In the People’s Assembly FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS ARE NEEDED THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESTRUCTION IN POGRADEC, LUSHNJË AND FUSHË-ARRËZ The people’s demand in the plenary session of 6.1.93 In this first year of the existence of our society with political pluralism and a market economy, we have faced no few difficulties. We inherited no few confusions from the past, but although many of them were resolved, some still remained, indeed even more were inherited, and these will be resolved in time. In addition to them, the destabilizing actions of the last days shook public opinion. The absurd accusation by one political force against the government, the slanders and other fabrications linked to it, had the sole aim of overthrowing the government and resulted in pointless destruction in several cities of the country. The struggle of the manipulated crowd has achieved nothing other than creating an unfavorable image of the government and lowering the prestige of the opposition, bringing it no benefit. All the opposition’s efforts cannot stain the new government, with whose name the hope for the country’s future is linked, because in its activity it has never intended to disgrace any person. If we want to build a rule-of-law state, we must sharply denounce all unconstitutional and anti-democratic actions; democratic institutions must prevail, not the street. With this responsible spirit, the truth of these events must be calmly analyzed. Those harmed, regardless of political beliefs, deserve the help of the state; the guilty must be brought before justice. Albania is going through a difficult period, but the chosen path is irreversible. This is not the time for violence and revenge, but for law, dialogue and free and fair elections. The people demand peace, work and order. They cannot accept that, in the name of narrow party interests, institutions and public property be destroyed. This is also the demand expressed in the plenary session of 6.1.93: that those responsible for the destruction in Pogradec, Lushnjë and Fushë-Arrëz be identified and punished, and that the conduct of free and fair elections be guaranteed.

Will she confess, perhaps, to all sins and crimes? After a long procedure closely followed by public opinion, today Nexhmije Hoxha, the widow of Enver Hoxha and former senior official of the communist regime, appears before justice. The trial against her is expected to focus on misuse of funds, privileges, and political and moral responsibility for the period of dictatorship. In public opinion, the case is seen as a test of the seriousness of democratic institutions and of the state’s readiness to confront the past. The question posed by many citizens is whether she will acknowledge responsibility for the injustices and crimes committed in the name of the regime. Her trial has aroused extraordinary interest and is expected to occupy an important place in the public debate of the day.

On Monday at 9:00, at the Tirana Court, the trial of former members of the Political Bureau, accused of misuse and abuse of state funds, will begin. According to the announcement, the hearing will be public and interest in it is very great. The main accused is Adil Çarçani, while Manush Myftiu, Llambi Ziçishti, Koço Theodhosi, Muho Asllani, Mihallaq Ziçishti and others will also sit in the dock. The trial is expected to shed light on the privileges, spending and use of public funds by the top leadership of the former regime. This process has been described as an important test for the new democratic state and for its determination to separate legal responsibility from the communist past. In public opinion it is also seen as an important moral moment to condemn corruption and abuse of power.

April 2, 1991, fighting first and they call it democracy At the beginning of last week, in the cinema hall of the city of Shkodër, the trial over the events of April 2, 1991 began. This trial has attracted broad attention not only in Shkodër, but throughout the country, because it is linked to one of the most tragic events of the democratic transition period. In the dock are former officials of the former state apparatus and local leaders accused of responsibility for the use of weapons against demonstrators. There has been great interest in the courtroom from the victims’ families, citizens, journalists and representatives of institutions. The trial is being seen as a test for Albanian justice to establish responsibility for the political crimes of the past. For many, it is the first page of the trial of an entire era, which is being brought to a close under the light of truth and law.

The meeting of the Police Union of the Tirana district and representatives of FMNS is gathered and expanded In a meeting held in recent days, representatives of the Police Union of the Tirana district and of FMNS expressed their support for the democratic processes and for the restoration of order. In their statement they condemned the violent acts and the destruction that occurred in several areas of the country. The participants stressed that the police must be in the service of the law and the citizens, away from political use. They called for the social and professional interests of employees to be protected and for institutional cooperation to be strengthened in coping with the situation. The meeting ended with a call for calm, dialogue and respect for democratic institutions.

ENGLISH RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE Democratic Rebirth Newspaper of the Democratic Party of Albania Year III of publication No. 276 Friday January 8, 1993 The people’s demand in the plenary session of 6.1.93 FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS ARE NEEDED THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DESTRUCTION IN POGRADEC, LUSHNJË AND FUSHË-ARRËZ At 9:00 in the Tirana Court the curtain rises on communist corruption. The Shkodër trial – the first page of the trial of an era. In support of democracy and the interests of employees. Today Nexhmije Hoxha in the dock. Will she confess, perhaps, to all sins and crimes? ITALIANO RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE Rinascita Democratica Giornale del Partito Democratico d’Albania Anno III di pubblicazione N. 276 Venerdì 8 gennaio 1993 La richiesta del popolo nella seduta plenaria del 6.1.93 SONO NECESSARIE ELEZIONI LIBERE E ONESTE I RESPONSABILI DELLE DEVASTAZIONI A POGRADEC, LUSHNJË E FUSHË-ARRËZ Alle 9.00 al Tribunale di Tirana si apre il sipario sulla corruzione comunista. Il processo di Scutari – la prima pagina del processo di un’epoca. A sostegno della democrazia e degli interessi dei lavoratori. Oggi Nexhmije Hoxha sul banco degli imputati. Confesserà, forse, tutti i peccati e i crimini?