The government is deceiving the blue uniforms over salary increases ON PAGE 5

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA Eight years after the December Student Movement Large protest rally in “Skënderbej” Square “Bashkimi për Demokraci” and the “Dhjetori ’90” group are organizing a large rally on Tuesday, December 8, 1998, at 12:30, in “Skënderbej” Square, in honor of the work of the Albanian students led by the Hero of the Student Movement, Azem Hajdari. All citizens of Tirana are invited to take part in this rally.

The secret police are seriously threatening the lives of students in Shkodër, Tirana, Korçë and Gjirokastër. University instructors are joining the students’ demands for financial improvements ON PAGE 2 Eight vans carrying police surround the students of Shkodër; they are terrorized but do not end their strike. Deputy Minister Hafizi insults the students

By Edi PALOKA The people in power are giving the final proof of their total failure. First their unwillingness to listen, and then the violence used against the students, are the final proof that this government will not last much longer. History has shown through examples that anyone who lays a hand on students is doomed to fall. And these people in power made that mistake. The violence began with the students of Shkodër and is now spreading to the other universities that have expressed solidarity with the students of Shkodër. It was precisely this violence that radicalized the protest movement of the students of Shkodër, who had initially begun a normal strike with simple demands. But the government acted toward the students as it is usually accustomed to acting. A pack of SHIK and police beasts charged into the center of learning and beat the students in their own home. This caused the students’ strike to become more radical and then spread to the other universities of Albania. Until then, neither state television nor the pro-government press had said a word about the students. No one even thought to come to their defense when they were attacked. Not even Prime Minister Majko, who boasted, after taking the prime minister’s chair, that he had been a December student. But this was the least of what this government did, because when the strike became more radical, the people in power grew more vicious instead of coming to their senses. First the Minister of Education mocked their demands, and then his deputy went so far as to threaten them. This happened in Shkodër, but also in Tirana, with the University Student Union. And once again, these actions by those in power brought nothing but further radicalization of the student protest. Yet again, instead of responding positively, the authorities acted even more viciously. The chair of the Student Union in Tirana was abducted in the street and threatened, and violence was again used against the students of Shkodër. A few days ago, Mejdan had told the students that he was powerless to meet their demands, while “December student” Majko was wandering around Europe, unconcerned about what was happening. Meanwhile, the Socialist Party’s organ, the newspaper “ZP”, once again appeared just as it had in the time of Ramiz Alia. A leading article in black letters, whose author had concealed his name, launched a major attack on all the students on strike. Just as in ’90, when the students were branded hooligans and bandits, that day “ZP” called them scoundrels. The chairwoman of the Shkodër students’ strike, after calling the Socialist Party’s newspaper a “scoundrel”, also contemptuously called it “provincial”, even though everyone knows Alfredi as one of the best and most conscientious students in the faculty. Of course, there is no reason to take offense when such things are written by a “city” newspaper like “ZP”; the problem is that those who run “ZP” seem to have forgotten other things as well. They have forgotten that these very “provincial students” came down from the dormitory in ’90 and swept them away like rubbish. They have forgotten this, because otherwise they would not behave again as they did then. Of course, those in power may keep their supporters, may continue to beat and insult the students, and may even beat them as they are doing now, but this will only lead to an even stronger revolt. Those in power must be sure that these methods will not frighten the students; they will achieve nothing except to anger not only the students but also their families. Thus, the authorities are doing nothing but raising a new generation in these ranks. Then they can come out and say that this was organized by PD, that it was PD that incited the students and that PD organized the revolts, but by then it will be too late. Through its newspapers, such as “Shekulli” and others, SHIK is spreading the idea that everything has been prepared by PD to cause unrest. If they say that, why don’t the authorities meet the students’ demands, which are entirely achievable, and provide answers to their entirely achievable requests? They have the power to do so, but instead they prefer to use violence, hoping that by subduing the students they will take complete control of the situation and rule with an iron fist. They have dared to lay hands on the students; they have dared to assault and beat them, even though this matter will not be so easily over for these people in power.

The President of the Austrian Parliament, Fischer, meets with PD Deputy Chairman Pollo “We can never accept violations of human rights in Albania”

The Speaker of Parliament’s son seizes and wrecks the Escort Group’s “off-road vehicle” A huge hotel beside the highway

“We can never accept violations of human rights in Albania” “Austria will remain committed to returning Albania to the path of democracy.” This is Austria’s position, which the Austrian parliamentary speaker, Heinz Fischer, expressed to PD Deputy Chairman Genc Pollo during a meeting held in Vienna two days ago. The President of the Austrian Parliament, being aware of all the human rights violations in Albania, assured the PD’s number two that such a thing would not be tolerated and could not be accepted by Austria. For his part, the PD Deputy Chairman briefed the Austrian parliamentary speaker on the political situation. ON PAGE 3

A huge hotel beside the Tirana-Durrës highway has been successfully managed for several months by Gjinushi’s wife ON PAGE 3

The “December ’90” group continues its processions for Azem Hajdari Former students and professors of December ’90 also protested in the capital yesterday, against the institutionalization of political crime in Albania and the government’s silence over the murder of the historic leader of December ’90, Azem Hajdari. ON PAGE 4

Today, 83 days since the murder of the Leader of December Every day that passes since the murder of Azem Hajdari, the symbol of democracy and pluralism, delays the implication of Fatos Nano’s government and its head in the crime that shook the entire Albanian world. The government of the former communists, which today allows the criminals who took the life of the Leader of December to act freely and undisturbed, is showing Albanians that it has been and remains on the side of the murderers, who have specific names but are untouched by those in power. Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari can in no way tolerate this fact. The government must either capture the criminals and bring them to justice, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

A constitution approved by 200 “petritas” cannot be implemented. PD does not want power, but a technical government and free elections It would be better to use the investments made to split other parties with politicians who switch parties three times a day to strengthen their own party ON PAGE 3 The government rewards the major forgers of voter lists Four million lekë for every prefect who falsified them Throughout the country, there are 3,700 servants of those in power waiting to be thrown “the bones,” while on Sunday, in Tirana, 40 banks are expected to be... ON PAGE 4

On December 8, ceremony at the place where Hajdari was killed We inform the citizens of Tirana and the entire country that, on the occasion of the anniversary of the December Student Movement, on Tuesday, December 8, 1998, at 12:00, the memorial to the Hero of Pluralism, Azem Hajdari, will be inaugurated. The memorial was built through the initiative and contributions of his well-wishers, as a sign of respect and honor for the valuable contribution made by the tribune of Albanian nationalism, Azem Hajdari, to the overthrow of the 50-year dictatorship. This memorial is being erected at the place where Hero Hajdari was killed along with his companion, Besim Çera, on September 12, 1998. The citizens of Tirana and the entire country are invited to attend this ceremony. THE COMMISSION

Statement by the student strike committee Yesterday afternoon, representatives of the strike committees of the faculties of Tirana’s various universities met. The representatives at this meeting assessed the increased participation in the strike by students from all these universities as a success of the strike. After discussions, they elected by free vote a central committee of the Student Movement, which will further coordinate the student movement. This Committee consists of: Petrit Gjecaj — Chair — Law Gazmend Toska — Deputy Chair — History Arjan Saliaj — Deputy Chair — Economics Glerta Sadedini — Secretary — Dentistry Ken Dhima — Spokesperson — Law Viktor Mata — Member — Mathematics Besnik Jaku — Member — Medicine Nezir Lushi — Member — Economics Fatbardh Islami — Member — Electrical Engineering Sokol Lekaj — Member — Economics Artan Canaj — Member — Dentistry Rudi Xheraj — Member — Foreign Languages Vojo Avdyli — Member — Agricultural University Everest Imeraj — Member — Academy of Arts Dokleat Ademi — Member — Civil Engineering