Those in power are alarmed. Turnout in the referendum will be very low. Fisher and Tarskys warn the government Despite manipulations with voter lists as well as the voting process, the constitution will also be rejected by Europe because of the low turnout The President of the PPE Group in the European Parliament, Wilfried Martens, sent a message yesterday to the President of the Democratic Party, Sali Berisha, in which he states that “the European Parliament will express its concern regarding the referendum on the future constitution in Albania”. In this message, Martens emphasizes that the concern is raised not only by the exclusion of the opposition from drafting the constitution, but also by the political climate created after the killing of Azem Hajdari. Sources close to the Democratic Party say that other Members of the European Parliament have also made it clear that the lack of democratic standards and the expected low turnout will make the referendum result contested. The government has increased administrative and propaganda pressure to secure as high a turnout as possible, but signals coming from inside the country and from abroad point to a broad boycott and to a process without full legitimacy. According to observers, massive voter abstention will turn this referendum into a political failure for the majority. On page 3

70 days after the killing of Azem Hajdari Citizens of Tirana Gathered at the mass rally on 21 November, at 12:00, in Skënderbej Square, to protest against the government of the country! A government that, through violence and crime, through the violation and denial of human rights, through the murder of the Hero of Democracy Azem Hajdari, is driving Albania toward catastrophe. The ones who were killed are Azem Hajdari and his friends, not the Chief of Police Station, while the government of this country has used him as an alibi to justify the unconstitutional measures taken after the murder of Azem Hajdari. A carefully prepared program aimed at destroying the opposition and turning Albania into a police state, pushing all opposition parties out of the game, in the hope of avoiding its own resignation from government responsibility. They have arrested, imprisoned and interned hundreds of protesters and political opponents, without any evidence or legal argument, in open violation of the Constitution and fundamental human rights. They have shut down media outlets and television stations, have exerted psychological and physical terror on citizens, have used the police and the intelligence service as instruments of political revenge. They are driving the country toward a dangerous civil clash and further international isolation. Saturday, 21 November, 12:00, in Skënderbej Square, to protest against this government that has lost every moral and political legitimacy. Tirana will speak with the voice of its citizens. On Page 3

ON PAGE 3 Independent Student Union: The criminals, Caushi and Duro, must be removed from the building

La Pergola removes the international visa from the special passport 52 key articles of the draft constitution have been changed after the intervention of a Venice commission Statement of the Hajdari Issue Study Commission President Mejani refuses the students 11-45 Abdyl Frashëri Street, set for referendum Today, 86 days after the killing of the leader of December The government protects the killers of Azem Hajdari The well-known Italian constitutionalist opposes the left-wing draft Article 18 against the declaration of the right wing about the wounded and injured The "blertëri 90" group back in protest Procession five for the Leader of December

The well-known Italian constitutionalist and the left-wing constitution Pergola: it took visa seven in the procedure with the new parliament, with a constitutional contradiction without Europe (Albania from 16, 17 and 18 November 1998) Yesterday evening at the Tirana hotel, in a meeting with jurists and political representatives, the Italian professor Antonio La Pergola presented serious objections to the draft constitution presented by the majority. According to him, Article 18 of the draft is in conflict with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and with several fundamental European standards, creating room for discrimination and arbitrariness. He also pointed out that the procedure followed for adopting the draft was rushed, lacked broad consensus and did not reflect the full recommendations of international expertise. La Pergola called for the draft to be seriously revised and for all political forces to be included in an open constitutional process. On Page 4

The Madrid document from the 12th Congress of the Christian Democratic International The Madrid document, adopted at the 12th Congress of the Christian Democratic International, expresses deep concern over the political developments in Albania and over the constitutional process undertaken without consensus. The document stresses that the referendum lacks democratic conditions, that the opposition has been excluded, and that the climate of fear makes a free expression of the citizens’ will impossible. The document calls on Albanians not to become part of a manipulated process and to reject this constitution by vote or by boycott. The text also mentions the killing of Azem Hajdari as an event that has worsened the political climate and that requires justice and transparency. On Page 4

The violent protest of the girls at school, with beatings, shoving and coercion to vote “yes”. Another case denounced by the opposition concerns the pressure exerted on schoolgirls and female students to take part in the pro-referendum campaign. According to the testimonies gathered, young girls were forced to take part in activities and were threatened with consequences if they did not vote or did not bring their family members to vote. In some cases, episodes of physical violence and insults are also mentioned, carried out by people linked to local power structures. The opposition describes this as a sign of the degradation of the process and calls for an immediate investigation. On Page 4

The intoxicated spokesperson of the National Council TV, OSEF ODIHR Press conference of the deputies of the Referendum Coordinating Committee, OSEF ODIHR TV does not broadcast the PD Alternative for the referendum According to representatives of the Democratic Party, public television has refused to broadcast the material presented by the opposition regarding its alternative for the constitutional referendum. This action is described as political censorship and as a violation of the right to equal access to the media during the campaign. The deputies of the Referendum Coordinating Committee stated that they will denounce this practice before domestic and international organizations, mentioning the ODIHR mission as well. They demanded that state television respect the law and the minimum standards of pluralism. On Page 4

Bread