Students on the second day of the hunger strike. The strikers are determined to stay until their demands are met Farti Islami, Jemin Bila and Skënder Berisha are still arguing and staying inside the building of the Law Faculty in Tirana There are still students from Shkodra on strike who do not accept the doctors’ advice to end the strike, as, according to the students, they have had vomiting, headaches and low blood pressure The students and their parents are determined to protect the health of the hunger strikers Students during the night of the hunger strike

12 December, eight years since the founding of the Democratic Party Today, eight years ago, the direction and the clamor of the 1,200 organizers of the student rally of 8 December forced the communists of Tirana to go on 12 December 1990 before the students barricaded in the “Studenti” residence and acknowledge the birth of political pluralism. Today, on 12 December 1998, the direction and the clamor of the government, which continues to remain a provisional government, keep threatening and trying to stop the peaceful, civic and opposition demonstration. Rilindja Demokratike, on the eighth anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Party, invites Albanian citizens, its members and supporters, as well as ordinary people, to gather today at 4:00 p.m. in the protest square! Everyone peacefully, in the square of freedom, to powerfully display our democratic character and thus oppose all the demagoguery of this regime!

By Edi Paloka In the last quarter of the 20th century, the number of people who have occupied the chair of the country’s Prime Minister, including the current one, reaches 14. This figure is not small, but so far neither the number nor the many changes in the state’s top posts have been able to pull the country out of chaos, corruption and crime. To tell the truth, at first I believed that Mr. Pandeli Majko, who was presented by the “spiritual sons” of Enver Hoxha as a calm, measured and determined man, might be able to do something to change even slightly the grave situation in Albania. When I saw the cabinet with “deputies” and “ministers,” I became even more convinced, and I even believed that this government could restore the lost calm of Albanians. After all, this government was and continues to be the SHIK government. There is no doubt that every reasonable person knows that restoring order and calm in Albania are the first two objectives of every government. To achieve this, every government must above all guarantee the life and fundamental freedoms of the individual, democracy and property, and fight crime and corruption as a priority. In a television program, Prime Minister Majko stated that in the first 90 days of his government he had passed them with “bold decisions.” I do not want to make any comparisons with the phraseology of his predecessor and former head of the Euro-communist youth, Nano, but even the way the prime minister speaks appears to have been largely learned in the school of his predecessor. In 97 days of government, the Majko cabinet has brought to Parliament a draft law “On the actual budget of 1997,” a law “On some changes to the provisions of the penal code,” two laws dealing with certain formalities for the privatization of Albkrom, and an “agreement” for the sale of Hotel Dajtit. We cannot speak of “bold decisions” when the Majko government is under strong suspicions of misuse of public funds, maintaining ties with crime, trafficking and corruption. In fact, not only suspicions, but facts and evidence have come to light, evidence made public by the opposition. For several weeks Mr. Majko has been publicly asked, both by the opposition and by the media, what his position is regarding the torture by the government’s “strongman,” Saimir Kumulës[?], but he has not responded. Likewise, the opposition has made public sufficient information about the involvement of two ministers in trafficking, but again there is silence. There has been talk and writing about national betrayal, about ties with anti-Albanian circles, about the links of high-ranking government officials with the mafia, gangs and trafficking. Facts and evidence have been produced. Silence here too. In all the above cases, the prime minister’s silence has been and remains a clear indicator of his government’s involvement in illegal activities. Such major problems cannot be covered up by a few decisions in the field of education or by some license for the import of flour. The country’s Prime Minister must answer and be accountable to Albanian citizens and not merely act as a spokesman for his predecessors. Meanwhile, in recent days the situation has become even more problematic because of the violence used against students by the police and especially by SHIK. This is now not only a human rights issue, but also one of an open political conflict with students, parents and public opinion. In this way, the government has lost another important test. Instead of dialoguing with the students, it chose to apply pressure, block entrances and spread panic. This is seriously damaging its image and stripping it of any moral or political credentials. Today, on the day of protest, this government knows more clearly than ever that its “credentials” are burning before the eyes of the public. ON PAGE 2

There is no dialogue with the government, lecturers react to the neglect of this “headache” They take part in the protest with the professors, not only the lecturers Lecturers abandon the lecture halls There is no dialogue with the government, lecturers react to this “headache” Photo: Mikel Fishta Bersha: He who disregards students is at fault The government should dialogue with the hunger-striking students Politicians support the hunger strike Student strike at the height of the popular protest Here is why PD should come to power To unblock the country and return hope and democracy to Albanians ON PAGE 2

Today, 90 days since the killing of the leader of the blerorëve Hado and de Gennaro continue to lend an image to the lined-up phalanx of the government. Berisha’s public accusation broadcast from the TVSH screen. The court has made the name and document public in the decree, but it is not mentioned in any case. Berisha’s accusations about the appointment and decoration of the person who killed the PD deputy, Azem Hajdari, have received no response from the government. While the investigating bodies continue to remain silent, public opinion is demanding the full truth about the crime. ON PAGE 2

To unblock the country and return hope and democracy to Albanians ON PAGE 2

The Italian secret service and the phones of the “PD” The secret service and the phones of the “PD”? ON PAGE 2

SPA: We are with the students! On Monday a warning strike by teachers SPA: We are with the students! Education on the brink of a total strike On Monday a warning strike by teachers ON PAGE 2

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