Opposition: National mourning. Meksi: State of emergency

Late last night, armed civilians carrying police radios knocked at the home of journalist Frrok Çupi. After demanding that Çupi come out of the house, and being told by his family that “Frroku is at work,” they threatened, “We’ll wring his neck tonight.” The civilians immediately got into a military vehicle (without license plates) and left, only to return 10 minutes later, firing at the journalist’s home and using insulting language. After this, the civilians left, this time accompanied by two cars, a “Benz” and a “Volkswagen” (without license plates).

Although violence has engulfed everything, sparing not even journalists—as in Fier, where our colleagues from Reuter and Assoc.Press were beaten, and in the daytime assault on Sunday on the journalists’ club “Bar West” by special forces—and in view of the beating and arrest of “Koha Jonë” journalist in Korçë, Roland Beqiraj, the pressure on journalists from “Gazetes Shqiptare,” “ZP” and “Dita Informacion,” as well as the evident danger to the life of every journalist in Albania, the journalists of “Koha Jonë” publicly call on all Albanian journalists to meet today, 11 February, at 12:00 at the Media Institute, to agree on the measures that must be taken...

Yesterday in Vlora Pages 2, 3, 5, 8 Photo obtained from Euronews Yesterday in Vlora. Photo obtained from Euronews.

The staff of the newspaper “Koha Jonë” extends its deepest condolences to the families of Ar-tur Rustemi, Maliq Banushi, and Estref Llani, victims of the state terror inflicted in Vlora. We are, and will always be, with all those who stand up for their legitimate rights. On this occasion, as a sign of protest and mourning, the newspaper “Koha Jonë” calls on all Albanians today, Wednesday and Thursday to turn off their televisions and lights from 20:00 to 20:05, precisely when the opening sequence of TVSH’s main news broadcast begins. This protest will be an expression of nationwide solidarity with all those citizens, journalists and politicians who have recently been subjected to state violence.

subjected to state violence. The Democratic Party’s 2 April The events of recent weeks in Albania, in every respect, bring to mind 1991. As then, the streets of our cities are now dominated by the motley uniforms of people carrying transparent shields; as then, the regime in power speaks of enemies who want to destabilize Albania; as in 1991, the authorities are now preventing people from organizing protests in the streets and squares. In this context, what was missing from the 1991 scenario has also come to pass. The first citizens of Vlora, participants in the mass protests of recent days, lost their lives in clashes with the police, becoming the first victims of the demonstrators’ confrontation with the law-enforcement forces of Berisha’s regime. It was the DP itself, and the arrogance of its leaders, that prepared the ground and the scenarios for 10 February, which could very well be called Vlora’s 2 April. Whatever the circumstances, Berisha’s regime has blood on its hands. The victims of yesterday can be called the regime’s double victims: first it robbed them of their savings, and then of their lives. The only party responsible for the grave situation that has arisen in every respect is Berisha’s government, which not only created the conditions for citizens to fall into the pyramid schemes’ trap, but now, by linking their legitimate protests to terms such as “left-wing extremism” or “red terrorism,” insults the citizens of Vlora and mocks their grief. One can imagine how the people of Vlora would react if tomorrow the victims of bullets fired by Berisha’s police were branded by the regime as “red terrorists.” The government’s responsibility is further compounded by its harsh rhetoric and violent actions against the opposition. If the opposition had been allowed to lead the protests, things would have gone differently. The fact is that when Çeka and Gjngjushi were among the demonstrators in Vlora, not a single window was broken. Indeed, if the Vlora protest has now taken on a political character, that is solely a consequence of the government’s stance. The government may describe the victims as participants in an illegal rally, but that would once again put it in the same position as the leaders of the government in 1991, who justified the killings with the claim that the gathering was illegal. Just as Shkodra’s 2 April preceded the fall of Alia’s regime, Vlora’s 2 April may be a warning of the fall of today’s neocommunist regime. It can be said that the file on Vlora’s 2 April has now been opened. This is happening at a time when Berisha’s justice system has still not solved the mystery of Shkodra’s 2 April, although six years have passed. It would be no surprise if one day, alongside Ramiz Alia, those responsible for the DP’s 2 April, organized in Vlora, also stood trial. Then Sali Berisha would have the chance to catch up with his friend Ramiz Alia in the courtroom, just as his general, Agim Shehu, could keep Hajredin Shyti company in Burrel. Nor would it be surprising if today’s interior minister, Sali Hilmi Shamata, faced forced exile alongside his predecessor from 1991, Gramoz Ruçi.