The lek falls along with the pyramid schemes. Vefa: Here are the new names receiving money In less than two months, the Albanian currency has depreciated by around 30 percent against the dollar The Prime Minister: “Everyone knows that, for four years, I have been against usury. I expect support from the party” The lek is on the brink of catastrophe. And in Tirana, one dollar was exchanged for 132.90 lekë On page 4 Unexpected statements by the Prime Minister, following the frequent reiteration of calls for his resignation On page 2

High tension in Vlora The Vlora students on hunger strike (Photo: H. Pustina) VLORA - The first day of the hunger strike by students of “Ismail Qemali” was accompanied by continuing protests and ever-growing tension among the demonstrators. Yesterday, the students elected the hunger-strike committee and its chairperson. In the afternoon, a broad meeting of local intellectuals was held. The Union of Intellectuals has been established, and it has issued its first official statement. On page 3

LAST NIGHT IN VLORA VLORA - The area around VEFA’s residence in Vlora was the scene of serious bloodshed. Last night, at around 20:00, five people were targeted by unknown assailants in two separate incidents. Fortunately, the incident resulted in far fewer injuries, and no one was killed. All five, four men and one woman, were immediately taken to the surgery department of Vlora Hospital and received initial intensive treatment. The doctors’ prognosis for all five victims from last night was optimistic. The first incident took place in the apartment of a 46-year-old man, whose apartment is next to the company’s residence. In a shaken voice and deeply frightened, his wife recounted the entire sequence of the ordinary incident over the telephone to “Gazeta Shqiptare.” “Three people burst through our door,” she said, speaking from the hospital while doctors continued treating her husband’s wound. “One stayed outside, while the other two had a pistol and a machine gun. They threatened us, asking why we were demanding our money now, and they were in front of the children. We had put in 25 thousand dollars, and in these circumstances we thought we should ask for it back.” The woman herself seems to have managed to recognize one of the assailants. “I managed to identify one of them,” she said on the phone, without giving any further explanation. The second incident happened almost in the same place, but a few minutes later. A burst of machine-gun fire was unleashed from a red car against the “Mercedes” carrying the four members of the Ahmeti family: father Ahmeti, his two sons Nesti and Fredi, and Nesti’s fiancée, Rudina. All four found themselves defenseless as they were savagely attacked by bullets fired from the mysterious red car. All four were wounded in the lower limbs and immediately taken to hospital. No further details are yet known about this incident, which came close to turning into a tragedy. Last night’s incident is among the most serious recorded in Vlora, following the deaths of victims during the protests. Many times in recent days, shots had been heard in the dark, [unclear]… an incident that days, shots had been heard in the darkness, [unclear]… and it seems this is not simply a case of ordinary revenge. p.re.

YESTERDAY IN BERAT The “usury” cancer claims another victim 44-year-old woman drowns in the Osum; she lived in misery BERAT - Another victim of usury. A woman around 44 years old was found in the Osum River. The town’s Behije Zenea, the unfortunate woman who had decided to end her life, leaving her shoes on the riverbank and throwing herself into the cold waters of the river. The terrible catastrophe of usury claims another body. Someone had seen the lifeless body, and only yesterday at 14:00 was it identified by relatives. “The cause of this painful act is depression alone.” This is how the doctors described the end of the woman who lived in the neighborhood of …? Many of the 44-year-old woman’s final years. She lived in complete poverty with her husband; she had already lost several million at the failed firms, she had a son in Greece and … …ilartëshëm: her only daughter had been abducted last year, and unknown people had taken her to Italy. This hardship, even for daily bread, and complete loneliness had caused Zenea deep depression. In this situation, she preferred death to life. It has not yet been determined when the woman may have thrown herself into the river, but in any case the usury cancer claims another victim. And this is the grim fact of modern times that yesterday accompanied the coffin with berat… ha. ta.

Ten representatives set off From Gjirokastra to the Vlora hunger strike GJIROKASTËR - The Gjirokastra students on hunger strike, together with the other students of “Eqerem Çabej” University, will also set off to join the hunger strike, which is entering its third day. Representatives of the University Student body have called for the … of the University and for students to join the demands of the Vlora students, and to send representatives to Vlora. Nevertheless, in the early hours of this morning they will gather … in the Faculty lecture halls to issue a joint statement in support of their colleagues in Vlora. It is also reported, however, that the Gjirokastra students’ statement will put forward the same political and economic demands, not included in the ultimatum presented by the Vlora students. The Student Union has led the protests of dozens of “Eqerem Çabej” students, which resulted in a partial resolution of their economic conditions. ml.ba.

Tension paralyzes Vefa On page 3

More than 270 creditors every day On page 4

Shehi acknowledges the delay: “Conformism and party discipline have held us back” SHEHI SPEAKS “The old guard out of the party: the DP with young people” Shehi acknowledges the delay: “Conformism and party discipline have held us back” On page 2 Shehi

BERISHA The memorandum? “They’re the ones who broke the chairs” Berisha harshly attacks the new DP motion supporters in Peshkopi On page 2 Berisha

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