680 villagers occupy the Bovilla dam Around 400 families in Bovilla, Tirana, threatened yesterday to cut off the capital’s water supply unless the government took their demands for compensation with land into consideration. Around 700 residents of the village of Bovilla, whose land was flooded during construction of the water-supply system of the same name, went on strike on Monday evening, creating difficulties in supplying the capital with water. The Bovilla protest comes immediately after the revolt by almost 4,000 families who had arrived from the north and east at the end of last week, when the government ordered them to vacate land they had arbitrarily occupied—land that had previously been promised to those displaced by the water-supply project. But the government’s decision to give the land in Kamëz to the newcomers angered the villagers, who have now issued an ultimatum to the government. During construction of the water-supply system, the villagers claim to have lost 270 hectares of land, for which they are now seeking compensation. So far, however, the government has shown no willingness to talk with the people of Bovilla, as it has with the newcomers in Kamëz. The press and the opposition in general have sharply criticized the reversal of the government decision to take the land in Kamëz away from the people of Kuç and Tropoja. This retreat in the face of their demands has been regarded as a retreat before the law and as tolerance of vigilante justice, so often resorted to in relations between the state and the individual. The villagers’ maneuver in Bovilla is also considered a form of vigilante justice; their anger could leave the capital without water. “If our demands are not met, we will burn the machinery and destroy the pumping station of the Bovilla water-supply system, which supplies Tirana with water.” Photo: F. Bllani Page 2

Berisha is invited not as president of Albania, but as the representative of 7 million Albanians After Clinton’s invitation to Berisha Page 3

Opposition: The arms traders are the people in power The Ministry of Defense responds to Amnesty International Page 2

The place where religions come together and nations have no borders between them Yesterday, on the feast day of Shna Ndout Page 4

Viktor Margilaj relieved of his duties by decision of Meksi Will Berisha agree with the head of government’s decision? Rumors circulating in recent days about the dismissal of the Prefect of Durrës, Viktor Margilaj, were officially confirmed yesterday, but through “Voice of America.” A source from Durrës who declined to be identified confirmed to “KJ” the news of Margilaj’s dismissal and said it had resulted from a conflict he had had with the Mayor, T. Golemi. The source even asserted as fact that “Margilaj had used force against the Mayor.” Although the true reasons for Margilaj’s removal from office are not known, a decision signed by Prime Minister Meksi to dismiss the prefect has now been definitively confirmed. Meanwhile, Margilaj himself categorically denies having resigned, adding that “it is true that there is a Council of Ministers decision relieving me of my duties.” (continued on page 2)

25 Albanians arrested Page 5