Whoever attacks press freedom has attacked democracy This needs no further comment; it needs no further words. The comments were made by all the commentators, activists and idealists before the whole people when they called for the communist regime to be changed, under which even the most elementary freedom was absent: freedom of the press. The words were spoken aloud throughout all the demonstrations for democracy held in our streets and squares under the slogans «Freedom and Democracy!». Now nothing more is needed except the proper implementation of press freedom. What is preventing it? Two alternatives lie before us. First, either freedom of the press is being obstructed by those same elements that obstructed it throughout the period of communist dictatorship in Albania, which would mean that, as regards the fundamental principles of democracy and freedom, very, very little has changed; or, second, freedom of the press is not lacking in Albania, which would mean that no journalist is prevented from performing his duty to the best of his ability. And this would mean that the political power and those who wield it do not look with anger upon or take revenge against any journalist who writes the truth: what he sees and what he thinks. And this would mean that the state, from the very top of its pyramid, clears the way for a free press and does not take control of the party press and Radio-Television. And this would mean that no journalist is accused because of his work, and that Aleksandër Frangaj, editor-in-chief and journalist at the independent newspaper «Koha Jonë», is not under house arrest. Yet the realist journalist Frangaj is under house arrest, and the newspaper’s director, Nikollë Lesi, faces an absurd and protracted accusation without basis. And just as this fact is true, it is equally true that press freedom in Albania is threatened, curtailed and attacked every day. The privilege belongs to the so-called press that sings praises and builds cults around the country’s leadership and leaders. As long as journalist Aleksandër Frangaj remains under arrest, we can—and, we believe, correctly—say that freedom of the press is under attack. Journalist Aleksandër Frangaj did nothing more than his duty as a journalist: through the newspaper he directs, he gave the public information about what had been seen and had happened, about what had been witnessed by ma-ny people who signed their statements. Journalist Frangaj did none of the things he is accused of, such as «causing panic», etc.—charges taken from old legislation entirely remote from press freedom. And, in general, journalist Frangaj did nothing less than a great deal in the service of democracy in Albania. Together with his colleagues, journalists and writers, intellectuals and politicians, both inside and outside the country, he created a free platform for the most progressive thought, to advance free speech and thought and the process of democratization in our country. It would be praiseworthy for anyone who calls himself a democrat, free, clear-minded, in love with freedom and devoted to it, to do as much as Aleksandër Frangaj did. At the age of 23–24, he managed to inscribe his name in the memory of history—a feat that people of much greater age and stature cannot accomplish, cannot even put their names on a public noticeboard, however humble it may be. The trials and state attacks cannot do anything to journalist Aleksandër Frangaj except, quite unintentionally, do him a great deal of good. But the attack on journalist Aleksandër Frangaj is doing great harm to democracy itself in our country. Those who attacked this journalist do not even know his gentle face or his still rather youthful features. They know only his freedom, expressed in words and on paper, which terrifies them. They are terrified of press freedom, and they arrest Aleksandër. The attack on a free journalist such as Aleksandër is a deliberate attempt to ensure once again that journalists are not free, but are made to fall into the ranks of the Party’s soldiers. This suffocates democracy. The attack on journalist Frangaj is an assault on press freedom, which means a great wall erected in the path of democracy. Everyone knows that without press freedom we cannot take further steps toward democracy. And for precisely this reason, they have put up the great obstacle at the very first step. So, in two days, they are putting freedom of the press and democracy itself in the dock. And all the while shouting: «Long live democracy!»

For the information of the free press, [they say] that the legislation in force was not intended to harm Albania’s national security. Frangaj and Gëllçi are accused over publications in their newspapers, although the same information as theirs had also been published in the French press. Lesi is accused of installing a television antenna. All three journalists will stand trial. The International Federation of Journalists is protesting today against the arrest and isolation of three well-known Albanian journalists. The Albanian authorities arrested Thoma Gëllçi, Editor-in-Chief of «Zëri i Popullit», Nikollë Lesi, Director of «Koha Jonë», and Editor-in-Chief Aleksandër Frangaj more than three weeks ago. Since their arrest, all three journalists have been isolated in their homes and have had no contact with the outside world. All three are accused under the legi-(continued on page 2)

— We, the journalists of the newspaper «Koha Jonë», address all our colleagues — The day after tomorrow, as we all know by now, our friend, the colleague of all journalists, journalist Aleksandër Frangaj, will be in the dock because of his work as a journalist. He will be accused on the most absurd charge: that he supposedly caused panic with a news item published in the newspaper. Panic in this time of deep panic, a time of despair and hopelessness, when the only news opposing this atmosphere was Aleksandër’s report that we have the right. The only thing that seems to be moving in our society today. The state has used its supremacy against a 24-year-old young man, against a journalist, and has posted its accusation like a danger notice on a wall. Can you see this poster on the wall, dear colleagues?! Today it tells us Aleksandër’s name, but tomorrow it could bear the name of any one of us—all of us. You know, dear colleagues, that the violation of the «(continued on page 2)