– The plaintiffs, with 50 witnesses, ask for the trial to be postponed for lack of evidence – The defendant’s side, represented by lawyer Mr. Spartak Ngjela, asks for the trial to proceed – Blerim Çela was left in the lurch. Of his 50 witnesses, only the chairman of the PD in Shëngjin appeared in court. (!) – To get out of the dead end he has got himself into, Blerim Çela seeks the help of MPs Pjetër Arbnori, Abdi Baleta and Tonin Alimehilli as witnesses In the side box: «From the courtroom. Prepared by Aleksandër Frangaj on p»

JUST A PRELIMINARY CHRONICLE 18 NOVEMBER 1992. MORNING JUST A PRELIMINARY CHRONICLE On the evening of 17 November 1992, the rain had begun to fall heavily. In Lezhë, you could not go out even with an umbrella. We hoped this torrential rain would stop. We hoped, but the rain, as if out of spite, kept falling and falling. No one could imagine what would happen that night. Throughout the areas considered safe, people began to sleep; in the Bregu i Matit area, Ishull and elsewhere, not only were people unable to sleep, but anxiety, fear and terror kept growing. The water level rose little by little at an astonishing speed. So much so that the water[?] began to become everyone’s unwelcome «guest». This «guest» was so unruly that people surrendered their entire homes to it. This storm and downpour[?] had not been seen in Lezhë for a long time. It had happened a full 24 years earlier, in 1968. But today’s was much worse. 18 NOVEMBER 1992. MORNING From the Tale area, the line of people was endless. We headed uphill toward Zejmen, a higher area. People of different ages, old men and women, pupils and small children; women carrying children in their arms. The livestock were with them too: cows, sheep, horses, pigs and piglets. They too had to be saved. The road to Lezhë is blocked in places. Hundreds of cars are moving slowly; others have been left on the road. It is clear that the unwelcome thing has happened. People are worried. The rain continues to fall without letup. The Drin has begun to burst rapidly over its banks. In just a short time, all of Lezhë is under water. Ironically, even some people who had worn boots to work found their shoes too heavy to wear. There is no electricity. There is no water, no bread (Continued on page 7)

The staff of the newspaper «Koha jonë», deeply affected by the natural disaster that struck the entire northern region, including the residents of our district, extends its condolences to the families of the victims and stands with thought and heart beside the affected families. Taking this opportunity, we assure you that the newspaper «Koha jonë», as always, will also continue in the future to stand by you, and by your problems and hardships. The newspaper «Koha jonë»