Held in a cell by the sons of the fathers: DP presidium member Genti Strazimiri The chairman of the Democratic Party Youth Forum, Genti Strazimiri, was arrested and held for over 6 hours in the cells of Police Station No. 2. At around 10:00 in the morning, police forces, the intelligence service and government gangs stopped Strazimiri near the Faculty of Law, seized him by force and threatened him in the police van, then took him to the station’s cells. The police stations of the Socialist Party and the government, SHIK officials and the gangs gave no official explanation ... ON PAGE 2

Students await their celebration on strike. The secret police, as in ’90, seek to suppress the students. The capital and all of Albania demand the resignation of the terrorist government

Albanians will mark one of the most important dates in the country’s modern history today by protesting. Eight years after December 8, 1990, students will once again take to the streets to restore once more an Albania without Communists and communism, or the country that truly belonged, and still belongs, to Europe. Today they will be in the streets and squares of Tirana, beneath the same sky that guided them eight years ago in their victorious confrontation with the continent’s most brutal dictatorship. The symbol of pluralism, post-Communist Albania and Albanian nationalism, Azem Hajdari, was murdered three months ago by the same monstr[a?] who did not dare do it in December 1990. The inauguration today of the December Leader’s memorial at the place where he was killed on September 12 of this year reminds us all that this country needs a movement like the one that began the overthrow of the dictatorship in 1990. Democrats, students and all citizens who still believe in the ideals of December, which brought down the dictatorship, will protest today to show the Communists in power that anti-Communists are once again the majority in this country and that December 8 remains the day of their victories. In commemorating this celebration, more important than the flag, the memorial and the speeches is the Democrats’ protest and their determination to bring about radical changes in the landscape of Albanian politics. The irreplaceable absence of Azem Hajdari shows us all that not only are the political circumstances similar to those between December 1990 and the time we live in, but it can be said that today we are far more motivated than then to overthrow the government of the old and new Communists. At this celebration, which will remain a celebration only if the strength of December ’90 is revived, the majority of Albanians seeking change will once again face the fossils of the old regime, as they did eight years ago. The man who took the first step toward power as Ramiz Alia’s regent, after the students’ hunger strike, is now President of the Republic and wants to celebrate December 8 too. Alongside him is a handful of puppets, appointed as “December activists” in 1990, who from then until now have sided with those who drew bayonets and rubber truncheons against the students. One of the appointed December activists is the current prime minister, Pandeli Majko, who on the eve of December 8 put the chairman of the Democratic Party Youth Forum and DP presidium member, Gent Strazimiri, in prison, and sent police officers and secret police agents to striking students throughout Albania. President Meidani and Prime Minister Majko, who are trying to gain something from the former glory of the Student Movement, will find themselves today facing the students and all Albanians, together with their associates and more isolated than ever. Before gathering recklessly in a hall with the puppets appointed in 1990 and now as “December students” and delivering messages for the commemorative day, they must explain to the students and all Albanians why they sent police officers and secret police agents, just as Ramiz Alia did in 1990. They cannot hide their embarrassment behind their commemorative farce at a time when they must answer at least the 6,000 students who have signed a petition demanding that the students be put in handcuffs and that the killers of their symbol, Azem Hajdari, be punished. These are thousands of students who could not be in the bright halls, closed off to party apparatchiks and government officials who have ignored and trampled on their demands for justice. Today Tirana will commemorate the great day that marked the beginning of the December Movement, from which the fall of the dictatorship began. It is regrettable that after eight years, a dictatorship. It is regrettable that after eight years, a dictatorship. It is regrettable that after eight years, a dictatorship. This is Albania, the first one, but this is not at all the fault of this of the legend of S. Shtufi. The students and young Democrats of Albania are preparing a swift and lasting defeat for the Communists in power.

Students frighten the government. STUDENTS ON STRIKE

December 8 – the day of honoring Albanian pluralism After eight years of pluralism, and in just the last 18 months, there are 25 political prisoners and 18 people killed for political motives in Albania ON PAGE 3

Berlusconi’s special envoy meets with striking students and lecturers ON PAGE 3

Today, 86 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 former communists, who sleep freely, and the still-unnamed criminals who took the life of the December Leader show Albanians that they have been and remain on the side of the murderers, who have names and surnames but are untouched by those in power. The Democrats and all Albanians who loved and honored Azem Hajdari cannot tolerate this fact under any circumstances. The government must either bring the criminals to justice immediately, or publicly declare that it itself committed the murder of Azem Hajdari.

Berisha meets Berlusconi’s special envoy, Alesandro Bergamo, deputy secretary of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Italian Parliament Last night, DP chairman Sali Berisha met with “Forza Italia”’s special envoy, Italian MP Alesandro Bergamo, who also holds the post of vice-chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee on EU Policies in the Italian Parliament. “Forza Italia”’s special envoy brought the DP the full support of the Italian right and, in particular, conveyed to DP chairman Sali Berisha the greetings of Forza Italia leader Silvio Berlusconi. DP chairman Sali Berisha gave an overview of the difficult reality facing the Albanian opposition and the DP in particular. The killings of opposition representatives, the murder of the symbol of democracy, Azem Hajdari, … ON PAGE 3

Justice on the eve of a night of arrests This is the most unique case in the world, when a judge learns through the press and media that he is going to be arrested … ON PAGE 4

Mytfar Lumeshi is placed under arrest solely for having attended Hajdari’s funeral Minister Koçi is pursuing Mr. Lumeshi, after the latter had not allowed Koçi … ON PAGE 4

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Today Tirana commemorates the great December of democracy. The memorial in memory of the hero Azem Hajdari is inaugurated. Protest march from the “Student City” to “Skënderbej” Square

11:00 — Departure from Student City for the site of the inauguration of the memorial to the December Leader, Azem Hajdari. 12:00 — Inauguration ceremony of the memorial. It begins with the national anthem performed by the Tirana city band, while two young people dressed in traditional costumes of the south and north unveil the memorial. It continues with greetings on the occasion from representatives of the DP, the Initiating Group for the memorial’s construction, the December Students, and family members. Wreaths are laid and participants pay their respects. It continues with performances of songs dedicated to Azem Hajdari by the author himself. From the ceremony, participants proceed toward “Skënderbej” Square for the 12:30 RALLY. Representatives of Albania’s right-wing political forces, representatives of the families of the “Martyrs of Democracy,” the Movement ...