Nano’s spokesperson warns of swift changes in the government. The US reaffirm their support for democracy in Albania

Albania’s main opposition also warned that it might sever all relations with the government and refuse to recognize it. This strong statement was prompted by the institutional crisis that resulted from the legal assault undertaken by the current authorities and the flagrant changes made by the parliamentary majority to the constitutional provisions, particularly the articles concerning the work of the Constitutional Court. Such an institutional crisis, the most serious in the entire history of the Albanian state, has been engineered and directed by the state itself in order to prepare the conditions for later interference in Albania’s justice system. The only way to destroy the primacy of justice was to pass an absurd law, and then use opposition to that law as a pretext to dismantle the Constitutional Court. Today’s officeholders are entering the history of the Albanian state as its stateless element, confirming their inability to govern and, just as clearly, their ability to create serious crises. In just a few days the country has been plunged into several: the return of refugees, the banking crisis, and the failure to pay the wages of workers in the mines, railways, water utilities, and elsewhere. Over a period of two weeks the country has found itself in the grip of such crises and almost in a state of frozen and shattered economic activity, with no government alternative except the prime minister’s initial remarks. Within three weeks, 15 strikes have been recorded across the country by workers, pupils, students, creditors, employees, and others. It has been the opposition’s intervention that has done something to avert the drama of these crises, as in the case of the refugees. The DP’s statements and its intervention with the international community and the Pope made it possible to halt the Italian operation. The people were also given greater clarity about the banking and citizens’ savings issue, enabling them to better understand the situation when they rushed to the banks with their savings in their pockets. Meanwhile, it is the DP and the other genuine opposition forces that have managed the ever-growing discontent of miners and oil workers, for whom the government’s sole response has been to shirk responsibility for resolving the problems of workers in these and other very important sectors of the Albanian economy. A government that has plunged the country into crisis has also proved unable to handle the crisis within its own ranks. The Albanian deputy prime minister said two days ago that talk of a government crisis was mere speculation, thereby recording the government’s first crisis in just four months. While the country stands on the brink of an even more unbearable crisis, the government has been unable to do anything about public order; it has encouraged smuggling and the illegal trafficking of people and drugs, and fueled price increases, while freezing funds for local investment and credit. It has attacked free competition and amended the constitutional provisions concerning property and the capitalist economy. The only things that have remained active in its work, and in which it has been most productive, are violence and isolation directed at the opposition, along with constant intimidation in the service of nominal or administrative changes, the criminal deportation of 5,000 people from Italy, the tightening of dependency and poverty, and conditions that are extremely conducive to dictatorship.

Fier. Barbaric violence by Neritan Ceka’s uniformed terrorists Bardhyl Krasniqi was struck on the head with the butt of a gun by Cakran’s top bandit, now a police officer, Agur Tafa. Six stitches to the head and the victim’s condition is serious. Selamet Krasniqi and Dritan Krasniqi were also subjected to brutal violence. The order to arrest and mistreat them was given by Mitat Çemi, the former Sigurimi officer who is director of the Fier police. Neritan Ceka’s uniformed terrorists unleashed violence on Democrats yesterday, acting on the principle that restoring order means arresting, detaining, mistreating and even physically eliminating members of the Democratic Party. Three Democratic Party activists were brutally beaten yesterday by bandit-police officers from the Fier police station; their cruelty nearly caused the death of one of the young men. Bardhyl Krasniqi, Selamet Krasniqi and Dritan Krasniqi were stopped yesterday morning as they were driving to work, by a police van driven by officer Agur Tafa, a former prisoner in Greek jails known as Cakran’s top bandit. The police immediately took the young men to the town police station, where they were met by Fier police director Mitat Çemi, a former Sigurimi officer, who immediately ordered that the laws of his time be applied to them. A torrent of violence was unleashed against the detainees, with Cakran’s top bandit Agur Tafa—now wearing police-officer’s epaulettes—distinguishing himself through particular zeal. In his criminal zeal, he did not hesitate to strike Bardhyl Krasniqi on the head with the butt of his gun, causing him to collapse unconscious to the ground. After a few moments he came round, but began to lose a lot of blood and vomit because of the large gash in his head. Despite his serious condition, former Sigurimi officer Mitat Çemi would not allow the injured man to be taken to hospital. The victim’s grave condition prompted the duty officer to confront director Çemi in harsh terms, telling him that citizens could not be beaten at the police station. Meanwhile, the town emergency doctor notified the police that he should be taken to hospital, but former Sigurimi officer Mitat Çemi and former Cakran gang leader Agur Tafa, their hands bloodied, refused. The injured man was taken to Fier hospital only after the doctor told the crime chief that the victim’s life was in great danger. Bardhyl was immediately given emergency medical care at the hospital and his wound was treated with six stitches, while his vomiting and serious condition continued. Nevertheless, Neritan Ceka’s police continued to hold the detainees at the station until it was surrounded that afternoon by angry people. Only then did Çemi and Tafa agree to release them, on condition that they not file a complaint against the uniformed criminals. Even after being taken home, Bardhyl’s condition remained serious, while Selamet and Dritan also had major wounds and numerous bruises on their bodies. The incident provoked very strong reactions in Fier, since police officer Agur Tafa is known as one of the area’s most notorious bandits, having committed serious crimes and robberies there before putting on the blue uniform. Known as Cakran’s gang leader, he has also put many other members of his gang in police uniforms, while his superior is also said to pose a great danger to the lives of Fier’s citizens. Mitat Çemi’s appointment as the town’s police director, despite being a former Sigurimi officer, has the same effect on Fier’s citizens. B.K.

Yesterday, Azem Hajdari, MP and member of the DP leadership, returned home after a successful visit to the US. During his visit to the US, Mr. Hajdari held a series of important meetings at the State Department, the US Congress and Senate, and with the Albanian-American community in several American cities. MP Hajdari will report the results of his visit and meetings in detail at a press conference tomorrow.

Nano’s TV shame denounced The chairman of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, denounced yesterday as a shameful act the censorship of the Pope’s message on state television. The television station, Berisha said, censored the appeal His Holiness made to the Prodi government not to forcibly repatriate Albanian refugees. The Nano government is an atheist government, Berisha said, accusing it of being directly responsible for this censorship. During the broadcast of the Holy Father’s message, state television censored his appeal to the Italian authorities to treat the refugees humanely and with compassion. Meanwhile, former foreign minister Ariand Starova, one of the leaders of the “Union for Democracy,” yesterday denied Ceka’s statements that the agreement on the return of Albanian refugees had been signed by the Government of Reconciliation. The shameful agreement was signed by the Nano government, Starova clarified.

Calls to liquidate the two state banks are, first and foremost, irresponsible political statements Express liquidation risks financial disequilibrium When the non-state sector accounts for 9% of the banking system, liquidation trends mean a shortage of bank liquidity and reduced opportunities for refinancing the economy SPECIAL REPORT on page 7

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA Press statement by the London company on the eve of the Christmas crisis Deloitte & Touche, 3 weeks with Kambert’s pigs SPECIAL REPORT ON PAGE 6

Illegal trafficking is run by today’s officeholders SPECIAL REPORT ON PAGE 5

Albania plunged into an institutional crisis. The opposition will not allow the Constitutional Court to be undermined. Berisha: “Gjinushi must resign”

Tomorrow, Albanians celebrate 8 December—the day the student demonstrations against the dictatorship began SPECIAL REPORT on page 8

The repatriation of Albanians continues without interruption. Napolitano denies allegations of mistreatment and the use of violence against refugees. The repatriation of Albanians continues without interruption. The Nano government supports the expulsion of refugees Napolitano denies allegations of mistreatment and the use of violence against refugees. ON PAGE 4