A series of incidents around Rrajcë. Patrol: “We were only enforcing the law” Bullets and blood at the border Residents threaten Skopje: “We will take revenge” Tragedy near the border pyramids. Macedonian guns kill two workers. Another is in a coma The incident happened on Friday afternoon near pyramid 29. Three unarmed villagers from Rrajcë entered 100 meters into neighboring territory The intervention of the Albanian authorities is awaited. Otherwise, the victims’ relatives and village residents threaten to attack the border with weapons QAFE THANË - Blood at the border. Two dead and one wounded by Macedonian Kalashnikovs. Three residents of Rrajcë tried to cross the neighboring border yesterday, but found themselves facing a hail of gunfire without warning. As soon as they received the news, the whole village got to its feet and demanded the intervention of the Albanian side; if this does not happen very soon, they will attack the Macedonians with weapons. The first accounts of the incident blame the patrol, which fired without warning. villagers from Rrajcë in Librazhd entered Macedonian territory, apparently to look for work, but did not get [?] one hundred meters before finding themselves facing a hail of gunfire. On page 4

A FORMER PRISONER SPEAKS Gergj Peçi When some arrogant officials of the dictatorship regard the destruction and bastardization of national symbols as advantageous, and when no free citizen takes the trouble to stand up in their defense, then this is the greatest curse that has befallen this society and its individuals. Physical ruin and moral degradation have advanced step by step to this point among us Albanians. Our entire history is an unfortunate extinguishing and a ruthless assault on spiritual life and material culture. The examples are countless, but let us speak instead about this specific case. Immediately under the government, Burrel Prison is no longer left as a museum, but is put back to use as a high-security prison. What has happened? The place where, for 46 years, that part of society which opposed the communist dictatorship and state oppression served its sentence is being turned into a place where the part of society that has been involved in order to save the state budget serves its sentence; then I would tell the rulers not to be so “generous with the flour and stingy with the bran.” Burrel Prison is a national symbol, a symbol of the suffering of innocent people, of resistance and of the people’s unbreakable character against every kind of dictator and his lackeys. Is it the “flour” with which our nearest and finest tradition should be made, not the “bran” where a handful of murderers and thieves are expected to serve their sentences? Mauthausen, Buchenwald and other such symbols of the suffering and resistance of peoples are preserved with respect and love everywhere in the world. The governments of the countries concerned not only refrain from desecrating these “sacred graves” through commonplace, routine decisions, but take care to preserve them intact and continually enrich them. And their civilizing and purifying effects are well known. The young, as well as adults and the elderly, …Burrel prison is no longer a museum, but is once again being put opposed the communist dictatorship and state oppression served its sentences is becoming the place where those who defy the law and public order serve their sentences. The place where those who wanted to build a free and democratic country served their sentences is becoming the place where those who destroyed and killed innocent citizens serve theirs. The place where dozens and hundreds of martyrs and honest citizens were robbed and massacred is becoming the place where the lives of bandits and thieves are protected. The place that for 46 years held an entire people under an inhuman regime, and was likewise a place of suffering for prisoners, is becoming a place where all the comforts of free life can be enjoyed: a refrigerator, television, heating, a shower and Western-style bathrooms. The place where all Albanians and the great hopes of those who wanted life and freedom were drowned and extinguished with bridges and canals is becoming a place where those who kill and rape can hope to get out again (as they did before). The place that became a symbol of the people’s suffering and resistance against dictatorship is becoming an ordinary institution where lawbreakers serve their sentences. Can one find, in the history of nations, a more absurd reversal—from the highest, deepest and most heroic to the lowest, most banal and ugliest—than Burrel prison? No. So what has happened? A great and sacred “tomb,” an unparalleled collection in the conscience of the nation, is suddenly desecrated, as if it were nothing, by a government decision. The question arises: why is this being done? Is this merely thoughtless utilitarianism, or are we dealing with a perverse aim to erase every trace of the past regime’s crimes? Is this being done merely to save a little money from the budget, or to leave our children and all future generations with a “tomb” fable about their ancestors and without the living memory of history? If… …these sacred “tombs” are not merely desecrated through ordinary, routine decisions, but are carefully preserved intact and continually enriched. And they have civilizing and purifying effects. Young people, as well as adults and the elderly, cannot so easily ignore, insult and demean the living testimony of this suffering. This is why Europe is more civilized than we are and holds back in the face of every evil and inhuman act. This is why they manage to educate individuals who are responsible to society and to their own personal destinies. On the other hand, if behind this decision lies that unrestrained sense of power inherited from Hoxha, seeking to erase all national symbols, or the ugly practice of Berisha’s rule, which attached some “bran” to the symbol and trampled underfoot everyone who kept it clean, then things are worse. The author of these lines himself suffered ten years in Burrel Prison and would never want to believe that this government decision has undertaken, in just a few minutes, to erase and leave a “blank slate” of what was written over 46 years. I want to remind all my fellow sufferers, those who felt humiliated by the dictator, as well as all Albanian citizens—thousands of whom are affected—not only of the hydroelectric plants and factories that “brought this people into the light,” but also of the tomb that dictatorship dug for this country’s freedom, that this is the moment for us to become more conscious than ever of this act. Whatever the motives that drove them, they do nothing but bear witness to and destroy those bonds that connect us all spiritually. Because no one can deny, except for a few odd ones, that under the dictatorship we all suffered, some more and some less. Finally, I would say that museums are also those things preserved with care in people’s homes and shown proudly to others, both our own people and foreigners. And we always value those who know how to preserve them and show respect for their memory.

The incident happened on Friday afternoon near pyramid 29. Three unarmed villagers from Rrajcë entered 100 meters into neighboring territory

TIRANA - Meidani misses being an ordinary citizen. A coffee at the “Ëest” bar at midday reminded him of the time when he was not head of state. The regular customers of “Fidel,” the journalists, were taken aback when they saw their club crowded with people, while the police were repeatedly controlling traffic in front of the club where the president of the r[?] was due to arrive at midday. “I’ve been away. Will you have me back?” the owner of the establishment was heard saying before shaking hands with everyone. A few moments after he sat down and ordered coffee, his wife arrived. “I heard it on the escorts’ radio and came,” she told him. “You, Mr. President, ‘argued’ for a little while over who would pay for the coffee, the many cups of which had been offered to the journalists we invited to the table. “As always when we come to this place, I’ll pay,” decided Lidra Paskaidiskutard[?] shortly afterward, “for the spread and the lovely time,” with his advisers. Zogaj, Nazaroko and several journalists. Meidani got up 30 minutes after entering the establishment. “There’s no reason to be surprised. I’m here for the coffee,” said the president, as if recalling the past. He then left, accompanied by all the customers as far as the entrance to the establishment. ib President Meidani at Fidel yesterday

TIRANA - The prisoners who voluntarily returned to prison 325 in Tirana are asking for the amnesty decree to be reconsidered. Following former Minister Ngjela’s appeal, all these prisoners turned themselves in to the police. Some of them arrived a few days after the April 12 deadline had expired. A mitigating measure is being sought for these prisoners too, as they are not entitled to any reduction in their sentences. This is how the prisoners in unit 325 spend their days, somewhere behind the “Ali Demi” sports field. Their life stories, with which they spend most of their time in prison, and the possibility of a second amnesty keep these people’s hopes alive. “Don’t forget us”—that is their request from behind the prison’s high bars. On page 5

The leader’s response: This is how they exclude themselves TIRANA - “A split in the DP because 52 people have signed? Don’t even think it, they are just a group of people who belong together for this reason they have been expelled from this party.” Just a few hours after a written appeal signed by 52 opposition members, the Democratic Party’s central spokesperson dismissed all talk of the grassroots distancing themselves from leader Sali Berisha. The signatories have called for the former President to step down as head of the DP and have urged members to break away from what they themselves have called a “sham reform of the DP with Sali Berisha.” Sali Berisha On page 3

The former Minister pushes Çela aside Ngjela Çela On page 2 Ngjela; Çela

The stolen statues are worth USD 500,000 GJIROKASTER - Two people were detained yesterday in Athens as they were trying to sell two ancient statues worth 500,000 dollars to a police officer posing as a buyer. One of them was an Albanian refugee from Devolli, The news was reported yesterday by the Greek media. The two Greco-Roman statues had been hidden in the car’s trunk. They were headless and armless and date from an early period. For days, the two “traders” had been in talks with the police officer posing as a buyer. The first price quoted by the two thieves was 200 million drachmas. The officer immediately filed a report and then took charge of the case himself. He arranged to meet the two traders and at the same time notified the police. For several days he arranged meetings with both traders, asking for a lower price. Everything was done to convince the two men that they were dealing with an eccentric collector who was very interested in the ancient statues. The changing offers led the two thieves to understand that the person in front of them was someone very interested in the statues of antiquity. They lowered their price to 145,000 drachmas and agreed on a meeting place. Meanwhile, the “collector” notified the nearest police station. The police arrived at just the right moment and detained the two “traders” as they opened the car trunk and took out the two statues. One of them was Greek, named Efathio Papadaki. Along with him was zhvilluo Sutir Khelo. Both men had long been suspected of dealing in stolen ancient statues. They were being followed by the police, who were waiting for a good opportunity to catch them. A Greek antiquities expert who was immediately called to the scene told the press that the two statues dated from ancient times and had been stolen from a prominent museum. They were one meter and thirty centimeters tall, and were missing their heads and arms. The place from which the two ancient statues were taken has not yet been established. The police are also investigating the Albanian’s connection to this business. He is originally from Devolli, but his family lives in the city of Gjirokastra. He has been in Athens for years under the changed name Sotirios Tzelos. At present, both men are at the Athens police station.

“BETWEEN THE PROFESSION AND POLITICS” The press defends itself Nano: I’m with you TIRANA - Nano says “yes” to the independent press’s demands for greater room to carry out its work. The Albanian Prime Minister’s statement in support of the media came just a few hours after a seminar held in Tirana in recent days by the Foundation for Free Information and Democracy, and the Two Journalists’ Associations, from the Soros Foundation. The theme was “Media between the profession and politics,” while the seminar’s main focus was reducing the financial obligations newspapers owe the state.

REPORTAGE “We returned on our own” Who is thinking The leader’s reaction: This is how they turn themselves in The split in the PD: The critics The former minister postpones Çela State Audit: