The opposition forum calls for rallies throughout the country today, at 12⁰⁰

. The dead accuse the Albanian government. The blood spilled in the streets of Vlora over the past two days has awakened a city as never before—a city that now knows everything could have been avoided. Quite easily, if the Albanian government and Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi had possessed a minimal sense of responsibility and the necessary dignity to announce their collective resignation. Albania would then have had a dozen senior officials stripped of office, but three fewer dead on its conscience. Now it is too late; the dead are being buried in Vlora. Prime Minister Meksi is now in the most difficult position he has faced since first being elected head of the executive in 1992. In recent weeks, he has borne the brunt of the sin of the two-billion loan, through which he had secured, ten months ago, his tenure at the head of a new democratic government. The cry heard most often in Vlora has been “Down with the government,” while in Tirana there was very little left to be done for the thousands of citizens who had left their savings ... [?] with Gjalliqa and the other pyramid schemes. Meksi saw himself alone the day before yesterday, too, when he asked the parliament dominated by his party to impose a state of emergency in the coastal city. MPs spoke out against such a decision, often in very harsh tones. Meanwhile, all the small parliamentary parties rejected the bill and jointly called for the government’s resignation. Although this may not matter much to Prime Minister Meksi at this point, he has now also been left without the officials of the Republican Party, who announced their withdrawal from the governing coalition. Caught in the eye of the cyclone, Meksi nevertheless had the chance to do something that would have greatly untangled the mess of pyramid schemes: resign. By not doing so, despite the government he leads having lost all credibility, he has shown that he belongs to the unfortunately large group of Albanian politicians who have not left office voluntarily, but have been removed by others. The history of resignations never tendered is very long in the Albanian administration of the past four years. When Albania overthrew communism, it was thought that the style of leadership that considered itself eternal at the helm of the country had fallen along with it. But Meksi and his associates, who changed repeatedly without ever changing him, showed Albanians that nothing had changed, and that Louis XIV’s saying, “After me, the catastrophe,” still hung over the political podium. Now, when the government’s stubborn refusal to leave office has caused human tragedy, it is worth emphasizing once again that this country needs responsible people who know how to leave when they feel the time has come. If the Albanian government truly believes it can still do something for this people, let it do so by resigning. That way, the bill to be paid would be lighter. S.MINXHOZI

Who gives driver Edmond Tufina the right to carry a pistol when “Albania” is said to be a private newspaper?! Last night, a meeting of Albanian newspaper publishers was held in one of the halls of the “Rogner” hotel to discuss the grave situation facing Albanian journalists, following the beatings of journalists by armed civilians. At the meeting, all the newspaper directors expressed concern about the beatings of journalists, while Ylli Rakipi, director of the presidential newspaper “Albania”, disagreed with the creation of a committee “For the Protection of Journalists” and defended the government and Berisha. At one point Rakipi called over the director of the newspaper “Koha Jonë”, Nikollë Lesi, and tried to shoot him in the middle of the meeting. There were many witnesses present: Shtjellim Nazarako, director of “Dita Informacion”; Amand Shkullaku, chairman of the Association of Professional Journalists; Preç Zogaj, well-known journalist; Dalip Greca, editor-in-chief of “Republika”; Armand Mero, editor-in-chief of “Gazeta Shqiptare”; Astrit Patozi, editor-in-chief of “Albania”; Luan Rama, editor-in-chief of “ZP”; Gjergj Pilika, journalist at “Albanian Observer”; Apollon Baçe, etc. As they were leaving the “Rogner”, Ylli Rakipi’s driver, enraged by the misfortunes that had befallen Ylli Rakipi, insulted N. Lesi and pulled out a pistol to shoot. Lesi’s bodyguards reacted immediately and took the pistol from his hand. After this, Rakipi called the police, who arrived at once at the doors of “Koha Jonë”. The car of the director of the newspaper “Koha Jonë” was stopped, and Nikollë Lesi was taken to the police station. Two hours later, he was released from police station No. 2 (where its chief, Sali Shehu, acted correctly), and after that a car without license plates, full of civilians carrying radios, arrived at the newsroom. After the incident, which could have ended in bloodshed, the question arises: where did Ylli Rakipi’s driver get the pistol? Who gave the driver the right to carry a pistol when “Albania” is said to be a private newspaper?! Why are government journalists and their drivers equipped with pistols? How many of their drivers are SHIK agents? Yet Ylli Rakipi still [unclear in source: the wording is garbled] is a “private” newspaper, as well as a driver and employees with pistols. This is Ylli Rakipi, then.

Yesterday during the funeral of Artur Rustemi, killed by the police Photo: A. Babani Yesterday during the funeral of Artur Rustemi, killed by the police. Photo: A. Babani

Conflict within the DP. Many MPs oppose sending the army to Vlora. A new government is expected today

As a sign of protest and solidarity, the newspaper “Koha Jonë” calls on all Albanians to turn off their televisions and lights today from 20:00 to 20:05, precisely when the TVSH news theme begins.