Police intervene, protest is suppressed Tiranë, thousands demand their lost money. Tensions spread to Fier and Shkodër More than 40 people detained and nearly 100 others taken to police stations On page 3 Rubber batons fly over demonstrators. Today the court rules on those detained On page 3 On Sunday, police push the crowd of demonstrators in “Skënderbej” Square (Photo: P. Ilo) On Sunday, police push the crowd of demonstrators in “Skënderbej” Square (Photo: P. Ilo)

OPPOSITION Gjinushi at the protest (Photo: P. Ilo) “Peaceful protests in streets and squares again” On page 9

PARLIAMENT On page 9

Protest in Shkodër SHKODËR - Demonstrators supporting the “Populli” foundation. In the morning, too, a group of creditors of this foundation protested peacefully in front of the municipality building, opposing the banks’ decision to freeze the foundation’s assets. The demonstrators demanded that Bashkim Driza appear on television to provide his assurances, and said that if these demands were not accepted, they would organize a broad protest movement in Shkodër. A delegation of demonstrators held a meeting with the mayor, Bahri Borici, to whom they presented their demands. They said that if the assets of “Populli” — which they call their money — were not unfrozen, they would demonstrate in the city’s streets. Er. MI.

TIRANË - Immediate protest by the Helsinki Committee over Sunday's events in the square. TIRANË - The Helsinki Committee immediately protested the events in the square on Sunday. The use of violence by police forces and the handcuffing of people taking part in peaceful protests were strongly condemned by the human rights organization. “The crisis cannot be resolved through police intervention and violence,” states a special communiqué from the Committee, which also criticizes and considers “unjustifiable the distinction made between demonstrations by political forces, reserving the square solely for activities by pro-government entities.”

TENSION ALSO RISES IN THE CENTER OF MYZEQE. DOCTORS: “HE DIED OF A HEART ATTACK” Tragedy in Fier A protester dies

FIER - The Socialist Party headquarters in Fier was forcibly stormed. The police detained the branch chairman, Petro Koci, and two other local MPs. In the evening, they also detained the deputy chairman of the Socialists, Vladimir Shehu, the chairman of the Human Rights Party, Albert Bare, and Roland Yzeiri, a journalist with Koha Jonë. Participation in illegal gatherings appears to have been the reason for the detention of party activists in Fier. On this charge, during Sunday’s demonstration, eight other people were also detained and subsequently taken to the Fier police station. The crowd reacted very harshly during the demonstrators’ detention, while the Socialists called the storming of their headquarters illegal; a source stated that criminal charges would be filed over such an action by the law-enforcement forces. They say the police exceeded their authority in attempting to stop the people’s peaceful demonstration. Hu. Rre.

FOOTBALL Lazio-Juventus 0:2 “Juve,” queen of winter On page 12

FROM THE WORLD On page 2 Clinton

Graduates of ’95 also benefit TIRANA - Students will no longer wear the army’s green uniform. A new law has exempted them from compulsory active military service if they completed the full military education program in secondary school. This is the new law ratified for more than 1,500 Albanian citizens who have graduated or are expected to graduate from institutions of higher education, who benefited yesterday from Parliament’s decision following a proposal by MP Krasniqi. With retroactive effect from July ’95, the law also “saves” citizens with higher education and people in various categories from the military uniform. But those who will benefit most are citizens who completed the full military education course in secondary school, then completed higher education and are now doing compulsory military service. Under this law, those seeking to have their military service adjusted in this way will benefit from it; it also covers students who completed military training in secondary school but were forced to interrupt their higher education for various reasons, such as health issues, scholarships, or emigration. One of the students’ demands was for the new MP’s proposal to be approved, and it was accepted as a law that removes an entire army of civilians from military service. Students will “take off” the green uniform. A parliamentary law exempts those who completed military training in secondary school

“The pyramid-scheme money? The courts will decide” : “The courts will decide on the pyramid-scheme money” TIRANË - “The pyramid-scheme money frozen in banks will begin to be distributed following a court ruling” — said the governor of the Albanian Bank, Kristaq Luniku, the first official to speak yesterday about the “route” the funds of foundations frozen in banks would take to reach clients’ accounts. Speaking on the “Voice of America” microphone, and expressing the Albanian Bank’s strong wish for the money to be transferred as soon as possible from second-tier banks to the accounts of the foundations’ clients, Luniku voiced concern about the financial climate that could result if this money were immediately removed from the banks’ coffers and put into citizens’ pockets. Luniku also noted serious shortcomings in banking legislation that need to be urgently addressed, including the passage of a law to combat money laundering. Following the Government’s decision to freeze 25 billion lekë in banks for the benefit of the foundations’ clients, it appears that a long road still lies ahead before the money can be returned to citizens, if the companies engaged in borrowing activities are found, after the Transparency Commission completes its review, to have been operating a pyramid scheme. The Albanian Bank representative, Luniku, stated that the frozen money would be disbursed by the banks only following a court ruling. For banking reasons, it appears that emptying the banks’ coffers requires action to be taken now, amid alarm over an immediate rise in inflation and a blow to the financial climate in Albania. “This,” Luniku said, “would harm all strata of society.” Luniku also called for immediate improvements to Albania’s economic legislation, including the expected passage by Parliament of a law to combat money laundering. This appears to be connected to the many recent suspicions that companies taking money on interest have been engaged in activities involving dirty money.

TODAY TREND TODAY TREND Drugs in the dormitories Heroin in the dormitory: students speak out Female students: books under the ferexha With the “Gazeta,” a special insert for young people On pages 5–8