A major march by Democrats on “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard. Police arrest 30 DP activists and mistreat several women and children. Around 3,000 Democrats launch the protest in front of the Ministry of the Interior: “Release our brothers!”

Berisha: “Today the DP announces its new platform of resistance. If one Democrat is harmed, we will all respond together.” DP MPs lead the protest. Pollo warns Teta. The Minister of the Interior is forced to back down and release those arrested . A major march by Democrats on “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard. Police arrest 30 DP activists and mistreat several women and children. Around 3,000 Democrats launch the protest in front of the Ministry of the Interior: “Release our brothers!”

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Pukë, crime targets Democrats

Yesterday, at 4 a.m. on 16.07.1998, a masked gang attacked with guns the Democrat and prominent doctor from Puka, Ndue Cara, who is also a member of the municipal council of the municipality of Puka. Ndue Cara was travelling with a patient and the patient’s family members to a hospital in Tirana. As they were leaving Puka, a masked gang stopped the van in which Mr. Cara was travelling. ON PAGE 2

The terrorist government laid hands on Democrats again last night. More than 30 protesters were arrested by Nano’s political police and special forces. Some of them, including women, were brutally beaten, shot at in a savage manner by the gangs of the committees dressed as police officers. Democrats’ blood was spilled barely a few dozen metres from the Ministry of the Interior by the brutal police squad. This was the moment when Democrats joined together for more than three hours in front of the Ministry of the Interior in a forceful protest against the terrorism in power, and the hostages of terror were released. The criminal regime was forced to surrender in the face of the democratic momentum and the determination of thousands of Tirana citizens demanding the release of those arrested. Last night, the determination and spirit of the Democrats showed Nano and Teta their dictatorship against the opposition. At first. The terrorist government is only the beginning. The terrorist government is destined only to fail in its attack against the opposition. Last night’s march and the Democrats’ confrontation in front of the Ministry are the first signs of a new resistance by the opposition, which has taken root in the country. If the terrorist regime dares to touch even one opposition member, it will face the opposition’s resistance; it will face the strongest centre of democracy. The massacre carried out last night against peaceful protesters has set in motion a democratic surge across all of Albania, one that will not stop until the terrorist government, the criminals and the gangs are brought down. Last night the Albanian dictatorship showed its teeth in yet another way, as it has already done in every form: with the brutalization and political imprisonment of Democrats and the political imprisonment of the Albanian opposition, which has taken root in the country. The Albanian dictatorship, embodied in the government and the parliament of Kalashnikovs, must not remain standing for another minute. It must be overthrown by every democratic means and by the determination of all Albanians who aspire to democracy. The Nano government has become identified with criminal gangs. Nothing separates it from the rule of the committees, which have now filled the seats of the state administration and the police, and have entered Parliament and SHIK. For a year, the Prime Minister, Parliament and institutions occupied by bandits have not ceased their violence against the opposition. The Democrats’ resistance will bring this violence to an end, along with the departure of the most anti-national, criminal, thieving, smuggling and corrupt government Albania has ever had. The country has turned its eyes toward the opposition. It is precisely in this vital part of politics that Albanians’ hope of escaping the rule of crime, violence, corruption and poverty has been placed. Can the opposition, can the Democrats revive their homeland? Certainly not [as written: “Kurseksi jo”]. That is why strong resistance is needed, to have a country that moves just as quickly toward the government and power that brought all these evils to Albania. Crime must be driven out of Albania and out of power; smuggling murderers This is the task of the Democrats, the opposition and all civil citizens of Albania. Only by removing the criminals and the betrayers of Albanians’ interests can we have an Albania that is happy and strong in the Balkans.

The Pristina Parliament confirmed Ibrahim Rugova as President of the Republic of Kosovo Rugova takes the oath while consulting with the American diplomat after the meeting ON PAGE 6

Following the lawsuit filed by the Minister of Finance, journalist Polisi was questioned at the Prosecutor’s Office yesterday ON PAGE 4

Ermelinda Meksi orders a pay cut for 102 administrative employees The Ministry of Economic Cooperation is increasing its employees’ salaries by 45 percent, while the salaries of 102 employees of Foreign Trade, now under Meksi’s control, have been cut by 20 percent ON PAGE 5

Following accusations by the Brokaj clan, the director of the “55” newspaper is found guilty An era of political trials and convictions of opposition journalists is beginning. Around 40 cases involving the newspapers “RD”, “Albania” and “55” are underway Following journalist Balliu’s conviction, the Journalists’ Association responds The government must halt its aggression against the free press ON PAGE 2

Nano has asked the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the activities of the former Minister of the Interior Prime Minister Nano has requested an investigation into former Minister of the Interior Neritan Ceka in connection with oil smuggling, which, it has been alleged, was run by Ceka while he held government office. During a debate with Ceka two days ago in the Order, SHIK and Economy Committee, Finance Minister Malaj stated that the former Minister of Order had been the one directing the oil smuggling, while Ceka himself has not remained silent in response to Malaj’s accusation. ON PAGE 3