Investigations ordered into the local chairman of the DP ON PAGE 3

A call from the Union for Democracy. Protests until democracy is restored Citizens of Tirana, every one of you who calls yourself Albanian, every one of you who wants freedom and democracy and aspires to a secure future, well-being and prosperity, come out to the protest rally on Monday, 26 October 1998, at 16:30, in “Skënderbej” Square. This protest rally has the noble purpose of compelling the state to find the organizers and perpetrators of the execution of Albanian patriotism, Azem Hajdari, to release political prisoners, reinstate those dismissed from their jobs for taking part in Azem Hajdari’s funeral, and force early elections, so that democracy and the security of the national cause may return to Albania. Everyone to “Skënderbej” Square on Monday, 26.10.1998, at 16:30, against the government that tolerates crime, smuggling and anti-Albanianism!

The DP prepares for new parliamentary elections “If those in power do not heed our demands for dialogue, then the constitution will become an integral part of the DP’s program” The constitution, like Nano’s government By Astrit PATOZI The former communists in power are demanding, at any cost, the approval of a constitution that would serve only a small mafia clan in Albanian politics. The whole point of this extraordinary constitution of those in power is to rush through the stages of the constitutional process in order to make Fatos Nano’s intentions clear and visible: the constitution will be the government’s passport. Regardless of the fact that he himself did not have the “fortune” to head the cabinet seeking to erase the false passport of 22 November, what matters is that the Socialists are seeking to gain new credentials after manipulating the constitutional process and its very content. The chairman of the Socialist Party, Fatos Nano, did not blush at all when he declared two days ago that even the votes of a quarter of Albanians would be enough for them to consider the constitutional issue settled. His statement clearly explains the reason for the arbitrary amendment of the referendum law, the final blow to the opposition’s efforts to take part in the constitutional process. But while Fatos Nano’s clan violently shut every door to possible political dialogue in Albania, the referendum remained a challenge posed by those in power not only to the opposition, but to all free citizens of this country. It matters little to a citizen whether they support the DP or another party when those pretending to be the constitution’s saints have humiliated them by telling them that their vote is of no importance. A constitution that could be approved with only the votes of the PS leadership could never belong to all Albanians, nor even to the Socialists themselves who vote for it. Fatosi and Fatos Nano, or Pandeli Majko, who answer their party’s call to vote in favor, should at least understand that they are voting not for the fundamental law of the Albanian state, but for the highly convenient passport of a handful of politicians. As such, it remains doubly a minority constitution: first, because from the outset it excludes the majority of Albanians through the majority law; and second, because even within that majority, the law of the majority of Albanians is impossible, since the minority vote belongs to those seeking to benefit from it—the people in power. Even those who vote yes in the upcoming referendum will have no reason to believe that the constitution of the minority of the minority will be any better for them, because it was born crippled by the exclusion of the majority by its “privatizers.” Convinced that they have lost the majority by drastic margins, the Socialists and some of their allies are trying to use the constitution as a weapon to restore their power, shaken to its foundations. Former Deputy Prime Minister Kastriot Islami was very clear and direct yesterday when he set out the prospect of low turnout in the constitutional vote. Islami’s candor clearly explains what the deputies of the governing coalition had in mind when they raised their fists and voted unanimously for the referendum law against the majority, and then, with the same governing party, passed all 183 articles of the draft constitution in just three days. This manipulation and lack of seriousness, which have accompanied the entire constitutional process, are expected to provoke “rejections”—a prospect Islami has experienced firsthand as Fatos Nano’s former aide in the government and the Socialist Party. Albanians will ignore the constitution of a mafia clan wearing a political guise, because they feel deeply insulted by the humiliation inflicted on them through this disgusting game and the silence imposed on the country’s politics. They have no need to understand that all this has been brought to them by Fatos Nano’s government and the continuing government of Pandeli Majko, in order to ignore the passport of the coalition government. Nor will they forget that the co-chairman of the constitutional commission, Arben Imami, had rejoiced just a year ago at the infamous salvation committees and at the graves of hundreds of victims in the south of the country. To be clear, those who helped save a party through election fraud and the constitutional process have degraded it; the constitutional provisions and the damage they have inflicted on the Albanian state show as much. For this reason, today’s rulers are ruthlessly trampling the will of the Albanians for the sake of people who present themselves as normal and respectable, while forcefully attacking their legitimate efforts and aspirations. Seeking to seize it along with the constitution, by excluding the opposition and suppressing every legitimate means, at the last minute they arbitrarily changed the rules of the game for everyone. Instead of a major constitutional debate conducted through politics, Nano, Gjinali and others offered dialogue that began with deputies who were still demanding equality after the latest shootings, and turned them all into a gang of bandits over Azem Hajdari. That is why their constitution will have the same fate as Nano’s government. ON PAGE 3

Vlora’s crime boss pulls out guns in court Chilling testimony in the courtroom from witness Mustafa Dednika, whose son and nephew were killed by Zani and his gang The trial of Zani Çaushi and his 14-member gang, accused of murder and other mass crimes, continued yesterday at the Tirana District Court. The presiding judge, Martin Deda, and his two assistants at the hearing... ON PAGE 4

Struck on the head with blunt objects as he was leaving the newsroom of the newspaper “55” An eyewitness says that those who attacked journalist Hyseni, just ten metres away, got into a car with foreign plates and, from inside the car, began speaking over a police radio with someone (perhaps with those who had given them their orders). ON ... ... able to strike precisely the well-known writer and journalist Bajram Hyseni. This is because Hyseni is a former political prisoner. He spent around 24 years in the prisons of the communist dictatorship. His brother also served time as a political prisoner, as did his son. Journalist Hyseni has been very active in the press in recent years, exposing with evidence the terrible crimes of the communist dictatorship. He has also been a prominent activist of the PD. The attack on him constitutes a heinous and criminal mafia act carried out by Fatos Klosi’s former secret police agents. But the silence of the police and the state media regarding this act is just as criminal. To attack a writer and journalist in the middle of the capital, in the middle of the street and in broad daylight, without any official government body or institution reacting, is not only a crime; and the failure to take even formal procedural action plainly shows that this was an act carried out for political reasons by elements of this clique. Ndrëke GJINI

On Thursday, 29 October, at 11:00, the National Council of the Democratic Party will meet. The meeting will be held at the DP’s headquarters. The DP parliamentary group is also invited to attend.

Melo: The Constitution requires approval

Today, 43 days since the murder of the Leader of ... Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari ... the politics of democracy and pluralism, proves ... the government of Fatos Nano and his successor ... that shook the entire Albanian world. The government of ... [unclear] who leave free and undisturbed the criminals whose blood ... took the life of the December Leader, show Albanians ... that they have not been and are not on the side of the murderers, who ... specific names, but are not touched by those in power ... The Democrats and all Albanians who love ... honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate ... these facts. The government must either capture and bring ... the criminals to justice, or publicly declare ... that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari. Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari...

State media continue their informational violence against the PD Yesterday too, no television channel gave a single second to the PD’s statements to the Albanian people, although this party’s activities were more important. Yesterday there was a press conference given by the chairman, Sali Berisha, concerning the Constitution. Intentionally, Telemajko ... [unclear] the screen to prevent communication between the PD and the people, because it wants the Constitution to be approved without any opposition. The government and its TV continue their informational violence against the opposition, trying ... to reach an agreement, which also ... separately by the prime minister ... for ... [unclear] ... This ... [fragmentary] ... for dominance, but ... the Constitution, has ... the channels will ... the possible initiatives ... to make the necessary amendments ... constitutional legality ... of a ... government, the government ... the Constitution turns out ... to be at its most important link ... [unclear]. According to the Republicans, the Constitution needs many changes, but for now they ... ... in this ... and ... We ... to ... of ...

... for the family of Roza Mehmeti Roza Mehmeti was accidentally killed at the end of September by a member of the commando forces, who, in order to counter the aggression of two teenagers who had threatened him, fired the weapon he was carrying at them. The bullet from his gun ricocheted off the ground and hit Roza Mehmeti, who happened to be passing by. The incident took place in front of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly.

The Albanian Atlantic Association examines alternatives for collecting weapons On Saturday, the Albanian Atlantic Association organized a conference, “On alternatives and possible ways to collect weapons in Albania.” The president of the association, Alfred Moisiu, emphasized in his speech that unless the problem of disarming the population is resolved, it is difficult to envisage a safe Albania. According to Moisiu, disarming the population would serve stability and security. The former deputy minister of Defense during the PD government said that unless the population is disarmed, it is difficult to envisage the country’s normal progress toward Euro-Atlantic integration. Moisiu emphasized that this disarmament will never be achieved by the Albanian government unless there is consensus among the country’s main political forces. During the conference, many specialists in the field who had come from Germany and Canada also discussed ways and means of collecting weapons, and presented their experience in ... this area. According to the chairman ... of the Socialists, weapons will initially be collected ... in the Gramsh areas, since ... pilot projects for this ... At the conference ... participated leaders of ... the Democratic Party ... omard Demi, Pjetër Ar... and representatives of ... state institutions ... political forces in the country ... as well as representatives of non-governmental organizations.