Azemi, bodyguard’s testimony rejected
Secrets of the assassination attempt, Zenel Neza’s brother reveals the behind-the-scenes of the “escape”
“The prosecution knows where the former bodyguard is, but it does not question him”
Secrets of the assassination attempt, Zenel Neza’s brother reveals the behind-the-scenes of the “escape” Azemi, bodyguard’s testimony rejected “The prosecution knows where the former bodyguard is, but it does not question him” page 13 — October 1 and the test of the independent mass media By NIKOLLË LESI Whenever local or parliamentary election dates approach, all politicians rush to newspaper offices. This has now become normal, and newspapers, according to their specific character, have managed to develop their traditional way of responding to this interference. The newspapers’ responses have become familiar over these ten years, and by now their readers are also coming to know how a particular daily will act in this situation. This time, these are the first elections in which private radio and television stations are also entering the game, since until 29 June ’97 not a peep could be heard from any of them, because of the lack of freedom to broadcast. Thus, the involvement in the electoral game of that part of the media more sophisticated than the printed press—the television stations—complicates party competition even further, since none of the political forces has conducted a preliminary survey of how many radio and television stations it has close to it or under its control, or how independent they are—understood, as independent as one can be in Albania. On the one hand, given these changing relationships in the media market, people who will vote have more opportunities to obtain information than at any other time in these 10 years of democracy, and thus more opportunities to compare and choose among the alternatives presented to them. On the other hand, it is equally true that neither party has directly tested in an election the partisanship or impartiality of the mass media since 29 June ’97, something that was easy to discern before that date. At present, the media situation is not at all clear; however, some rather visible categories can be observed that promise an interesting landscape ahead. Some have gained more experience and are moving rapidly toward complete independence, distancing themselves even from occasional pink reminiscences; another has left Berisha’s fold; others have been born to depend forever on business and the mafia, just as there are some who use the media to cover up their shady businesses and, as a result, now support the PS, while when the PD returns to power they will move with great “professional courage” under Berisha’s wing. The serious printed press has proven itself over these years by opposing every government, whether the Democrats’ or the Socialists’. The private radio and television stations entering an electoral contest for the first time are still the unknown factor. All those stations that have presented themselves as independent so far and that we see on our screens every night could reverse course in these September days in just 24 hours and shamelessly raise either Berisha’s or Nano’s flag. That is why this early autumn is the main test for audiovisual media. They may make mistakes, whether because of their less than two years of experience or because of the economic problems they face every day, which, ultimately, are part of their daily growth and maturation. If we refer to the polls produced by the parties through their own structures, then according to the PD it controls 80% of local radio and television stations, while according to the PS, it has two or three television stations in its sights that are seeking a national license, but which, as soon as they get the license, may forever abandon their former stance and, if necessary, snuggle into Berisha’s bed without losing a second. In conclusion, every kind of professional or unprofessional, impartial or partial stance bears the mark of the owner who controls the media and the staff working with it, and tomorrow nobody can hide or make excuses by saying it was not me who helped the PS or the PD take power.