A woman from the Hoxha family was killed. Many houses in Palorto were damaged Late last night Gjirokastra was shaken by an explosion. The museum house was destroyed Page 11

The Albanian police now have one more weapon in their lost battle against criminals: the order to shoot with firearms, without warning, at anyone who robs or attacks people or various kinds of property. Although the law contains everything needed to support the police in carrying out their duties, such an order was also deemed necessary. At last, the state seems to have decided to use an iron fist against crime, masked or otherwise, which has created another state, indeed one just as powerful as the state itself. After people were massively armed and trigger-happy gunfire spread throughout the population, weapons are now being used mainly by criminals positioned against the state. Street robberies, shop break-ins, carjackings and all kinds of other illegal money-making activities became the most common pursuits of masked gangs. All it takes is a sock over your head and a machine gun in your hand, and anyone can turn into a bandit anywhere; against them, the police have withdrawn and have nothing left to do but wait for the next day’s report. The law provides that police may shoot when they are attacked, but even when incidents have been very blatant, the gangs have not been fired upon. In Kombinat, Tirana, for example, a car carrying bandits attacked a police car, leaving one of the officers wounded, but the other policemen did not shoot. Police officials themselves have said, though not publicly, that no language other than that of firearms should be used with gangs. “They must be dealt with forcefully; they are dangerous because they are very aggressive. If we use ‘persuasive’ methods, we will never manage to stop them,” a senior Tirana police official said a few weeks ago. In other words, the methods used against gangs should be those Ali Pashë Tepelena used when he established his principality, whose roads could only be traveled “naked.” But why have firearms not been used? According to the police, its members have always feared being denounced by a colleague and then facing revenge from the criminal. A few weeks ago a new unit was established—the secret police—to fight crime alone. The “electricians,” who will be used only against gangs, will be unknown to one another; they will also be unknown to the public. Yesterday, meanwhile, Minister Çeka issued an order that will soon be communicated to anti-crime forces in every city in Albania: Fire without warning at masked men! This is the latest and most extreme decision in this area. Such “extremism” has alarmed regimes, and political parties and the state may hesitate over human rights, but the police must decide to play their last card to “discipline” criminal gangs. MENTOR KUKA

Page 2 Two Albanian naval soldiers after taking their oath yesterday. Photo REUTERS

The absence of the PS delegate sparked indignation and outrage: “Don’t underestimate us; we gave you power” The socialists’ conference postponed for the second time The 4th conference of the PS in the Vlora district has been postponed for the second time. The official reason given was the absence of the chief delegate, Pandeli Majko. Delegates present in the hall yesterday were extremely indignant, even furious, and unleashed a barrage of accusations against the PS leaders, including Nano. After several hours of heated debate, the socialists of the rebellious city insistently demanded that leader Nano be removed from his post in their city, a demand also supported by the local leaders. P. 3

Berisha continues with Kavaja P. 5

With the PS in power, not a single cigarette has been cleared through customs P. 2

Drugs in Tirana: 10 more behind bars P. 7

Shaban Memia’s Mercedes stolen P. 10

Debt brings down the 15-storey building P. 13

Gjiallica’s unpaid loans are being pursued P. 6

All candidates who applied for the advertising manager position at Radio “KOHA” are asked to attend the selection process on Friday at 11:00 at the offices of the newspaper “Koha Jonë.”