“THEREFORE THE FREQUENT APPEALS TO TRUTH, JUSTICE AND DEMOCRACY SOUND LIKE PLAYING WITH THE MEANING OF TRUTH, THE MEANING OF JUSTICE AND THE MEANING OF DEMOCRACY.” R. QOSJA Now that many things have settled down and people can judge coolly the democratic revolution, its phenomena, interconnections, mysteries, circles and constraints, and the true spirit that nourished it with the substance of life and high moral standards, they can also judge the opportunists, whose unbridled thirst for advancement created a frightening spectacle. After writing the books of the “great communist era” and making their careers, even in the Enverian era, they rushed at democracy with exactly the same predisposition, in order to seize it and keep it under control. Here, not only a political analyst or a social observer, but even the person at the end of the queue has discovered a tendency that is not entirely accidental, as people can hear: the emergence of opportunism within the democratic movement in general and the PD in particular. Over the course of a year, people such as Çupi Ceka, Tozaj, etc., have risked one flag and raised another. They attacked the communist dictatorship in January and defended it in April; in December they had simply declared their intellectual devotion to democracy, while in March they cursed democracy for not placing them in a chair. In their view, the new democratic state, owing precisely to their fatalistic interpretation of their careers, became a dictatorship overnight. Indeed, even the votes of former villagers on the PD National Council were, to them, a message from rally-goers arriving from the outskirts. The first opportunism of this social category, which in time crystallized as a faction within the PD, was that they joined this line of ideas moving toward an ideal full of light as classic dissidents. To display their historical “dissidence,” they seized microphones, platforms, newspapers and screens, using highly charged anti-communist language, and behaving in a way that, on some occasions, makes you recoil. You see how a person can sacrifice himself for the society of tomorrow, for its new morality. Their greatest investment for the future was political capital, and that is what they did. The second act of opportunism was that they exploited the democratic revolution, built on the foundations of the 47 years of human suffering endured by our persecuted people. They proclaimed themselves champions of democracy and human rights; going further, they sought to make their vision of democracy and the future democratic state official policy. Any other view, any advice, they branded barbaric, mediocre, and out of date. In other words, democracy had been born from them; they were its nurturers, and, on that basis, it was supposed to work only for them. The third and most serious act of opportunism lies in the fact that, after the new democratic government was established, they abused freedom of action, freedom of the press and human freedom in general, which are guaranteed by a democratic order such as ours, attacking with the very same means they themselves had used.

MEETINGS OF MR. EDUARD SELAMI IN KORÇË - Let us develop a fiscal policy that will prevent speculation - The President’s decree on the origins of businesspeople’s profits should be annulled - The PD recognizes the rights of former owners, but does not support the total return of their properties On Monday, PD chairman Mr. Selami held several meetings in the city of Korçë. First, he met and spoke with representatives of the independent trade unions. The trade unionists raised the issue of assistance and stressed: “It is good that it has started, but where are we heading, since every day more of us are going on assistance.” Both sides rightly stressed that the privatization process should begin as soon as possible—even if it begins with shortcomings that can be corrected later. Mr. Selami agreed with them that there should be a profit margin and a fiscal policy capable of stopping price speculation. Thus, without an increase in production or a reduction in the cost of products, goods pass through the hands of middlemen and reach consumers at a price several times higher than their real value. The trade unionists raised other issues as well, which Mr. Selami endorsed. Mr. Selami also met with local government officials, intellectuals and citizens of Korçë. These meetings addressed the progress of the Reform and privatization. Mr. Germënji gave an overview of the privatization process in his remarks. He called for the liberalization of prices for basket-of-goods items, accompanied by appropriate compensation. Mr. Lapanxa, chairman of the district council, stressed that Korçë’s new businesspeople are capable of supplying the population, etc., but they should not be viewed with jealousy and suspicion, especially regarding the origins of their capital. The mayor, Mr. Gjinko, drew attention to several legislative issues. The powers of local government need to be clearly defined, because the existing law describes them ambiguously. Likewise, municipal property must be legally clarified, and the law on local budgets must be approved. Discussions were also held about the issue of the displaced. Avdyl Myrtëvli said: “I don’t even know the origin of my father’s properties, let alone have the moral right to claim them by taking them away from the farmers who live there.” Mr. Daks Jorgji replied that everyone may give away their own properties, but has no right to force others to take the same position. Mr. Face called for the unavoidable pain caused by the Reform to be distributed more proportionately, and for this to be achieved through the wage system. Participants also asked a series of questions, including about the PD’s position on property, the “new parliamentary grouping,” investors, etc. The chairman of the PD, Mr. Eduard Selami, then spoke. “The views expressed here,” said Mr. Selami, “are (Continued on page 4)

THE DISTURBANCES IN THE CITY OF POLIÇAN BEFORE THE SCALES OF JUSTICE. The presiding judge, Mr. Kozma Ziu, questions the witness, Mr. Pashk Tusha, Branch Chief at the Ministry of Public Order: - Do you know the defendants? P. Tusha: - By sight, yes; by name, no. After they were introduced, P. Tusha confirmed that he knew B. Kuci, L. Bregu, B. Jankishtë[s?], A. Fiskos, E. Sula and M. Kondi, and continued his testimony about the incident that took place on 26 August 1992, when he and Maksim Guri were confined in the Municipality office. At around 7–7:30 in the morning, he stated, a group of agitated people came into the office asking: - Who ordered the arrest of the 8 people, and why at 4 in the morning? Why were these detainees taken to the city of Berat? K. Ziu: - Who put these questions to you? P. Tusha: - Bashkim Jankishta, the defendant Izet Bregu, and several others who were demanding explanations. I explained to them that the arrests had been made on the order of the Skrapar district prosecutor. Apart from this group, others also came to the Municipality office and asked the same question. Not only were they unconvinced by the explanations, but they insisted that the 8 people had been arrested on the orders of the Skrapar Chief of Public Order, Mr. Maksim Guri, whom they did not hesitate to curse and insult. Amid the insults and threats, they demanded that we secure their release through the Skrapar prosecutor. I explained to them that the police had no such authority, but they not only refused to accept this; they also imposed a condition that we remain confined until 9:30. If we did not do this and the 8 people were not released, then, according to them, we would not leave there alive... K. Ziu: - Who told you that? P. Tusha: - The defendant Bashkim Kuci, who threatened us with the 9:30 deadline. I contacted the Ministry and asked for instructions. The Minister told us to remain calm, as he would speak with the Minister of Justice and the Prosecutor General. I informed the crowd of this, but they were not convinced and began insulting us again. At 9:30, the deadline for holding us hostage was extended to 11 by the defendant Bashkim Jankishta and Izet Bregu. From 9 to 11, the attacks with stones on the Municipality chairman’s office continued, and it was wrecked. Meanwhile, the many people forced their way into the office... Thus it continued, amid curses, insults and threats, with another agitated [group] and two people vested with state authority, who remained calm and stayed confined, unable to perform their duties. At around 12:30, Mr. P. Tusha recounts, a woman arrived and insulted Maksim, even telling him to get up from the chair so she could sit down. At around 1 p.m., there was a commotion outside and we heard voices shouting: “Poliçan, not Kosovo! We want bread, (Continued on page 3)

- Continuation of the court hearing postponed until 3.12.1992 - Yesterday at 8:30, the first court hearing in the case against Nikoll Lesi was held in one of the courtrooms of the Lezhë District Court. He is charged under Article 186 of the Penal Code with public defamation. The presiding judge was Ms. Mereme Delishi; counsel for the accusing party was Mr. Përparim Sanxhaku; counsel for the defendant Nikoll Lesi was Mr. Spartak Ngjela. After the court hearing was opened, Mr. (Continued on page 3)

On Friday, 20 November, at 10 o’clock, a meeting of the PD National Council will be held in the National History Museum hall. The agenda will include economic reform and the privatization process in our country.

It may seem strange to many people, but Vito Kapo continues to live with her son Besnik Kapo and his family in the villa in the Block. The villa that the Kapo family had in the Block belongs to someone who died in E. Hoxha’s prisons, whose family members are still alive. Will democracy continue to allow such injustices? THE OBSERVER

It happened a few days ago. The owner of the house where Mr. Kastriot Islami lives came to his house to see what condition it was in. (Mr. Islami took that house when he was Speaker of Parliament.) As soon as he heard that the owner of the house had arrived, taking a little advantage of his position or perhaps of the other person’s timidity, he threatened him: “I am a member of parliament,” Mr. Islami told him. (Continued on page 4)

- From the 3rd Conference of the PD branch for Durrës - - Mr. Eduard Selami takes part - On 14 November, the 3rd conference of the Democratic Party branch for the district of Durrës was held in the “Aleksandër Moisiu” theatre hall, with the participation of the chairman of the PDSH, Mr. Eduard Selami. The report “On the work of the Durrës PD branch during the period between the two conferences,” delivered by the branch secretary, Ramazan Beja, and the discussions addressed issues concerning the organization and structure of the Party; each person’s responsibilities in implementing economic reform in the city and countryside; improving the population’s supply of food products; etc. Mr. Eduart Selami also spoke at the conference. Among other things, he highlighted the great victory achieved by overthrowing the dictatorship, as well as the even greater task of building a democratic society. The government, he said, implements and will continue to implement the PD program, and we will not allow the work of the government to conflict with the party’s program. Mr. Selami then discussed issues concerning the organization of the party and the better functioning of its structures from the grassroots to the center, as well as certain shortcomings related to the timing of the implementation of realistic promises based on the PD program, etc. At the end, elections were held for the new governing council of the district PD branch. Mr. Edmir Kapidani was elected chairman of the Durrës PD.

1. In the period from October 19 to November 7, 1992, “Pelican” transported: - POWDERED MILK: 782 tons to the state warehouses of Shkodër, Vlorë, Tirana, Kavajë, Durrës, Pukë, Peqin and Elbasan; - WHEAT: 4071 Durrës, Laç, Peqin, Elbasan and Krujë; - FROZEN MEAT: 180 tons to the state warehouses of Tirana and Durrës; - RICE: 1999 tons to the state warehouses of Berat, Tirana, Kavajë, Kuçovë, Shkodër, Fushë Krujë, Bulqizë, Lezhë, Rrëshen, Gramsh, Laç, Lushnjë, Fier, Elbasan, Librazhd, Peqin, Vlorë, Mat, Durrës, Shijak, Pukë, Skrapar, Bajram Curri, Mallakastër and Kukës; - SUGAR: 2173 tons to the state warehouses of Peqin, Tirana, Shkodër, Pukë, Mat, Myselin, Librazhd, Bilisht, Korçë, Peshkopi, Laç, Vlorë, Elbasan, Kavajë, Durrës, Lezhë, Rrëshen, Fier, Gramsh, Pogradec, Fushë Krujë, Kuçovë, Bulqizë, Lushnjë and Berat; - OIL: 1530 tons to the state warehouses of Librazhd, Pogradec, Durrës, Tepelenë, Delvinë, Gjirokastër, Sarandë, Përmet, Shijak, Pukë, Shkodër, Rrëshen, Bulqizë, Peshkopi, Peqin, Fushë Krujë, Lushnjë, Kavajë, Tirana, Lezhë and Kuçovë; - VARIOUS GOODS: 90 tons to the state warehouses of Pukë; It has covered 401,527 kilometers using its own vehicles. 2. At the Durrës Polyclinic and near the Vlorë Hospital, “Pelican’s” medical teams, in cooperation with Albanian doctors, carried out 7133 medical procedures. 3. The helicopter unit logged 51 flight hours; Lieutenant Colonel CESARE BORGIA