The account of an eyewitness Terror in the center of Tirana. The killer of the Hakajs is killed Terror in the center of Tirana The killer of the Hakajs is killed Page 5

The revolutionaries withdraw; 300 special forces seal off Kukës The revolutionaries withdraw 300 special forces seal off Kukës Page 3

EDITORIAL A state to be pitied It seems that a silent, unwritten and ever-active pact has been established between the state and crime, as well as between the state and the destabilization of public order. Whenever the Government—its ministers (the most zealous being the Minister of Public Order, but the Prime Minister himself no less so)—declare that public order is under control, such deeply shocking events shake to their foundations the hopes of Albanians for a quieter life, perhaps a poorer one, but in any case a safer one. From mass rebellions to killings in the heart of Tirana. Nevertheless, the state talks about public order, revealing deep down in its logic that it relies neither on its own strength nor on the strength of the laws and those who enforce them. The only hook on which everyone’s hopes now hang, from the head of state to the simplest citizen, is the citizens themselves. And God, of course! In Kukës, the police fled, surrendering public order and, along with it, their own building, the police station. It was the protesters’ “mercy” that kept an entire city from being burned down as in ’97; just as it continues to be the “mercy” of the “criminals” who, whenever they decide to commit a murder and no one can stop them, do not hesitate to kill many other innocent people. Nevertheless, the state says it protects us. Indeed, it demands taxes for this, while asking us to believe that it is serious when it grits its teeth, issuing angry cries and bellicose promises about enforcing the law, violating the law and trampling it underfoot. And these are the very people who, three years ago, called for weapons, burned institutions, insulted the state and brought it down through violence alone. But what are the politicians doing? What are those in power saying? What are the government officials waiting for? Nothing more than pity. Pity from the world, so it will not cut off aid; pity from criminals, so they will stop killing; pity from the people, so they will stay quiet; pity even from voters, who perhaps must vote for them once again.

Photograph of an armored vehicle with armed people on top.

Silva/Creditors disappointed. Bank: Government is to blame Distribution of the money to creditors of the “Silva” borrowing company has been halted. According to a specialist at the Savings Bank, which the Government has tasked with distributing money to creditors of companies that have completed the transparency process, the local elections of 1 October are the reason for this interruption. The specialist explains that the Savings Bank has, for its part, completed all the procedures required of it, as well as prepared the allocated fund made available for distributing money to “Silva”’s creditors. Page 2

Commissioners: You rush, then regret it Dispute at the Central Election Commission over the establishment of the CECs. Yesterday’s meeting of this institution began amid fierce controversy, with the method of setting up the Zonal Commissions of Local Government as its subject of discussion. The CEC once again exposed its shortcomings in setting up its structures and, above all, in the way it followed decisions that were in complete and open contradiction with the law. Page 4

Deposits are unprotected in the event of bankruptcy The laws on deposits do not fully guarantee the clients of Albanian banks. The draft law expected to be adopted to guarantee Albanian deposits will not apply to all categories of depositors. This is stated in a clarification that the Press Office of the Bank of Albania provided to the newspaper “Republika” regarding the effects of the law in question. Page 11

Culture Page 21

It leases land and then rents it out to vendors Page 13

To PR branches in the districts On Thursday, 17.08.2000, at 11:00, all chairpersons of PR branches in the districts are to report to the Central Headquarters to give an account at the Executive Committee meeting of the preparations made so far for the campaign. Participants must bring all the required documentation. The Executive Committee