Local authorities and firefighters in action all night, while residents look on 60 hectares of pine forest burn in 24 hours; police contain the fire page 14

BY MARTIN LEKA Unfortunately for all of us, this is a picture taking shape as election day approaches. A “fluid” situation which, unless efforts are made to calm it, is likely to grow increasingly bleak. On a private television station in Tropoja, cited by the Prosecutor’s Office and local police, the head of the Democratic Party branch declared: “We’ll meet the Socialists only with Kalashnikovs.” And according to those same sources, two hours later the sensational shooting incident occurred in the northern city, and has been commented on in different ways by the parties contesting the election. Such an incident follows several others, and not only in this campaign. The “financiers” of these ambushes or “sponsors” of the outlaws have repeatedly been identified as political parties, unmistakably so. The current opposition leader once said that Shkodra does not want the Socialists. That was enough for the opposition leader of the time to turn back from an ambush in Bushat, a few kilometres from the fortress that symbolises Shkodran culture and civility. Some time ago, certain factions within the parties in power and militant-outlaws sought to “privatise” the squares of Vlora so that Berisha would not be able to set foot there. By disregarding emotion and reason in creating these political “enclaves,” these people are trying to artificially create the syndrome of “Serbian rule in Kosovo.” It could hardly be worse, for either the Right or the Left. Ambushes like these in Vlora, involving PD vice-chairwoman Topalli; in Lazarat, involving Deputy Prime Minister Çeço; or this latest one in Tropoja, place all Albanian voters under psychological and real terror. They have the legitimate right to demand the dismantling of the ambushes and the removal of the outlaws. They demand this from the public order authorities, responsible for restoring it. They demand it from the prosecution authorities, responsible for enforcing the law. They demand it from the justice authorities, responsible for punishing those at fault. The state and its branches act according to laws. It is pointless to remind anyone that there can be no law without a sanction.

Prime Minister Meta yesterday after the press conference, where he attacked Berisha and the newspaper “Koha Jonë” Photo: P. ILO

Mimoza Arbri attends the Socialists’ meeting. CEC members denounce it OSCE spokesperson: “Members of the Central Election Commission must be clearly separate from, and keep well away from, the political activities of any candidate or political force during the election campaign” page 5

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