Students of ’98 are disappointed, just like the students of ’90 ON PAGE 3

The criminalized government intensifies violence against the opposition ON PAGE 4

State television, an institution that denies values ON PAGE 8 NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA

The flames broke out as a result of a fault in the warehouse’s electrical system ON PAGE 4 Everything that was in the factory warehouse was completely destroyed, including glass bottles filled with the production from all three shifts, plastic and wooden crates, etc. There were no casualties and the machinery was not damaged.

The U.S. Embassy in Tirana refutes reports by the pro-government press “...these measures reflect reasonable prudence at this time...” ON PAGE 3

. The Socialists are using their constitution as a springboard against Democrats and activists of the Democratic Party and the opposition in general. In just the last three days, several Democrats have been killed, wounded and beaten by repressive groups from the Ministry of the Interior and SHIK. Special police officers sent from Tirana did not hesitate to kill one of the first Democrats of Malësia e Madhe, whom those same government officials had wounded on April 2, 1991, in Shkodër. With dark eyes, the government’s black-clad men built an iron fenc— came from the eyes, twenty-odd government [words unclear] built an iron fence around his house, wounding two brothers as well, while the official propaganda machine constructed the news to suit its interests. No police officer was killed in Malësia e Madhe, as ATSH and state television claim, but rather a local DP leader, a Democrat from the very beginning, a determined anti-communist. Nor was the person killed a smuggler, but an opposition member and political opponent of the terrorist regime in power. In the capital, too, the government did not fail to endorse the falsified passport written in the blood of Democrats, sparing not even ten-year-old children in this case. An entire family is massacred by two SHIK officers, fully identified by citizens as well as by the family members themselves. An open war against democracy is a bad sign for the future of reconciliation, democracy and life in Tirana and throughout Albania. The same scenario as in Malësia e Madhe and Tirana took place a few days ago in Elbasan against the local DP chairman. It was this latter man who had repeatedly managed to keep the city calm, at a time when the police had neither the strength nor the ability to do so. Yet it is these same police chiefs, appointed to head police stations through muscle-bound credentials, who raise their hands against the allies of the law, as in the case of the chief commissioner of Elbasan. Encouraging open violence against Democrats poses an increased threat to peace and order throughout the country. No one intends to remain silent in the face of the negative emotions of Pandeli Majko, Petro Koçi or Fatos Klosi; the abusers from SHIK or the Ministry of the Interior, the killers chosen from among the gangs of March last year. Building a front of fire against political opponents means destroying Albania, something that the ministers of Majko’s government, along with him, must abandon very soon. Their Constitution is no kind of stopping point for Democrats, where they can be halted, abused, beaten and killed along with the ideals they carry. The encouragement of criminal groups to commit terrorist acts erupts through the [unclear] articles concerning people’s rights set out in this document, a document of death and fire that further reveals it as a document that does not consider the starting point of the future, but the point at which time stands still and, likewise, progress for Albanians. It is clear that the disregard for the referendum by more than 65 percent of Albanian voters shows that on November 22 an attempt was made to usher in the future for smugglers, the corrupt, terrorists, and PS gangs still roaming the streets, mountains, boulevards and seashore. An end was also sought for Albanian democracy and the nation itself, something that cannot happen, even though the black groups within the institutions and on the fringes of the Albanian press pour [unclear] and bullets onto Democrats. The issue is not to take revenge. The issue is to put an end to those who are ready to kill in the name of crime, terror and the political mafia that has seized today’s government officials.

Another heir of Azem is born The editorial staff of the RD newspaper takes this opportunity to extend its heartfelt congratulations to Azem Hajdari’s family on the birth of his son. Long life to Kiri and Rudina’s little brother! Some further lines of the text are cut off at the bottom edge of the page.

ON PAGE 2 Young people from Vlora at a powerful protest. The crime and violence that have engulfed the city can no longer be tolerated

Hundreds of young men and women from Vlora, high school students and university students, have also protested on the main streets of the city of Vlora against the ever-increasing violence and crime. Although the weather was bad and rainy, the silent columns of young people walked for some time along the city’s main boulevard, then stopped at the very place where, a few days earlier, their peer Erilda Çaushi had been killed by the hand of crime. Many of them could not hold back their tears as they thought that, even though they were young, their lives were hanging by a thread every day because of the gang violence felt everywhere. The tributes at the place where their friend Erilda was killed were a call to those in power to stop the hand of their gangs, which served them last spring, while now they have been given comfortable conditions even in important ministries. Their large numbers, unprecedented at any other demonstration held in Vlora, also encouraged hundreds of citizens to join the crowd of young people, thus enlarging the protest in a city that fell prey to gangs last March and remains so to this day. The latest clash between gangs, in which a 17-year-old high school girl and another person lost their lives, took place on 28 November. Meanwhile, much of the Albanian government, together with the President of the Republic, had only a few minutes earlier held a ceremony in Flag Square to mark what they said was the adoption of the Albanian constitution. V. RRAPAJ

The editorial staff of the RD newspaper takes this opportunity to extend its heartfelt congratulations to Azem Hajdari’s family on the birth of his son. Long life to Kiri and Rudina’s little brother! Rudina’s little brother! Yesterday at 1:00 a.m., Azem Hajdari’s son was born. Doctor Zydi Eshja said that both the mother and the child are in good condition, with no health problems. According to Dr. Eshja, the birth was difficult and required surgery. This surgical intervention was considered necessary because the pregnancy was judged abnormal: it had gone overdue, lasting 9 months and 10 days, and the baby was overweight at 4,920 grams. The birth was performed as an emergency after the mother herself and then the doctors noticed the first signs of distress in the baby, natural physiological processes in an overdue pregnancy. Dr. Eshja said that, in scientific terms, this child is called a macrosome, since he weighs 4,920 grams, while the normal weight is 3,200 grams. What surprised the doctors and everyone else most was the child’s strong resemblance to his father. According to doctors, a delayed birth may be caused by several factors, such as heredity, the baby’s position, and positive or negative emotions. Doctor Eshja, in whose hands the child was held for the first time, said: “It is one of the most striking cases of a child resembling his father. Such similarities are rare. The baby has the same head shape, features, proportions of the shoulders and limbs as his father.” The best specialists from Hospital No. 1 were involved in this birth: the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, or, in everyday language, the old maternity hospital. The operation was performed by doctors Zydi Eshja and Halim Kosova, under the supervision of neonatologist Linda Ciu; the team of anesthesiologists was led by doctor Violeta Tole, doctor Agron Cibuku assisted, Skënder Kosuri acted as coordinator, and the mid-level staff also took part. Doctor Zydi Eshja said: “After a few days of treatment following the birth, the mother has been in good condition, and I believe everything will go well. If the condition of the mother and child remains normal, mother and son will leave the hospital after one week, as is customary.” Throughout this time, the mother of the newborn, Fatmira Hajdari, will be under the care of doctor Linda Ciu. Anesthesiologist Violeta Tole said: “I am very happy that I assisted at the birth of Azem Hajdari’s son. We have provided all the necessary conditions for her to stay in a room together with the baby. Fatmira is a calm and very kind woman.” The newborn is the third child of the December Leader, Azem Hajdari, who was killed by a clique in power on the night of 12 September this year. The little boy will be Kiri and Rudina’s brother. Before he was killed, Azem himself had wanted the child to be a boy, but after the Hero’s death this became a fervent wish of his family. Rudina’s little brother! Denisa XHOGA

Mero Baze’s memorandum sparks controversy ON PAGE 7 Mero Baze’s memorandum sparks controversy The Union of Journalists of Albania must be reorganized ON PAGE 7

Today, 81 days since the murder of the December Leader Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, proves the involvement of Fatos Nano’s government and his successor in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government of the ex-communists, which in this free and uninterrupted [unclear] the criminals who took the life of the December Leader, shows Albanians that it has been and remains on the side of the killers, who have names and identities but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate this fact with impunity. The government must either bring the criminals to justice, or publicly declare that it itself carried out the murder of Azem Hajdari.

All students and lecturers from the December ’90 Movement are invited The Commission of the “December ’90” Group announces that all students and lecturers who took part in the student movement of December 1990 are invited to attend the seventh procession, which will take place on 4.12.1998 at 11:00. The route will be the same as before: starting from “Nënë Tereza” Square by the University’s central building, 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 our distinctive uniform. Participants’ names will be listed according to the faculties where they studied and taught in 1990. The “December ’90” Group will lead the procession, headed by the National Flag at half-mast and the Group’s symbol.

The offices of the Italian Embassy and the Consular Office in Tirana will be closed to the public on Tuesday, December 8, 1998, due to the holidays.