Massive boycott of the vote. Polls announce silence near the ballot boxes. Albanians do not vote for a constitution against themselves Violence and police repression against PD activists in the districts. Attempts to manipulate the result. The Minister of Local Government and the prefects are involved

The American embassy will not open. Situation out of control in Albania, growing insecurity for diplomats ON PAGE 3

By Arif PAJTOLL Voices that clearly indicate both an approach and a detachment of the entire democratic milieu, without exception, from the vote on the referendum. The turnout before 9:00 on Sunday seems to have exceeded the optimistic forecasts of all supporters of the referendum vote. A comparison of the polling stations at 8:00 for the referendum and those at the same time on the same day during the June local elections clearly shows that in some places several times fewer voters are appearing at the polling stations. The phenomenon is even clearer in the surroundings of universities and schools in Tirana, where the PD had its most determined student bases for voting. In the student dormitories of Tirana the many students were not visible either on the streets or at the polling stations. Approximately the same phenomenon was taking place on Elbasan Street, the well-known area for Tirana residents with the highest proportion of newcomers from the southern regions. A very weak turnout is visible both on Elbasan Street and at polling stations in neighborhoods with a high percentage of new arrivals. Only near the polling station at the Jordan Misja artistic high school was a large crowd of people noticeable. The residents of this area state that most of their families have boycotted the vote. The atmosphere seems faint, calm. What can be seen most clearly in one of the polling stations is not the turnout of voters but that of plainclothes police officers. The main element that stands out in the polling stations, compared with June, is the reduction in the number of commissioners. This is most noticeable in Tirana polling stations with dense populations and few voters, where many observers from the polling stations and the small parties such as PSD, PAD, PBKD, PR were absent. The second page, the expected result of the referendum, is being shaped far more by the people in the streets than expected. Today everyone will be counted, but in the polling stations only a few cast ballots will be counted. This creates a situation that makes more visible those who are trying to manipulate their number. Because it is completely clear that both the civil administration and its employees are not obeying the order to vote, just as their family members are not. The administration is irritated by the order and no longer even asks about the consequences of not complying with it. This disobedience has also spread to many other layers. The absence from voting is much greater than in the June elections. If in the June elections a large number of families was recorded taking all family members to vote, today entire families are missing from the polling stations. In many polling stations commissioners from the left state that mainly pensioners have come to vote. In central Tirana the old administration of Tirana is one of the quietest. The difference compared with June is very large and the calm is noticeable as much as the absence of voters. (Continued on page 3)

By BLAQKA Power and the administration have manipulated the referendum so far on a much larger scale than in June. The current administration is also acting with the same violence against the militants campaigning against the constitution, taking even more absurd forms. For example, at the “Kushtrimi i Lirisë” 8-year school, the secret service is violently preventing the engineering university students who were distributing anti-constitution material. The students were calmly distributing anti-constitution material in the middle of the street. Usually before 11:00 in Tirana, together with a police van, 4-5 civilian cars arrive with 15-20 people who get out and try to arrest students without warrants. The students are then beaten with fists and kicks while citizens watch in amazement. Then the police rushes off in pursuit. The above scene explains everything related to the administration of the referendum. In government circles there is a feeling that in Tirana and especially in some areas of it the situation cannot be controlled to the end. This has led them to undertake violent actions that are upsetting the citizens of Tirana. However, there is still no final proof of false figures. Part of the manipulation is already visible in the voting lists. In some polling stations citizens have noticed that their family members are listed as having voted even though they never came at all. On the other hand, many families that have lived in Tirana for more than 7-8 years still cannot find their names on the voting lists. The authorities are behaving with double standards. While in many polling stations it takes dozens of minutes to find citizens’ names, for others the service is done in a few moments. If this is one part of the absurd administration of the voting, the other part belongs to the political climate, which has made the administration more arrogant and the citizens more withdrawn. (Continued on page 3)

By Bardhyl LONDO Go back for a moment to the propaganda media and to the Albanian independent media, and as soon as you look at the headlines on their front pages you will see that the difference between them is like day and night. In the propaganda media sold to power, “Constitutional Albania,” “Albanians approved the constitution,” and other slogans in a “socialist” style are the main headlines with which our public is forced to have breakfast and lunch. Only in one of them, “Koha Jonë,” are thousands of abuses and manipulations in the voting process announced. This newspaper may have denied and fought Berisha and especially the democrats, but it is independent, and a few days before the referendum it published on the front page in capital letters: “All of right-wing Albania against the constitution.” In the name of truth, in the independent media, and in that not sold to the government, it had been evident since days earlier that the government propaganda, the unprecedented efforts in the history of the Albanian press by the government to make a big deal out of a process that had failed from the outset, had not been taken seriously by anyone. But in the propaganda newspapers everything continues. Not anymore to cover the sun with a sieve. On the contrary. To show their arrogance and ugliness. While the independent public is seeing with its own eyes the emptiness of the polling stations, the sold-out media continue to publish reports about long queues and massive participation. In their media there are only hymns and speeches that would have value only if they were not so ridiculous. Not only that. Something even more shocking is happening in the sold-out media. After attacking and humiliating independent journalists for months, today they are trying to lecture us on press freedom. This is their champagne of press freedom: lies with bubbles. (Continued on page 3)

Total chaos in the voter lists, hundreds of thousands of Albanians excluded from voting. On the orders of the PS, around 400,000 voters have been removed from the voting lists ON PAGE 3

Only 28 percent turnout among the capital’s residents in the referendum. Extremely unprecedented progress Numerous abuses, especially involving electricity and water, and harmful actions affecting the ballots and the residents of the capital. ON PAGE 3

OSCE and the Council of Europe have in their hands the forged versions in foreign languages prepared by the government ON PAGE 2

The head of the PP section in the village of Kisarë is killed ON PAGE 5

Today, 71 days since the murder of the Leader of December Every day that passes, more pain and sorrow for the ruthless terrorists and their sponsors. The political crime that shook the nation. Socialist power consecrated it and is protecting it. All those involved hold key state and police posts . ON PAGE 4

The draft constitution, a vote abandoned even by those in power More than 650 family names of ministers, deputies, mayors, administration leaders, civil service, judicial and military officials, Apostoli, Meksi, Madhi, Ceka, Hulej, Trebicka, Ujka, Kokalari, will be found in the lists of officials for their vote in the election lists and not in the lists for the officials’ vote on the draft constitution. Not their relatives, because they will vote for the draft constitution. Why [?] voting in the government lists, but from their homes, the political coalition of the officials, that is, the social-democratic one, will have no voters. In their ballots they will vote for the law of a power that is [?] force and government of the social-democrats. On page 4 More than 650 family names of ministers, deputies, mayors, administration leaders, civil service, judicial and military officials, Apostoli, Meksi, Madhi, Ceka, Hulej, Trebicka, Ujka, Kokalari, will be found in the lists of officials for their vote in the election lists and not in the lists for the officials’ vote on the draft constitution. Not their relatives, because they will vote for the draft constitution. Why [?] voting in the government lists, but from their homes, the political coalition of the officials, that is, the social-democratic one, will have no voters. In their ballots they will vote for the law of a power that is [?] force and government of the social-democrats. ON PAGE 4

OSCE, Poissonnard: They stood still in the referendum k[x]on greatness? of the new elections ON PAGE 3

ENGLISH RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE = Democratic Rebirth Democratic daily newspaper of tomorrow = Democratic daily newspaper of tomorrow SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER 1998 = Sunday 22 November 1998 Referendum, below 30 percent = The referendum, under 30 percent Massive abandonment of voting = Massive abandonment of voting Polls signal silence near the ballot boxes = Polls signal a silence near the ballot boxes Albanians do not vote for a constitution against themselves = Albanians do not vote for a constitution against themselves The chill before the referendum = The chill before the referendum Manipulations, a risk of civil war = Manipulations, a risk of civil war The champagne of press freedom = The champagne of press freedom Berisha: We will not accept an unfair process = Berisha: We will not accept an unfair process Albanians, away from the ballot boxes! = Albanians, away from the ballot boxes! The government protects the killers of Azem Hajdari = The government protects the killers of Azem Hajdari Tirana without water and electricity, far from the ballot boxes = Tirana without water and electricity, far from the ballot boxes The translations into English and French differ from the Albanian version = The translations into English and French differ from the Albanian version Explosives around and interceptions bloody the voting in Shkodra = Explosives around and interceptions bloody the voting in Shkodra The families of most government officials will not vote = The families of most government officials will not vote ITALIANO RILINDJA DEMOKRATIKE = Rinascita Democratica Gazetë e përditshme demokratike e së nesërmes = Quotidiano democratico del domani SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER 1998 = Domenica 22 novembre 1998 Referendum, below 30 percent = Il referendum, sotto il 30 per cento Massive abandonment of voting = Abbandono massiccio del voto Polls signal silence near the ballot boxes = I sondaggi segnalano silenzio presso le urne Albanians do not vote for a constitution against themselves = Gli albanesi non votano una costituzione contro di loro The chill before the referendum = Freddezza prima del referendum Manipulations, a risk of civil war = Manipolazioni, rischio di guerra civile The champagne of press freedom = Lo champagne della libertà di stampa Berisha: We will not accept an unfair process = Berisha: Non accetteremo un processo disonesto Albanians, away from the ballot boxes! = Albanesi, lontano dalle urne! The government protects the killers of Azem Hajdari = Il governo protegge gli assassini di Azem Hajdari Tirana without water and electricity, far from the ballot boxes = Tirana senza acqua e luce, lontano dalle urne The translations into English and French differ from the Albanian version = Le traduzioni in inglese e francese differiscono dalla versione albanese Explosives around and interceptions bloody the voting in Shkodra = Esplosivi attorno e intercettazioni insanguinano le votazioni a Scutari The families of most government officials will not vote = Le famiglie della maggior parte dei governanti non voteranno