the Secretary of the Editorial Board—the presence of violence, of the civilian police, which has filled the squares and clubs, emptying homes and carrying out search after search, beating political opponents. On Friday, February 14, one day before the journalist was brutalized, we did not issue an order, but offered advice: “The state should calm down!” And the state calmed down by unleashing itself on the innocent journalist. It is no great act of bravery to beat a defenseless person; these brave civilian police officers can do this to any defenseless citizen. The shame will be theirs.
Continued on p. 5
Mejxher: Thank you, Mr. Berisha
Berisha to visit Lushnje(?)
The [unclear] that Cikuli gave yesterday at the Lushnje cinema was surprising: you can discuss these problems with the President himself, who will come to Lushnje tomorrow.
The participants in the meeting, who were generally vetted—school principals and trusted teachers—also came close to mentioning the name of the PD chairman, if for no other reason than that the President has declared that Tritani cares deeply about the people of Lushnje.
Why will Berisha speak in Lushnje?
P. 5
Mejxher: Thank you, Mr. Berisha
Bashkim Driza at the end of the investigations: “I am ready to give the people their money back”
5
Kuçova marches 5 km for the pyramid schemes. Berat prays
2
Meksi should surrender unconditionally. Berisha should stay for another year
3
Siva awaits Transparency. People with radios get served without waiting in line.
4
