70 days after the murder of Azem Hajdari Citizens of Tirana! Let us all gather together tomorrow, on November 21, at 12:00, in “Skënderbej” Square, to protest against this government of continued mafia and crime, this government that hides criminals, against this government’s seat of power, which rests on the blood of the Hero of Democracy, Azem Hajdari. Democratic brothers and sisters! Those who killed Azem Hajdari are trying to kill democracy every day; those who conceal Azem Hajdari’s killer are bringing the scarecrows of communism out into the squares; those who imprisoned Democrats are freeing bandits from prison. Therefore, let us all gather together to stop the hand of this criminal government. Everyone to the square to defend democracy!

Independent Student Union: Gruda, Galiqi and Uruci must leave ON PAGE 3

Despite manipulations of voter lists and of the entire referendum process, the constitution will also be rejected by Europe because of the low turnout Officials alarmed. Referendum turnout will be very low. Fisher and Tarschys warn the government ON PAGE 3

. The referendum process continues to be violated even with only three days left before referendum day. The authorities continue to use every means to ensure that the DP and the opposition in general do not participate in any stage of the referendum, and also to provoke them into abandoning all the polling commissions. For two days now, the Minister of Local Government has been repeating an unlawful declaration ordering all prefects to intervene in the voter lists. Meanwhile, the prefects have been doing just that for some time. The referendum is now proceeding with two lists: one lawful list, drawn up by local government, and another drawn up by the prefects, which are in fact the lists of the central government—or the officials’ lists—which include only the left-wing camp. This second list is illegal, and only in a country where the state is absent, such as Albania, can such violations be committed through an order issued by the Minister of Local Government. So far, the authorities have managed to remove from the lists everyone who is not at home when registration takes place. Thus, for them, the referendum ends with listing people who may not be at home at any time of the day. Such a fact is absurd, since imagine going to someone’s home when they are not there. In this way, the number of voters on the lists is reduced, while the lists are padded with Socialist militants, artificially increasing the percentage of referendum participants. In addition to ordering that emigrants be left off the lists—a serious violation of their right to take part in the vote—the Socialists have also managed to remove all Democrats from the lists if they were not at home at the time of registration. The authorities have violated every rule governing propaganda in the state media, taking it all over for themselves. The regulations drawn up by the CEC on giving the opposition access to meetings and activities with voters have not been respected either. In recent days, state violence against opposition activists throughout the country has increased sharply. So far, there have been wounded among local DP leaders and members of polling commissions. There have been several cases of mistreatment and beatings of numerous opposition activists by the police, including attempts to prevent meetings between various DP leaders and voters in several parts of the country. During the referendum campaign, the police detained two members of the DP leadership, in flagrant violation of the law. Arrests of people from the opposition ranks have also been attempted in an effort to create tension and provoke several cities, with the aim of driving them away from the government. This happened a few days ago in the city of Shkodër, just two days ago in Laç and in Lazarat. The government is not targeting only the opposition. It is determined to violate Albanians, who have rejected the constitution, scorned its delegates and its government. This is precisely why the Ministry of the Interior and SHIK have launched a campaign of psychological terror against everyone, as well as against… [the source text is corrupted here] This is particularly pathological among terrorists, smugglers, thieves and other criminals, in the face of national contempt. The entire campaign is a permanent violation of the law in all its aspects. There is no other way to impose a constitution that is uniform, anti-national, inhumane, anti-freedom and anti-power.

Christian Democrats call for a different constitutional process. Resolution of the 12th Assembly of the Christian Democrat International The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the resolution of the 12th Assembly of the Christian Democrat International, which is an important document for Albania. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed the which is an important document for Albania. Through this declaration, deep concern is expressed unequivocally about what has happened to the constitutional process in Albania, as well as about the constitution’s anti-democratic character. Below we present the full text of this resolution. The text of the resolution of the 12th General Assembly of the Christian Democrat International, held in Madrid from 13–15 November 1998, arrived at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania. It explicitly states: The 12th General Assembly of the Christian Democrat International; Taking into consideration recent developments in Albania, in particular the murder of Azem Hajdari, a deputy of the Democratic Party in the Albanian parliament, his burial, and the political violence that followed; Taking into consideration the conditions under which the constitutional process has recently taken place; Draws particular attention to the matters in Recommendation 1386 (1998) of the Council of Europe, adopted on 24 September 1998, when “the Assembly calls for there to be no more political prisoners in Albania in the future,” and emphasizes that, in the political situation of ongoing crisis, it is essential to find ways to begin a genuine dialogue among Albania’s political parties. Insists that the constitutional process be improved so that the advice and independent opinions of international legal authorities are taken into account and a genuine political dialogue among all political parties in Albania is organized.

The Madrid document issued by the 12th Congress of the Christian Democrat International At the 12th Congress of the Christian Democrat International, on the initiative of Moris and Butilon, the Madrid document was adopted, which strongly condemns in its entirety Articles 18 and 41 of the socialist passport. Here is its full text: Considering the recent developments in Albania, in particular the murder of the Democratic Party MP, Azem Hajdari, and his bodyguard, as well as the ongoing political violence; Considering the conditions under which the constitutional process has been conducted; Draws attention to Recommendation 1386 (1998) of the Council of Europe of 24 September 1998, “The Assembly calls for political imprisonment in Albania to be brought to an end,” and stresses that a political solution to the current crisis must be found by opening a constructive dialogue among Albania’s political parties. Condemns the defects and shortcomings of the draft constitution to be put to a referendum on 22 November, in particular Article 18, which is contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights because it does not eliminate possible legal discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, religion, language, ethnic origin or belief; and Article 41, which allows the right to property to be restricted without financial compensation, for example through the imposition of “voluntary” fines on “voluntary” agricultural cooperatives. Insists that the constitutional process be improved so that it allows the advice and independent opinions of the international legal community and organizations conducting genuine democratic activity with all political parties in Albania to be taken into consideration. The 12th Congress of the Christian Democrat International (CDI) CONSIDERING recent developments in Albania, in particular the consequences of the assassination of the Democratic Party Member of Parliament, Azem Hajdari, and his bodyguard and the political violence that continues; CONSIDERING the conditions under which the constitutional work has been taking place; RECALLING, in particular, the terms of the recommendation 1386 (1998) of the Council of Europe, made on 24 September 1998, “The Assembly demands that the political imprisonments in Albania should come to an end”; INSISTS that a political solution to the crisis in Albania is essential, and that constructive dialogue between the political parties is opened. CONDEMNS the shortcomings and deficiencies of the draft Constitution of Albania, which will be submitted to the referendum on November 22, 1998, in particular article 18, which conflicts with eliminate possible legal discrimination on and article 41, which allows the limitation of property rights without financial compensation, for example through the imposition of be improved in order to allow the inclusion of and of organizations which are genuinely democratic and spread their activity throughout the whole of Albania. Facsimile of the Madrid document

La Pérgola withdraws the international visa from the government’s passport 52 key articles of the draft constitution were changed after its approval by the Venice Commission ON PAGE 3 La Pérgola withdraws the international visa from the government’s passport The government shamelessly deceives Albanians 52 key articles of the draft constitution were changed after its approval by the Venice Commission ON PAGE 3 Rufi, the Council of Europe’s chief overseer for the referendum

Statement by the Student Commission on the Hajdari Case The Student Commission on the Hajdari Case sent President Rexhep Meidani a request to meet him and present the petition signed by more than 6,000 students from all the country’s universities. The petition calls for the killers of the December Leader, Azem Hajdari, to be found and for political prisoners to be released. For ten days, advisers to the President have [unclear] the killing of our leader, as have MEPs, members of the European Parliament, and various Western envoys, who also insist that Azem Hajdari’s killers be found; but they cannot find what they see in Azem Hajdari’s courage and image: their future, the future of the nation. This nation cannot have the future we would wish for if Meidani’s vassals continue to extinguish the democratic fires and he continues to protect them. We understand Meidani’s reluctance to meet us and regret that we cannot meet him in the presidential offices, where he seems to feel comfortable. Student Commission on the Hajdari Case

Today, 68 days since the murder of the December Leader Each day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the involvement of Fatos Nano’s government and its successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The governments of the former communists, who are at liberty, and the unpunished criminals who took the life of the December Leader show Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the killers, who have names, but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who love and honored Azem Hajdari can in no way tolerate this. The government must either arrest the perpetrators and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself carried out the murder of Azem Hajdari.

The “Dhjetori ’90” group is protesting again The Committee of the “Dhjetori ’90” Group informs all students and lecturers who took part in the December 1990 Student Movement that they are invited to participate in the fifth procession, which will take place on 20 November 1998 at 10:00. The route will be as follows: departure from “Nënë Tereza” Square, by the University Central Police Station, proceeding along “Dëshmorët e Kombit” Boulevard to the place where the December Leader, Azem Hajdari, was killed, where a press conference with journalists will be held, as usual. Participants should wear the distinctive uniform. The participants’ names will be on the leaflets, where they have signed and provided their message. After the procession, the group will hold a rally to discuss the next steps. This peaceful meeting will take place at 13:00 at Hotel Dajti. The “Dhjetori ’90” Group will thus march, led by the National Flag in the square and by the symbol of this Group.

Protest by the Democratic Party addressed to the Central Voting Commission, OSCE and ODIHR The Democratic Party of Albania is protesting to the CEC over the failure to broadcast the DPSh alternative, which was scheduled to be aired today at 17:00. The DPSh stresses that this is part of the current government’s strategy to prevent the alternative from being broadcast on RTSH at any time. The abuses concerning the platform, reflected in RTSH’s campaign for the referendum on the constitution and approved by the Central Voting Commission, have been the same as those concerning the allocation of airtime on RTSH. Under these circumstances, the DPSh has faced a total information blackout: not only has its activity during this period not been covered, but its designated campaign spot has not been broadcast, and the DPSh’s alternative for the referendum has not been scheduled on public television.

Rufi, the Council of Europe’s chief overseer for the referendum

The renowned constitutionalist Machacek opposes the left-wing draft Constitution 10 Art. 18: Paragraph 3 of Article 18 is in conflict with paragraph 2 and should not be in conflict with paragraph 2 and should not be in conflict with paragraph 14 of the treaty. Paragraph 3 of Article 18 contradicts paragraph 2 and should not contradict paragraph 14 of the treaty. The renowned constitutionalist Machacek opposes the left-wing draft Constitution Article 18 is contrary to the Declaration of Human Rights 10 Art. 18: Paragraph 3 of Article 18 is in conflict with paragraph 2 and should not be in conflict with paragraph 2 and should not be in conflict with paragraph 14 of the treaty. Paragraph 3 of Article 18 contradicts paragraph 2 and should not contradict paragraph 14 of the treaty.

Facsimile of the Madrid document