“We inherit it” from the Party of Labour of Albania The illegal party members raise their voices “We inherit it” from the Party of Labour of Albania Communists against the Socialist Party: We want Zëri i Popullit; lawsuit ready for court The illegal party members raise their voices (Left) Two of the communists during the latest trial ELBASAN—The communists are hurt by the Socialist trial. “The newspaper Zëri i Popullit is ours, along with some of the electronic equipment inherited from the Party of Labour of Albania. If they do not give them to us, we will take them to court,” declared Kristaq Mosko, one of the leaders of the communist party operating illegally. According to him, the party currently in power distanced itself from the Party of Labour of Albania long ago, and therefore must hand over its former properties. The illegal party members are awaiting the legalization of their party; afterwards, they plan to claim ownership of the newspaper. “Since they call things done before the 1990s sins, then let them give us the newspaper in which those things were written,” declare the communists, who promise that otherwise they will turn to the courts. On page 3

Dozens of question marks in the investigators’ files The mystery of Zani’s treasure Where did 1 million dollars disappear? Merchants: During the unrest, he managed to amass an enormous fortune TIRANA - Where has Zani Çaushi’s “treasure” disappeared to? Nearly 1 million dollars—that is the amount that flowed into the pockets of Vlora’s best-known gang during the unrest. Several testimonies—prosecutors’ sources say there are about 10—report the extortion payments Zani imposed during the period of unrest, as well as payments made in exchange for people’s lives. According to them, the gang took very large sums of money, which together add up to the amount stated above. Prosecutor’s Office sources sa[?]y that “the smallest extortion payment was 100 thousand dollars.” But throughout the investigation, the biggest mystery has remained where this money went. The arrests two months ago, searches of homes, and the testimonies collected did not result in the seizure of any money. Where did the money taken go? Could it have been hidden somewhere nobody knows about? Or was it divided among the group’s members, for people in need, and then for personal expenses? It is difficult to justify such sums through even the greatest luxury one could attain during those days of chaos. On page 4 Zani Çaushi during the court proceedings

Roland Zili And the masked men won against the state. The usual chronicles in Albanian newspapers were filled with news that sketched out the “black hoods.” After that, the story moves from citizens to robbers: blood, pain. In the careful chronicle of recent days, the fact has emerged that the masked men have returned in force. The state has been struck by small blows, but ones that increasingly undermine people’s confidence and the troubled picture of public order every day. What is happening? At this moment, when incidents no longer intimidate people, when civic awareness has been dulled by widespread numbness, the state has taken on two great missions: establishing order and, at the same time, eliminating indifference. The recovery after the destruction of March came slowly, until day by day confidence grew that people would be able to move about freely again and young people would spend a few more hours out in the evening darkness. But the illusion ended. The masked men “awoke” and claimed their first victims. In the language of this alarm, the state has remained as it was. The police have reduced their striking force, while fear appears triumphant. Where does the mistake lie? What counter- [text unclear] could there be in that confusion, always, after the catastrophe of the war? The causes are many and just as clear. A few days ago, police services were cut, and other supplements to their salaries were reduced, leaving them with little more than a new [unclear] beforehand. A message that did not exceed 8,000 lekë a month. Also, and especially the police, they are being called to their senses in this time of [unclear]. The confrontation of colors with crime, when one is surely left with only 50 dollars and the [unclear] is always empty there, inevitably causes inner withdrawal. Passion has fallen, if not to say that for a large section of them it does not exist at all. The police hold on to their uniforms only so they can put bread on the table for their children. But there is more than that. Alongside the work itself, there is also the harsh encounter with reality. [Unclear], robbers, bullies, caught and released today, are sounding the alarm of revenge. It is no coincidence that special squads have been formed with young men who will fight crime without knowing one another and while [unclear] those they catch. Add to this the reform, corruption and misappropriation, and reports of millions of dollars lost at customs and government officials spending entire nights at the “Rogner,” and the police become resigned to normality. And where is the relevant leadership, when the crime situation is alarming? The troubles people tell one another about, daily bread, and the threatening weapon naturally give rise to [unclear]. Those who hide their faces for twenty [unclear] meters—

GJIROKASTER On page 6

Many Socialists skeptical about the meeting TIRANA - Nothing new from the PS conference. Party sources have confirmed that it is already over before it has even taken place. A prepared plan will be presented to the Socialists’ highest forum, which will be held in the third week of December. The first comments about the December conference have begun to emerge from the Socialist Party’s central offices. Sources close to the Steering Committee say that its plan is already clear. A parade of successes and achievements will be proclaimed at the conference. Clashes of opinions and ideas are not expected, although they have begun circulating ever since the Professor’s open letter. In any case, up until the conference, the anti-Nano wing may make another move. On page 2 PS headquarters

VLORA: WILL A CONSULATE OPEN?

VLORA: WILL A CONSULATE OPEN? TIRANA – Patrols in the Adriatic are being reinforced to stop the speedboats carrying clandestine migrants. Four Italian military ships arrived yesterday morning at the port of Durrës, joining five others already stationed there. The commander of the Italian Navy’s Group 28 explains to the newspaper how the clandestine speedboats will be stopped. Meanwhile, licensed speedboats have gathered at the eastern quay of the port of Durrës. They will put out to sea only with the strict authorization of the border authorities. Speedboats without licenses, however, will be stopped. Today Italy will decide whether or not to open a consulate in Vlora. This afternoon, the Italian Parliament will vote on parliamentarian Vito Leccese’s proposal to open a consulate and expand the embassy in Tirana. There are 60 speedboats in Vlora that have been recorded by the city’s police. Most of them have no documents, and they will soon be stopped. On page 5

YESTERDAY: INTERNATIONAL DAY TIRANA – Some say that Adam began using violence against Eve after she gave him the fateful apple to eat. Yesterday was the International Day against Domestic Violence. Albanians paused to reflect and consider how violent they are in their own homes toward women, children, and even one another. Although 1997 was the most tumultuous year for the nation in terms of violence inflicted on itself, the many activities held on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women showed that this is not one of those phenomena that go unnoticed. In this context, domestic violence was no longer hidden behind the many shadows of violence that attacked the sons and all the limbs of Albanian society. According to psychiatrist L. Ziri, violence in Albanian families is more widespread than one might think. This refers not only to violence against women or sexual violence against them. Like certain forms of parasitic equality, violence is undoubtedly divided into different types, including physical, sexual, economic, and emotional violence, all of which are applied “successfully” in Albanian families and society. Violence against women is very much a reality here. Numerous counseling centers, and even the recent introduction of a free telephone number available to everyone in cases of violence against women, show how troubling this phenomenon is becoming for Albania’s troubled society. Staff at these centers have noticed a recent increase in cases of domestic violence, mainly against women. Although the factors that have recently deepened this phenomenon, to the detriment of society, are numerous and include economic problems or cultural level, the real reasons must be sought elsewhere. More than a lack of money, jealousy and the need to restrain sexual urges make Albanians violent toward their wives—perhaps for even simpler reasons explored by sociologists and psychologists. The fact is that women in Albania continue to be highly exposed to the violence inflicted on them. Yesterday in Tirana, an event was held by women’s nongovernmental organizations as part Women. Nevertheless, as always happens with phenomena of this kind, everyone reflected and understood that when it comes to violence against women, both the Christian alternatives of behaving well and behaving badly are involved. Sometimes, somewhere, a free telephone number continues to wait for endless calls, as women’s voices weep.

JUSTICE On page 6

TIRANA On page 4