Students on the second day of the hunger strike. The strikers are determined to stay until their demands are met Farin Islami, Jerit Bilali and Skënder Berisha are arrested and brutally abducted by the secret police and the public order police inside the building of the Faculty of Law in Tirana Yesterday, a group of students who are on hunger strike were forcibly taken by the police. According to opposition sources, the striking students declared that they would not end the strike until their demands were met. During the morning hours, in the premises of the Faculty of Law, the police intervened forcibly, removing several students and their supporters. The opposition described this move as political pressure on the student movement. Opposition MPs, sympathizers, and the students' family members were present at the scene. The situation appeared tense, while the crowd reacted with chants against the government. Photo: Jozef Stina

12 December, eight years since the founding of the Democratic Party Today, on 12 December, the 8th anniversary of the founding of the Democratic Party, a grand rally is being organized to mark this historic day, but also to protest against the government, which continues to violate human rights, politically imprison opposition figures, and desecrate and trample on free and independent institutions. In the face of the politics of hatred and revenge pursued by the current government, one cannot help comparing it with what happened on 12 December 1990, when Albanian professors and students, led by Sali Berisha and Azem Hajdari, with the gratitude of the entire Albanian people, toppled the most brutal dictatorship in Europe. All district branches throughout Albania will take part in this protest to express outrage at the current government, which has plunged the country into crime and poverty.

A female student from Shkodra is also in poor condition; she did not accept the doctors' advice to end the strike, as a means of protest against the Fatos Nano-Majko government. Continues on page 3

By Edi MALOKA In recent years I have been inclined to believe that, like every Albanian, Pandeli Majko too knows very well that nothing in our post-’90 political life is as simple as it may seem. I am referring to a now well-known truth: in Albania, governments do not fall only because of votes, but also because of the way they treat citizens and the opposition. Today, when students are once again protesting, when the country is in a heated political climate, the prime minister seems to be rapidly consuming whatever credit he may still have left. This government is showing no sign of dialogue, only arrogance and force. Arrests, police violence, pressure on the media and a spirit of political revenge have become part of everyday life. In this sense, the prime minister's “credentials” are burning not because of the opposition, but because of his own governance. Continues on page 4

Dialogue with the government is lacking; teachers react to the neglect of this “issue” ON PAGE 2

The government should dialogue with the hunger-striking students ON PAGE 2

To develop the country, to pull it out of the all-embracing crisis into which the corrupt clique has plunged it, and to restore hope and democracy to Albanians ON PAGE 3

15,000 protesters yesterday in the city of Berat ON PAGE 2

The secretary of the “PD” secretariat, Malko's service replaced Albanians' telephones with a profitable company ON PAGE 2

SPA: we are with the students! Teachers to hold a warning strike on Monday SPA: we are with the students! Teachers to hold a warning strike on Monday ON PAGE 2