08/02/1998
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Rilindja Demokratike

8 February 1998

Police arrest PD deputies

The persecution of the opposition continues; Nano’s police state does not recognize the mandates of the lawmakers[?] Ylli Vejsiu and Xhevat Mehmeti are forcibly taken to Police Station 2 Tirana with the hunger strikers Yesterday, at around 7:45 a.m., the Secretary General of Parliament, Ms. Mimoza Asllani, managed to enter the premises of Police Station No. 3 accompanied by President Ndoka. At present, the leadership of parliament has been unable to act on the basis of the law because none of the sector chiefs has responded to our request, the Secretary General states. She declares that violence and degrading treatment were used against deputies Ylli Vejsiu and Xhevat Mehmeti. After several hours of being blocked at the police station, the Democratic deputies were taken by force and transferred to Police Station 2. Yesterday, the PD deputies Ylli Vejsiu and Xhevat Mehmeti, who were on hunger strike together with students and intellectuals, were forcibly taken to Police Station No. 3. According to reports from the PD, their arrest was carried out arbitrarily, disregarding the status of a deputy and parliamentary immunity. Supporters of the opposition gathered in front of the police station, protesting against this event.

Tëlemzi censors the opposition

Interview with writer Teodor Laço, deputy and chairman of the PSD The beginning of the purge campaign within the coalition

Tirana of masks

Today Tirana can be described, without the slightest exaggeration, as the city of rival presidents. Sali Berisha and President Nano are everywhere, in every corner of our capital. As for the current president, Fatos Nano, we do not know, although his burial in the grave of politics has long since begun. The masks of fake presidents can be found everywhere and nowhere, and lips smeared with propaganda have taken over walls and squares. Anyone who leaves home today and looks across the street encounters an organized masquerade, where posters, banners, and shouts replace civic responsibility. Tirana needs the breath of freedom, not its usurpation by those who have put on the face of deception. In this city not only is the crowd moving, tired by poverty, but also dignity is moving, seeking to defend itself.

Germany supports democracy in Albania

Pollo and Bushati: German criticism of the government and Gjinushi Other German representatives state: the German political tracks in Albania, a valuable concern over the government’s violation of the rules of the game by the communist government Berisha: Nano, "come to the debate" The 200 days of left-wing rule, a march[?] toward total failure Yesterday, a meeting was held at the PD headquarters with representatives of German political foundations and other institutions interested in the situation in Albania. Opposition leaders also took part in the meeting, and they praised German support for democracy and political pluralism in the country. According to the statements made, concern was expressed about the government’s behavior toward the opposition and the worsening political climate. In this context, the need for open political debate was also mentioned, with the call quoted as: Berisha: Nano, "come to the debate". The German representatives, according to the text, criticized the violation of democratic rules and called for respect for pluralist standards.

Albanian agriculture at a dead end

The Socialists return to centralizing the economy ON PAGE 6

Prejta denounces the TV staging

The man from the democratist[?]en[?] says that such a scenario was the work of former Sigurimi agents who turned into SHIK ON PAGE 3

Nano opens the PAD files

The whereabouts of Perikli Teta, Preç Zogaj and Dau Gumnit[?] are being sought The covert attack to purge within the coalition begins

Declared heralds and hidden messengers

Uro[?] that if one does not declare[?] aqer[?] how they should be noticed[?] in how they warm up, and also at Fejzi they warm up. "indifferent" ON PAGE 7

Nano attacks Rugova

The Albanian prime minister speaks like Milošević ON PAGE 3

The media ignore even from the airplane

Researchers recognize the Albanian puppet ON PAGE 2

VFA: Malaj wants my money

He ignored it and now demands an investigation into the shooting[?] ON PAGE 5