THE NATION THAT EXPERIENCES CIVIL WAR FIRSTHAND IS DESTROYED. THE PEOPLE CAUGHT UP IN CIVIL WAR ARE DESTROYED. A MACABRE [SPECTACLE?], WHERE BROTHER KILLS BROTHER, THE SON [UNCLEAR]? AND THEIR BLACK FATE, MOTHER WEEPS. A THOUSAND CURSES, O TIMES, A MILLION CURSES UPON THOSE WHO IGNITE THIS DOOMED WAR. THE PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE THIS WAR LOSE THEIR PEOPLE, LOSE THEIR PERSONALITY, PRESTIGE AND DIGNITY. MAY THE ONE WHO INCITES THIS WAR BEAR THE CURSE OF ALL MOTHERS, BEAR THE CURSE OF ALL VICTIMS; MAY YOUR SOUL TURN BLACK AND MAY YOU BURN IN HELL. YOUR FIRST VICTIMS, O CIVIL WAR, ARE MY CLOSEST AND DEAREST LOVED ONES. THEY ARE OUR SOUL, OUR BLOOD, THEY ARE OUR CHILDREN. FOR THEIR SAKE, YOU BLOODY HAND, STOP, THINK OF THEM. THIS IS THE APPEAL OF YOUR PEOPLE, YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR MOTHER! ERIH VAJNERT Translated by GORI PËLLUMBI

Eastern Europe has, as it were, discovered crime. Robberies, thefts and murders are multiplying. The police are proving very powerless. The transition to a market economy, people’s unwillingness to work, the low standard of living, the police’s bad reputation, often compromised under the former communist regimes, and the ever-increasing influx of Western tourists are, according to experts, some of the causes explaining this explosion of crime. In the communist past, crime was a taboo subject, despite its existence and its non-publication. PRAGUE is invaded every day by thousands of tourists and has become, according to the authorities, “a city of fear, the most dangerous in the country.” In 1990 crime increased by 121 percent, while the number of assaults and robberies has tripled since 1989. The police declare themselves incapable of stopping this phenomenon because of a lack of personnel and equipment. Meanwhile, groups of students have organized a fund to buy receivers and antenna equipment to assist the police forces. Churches and museums have turned into pickpockets’ hunting grounds from

A few days ago, the conference of the PS of the Lezhë district was held. We would not have written about it, since we did not attend for objective reasons and, on the other hand, we would have had no right to interfere in the affairs of the PS. Its leaders in the district are “old hands” in politics and can “stick it to any enemy.” The reason we are devoting a few lines to this conference is the attack made there on the newspaper “KOHA JONË” by the district’s chief socialist, the “writer” Kujtim Dashi, at the beginning of his report. This attack coincides with the campaign against the newspaper “Koha Jonë” launched by RD during Napoleon Roshi’s time, through the famous letters that sprouted in large numbers every day in Napoleon’s drawers. Napoleon says that “Koha Jonë” is an instrument of the Socialist Party, while Kujtim says that the same newspaper is an instrument of the Democratic Party. Although these may appear to be contradictions, in fact they are made of the same stuff. The newspaper “Koha Jonë,” with its own wheel [unclear], has been the tail and other atavisms of the aforementioned gentlemen. That is the reason. It is said there, more or less, that the difficult economic, political and social conditions are compounded by the anti-democratic stance of the newspaper “KOHA JONË.” This reminds one of the time when, for the failures of the socialist economy, district first secretaries or Enver himself would say that “…this year’s drought and torrential rains were compounded by the savage imperialist-revisionist blockade…”. This newspaper, says K. Dashi, attacks the PS unscrupulously and has become a shelter for the opposition, especially the PD. According to DASHI’s clever mind, criticizing the PS and being in opposition to it means acting anti-democratically. It is clear to everyone that Mr. Kujtim is not concerned about the newspaper and its effects on democratic processes. Kujtim continues to fight for democracy, hidden in the bunkers of the PS Conference. Now that he has mounted the “horse” of the district socialists’ chairman, Mr. Kujtim thinks that (since his offices are in the former PPSH committee) with one crack of the whip he can still direct people’s opinions, as in the old days. This psychological delusion has taken the “writer”’s imagination even further, making him believe that from the platforms of congresses and conferences he will “burn his enemies’ cards and plans in their hands.” He did indeed fail in the field of letters, since his contemporaries were unable to understand his works, in which “the Party’s word rang out.” But at least now, with all his strength and energy, he has set upon the mountains and hills of politics to make them fertile like the plains. …tical, but is more provoked by the personal disagreements he has with this newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Mr. Nikollë Lesi. According to simple logic, he should respond and debate only with him. Nevertheless, this fact does not prevent comrade Dashi’s “revolutionary optimism” from groundlessly denigrating the team that produces this newspaper as well. As for M. Mirashi, E. Kaceli and the author of these lines, comrade Dashi would not have the mad courage to treat them with one of his familiar clichés. As for A. Frangaj, who from time to time has judged the PP(S) with stones upon a diamond more than the others [unclear], naturally he would take a more “special” stance. He would even take him to court. Kujtim Dashi now resembles an old town crier who, beating his cracked drum, scatters stale news into the air that reaches nobody’s ears. By making entirely baseless and abstract accusations, Mr. (since his offices are in the former committee of the

…tical, but is more provoked by the personal disagreements he has with this newspaper’s editor-in-chief, Mr. Nikollë Lesi.

29 NOVEMBER 1991 FINDS ALBANIA AS DEVASTATED AS ON 29 NOVEMBER 1944. Whose day is 29 November? I would ask this question to the people of the place where I have [unclear]… They would surely answer me, somewhat reproachfully and with a little… surprise: “Have you even taken this from us, o Lazër Stani, even the day…”, hoping that it might return one day. God, for what terrible sin did you send us this curse from heaven?!—dozens of thousands of Albanian mothers would cry out in astonishment, bursting into tears before the [unclear] children, before their children who were dying at their feet. Is it forgotten, bro…? That is what they had called it… 29 November, the people of Dukagjin… “the day the Par-… entered”… they had never called it… —the day of FREEDOM, be-… for these brave inhabitants of… which no conqueror had written… conqueror, marks the beginn-… of a bloody war,… people were to be killed more… during the wars they fought… against foreigners in… end. The bajraktarë… brave men and patriots, who had… in so many wars… barbarously,… and dozens of families de-… for their patriotic traditions… would be destroyed, many… others would be intern[ed]… the red terror would not leave them… for 46 years, poverty would… them even with its face… with its loathsome… Therefore,… their laconic way of speaking,… “The day the Par-…” this was said only for the… It was also said “that year when…”, “that year when the Germans entered.” This day had remained… their wounded event… and a turning point replacing… the foreign occupation… of the parties. … for all the other… regions of Albania. With… there were no longer soldiers… within the state’s borders… the people of the capital… marked the disintegration… the end of… But from that day on, all the same… from a dream that… Tafta had not begun to… Freedom, frightened… and Freedom, frightened… in the consciences of… to flee… together with… patriots and fighters… [some words are unclear or cut off at the left edge] … with the hope that a day might come. God, for what grave sin did You send us this curse from heaven?! — dozens and thousands of Albanian mothers would cry out in astonishment, breaking into tears before their sons who had been executed, before the starving children dying in the internment camps! Unlike what happened everywhere in Europe, the spectre of war would roam across Albanian lands on both sides of the state border, ceaselessly sowing death in homes and hearts. I cannot remember this day without my body shuddering, without my face reddening. What was this madness, this collective insanity, this occupation of Albanians by Albanians?! How could Enver Hoxha and his gang drive Albanians from their own lands, send hundreds and thousands of brave patriots into foreign lands for decades for the sole “sin” of having fought for Albania? How could he thus subjugate hundreds of thousands more, intern thousands upon thousands of families, and keep the prisons full for 46 years? Ah, what a disgrace! Here, with a peasant’s soul and in Shakespearean proportions, my flesh creeps: “What your own did to you! Not even the enemy would do that…” I feel this tragic cry powerfully, especially in this tragic climate, especially today, on this 29 November, beneath this foggy Albanian sky, this hope-frozen sky, so trembling and hope-frozen, not to say that other terrifying word, which I try to bite back with my teeth — utterly lost. What, what is happening to us?! Will that long-dreamed-of day of freedom come, or, or will we destroy this nation even more, and drive it to ruin? People, parties, offer people alternatives for salvation (Is there any nation with so many possibilities as those offered to us by so many people in politics!) and all sorts of things, people in politics?! Because some parties stir up… Because some say that the other ninety parties are in the wrong. And we hope that the day of liberation will come, the day of liberation from self-esteem, the day of liberation from ourselves, and we hope to try another life someday!

is badly troubled. In the first three months of 1991, crimes increased by 50 percent compared with the previous year. Elderly people are the main targets of criminals. Robberies are now the order of the day, as the figures are being published. The accused, incapable police reply that their agents are poorly paid, considered incompetent, and denied the relevant payments. POLAND, according to a senior police official, has become an important destination for the trafficking of drugs and stolen cars. Crime has increased by 61 percent compared with 1990 and is becoming increasingly unpunished. Thieves were arrested in only 6.2 percent of cases. BULGARIA. Murders have tripled in recent months, while thefts have increased by 62 percent. Nearly 80 percent of crimes take place in Sofia. Exhausted by serious insults, police officers are leaving their jobs en masse and demand the reinstatement of the “death penalty,” which has been removed from current legislation. ROMANIA. The number of murders has recently doubled, as have economic crimes. ALBANIA. Crime is rising rapidly. According to some figures, one Albanian is killed every day. The police are in a lethargic sleep. In most cases, the perpetrators remain anonymous. The public feels the weight of crime on its shoulders more and more every day. The public asks: HOW LONG WILL THIS KIND OF BOOM CONTINUE?

Dear readers! We feel it is our duty to clarify that the interview with the poet and publicist RUDOLF MARKU, announced for publication in this issue of the newspaper, will be published in the next issue. This is for entirely objective reasons. Mr. Marku is abroad on an assignment, while the tape recorder on which the interview was recorded does not produce clear audio in various parts of the tape. M. MIRASHI