Pelingu report: “A little money is missing. The bank disputes this” Bashkim Driza accuses: “My audit report has been falsified. I will not sign the check” Clash between the figures of the Transparency Commission and those of the government. Bank: “Our figures are accurate”

Vlora woke up to protests again yesterday. A march in the square continued until evening On page 3 The head of the Savings Bank contradicts Pelingu: “Populli” is short by 40 percent On page 5 The head of Gjallica escapes. Shemsie Kadria “flies” to Turkey once again On page 3 The revolt in Vlora yesterday (Photo REUTERS)

TIRANA - There is still chaos and long queues at the counters of the Commercial Bank in the capital, while calm has returned to the branches of the Savings Bank. But a wide range of problems have surfaced at both banks. The lists are the weakest point in distributing the money from the “Xhaferri” foundation. “Where is my name? I’ve been coming here for two days,” are the questions most commonly heard at these counters. Meanwhile, the problem at the Savings Bank concerns emigrants. “We still haven’t received any instructions on what to do about people who are not in Albania,” bank employees say, while many are asking for the money belonging to their refugee children. On page 4

SILVA Creditors: “We will not remove 3 percent of the capital” The president of Silva On page 2

IN THE DISTRICTS Tension in towns: rallies are called for, money is refused Protests over pyramid schemes On page 2

TIRANA - The social upheavals of recent days seem to have caused even sections of the law-enforcement agencies to lose control and to resort to the brutality for whose prevention they were created. The daily newspaper “Koha Jonë” informed the public about the arrest and barbaric treatment by police forces of journalists, including Roland Bejari in the city of Korçë. Amnesty International has also joined “Koha Jonë” in its protest. In a statement issued in London, the international secretariat of the organization says that journalist Roland Bejari “is a prisoner of conscience.” Representatives of the Albanian Helsinki Committee have also issued protests. The editorial staff of Gazeta Shqiptare joins this protest and expresses its indignation at the violence and unacceptable treatment inflicted on the journalist. This has happened in a democracy—a democracy that we are not defending, but are seriously putting at risk in Albania. This is not the first time that police units have used senseless violence against journalists. What is troubling is that violent elements are managing to attack journalists and threaten them with deprivation of liberty. In particular, this violence cannot be justified, nor can the fact that journalists were detained; we believe that such acts, carried out “in the name of the law,” do not protect democracy but seriously endanger it in Albania. This is not the first time that police units have used senseless violence against journalists.

TIRANA - Amnesty International expresses concern about police mistreatment of demonstrators detained after the protests that took place in various cities across Albania. In a statement issued yesterday, following confirmed events in the city of Vlora, Amnesty International voiced concern that social unrest could lead, as it put it, to violence and injustice, torture and ill-treatment, and that there should be accountability for human rights violations. In its statement, the organization also calls on the authorities not to use violence and to ensure the safety of prisoners of conscience. The statement expresses concern that the protests in Vlora were accompanied by detentions and mistreatment of those detained. Citizen B.M. was taken to the police station and severely beaten with a chair, breaking his teeth and injuring other vital organs. The statement also expresses concern and calls for an investigation into the accusations by some opposition leaders that they organized the protests. In Berat, the prosecutor’s office has arrested more than 200 people said to be responsible for several groups of demonstrators. Amnesty International notes with concern that many of the 30 people previously injured were treated in hospital for wounds inflicted on them by the police. The police have not allowed the detainees’ family members to contact them.

SPECTACLE Director Kujtim Qashku Serbian police threaten Qashku On page 6

Berisha is asked to meet the Forum The Forum for Democracy issues a call for a rally in Tirana TIRANA - “In the square on Saturday.” The Forum for Democracy is calling on all those despairing over the situation gripping Albania to “occupy” Skënderbej Square. For some time now, the square in the Albanian capital has been transformed into a stronghold of the many people who have left politics; for the third time, it is expected to fill to capacity and host protests, as citizens are demanding greater public rights. “Flowers instead of courage.” After a meeting lasting several hours, the heads of the “Forum,” together with leaders of the parties that have joined the newly formed political grouping, jointly decided to step up peaceful demonstrations in all the cities of Albania, cooperate with the trade unions to organize a civic center, and move toward a general strike. They also called for the release of everyone arrested during the days of protests, among whom, according to the “Forum,” are “opposition advisors.” The “Forum for Democracy”—whose political core is an alliance of large and small parties—has joined with leaders of left-wing parties in Turkey and with all the Western chancelleries that have offered their support. The “Forum,” representing that political current of civil society, has asked Prime Minister Sali Berisha to meet the group. If the “Forum” takes part in a rally, Jordan Misja Street would serve as a venue for goodwill and dialogue. A few hours after the “Forum” meeting—which was also joined by the Democratic Union Party and the PDN as observer members—a meeting was held at the Socialists’ central headquarters between the secretary for Foreign Relations, Mago Lakron, and the deputy ambassador of the United States, Lisa Molin. “No Comment” on the meeting, although in a statement signed by ten parties affiliated with the “Forum,” the opposition political line was unified in an appeal to the US and the governments of the European Union. “The current government, by pursuing a path of intolerance, is deepening the economic and political crisis in the country,” the “Forum” members say, calling for dialogue to begin in Albania. Elio Elini

“The beating of Rama and Legisi was a political act” The Department conveys its concerns to the official authorities in Tirana “Beating Rama and Legisi was a political act” TIRANA - “The beating of Edi Rama and Ndre Legisi had political aims.” This is the conclusion coming from the US State Department. Yesterday, in its latest statement, the Department also conveyed its concerns regarding the political and economic unrest taking place in Albania. “Resolve your problems peacefully.” This is the message Washington is sending to everyone in Tirana and to the Albanian government. In a statement, “Voice of America” also reported the contents of the US Department’s position. Dialogue and the negotiating table are, according to Department officials, two of the main approaches “for resolving the current situation and for the future of democracy.” The Americans express their satisfaction “that all political parties have called on their members not to use violence.” But the Department concludes that the beatings of Rama and Legisi “were politically motivated.” According to Department officials, the US embassy has conveyed its concerns at the highest levels of the Albanian government. Believing in constructive dialogue, the US administration has confidence in the efforts being made by political groups to find peace and calm tempers. This is the second statement the Department has issued in the past week. Only a short time ago, Nicholas Burns issued his own reserved remarks to the official authorities in Tirana. In its latest statement, although more measured, the Americans do not fail to convey their concerns about what they describe as “political and economic unrest” in the country.

CULTURE Umberto Eko The Name of the Rose Elena Gjika Publishing The book cover Eco comes with The Name of the Rose On page 7

SPORT Milan’s coach Sacchi risks his job On page 9