On 14 September 1991, at 16:00, the Democratic Party will organize a large peaceful rally in «Skënderbej» Square in the capital, with national flags bearing no symbol of communism. The rally will be held in defense of legality, for harmony and social peace, and to protect the complete victories of democracy. It has nothing in common with the rumors being circulated and spread by provocateurs known to the State Security forces and zealous crypto-communists, who have vainly tried to manipulate it for their nefarious purposes, to save their Blocist patrons from the people’s judgment, as well as their definitively bankrupt power.

On 7 September, one year had passed since the day when the legitimate representatives of the Albanian people of Kosovo, in accordance with contemporary international standards of democracy and equality, and relying on the supreme right of the people to decide sovereignly and independently on their present and future, proclaimed the constitution and thereby established the Republic of Kosovo. A great historical event was celebrated throughout Kosovo and the other Albanian-inhabited territories in Yugoslavia, as well as wherever Albanians live. The Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo is based on the will of the people of Kosovo to live free and independent—a will proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence of 2 July 1990. The proclamation of the Republic of Kosovo under the harsh conditions of Serbian occupation has strengthened among Albanians everywhere in their own territories the conviction that they will ultimately triumph over Serbian nationalism, achieve real independence, and realize the centuries-old aspiration of national unification. The Constitution of the Republic of Kosovo ranks among the most democratic and progressive constitutions in the world. It permits no restriction of fundamental freedoms or of the rights of the individual and the citizen, except for the natural restrictions that may affect the equal freedoms and rights of others. It protects without any [text unclear] the Albanians of Kosovo, as well as those of Ulcinj and Tivar; the Republic of Kosovo will be a guarantee that such tragedies will never again be allowed to befall the nation. The proclamation of the Republic of Kosovo has driven the Serbian occupiers mad; losing even elementary reason, they have left no instrument of the barbaric violence typical of the Serbophiles of the time of Tsar Dušan unused against the Albanians, «legitimizing» these actions with standards worthy only of Greater Serbian primitivism. Serbia’s aim, expressed in its Constitution of 28 September 1990 and in other legal acts, is to deny Albanians their elementary freedoms and rights as a nation; to worsen living conditions by dismissing people from their jobs; to implement, through [text unclear], the closure of Albanian schools; to impose Serbian as the official language for the sake of a population consisting of only 10 percent Serbs and Montenegrins; and to foster banditry and insecurity through mass imprisonment, torture, isolation, killings, etc. Serbia has so far exploited the Yugoslav Federation as a means of concealing the genocide against the Albanian nation and destroying the millennia-old Illyrian-Albanian continuity. As a result of this policy, during five decades Albanians have held the records for those killed and executed, and later for those subjected to repression and expulsion. It was once said in the Yugoslav Federation that it was destined to disintegrate, but in this [text unclear] it has sought to keep the occupation of Kosovo alive and perpetuate it. No one should harbor illusions about a federal or confederal Yugoslavia without equality and the sovereign rights of peoples, without recognition of the Albanian people as a nation equal to the others and of Kosovo as a Republic. Europe and the USA are no longer what they once were. They see opportunities to peacefully remedy what was inherited in a distorted form. Albanians, too, favor this path. The realistic view is increasingly prevailing that Serbia’s policy has failed, even if it were to be inherited in Esperanto; that the occupation of Albanian territories cannot be perpetuated, and that any prolongation of it will ... [text breaks off] ... be preserved as prison-states of peoples and nations, such as those desired by Russian marshals and Serbian generals. Nevertheless, conservative opinion still has its place in Europe. The fact that at the peace conference on Yugoslavia in The Hague ... [text breaks off] ... ranks among the most democratic and advanced constitutions in the world. It allows human beings and citizens, freedoms and rights of others. It protects its citizens unreservedly from any kind of violation by state bodies or foreign citizens, prohibiting the imposition of penalties and punishments, and even contemptuous treatment of them. None of its citizens may be forced to leave the country, nor may they be extradited. This protection of citizens brings to mind the bitter past of 1941–1948, when quite a few patriots who had sacrificed themselves for the national cause were sentenced by our Serbian chauvinist state, or when it allowed and helped them to carry out massacres ... Serbia is still at that stage ...

The Founding Committee of the Association of Former Political Prisoners of Albania (SHDPSH) is following with concern the political, social and economic situation in the country and in its surrounding areas. Among the many problems and hardships that have beset the country as a result of the anti-national policy pursued by the Enverist totalitarian regime, the problems of former political prisoners are among the greatest. With heavy hearts, we note that thousands upon thousands of families continue to live in places of internment, as they have for nearly half a century. Cast aside and abandoned in the mud of Myzeqe or in the remote corners of Gramsh, Skrapar and Tepelena, Lezhë and Mirdita, thousands of families and individuals live in poverty and squalor in Tirana, Shkodër, Korçë, Vlorë, Elbasan, Kavajë and throughout Albania. They are homeless, unemployed and uneducated, with a legal identity status that is almost anonymous, obscure and ill-defined, and without any official social assistance. Many of our people still do not know where the remains of their relatives lie. We, as the Central Founding Committee, as well as the Founding Committees in the districts, have addressed the following more than once: —The President, who has shown himself indifferent and cold, or deaf and powerless to set an example in resolving the hardships of former political prisoners, although he bears no less moral, civic or legal responsibility than his criminal predecessors in the PPSH for those great national wounds that are still bleeding today. The Founding Committee believes that the rule of law must be strengthened, social peace established and the safety of citizens’ lives secured before undertaking harsh measures or forceful actions that could have consequences for the country’s political life. Once again, we set out the legitimate demands of Albania’s former political prisoners, making them known to the entire nation: 1. At its first session in September, the People’s Assembly should publicly proclaim its approval of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, proclaimed on 10 December 1948, which has unjustly been met with silence for more than 40 years. 2. The political and practical activities of Enver Hoxha and the PPSH should be publicly condemned by a special decree of the People’s Assembly, since in practice this has already been done by the people, the political parties and all the country’s associations. 3. The five-pointed star should be removed from the National Flag as a communist symbol improperly imposed, against the people’s will, upon this sacred symbol of the entire nation. 4. The innocence of all political prisoners, in the country and abroad, should be declared immediately in criminal cases in which the requirements of the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Freedoms were violated. 5. The People’s Assembly and the Government should publicly apologize to all the martyrs, victims and their families harmed by the Enverist totalitarian regime. 6. Before the new elections, the process of removing symbols and bringing to trial those responsible should be completed, as should the investigation and court proceedings that were fabricated and manipulated and used as butchering tools by State Security. The key posts in the state apparatus, central ministries, etc., should be filled fairly and honestly by the finest sons of the nation, people of unimpeachable moral and civic character and genuinely democratic inclinations. 10. The Supreme Court, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the General Investigation Directorate, as well as all district courts, prosecutor’s offices and investigative offices, should be thoroughly and immediately purged of everyone who has sullied and disgraced the name of those who administer justice. A special parliamentary commission of jurists and invitees from SHDPSH should be established to draft a special law on the courts, prosecutor’s offices and investigative offices. 11. Employment, housing, education and material compensation, in accordance with all international standards, as well as pensions for former political prisoners—at age 45 for women and 50 for men—are among the most painful problems in enabling former political prisoners to return to normal life and must be a central concern of the Government’s Central Commission. 12. One of the ugliest and most painful crimes caused by half a century of brutal communist violence is the disappearance of the remains of the parents, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters of thousands of condemned families. We strongly demand that a State Commission be established to address this great national problem and to restore, without delay, the civic and moral [text unclear] of these noble people, who have calmly and with astonishing [text unclear] endured and continue to endure the terrible tragedy of having no grave. Anyone who has suffered this inexplicable tragedy can understand what it means for a loved one to be left without a grave! 13. The Government and pluralist executive committees should, without delay or procrastination, provide the Association of Political Prisoners of Albania, both at the center and in the districts, with the means, equipment and premises necessary for its normal functioning, and approve its press organs, current account and corresponding funds in accordance with the law. To meet these lawful demands, drawn up by the Founding Committee of SHDPSH and approved by its members, we give the People’s Assembly, the President and the Government 10 days from the date this document is published and delivered. At the end of this period, if the responses are not satisfactory to SHDPSH, the Founding Committee will declare an indefinite hunger strike until every one of our demands has been fulfilled. - The People’s Assembly and its Presidium Chairman, who, through his inexcusable and irritating monist stance, has not made any of our very important documents addressed to the national public, parliament, the president, etc. known to the People’s Assembly. - The Government, which has shown no seriousness whatsoever, nor the slightest care, even regarding the shameful and insulting half-measure decreed by the President immediately after the 31 March elections, to do anything to ease, even a little, the heavy burden weighing on the shoulders and spirits of Albania’s former political prisoners. We in the Association support with all our strength the joint declaration of the opposition political parties and the BSPSH. In these complicated and difficult circumstances, when monism and indifference still rule, the Initiative Commission of the SHDPSH, through this Call—Appeal, once again addresses the public at large, international public opinion, and especially the governments and friendly countries that have accredited their diplomatic missions in Tirana, the UN, the CSBSE, associations, forums and humanitarian foundations throughout the world, etc., asking them to turn their attention seriously toward this country, which is breathing its last and stands on the brink of the worst economic catastrophe in its history. deaf and powerless to set an example by resolving the plight of former political prisoners, although others too bear no less moral, civic and those great national wounds that still flow with blood and tears. Human Rights and Freedoms. to all the martyrs, victims and their families, whose lives were destroyed by the Enverist totalitarian regime. 6. Before the next elections, the investigations should be completed and all former PPSH leaders at the central and district levels who were involved in political crimes and economic and financial abuses should be brought to trial. 7. A Central Government Commission should be established under the direction of the Presidium of the Council of Ministers, as well as district commissions under the direction of the presidiums of the districts’ pluralist executive committees, to restore without delay, in stages and piece by piece, all the legitimate and vital rights of former political prisoners. The leaders of the SHDPSH at the central and district levels should be appointed as vice-chairpersons of the respective commissions. 8. The activity of the State Security Service should be declared illegal, and this infamous body should be disbanded immediately. This action should be made known to the people and to the whole world. 9. The entire state apparatus—the central departments, especially the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the General Staff of the Army, Radio Television, ATSH, executive committees, enterprises, etc.—should be purged of those people who were involved in ...

Although our newspaper «RD» published a Democratic Party statement on the DP’s position regarding the Çam issue, as well as a clarification of my personal position, certain circles continue to stir up this issue for malicious purposes. It is regrettable that, following the newspaper «Kombi», an article containing personal attacks and an interview with a journalist from Janina were also published in the newspaper «Çamëria». I clarify that in April–May of this year I spoke at length with several journalists, including Greek journalists, about the DP’s position and my own position as a DP deputy on the Çam issue. My position has been and remains that we must preserve and strengthen good-neighborly relations, in this case with Greece, with which we have never had any serious disagreement. As for the Çam issue, however, I have reiterated that the DP and I personally want the issue to be discussed in a spirit of good neighborliness, without provocations and as prudently as possible, so that [text partially illegible] ... It was the newspaper «RD», of which I am editor-in-chief, that ... and after it «Çamëria» ... N. ROSHI

On 7 September 1991, on the occasion of the first anniversary of the Kaçanik Constitution and as part of its initiative to unify the pan-Albanian space, the Youth Forum of the Democratic Party organized a large rally outside the Yugoslav Embassy in Tirana, attended by around 8,000 people. They called for recognition of the Republic of Kosovo, recognition of the Kaçanik Constitution, the reopening of Albanian-language schools in Kosovo, and the tearing down of the «Berlin Wall» for Albanians. Ridvan Peshkëpia, representative of the DP Youth Forum, opened the rally. He said the Yugoslav state was directly responsible for the difficult situation facing Albanians on both sides of the border. Despite the many difficulties facing Albanians, Albanianism, which has never been extinguished, is now being reborn with renewed strength. We won Albanian-language schools with our blood, and we will not give them up easily. At the rally, slogans were chanted against Milosheviç, against violence in Kosovo, «Kosovo Republic», and others. After the rally, Ridvan Peshkëpia said that the DP Youth Forum, as an organization within the DP, would devote half of its activities to the half of the nation living beyond the state borders. We will work to educate a generation more Albanian than the preceding generation, and that generation itself will educate another, even more patriotic generation. «RD» correspondent (Continued on page 6)

On the occasion of the Association’s official approval, all former political prisoners, internees, deportees and persecuted people of Albania, as well as the Association’s supporters, are invited to a solidarity rally in the square in front of the University of Tirana on Thursday, 12 September 1991, at 14:00. FOUNDING COMMITTEE

27–28 SEPTEMBER NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LUSHNJE On 8 September, the first conference of the Lushnjë branch of the DP successfully held its proceedings. The event was opened by the branch secretary, Bardhyl Caca, after which the report was read by the branch chairman, Bardhyl Caca, after which the report was read by the branch chairman ... LUSHNJE On 8 September, the first conference of the Lushnjë branch of the DP successfully held its proceedings. The event was opened by the branch secretary, Bardhyl Caca, after which the report was read by the branch chairman, Mr. Kujtim Guna. The report presented the branch’s work from its establishment onward, emphasized the progress made, and particularly highlighted the problems of this period, which must be given greater attention, so that it may ... After the report was read, questions and discussion followed. All of these converged on two important points: shortcomings and achievements, as well as the substantial work that must be done in order to ... instill the ideal of democracy in their hearts. Addressing the conference, Mr. Sali Berisha emphasized that the DP had thrown itself wholeheartedly into civic political action to uproot communist dogmatism and put an end once and for all to the struggle that is eroding democracy. Speaking about ..., Berisha answered numerous questions about the DP’s program. Mr. Berisha answered many questions, and the DP has never made, and can never make, statements or give interviews that affect the interests of the Çam population, since ... The branch chairman ... Mr. Kujtim Guna was elected. Mr. Rexhep Uka, the representative of the DP’s governing committee, also spoke at the conference. He focused mainly on the duties of the pluralist executive committees, which have still not begun distributing land to the peasants. This, he said, is evidence that the Laborist leaders cannot keep pace with reform. Explaining the Party’s program on land, he stressed that the DP would fight for the gradual elimination of the injustices committed against the land by the PP over 46 years. TEPELENE On 8 September, the first conference of the DP in the Tepelenë district was held. The conference was opened by Mr. Ilir Meço. On behalf of the working group, Sokol Ajan read the report on the activities of the DP branch from its establishment to the present, as well as its projected tasks for the future. The report emphasized the Party’s final and qualitative restructuring ... (Continued on page 6) After the discussions, the election of the governing council took place. Mr. Kujtim Guna was elected branch chairman. BUJAR KALOSHI