Heavy fines and confiscations for responsible parents Hope for the return of thousands of pupils TIRANA — Parents who do not send their children to school should now think carefully. A new government decision sets out harsh measures, beginning with the "Law on Pre-university Education" of 1993. Under this decision, large fines and seizure of property will be applied to parents who keep their children away from school desks. The new decision — which will be implemented in the form of a presidential decree — concerns children aged 6 to 16 who are absent without reason or who drop out of school altogether. The first penalty to be paid in this case is graduated: for cases where the child is absent and the parent receives only a warning within a two-month period, and a higher one when the child is absent for more than half of the lessons that should have been attended within the same period. Now, unlike the old law, the government decision will give the power to impose fines to the district education authorities. The Education Directorate — with school inspectors keeping records — will now only make the relevant proposal. Heavy fines are also foreseen for those managers — state or private — who employ minors within the age range provided for by this law. If it is proven that any of them has done such a thing, they will be fined by the labor inspector with a high penalty, the amount of which has not yet been fully fixed. But more than the punitive measure, something else seems likely to have a greater effect. One of the new features of this law — perhaps the most important — is the right to confiscate any household item that the law grants to state authorities in the event of refusal to pay the fine. As a result, for such owners, otherwise the authorities will wait until some point, but limiting it to a certain long and unclear period in implementation. A small part of this article has raised many objections. Perhaps only here can there hide a truly arbitrary desire to impose stricter rules on parents for their elementary human duty, but expressed in administrative language. Fatos Baxhaku

Risk of collapses in Tirana and Gjirokastër TIRANA — Risk of house collapses in several areas of Albania. Now, with the end of summer and the approach of the rainy season, the problem is becoming more and more acute and preventive measures are becoming essential. The first sign comes from the village of Sharrë in the Tirana district, where a house built by villagers is at risk of collapsing because of land slides. This phenomenon has greatly worried the residents. They say that in this condition they cannot even build new houses, let alone repair the existing ones. The same concern comes from Gjirokastër, where specialists see the risk of collapse of a group of houses in one of the neighborhoods of this town. Earlier, 6 other houses had already fallen victim to landslides caused by the heavy rains that had fallen and by the stream tunnels built years earlier. As a result, the families living there were left homeless and remain so to this day. The credit fund of 5 million lek, allocated by the Government at the request of the Municipality also for 94 other families left victims of natural disasters, still remains unused.

TRIAL / The five defendants explain themselves before the judges «Athens helped us on 22 March» TRIAL / The five defendants explain themselves before the judges «Omonia» reveals its sins «Athens helped us on 22 March» Three of the defendants in the trial: on the left Vangjel Prapashtos, in the middle Theodhori Bezhan i and on the right Panajot Marta. (Italian photo) TIRANA — The testimony of the protagonists before the judges and, with the police, in the case of "Omonia" has begun. After the diplomatic tension between Tirana and Athens as well as the physical tension before the Tirana Court — within the trial — the five leaders of "Omonia" are beginning to make statements. The main meeting of "Omonia" with the head of Asfalia, Andrea Zaganolo, a month ago — in Gjirokastër and Sarandë — as well as thousands of others with the State, Athens and the citizens in Vlorë, two electoral campaigns that "Omonia" has helped in Albania, their requests for provocation against the authorities and the use of the Omonia customs channel to facilitate the passage of fugitives. Thus the case of the five leaders of "Omonia" is moving toward a real trial. Up to Monday, the only support for their accusations had been the statements of the secretary of the Gjirokastër branch and of the central office. In fact, the prosecution’s case is being held "doubtfully" by the many facts recounted by the leaders of "Omonia" themselves concerning drastic actions against Albanians and Albania. The second day of the trial — when the defendants began to explain the crimes — gave the public the first serious chance to leave judgment to the judge himself. After the defendants’ testimony, their lawyers’ closing arguments — which began at Tuesday’s session — as well as the arrival of witnesses and the presentation of materials and other evidence available to the mystery, are awaited with great interest. In any case, the mystery has now begun to clear, and it may be said that this is "a ridiculous trial", as Greek Prime Minister Papandreou stated on Sunday. Edmond Laci

Also in the South GJIROKASTËR — This time they do not blame politics. The day of the Virgin Mary was also celebrated normally by the Orthodox believers of the South, while the press — especially the Greek press — had hypothesized the opposite, perhaps because this year’s holiday coincided with the opening of the trial against five members of "Omonia". The religious rites carried out last year in Jorgucat and Derviçan were held in peace again this year — at the Church of the Virgin Mary in Gjirokastër, and in Sarandë. Meanwhile in Përmet — instead of the Greek archpriest — an Albanian priest officiated. Only in Derviçan and Dropull did some young people raise slogans with political content. (Rd. Ko.)

IN THE INTERIOR International terrorist Carlos arrested Handed over to France by Sudan ON PAGE 2 Tirana, the most expensive city in the country Weekly prices from the Ministry of Agriculture ON PAGE 3

— An unusual trial has begun these days in Elbasan. In the dock is the 40-year-old E.M., accused of an immoral act with a minor. Since the 30-year-old[?] — is under house arrest — he has, during the first two hearings, categorically denied the charges brought against him. According to the indictment, he had sexual relations with a minor girl while threatening her. The prosecutor has requested the maximum sentence. (M. K.)

The prosecution began the proceedings TIRANA — Former public order officer Pjetër Meto Malaj is being held — this time for real — for carrying a weapon without a permit. It is understood that he had been dismissed from his job some time ago at Police Station No. 3 because he was carrying a weapon without a permit. His arrest was made on the basis of a decision by the prosecutor’s office after an unlicensed firearm was found. Investigations continue. (S. M.)

Accused of murder VLORE — Another hunger strike in Vlorë, but this time it has nothing to do with the protest of former political prisoners. Its protagonist is the 26-year-old A.M., who for several days has been refusing the food offered to him in one of the cells of the Vlorë police station where he is being held. Now his health condition has worsened and doctors have recommended his admission to the reanimation ward of the city hospital, where his room is guarded day and night by armed police. A.M. is suspected of being a possible killer of a person during his stay in Greece. Investigations continue for the citizen with the initials A.M. apparently can no longer bear it and has decided to protest with the means he has chosen and to go on hunger strike. (S. M.)

CURSIVE REALITY ELBASAN — A barrage of complaints, a cow beaten to death and two fellow villagers now in trouble: one without meat, the cow, and the other, apparently, the cow and five. Does this topic matter as much as the story? It happened a few days ago on the outskirts of Elbasan, more precisely in one of its villages. Attention should first have gone to a neighborhood near the village center, where a cow had gone missing. Its owner suspected that someone had taken the animal and that everything was linked to an old conflict. Shortly afterward the cow was found dead and the quarrel began there. According to witnesses, one man, thought to be a suspect, spoke at length with words used after the pies. The owner of the animal demanded that the culprit who killed it be found. A cow was the only property of a family, and this adds weight to the event. It is precisely this last element that has rendered the word of the arrested man, who had offered himself to solve this dispute, powerless. For an Albanian rural family, a cow in poor condition does not represent only the loss of livestock, but of a means of livelihood. Mentor Kikia

DURRËS, WINNER OF THE TENDER FOR HOUSING AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE CITY ANNOUNCED — The winner of the tender organized by the Municipality of Durrës for the construction of a large block of apartments at the entrance to the city has now been announced. Among the four competing firms, the project submitted by "ZGS", an Italian-Albanian joint venture, has won. According to its project, on the area of 70 hectares, 7- to 8-story buildings are planned and housing for around 50,000 residents will be made possible. KORÇË, NEW BA-KRI RESERVES DISCOVERED — New reserves have been discovered north of the Kërrë deposit, the copper ore in the Korçë area. The copper of this source, thanks to the abundant quantities it offers, is also of high quality. These are precisely the factors that have contributed to the significant increase in production at the geological enterprise of this district. LAÇ, NEW PRODUCTION LINE FOR REFRIGERATOR PARTS — A new production line for refrigerator parts has now started production in the town of Laç. This line — with modest capacity — can bring different parts to the market every month. During the winter it is foreseen that this line will switch to the production of alcoholic parts. MAT, 3.5 MILLION LEK FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION — GSH — There are 3.5 million lek allocated by the Rural Development Fund for the construction of motor roads. This fund will go entirely to the Gurita area.

FOR RENT — a very nice apartment, the merging of two apartments with two bedrooms and a kitchen, suitable to function as an office. Address: "Ferit Xhajko" street, building 69, stairway 1, ap. no. 7 and 8, Tirana. (in front of Durrës restaurant). FOR RENT — an apartment with two bedrooms and a kitchen on "Sina" street, "Myslym Shyri" street, building 15, stairway 1, apartment 25, Tirana. For clarification you can contact the telephone number 24084. FOR RENT — an apartment with two bedrooms and a kitchen on Kavaja Street, address: "Kongresi i Manastirit", near "Xhemal Mëhilli" school, Tirana. Interested persons should contact the kiosk next to the National Theater. WANT TO BUY — a used washing machine, but in good condition. Address: Former party school, central disconnected telephone no. 3316. FOR RENT or FOR SALE — a two-story house with 4 rooms on each floor, courtyard area of 400 square meters. Basements located in the Textile Combine. Address: Rruga 4 Dëshmorët, number 4. Telephone 24586 in Tirana. OFFERING — a popular teaching line that I seek, not complete armchairs in good condition. JAPINA Samaduli, address: neighborhood 4, building 39, Kuranat. SEARCHING FOR — a bag lost in Tirana on 22.07.1994, containing important documents for me as well as my personal seal. I offer a reward of 100 dollars. ANYTHING TO SELL? ANYTHING TO BUY? This space is free for your economic notices. Send your message no longer than 15 words to one of our addresses in Tirana: Rruga Bajram Curri, 370, or in Bari: Viale Scipione l'Africano, 264. State in your message what you are looking for and offering, your name and address. FOR SALE — a used vehicle, minibus. For more detailed information contact the directorate of the electro-medical equipment workshop. FOR SALE — a FIAT-OM truck, self-unloading, with a capacity of 3 tons, customs duties paid, (300,000 lek) Address: "Kongresi i Lushnjes" street, no. 22, near "Mondial" restaurant. OFFERING — a new diagnostic and medical service, carried out by a skilled person. In addition to assessments of clinical analyses and biochemistry for every type of illness. Address: Rruga e Barrikadave, building 133, stairway 4, apartment no. 4, Tirana.