17/11/1999
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Koha Jonë

17 November 1999

Albania in darkness, former minister Bufi close to prison

Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been spent by KESH and the former Minister of Privatization on the electricity network, but the country has been engulfed in complete electricity chaos, so the prosecution must begin investigations If Prime Minister Meta and Prosecutor General Rakipi want a strong state governed by the rule of law, then they must send to the cells of prison 313 all former ministers, ministers and senior administration directors who have stolen the people’s wealth page 3

Dictatorship over irresponsible ministers

By Mentor Kikia After eight months of extraordinary drought, nature has paid us back in a fatal way. The rain has poured down in all its fury “against” a country devastated by political irresponsibility. Nevertheless, no one could have predicted that the rainfall would come with such fury. But no one should have thought that it would not come. Caught up in the political deadlock, in the rivalry for a filthy chairmanship or premiership, all the politicians, in power or out of it, had forgotten just one thing: that they are there to do “something” for this country and this people, who blindly vote for these same people whenever they feel like it. They had forgotten that winter needs lights, needs wood, coal and gas. That the waters need drains and pumping stations. And so, it took two days, just two days, for everyone to remember and say that the pumping stations were not working. After that, Vlora, Tirana and Fieri were completely flooded. The senior administration remembered(!) that an embankment had collapsed and should have been rebuilt in the summer, but only after the river swept away the farmers’ homes, along with everything inside them. That the drains were blocked, but only after Tirana filled with cars that had stalled inside. with cars stalled in the middle of the boulevard by the surging waters. They remembered there was no electricity. But only after the country had plunged into darkness and the bakeries had run out of bread. Meanwhile, we, who rush to vote whenever they stick posters on the walls with some faces that later become MPs and ministers, still haven’t thought to ask: Well, why do we need governments? Why do we go to rallies and scream like madmen? Why do we go and vote?! For ten years, we have had no electricity in winter and no water in summer. For ten years, we have changed governments along with the seasons, and after every change we hear that those who left were apparently not good men. But it has also been ten years since we held anyone who left power to account for what they did. For ten years, we have gone to vote without knowing what the person on the posters will do for us. For ten years, we have heard endlessly that under this or that government, we will be in Europe, and that Europe is congratulating us. For just as long, we have published stories in the newspaper about “personalities” who attend international symposia and speak to us from behind Bill Clinton, D’Alemas, or Toni Blair; they take a photo from behind one of the world’s great men and serve it up to us to show that he enjoys the support of the great men of the world! Meanwhile, yesterday there was no bread in the shops, no electricity at home, and in many other homes the furniture was floating on water. Today, wasn’t Albania there, and how much longer will it take us to get to Europe? Stick your heads out the window. We are not claiming that we should have a government that can prevent natural disasters, but one that takes measures in such cases to ease the consequences for its people, at least somewhat. That is why Prime Minister Meta must be a “dictator” for the sake of his people. for the sake of the law and send to prison those who have mocked us, those of us who voted for a better day. He must be a dictator who beheads every official who abuses his office, including ministers who dine in luxurious restaurants while ordinary citizens swim through the waters that have invaded their homes. Enforce the law more forcefully, Mr Prime Minister, if you want a strong Albania!

Kadare’s house burns down

page 11

Police officers and agents in the drug trade

Everyone suspected it, but no one wanted to believe it. Police officers and SHIK agents, people to whom the Albanian State had entrusted the fight against drug trafficking, had themselves become involved in the big business. This was uncovered by foreign intelligence services, which informed the Albanian government. Prime Minister Meta immediately responded by asking Minister Poçi to remove the smugglers from the ranks of the police. He set a deadline for the minister, showing that he would fight crime within the State. pages 10, 15

US Ambassador Limpreht meets with Meta and Nano

It is reported that the day before yesterday at midday, the US Ambassador in Tirana, Jozef Limpreht, met with Albanian Prime Minister Ilir Meta. According to unconfirmed sources, Prime Minister Meta may have assured the American ambassador that he would govern with a firm hand in order to establish a strong state governed by the rule of law. Last night, Ambassador Limpreht met with Chairman Nano at the “Karlsberg” restaurant, and they talked for around two hours.

KESH blocks publication of leading newspapers

Yesterday, leading Albanian newspapers such as “Koha Jonë”, “Gazeta Shqiptare”, “Albania”, “RD”, “Sport Ekspres” and others were not published because electricity was cut off to the “Demokracia” printing house by certain KESH departments. Let us hope that the new Director General of KESH, Dr. Prof. Farudin Hoxha, is better acquainted with people’s fundamental right to be informed