Distrust and fear of the communist dictatorship state ON PAGE 4

The police in Vlorë are built on the foundations of the gangs ON PAGE 4

Three dead and five injured in the past 24 hours ON PAGE 4

Facts implicate the police in the attack on “RD” journalist Mujë Buçpapaj. Testimony at the newsroom The bullets came from a blue police car. All the versions put forward by Police Station No. 1 fall apart. No one takes responsibility for apprehending the perpetrators. On orders from the highest authorities, the criminals are being concealed RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE Facsimile of the testimony RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE; Facsimile of the testimony

With each passing day, the socialist power installed in office confirms how far it is distancing itself from the basic principles and values of a free society. Yesterday, a police car [unclear in source] ran over the opposition journalist, thereby demonstrating that this power of this class is following the example of its ruling fathers. Up to the attack on the journalist, the free left-wing press and non-government journalists had systematically faced pressure, blackmail and numerous direct or indirect threats in their daily work. The Speaker of Parliament ordered the parliamentary gates closed to journalists, with typically Byzantine logic, on the day the DP deputies went to Parliament, and opened them to PS militants, with the galleries and [unclear in source] at their disposal. Some time ago journalist Ali Ukaj was killed, and the motives for this murder have still not been clarified, while yesterday “RD” political journalist Mujë Buçpapaj was wounded and the police are trying to divert the truth by sticking to the accidental-incident version and [unclear in source] the mysteries surrounding the attack. The wounding of an opposition journalist because of his opinions marks another, higher-than-ever level of the present government’s revanchist and Byzantine-communist assault. On the other hand, the blackout on the opposition and its positions, its political alternatives, and its assessments of the installed government’s concrete actions in the state media has only intensified. The television station controlled by the Byzantine clique still refuses to present alternative views, and distorts or falsifies them. For its part, the government, apart from the demagoguery and the “transparency” controlled by its ministers in the state media, conducts its activities behind closed doors. The case of the agreement between Prime Minister Nano and the Italian Prime Minister is the most blatant. The public is not informed about such an important issue; instead, there is only silence, and when the truth comes to light, the government responds by launching a crude accusation against the opposition parties and the political forces of the friendly country. All the acts and actions of the power installed in office are based on a search for constitutional laws to replace the justice system and turn its institutions into servants of the ruling clique, through [unclear in source] values, but a Byzantine concept of governing and directing the country. The Albanian opposition and its Democratic Party are systematically warning the public at home and abroad about the danger posed by the installed clique. The country’s present political opposition has repeatedly declared that it adheres to its fundamental political principles and values: individual freedom, property, and freedom of speech—that is, principles that legitimize relations in a free society. In its challenges to the clique’s revanchist actions and the power installed in office, the opposition has offered an alternative view on every issue, demonstrating its political responsibility. But the opposition cannot be called an opposition if it acts [unclear in source] the clique’s power, applauds it and sings its praises. The opposition does not aim to isolate the country, remove [unclear in source] or block the country’s development. It has no aim other than to make decisions and take specific actions directly in the interests of the country’s future. Adhering to its programme, the opposition maintains that it is seeking to restore Albanians’ rights and freedoms, to ensure respect for individual freedom and property, and to respect and protect freedom of speech and of the press. The opposition should not make concessions on this fundamental right or leave the future blocked, because [unclear in source] are not only the country’s future, but also its integration into the European family. The clique’s installed power will now make changes [unclear in source], claiming that the opposition is destructive; but if one looks at it, [unclear in source] the fundamental principles of a democratic society, opposition constitutes not only democracy but every other free system in this case so ... SH. PEPONI

Late-breaking news Socialist gang terrorizes Kavajë A police officer and a family are wounded Last night at 17:00, the PS gang, encouraged by its MP, terrorized the streets of the city of Kavajë for three hours straight. The terror continued until 20:00, with gunfire in the city streets terrorizing the citizens of Kavajë. The preliminary toll of this terrorist act is one police officer and one family wounded.

ON PAGE 3

The thief of the CEC seal is appointed head of SHIK SHIK chairman Arben Karkini unjustly dismissed

The third day of MP Arbnori’s hunger strike. Solidarity and support from across the country ON PAGE 2 Arbnori’s health is deteriorating

PD Secretary General Pollo at a press conference PD Secretary General Pollo, citing evidence, accused paid killers recruited into the police from various criminal gangs of carrying out the attack on our colleague from RD PD warns those in power not to play with violence and crime The police not only failed to stop the terrorists, but tried by every means to disguise this act with other versions ON PAGE 3

Political parties’ roundtable postponed The Democratic Party of Albania announces that, due to the tense political climate following the attack on “RD” political editor Mujë Buçpapaj, and Mr Pjetër Arbnori’s hunger strike in protest against the censorship of the opposition, it does not consider it appropriate at this time to hold the political parties’ roundtable scheduled for 22.08.1997. The Democratic Party of Albania, initiator of this roundtable for National Reconciliation, will invite Albania’s parliamentary parties to meet on 05.09.1997