ON PAGE 5

Appeal by the Union for Democracy: Protest until democracy is restored Appeal by the Union for Democracy: Protest until democracy is restored On Thursday, once again in “Skënderbej” Square Citizens of Tirana, each of you who calls yourself Albanian, each of you who wants freedom and democracy and aspires to a secure future, well-being and prosperity, come out to the protest rally on Thursday, 29 October 1998, at 16:30 in “Skënderbej” Square. This protest rally has the noble aim of forcing the state to find the organizers and perpetrators of the murder of Albanianism’s standard-bearer, Azem Hajdari, to release the political prisoners, reinstate those dismissed from work for taking part in Azem Hajdari’s funeral, and compel the holding of early elections, so that democracy and the security of the national cause may return to Albania. Everyone to “Skënderbej” Square on Thursday, 29.10.1998, at 16:30, against the government of the continuation of crime, smuggling and anti-Albanianism!

ON PAGE 4 BSPSH has described Balluku’s murder as a criminal act carried out by state elements. Fatmir Musaku is a close friend of Fatos Nano and has his full support. The new prime minister, Pandeli Majko, has also held secret talks with Musaku to destroy the trade union movement.

By Edi PALOKA The policy of the current rulers encourages crime in Albania. As a result of this policy, the mafia is becoming fully established in Albania. For more than a year, power in Albania has been in the hands of gangs, but if a year ago they were only on the streets, now they completely dominate life in the country. In one year, since the left-wing coalition came to power, crime has shifted from street crime to organized crime. It is certain that attempts to establish organized crime had been made before as well, but the fight by law-enforcement bodies had prevented it. Foreign experts have now confirmed that criminal organizations and international mafia families also played a significant role in the events of a year ago. At present, all the facts show that power in Albania is now in the hands of the mafia and crime is part of this power. The socialist Minister of Public Order, Petro Koçi, when he took the minister’s chair, declared that he would restore order within one mo-[text continues outside the frame of the image] month, but no one in Albania believes that anymore. Crime continues to intensify day by day, to the point that serious incidents follow one another, and, worst of all, crime continues to be encouraged by the rulers’ policies. A few days ago, masked men robbed the State University, while a powerful TNT explosion wrecked several businesses in front of the PD headquarters, just a few meters from the Ministry of Public Order. Other serious incidents in recent days left no time for the uproar over the first crimes to die down. Once again, in the center of Tirana, the head of the Tirana Trade Unions is murdered, while the trafficking of illegal migrants adds another dark page filled with victims. All these events are the result of the rulers’ policies, which have moved from supporting crime to encouraging and organizing it. The murder at the Trade Unions headquarters was a straightforward political murder. In practice, the people who created the conflict are known to be close to former Prime Minister Nano and the current prime minister, Majko. What happened was an attempt by those in power to take control of the Trade Unions, just days after these unions declared they would begin a fight against the government. But the victims of this crime have not been spared by politics either. It is now known that migrant smugglers are linked to those in power and that many of them work directly for these rulers. In practice, since the socialists came to power, the trafficking of illegal migrants, like many other illegal activities, has found an unobstructed path. Not a single speedboat has been caught by the police, and not a single speedboat has been impounded. The only cases recorded have been by the Italian police. These are just some of the recent events confirming that this regime, regardless of the governments it appoints, has now turned entirely into a mafia. From the moment the PS came to power, the opposition declared that the new government could not fight crime because it was itself the offspring of crime. Having come to power through gangs, one cannot expect these rulers to fight the gangs. But the rulers have gone even further: they have advanced crime. They did not merely fail to fight crime; they became its direct organizers. Political crime merged with economic crime, with the rulers themselves at the head. Berisha stated at a press conference that the dictatorship of the gangs was being established in Albania, but in reality a reign of gangs directed by politicians is being installed in Albania. Illegal trafficking has become a criminal mafia controlled by the mafia in power, and the mafia currently makes the law in Albania. Criminals make the rules in every network. They operate undisturbed because they have the open support of those in power. The country’s best-known criminals continue their activities openly and without concern, because it is known that they are the current rulers’ right-hand men. Albania is now a country where criminals are the most important people, while honest people—those who dare to denounce crime—end up in prison or face threats. This is the regime that killed Azem Hajdari and several other political officials, the regime that continues to keep opposition politicians in prison and, indirectly, openly protects the country’s best-known criminals. This regime controls crime and uses it for its own political and economic purposes. This is the mafia in power. Albania is therefore seriously at risk of becoming completely controlled by the mafia, and if this regime is not overthrown, it will be too late to put things right.

The protests return to Tirana The government must stop the murderous hand

A boat carrying clandestine migrants explodes: 3 dead, 7 injured and dozens missing at sea ON PAGE 5 Al Saitin was killed as a terrorist, while the police say they still have no evidence of his terrorist activity Why did he (himself) kill

Activities of PD branches in the districts continue. For the referendum, the decision of the National Council will be supported ON PAGE 2

PD condemns the killing of the trade union leader ON PAGE 2

The prosecution continues its pressure on local PD leaders Kavajë PD chairman Luan Skuqi has also been summoned to the prosecutor’s office in connection with the events of September 14. A letter from the prosecution was sent by post in Skuqi’s name, asking him to appear at this institution to provide explanations, without specifying what explanations were being sought. This is the standard text that was also sent to other local leaders throughout the country, asking them to testify about the September 14 protests, while political pressure is being exerted on them through the prosecution. Skuqi did not appear for an investigation in connection with this matter, declaring that he did not recognize this request from the prosecution at all and that he was ready to withstand any political pressure coming from an institution that is entirely under the government’s authority. So far, the prosecution in Tirana and its branches in several districts have launched a campaign of investigations and arrests throughout the country against all those people who have expressed disapproval or sent condolences to the Hajdari family, or at PD branches, over Azem’s murder. On the other hand, hundreds of people have been dismissed from their jobs for the same reasons by government order, and on September 19, only five days after the funeral ceremony of the December Leader, Azem Hajdari.

Nano’s and Majko’s men shoot Astrit Balluku at the BSPSH headquarters

All members of the FRPDSH National Council are hereby notified that the meeting of the FRPDSH National Council will be held on Wednesday, 28.10.1998, at 11:00. The FRPDSH Presidency

The National Council of the Democratic Party will meet on Thursday, October 29, at 11:00. The meeting will take place in the PD’s main hall. The PD parliamentary group is also invited to attend.