NESHA[T?] TOZAJ ...the «Scandal of wiretapping» uncovered, besides the amateurism of journalists and the political mediocrity. A modest television crew consisting of an army of more than a thousand employees, deployed in various departments, has the means to independently uncover an event. The media, in a democratic country, must provide objective information. Viewers, listeners, readers can orient themselves toward the truth only on this basis. «Ready-made» truths are characteristic of non-democratic societies. The first information about the existence of the regime’s wiretappers or «wiretapping implants» was received by the Albanian public from Mr. Segeqi, Minister of Foreign Affairs. His statement was somewhat justified. Imagine a doctor from the outskirts, a pediatrician who has not been given the opportunity to run even a pediatric ward, finding himself in front of this equipment. He remembers everything he has read and seen about such scandals on Albanian television, with several hours of material, and, knowing the terrain and the things he feels at the level he has understood them, he makes accusations against those around him in his department, against the «mechanisms of the dictatorship», which in fact are «heroes or martyrs of democracy», but bring nothing to the confused spectator. And everyone forgets, or pretends to forget, a few things. They forget the dead of the monist system as well, in their efforts to go down in history (open the Albanian Encyclopedic Dictionary); they set out, just like their leader, to install recording equipment in their departments. These were inventoried at the Prime Minister’s Office and he installed recording devices in… (Continued on page 2) But let us stay a little with the journalists. They can «earn their bread» through interviews. It is the only method they think they know and command. And the spectator listens in turn to the victims of this event: Bocka, made as small as a pellet, a dud who cannot explain himself. Kapllani, who pushes the event further, even to an attempt to break into his safe; Çifligu, who resembles nothing so much as a wretched landowner. The listener is more… …sounded out in the monotonous voice of the interviewer Gurashi (a voice that has covered the events of democracy), with his stereotypical questions and use of once-forbidden terms such as «scandals». He gets even more entangled in the interview with the head of SHIK and, oh God, as if all this were not enough, another journalist, A. Tepelena, presents the column «Opinions». There you find people from the public speaking «with expertise» and with percentages (80% of homes have answered, [unclear text]). He confuses the interview with the head of SHIK, who had everything in abundance, and, o God, as though that were not enough, the journalist A. Tepelena presents the «Opinions» column. There you find people from the public speaking «with competence» about the percentage (80% of homes [unclear])… (Continued on page 2)

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE YOU WILL READ: Why did Azem Hajdari leave Albania? Signs of Regionalism by President Berisha DOZENS OF TROPOJANS IN STATE POSTS. Regionalism, this medieval phenomenon so out of place in the modern era of European integration, which our country also wishes to join, is rearing its head once again in our Albania. In recent days we learned that the Director General of RTV, following very lengthy discussions and pressure exerted on the Parliamentary Information Commission, has been appointed: Skënder Bucpaj from Tropoja. Prelë Martini from Tropoja has been appointed Head of the General Investigation Directorate. Rustem Gjata, also from that area, has been appointed President of the Constitutional Court, and the list goes on. Likewise, among the ambassadors, those who come from President Berisha’s region — Albania. …of communism again, and this is wrong, first of all because the region of Tropoja itself has for years produced nonconformist figures, and secondly because the people mentioned here were either unknown or had shown considerable zeal for the former regime. Since none of these criteria apply, we are left to believe that these appointments are driven by regionalism and cronyism. And, to put a preliminary seal on this regionalism, Mr. Bardhok Uckama, also from Tropoja, clearly encouraged by the regionalist spirit of this period, is attempting to seize by force the chairmanship of the Albanian Youth Federation. The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Mr. Dhi- General Investigation Directorate; Rustem Gjata, also from that area, is Likewise, among the ambassadors, people from President Berisha’s region hold the top positions, including Mr. Tahir Elezi, brother of Mr. Mehmet Elezi, the former head of the press office at the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Albania, who is known as a close friend of the president. On what criteria are these kinds of appointments made? To say that people’s stance on reform was taken into account does not hold water, since the majority of the Albanian people, from south to north, voted for reform. To say that abilities were taken into account: no documented evidence has been provided, nor is any being provided. To say that their contribution to the overthrow… was taken into account… …dhok Ukçama, and Sports, Mr. Dhimitër Anagnosti, rightly wants to know how legitimate the dozens of youth associations that suddenly appeared on the scene solely to obtain votes are. Thus, in the name of the rule of law, the minister is calling for the law to be followed, while the response comes in the newspaper DRITA, which puts the word democrat in quotation marks. It would be good for both the President and those who can act in his name to reflect often on this phenomenon. Albania has honest and qualified intellectuals everywhere who can move democracy forward. PETRAQ DINO

We address this question first of all to the President of the Republic. Secondly, we want to emphasize that what prompted this article was the written response from Gjinushi’s PSD squadron, full of fabrications about our article of the 19th, entitled: «Departures or purges from the PSD». The newspaper «ALTERNATIVA» claims to be independent and is supposedly upset because we called it «a curiosity» that so many veterans have left the PSD apparatus. If it is independent, why should we care, then? Is there anyone in Albania who can preserve «Alternativa’s» independence from Skënder?! Do so many people in Albania really believe in Skënder Gjinushi, the former Minister of Education of the Party of Labour for 6–7 years, Ramiz Alia’s protégé, close friend of Ilirët e Sokolit, son of Enver Hoxha’s loyal general, Ethem Gjinushi?! Do they think this people will once again follow such people?! Why don’t you «independent» journalists at «ALTERNATIVA», who have remained at this newspaper, apparently because you have not yet found another place, ask Skënder where his residence is, how he has lived until today, why he decided to get involved in politics and devote himself to science, as the famous scientist he is? Or have you noticed that he still deals with science, even though he cannot write a short article, or even a single word, without putting Doctor, Professor before his name. But who made him a minister, and sent him to France again; why didn’t he…? And why does he go first left and then right? Sometimes with Berisha and the DP, sometimes against them?! Why do you ask? You yourselves, since you lack the courage to speak and tell the real truth about yourselves, about Skënder and his politics. We’ll tell you: Skënder’s residence is… [Other printed passages, partly illegible:] «… not far from E. Hoxha’s villa. Go and see the villa…»; «… keep on…»; «… if you are communists…»; «… commanded the ministers…»; «… to overthrow the dictatorship…»; «… We shot the microphones…» These questions make it possible to understand who Skënder Gjinushi is. There is no doubt that he is implicated in the «Democracy» square. And as soon as he saw the communist flashes and lightning bolts passing by, striking the chests of the students, Berisha, Hajdari, etc., he moved closer to the party. As soon as he saw that he still could not manage to move forward, he sought a coalition with the DP. And as soon as Berisha gave him 14,000 votes in Peqin and sent him to Parliament, now he wants to leave the coalition with the DP and stand on his own, hoping the DP will weaken. But he has forgotten that first he must get out of the block and go live like ordinary people in Tirana or Tepelena. Knowing Skënder, we feel sorry for many honest PSD members. Their ideals are destined to fail with such a man at the helm. We have long criticized the DP and Mr. Berisha for their ties with him. Finally, we emphasize that since Skënder responded to our straightforward article in the previous issue with malice, behind the scenes, he should not forget that this is our first article. Dozens of our comrades are ready to write and respond on this subject. We have fought for new people to enter our political arena, not those who were in power until yesterday. ARTAN MALASHI FERDINAND NIKOLLA (Students) EDITORIAL NOTE: The article published in our previous issue, entitled «Departures or purges in the PSD», written by Artan Malashi, was described by the newspaper «Alternativa SGJ» as sensationalism and malice on the part of the newspaper «Koha jonë». How can it be called malice for a newspaper to freely publish the writings of political and apolitical opponents?! Normally, the reply should have been addressed to the author of the article, not to the newspaper that published it. Nevertheless, no problem. Could it be that «Alternativa SGJ» will also call the publication of this factual article malice on the part of «Koha jonë»?! The newspaper «Koha jonë» will always be open to the truth. It will be a platform for free thought for everyone, regardless of party or regional affiliation, unlike what we have recently observed in parties and their newspapers. In principle, you agree with this too, gentlemen of «Alternativa»… but in practice you act differently! Does fear keep you from telling the truth?

The chairman of the Socialist Party’s Audit and Inspection Commission said in his speech at the first Congress of this Party: About 50% of our members pay dues. This is because, following recent events, many members have left the Party, etc. Meanwhile, chairman Nano declares that the PS now has 100,000 members. Around 50% of them do not pay dues. It is clear how many are left. And yet the PS considers itself a serious Party! As for the PR or PSD, it is well known that they have always made a big fuss about their membership figures. But is it possible that no Party today knows how many members it has? The figures they give are lies, exaggerated. Nevertheless, we have the local elections. Now each Party is running separately. The PSD too has left its coalition with the PR and DP. The PR has also gone its own way. So let us see what strength the parties have. One thing, however, is becoming apparent: the PS no longer faces a three-party coalition, but only the DP. On the other hand, a new difficulty seems to be emerging for both the Socialists and the others: the struggle between factions within the parties, and even the confused regionalism, which will have consequences for the people tomorrow. While the DP is leaning toward its leaders and cadres from the north, the PS is leaning toward the south. The PSD too is removing northerners and adding southerners. The PR is even worse. To ignore local balances in a country like ours is to be politically ignorant. Nevertheless, the elections are near. The people know them all well by now. Above all, they want a good person. Thus we were not at all surprised that in the elections of 23 March the [unclear] democrat did not vote for the [unclear] democrat from Lezhë, nor did the person from Korçë vote for the one from Korçë. This time people will know them better. GENC HAMITI

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