Armed blockade in Lezhë and Milot. Police shoot at the cars accompanying Hajdari Armored vehicles, special police in helmets and masks to stop the DP deputy. [Beginning cut off] ...kodra, where he had gone to hold a meeting with activists and supporters of the Democratic Party in the anti-communist city. On the way to Lezhë, the cars accompanying MP Hajdari were ambushed for the first time, surrounded by a large number of police forces, most of them brought specially from Tirana. Some of the police officers opened fire on the cars in which the MP was travelling, but there are no reports of casualties. Mr. Hajdari spoke directly by mobile phone to radio “Kontakt,” reporting that he was surrounded by police officers who would not let him pass through Lezhë, without explaining why. According to the Democratic Party MP, special police forces, most of them brought from Tirana, refused to let him pass through Lezhë. In response to his request, they simply told him that they had orders and that he had to obey. Hajdari said that although he had explained to them that the police could not stop an MP, they insisted for a long time that he must not pass. Mr. Hajdari said the police officers, most of them wearing helmets and masks, had fired at the cars accompanying him, seeking to provoke bloodshed. According to sources in Lezhë, the blockade of the Democratic Party MP lasted more than an hour, and perhaps after an order from headquarters, the road was opened for him. Hajdari said by phone that he had set off toward Tirana, but shortly afterward it was reported that he and the group accompanying him had been stopped again in Milot by a reinforced police roadblock, accompanied by armoured vehicles. In response to Mr. Hajdari’s repeated demands that they open the road, the local police and those brought specially from the capital pointed their guns at the Democratic Party members. It is reported that the local officers were led by the Laç commissioner, an ordinary criminal accused of murder. Until 24:00 there was no news about the fate of MP Hajdari and the people accompanying him. Democratic Party leaders made inquiries last night at the Ministry of the Interior to learn the reasons and circumstances of the incident, but State Secretary Kreshnik Legisi said that Minister Çeka himself was handling the matter. Legisi said the cars accompanying Hajdari had not been stopped by the police in Lezhë, but had been stopped in Milot. Legisi’s claim is a huge lie, since they were not only stopped in Lezhë for more than an hour, but were also fired upon by the police who had ambushed them there. About an hour later, the State Secretary, a police officer, called the PD deputy chairman Genc Pollo and told him that Azem Hajdari and his companions had been blocked in Milot because there was operational information that they might have been planning to rob the bank in Tropojë. This sudden suspicion, devised to justify the ambush of the PD MP, is the best proof that the organizers are hiding the truth at the highest level of the state. Everyone in Tropojë knows that the bank robbers are Fatos Nano’s bandits, who have killed and continue to kill there. Just after the second hour, several of the most important Democratic Party leaders and MPs set off for Milot late last night to reach Azem Hajdari. Genc Pollo, Vili Minarolli, Vili Vejsiu, Fatos Beja, Maksim Ciku, Jemin Gjana and others headed to Milot to stand by MP Hajdari, [unclear] 16 police officers and blocked by the police. Democratic Party leaders went to Milot to [unclear] and clarify through political dialogue the situation, although he had been provoked by police officers armed to the teeth, from Nënkom Coka and Fatos Nano. As of 12:30 there was no news about the fate of the people blocked in Milot. T.GJ. Large numbers of police officers, with armored vehicles, helmets and masks, fired yesterday at the cars accompanying Democratic Party deputy Azem Hajdari and detained him for hours in Lezhë, and then in Milot. The DP deputy, accompanied from Shkodër, where he had gone to hold a meeting with Democratic Party activists and supporters in the anti-Communist city, was on the road to Lezhë when the cars accompanying deputy Hajdari were caught in the first ambush, encountering large numbers of police forces, most of them brought specially from Tirana. Some of the police officers opened fire on the cars in which the deputy was travelling, but there are no reports of casualties. Mr. Hajdari spoke live by mobile phone with Radio “Kontakt,” reporting that the situ[?]

A poll by the Association of Young Observers shows the electorate’s shift. Albanians disappointed with the governing coalition. 1,130 people surveyed in 16 different districts of the country The Socialists and their allies have fallen into the minority. DP 26%, SP 23%, PLL 3.1%, PAD 2.5%, PBK 2.4%, PR 2.1%, PSD 1.8%, PBDNJ 1.2%, PDK 1%, PBSD 0.8%, PBD ON PAGE 3

Protests erupt: “We want our money”

Masked men terrorize travelers on the Elbasan–Peqin road Insecurity returns to the Elbasan–Peqin road. Masked men have made travel on the Elbasan–Peqin road unsafe again. On Friday, at around 6:40 in the morning, a minibus with Kavajë license plates travelling toward Korçë fell victim to a mass robbery. The passengers travelling in it were robbed at gunpoint by masked people wearing various outfits, soon [unclear: “të policisë”]. An Elbasan resident travelling in this minibus was robbed of the “Panasonic” camera he had with him, after they had filmed his nephew’s birthday in Kavajë. The other people had their money and valuables stolen. Two days ago, several villagers from the Cacabezë area, in the municipality of Papër, were also robbed at this location. A.S.

PDSH denounces the police for the arrest of journalists The PDSH denounces the Albanian police for the arrest of the editor-in-chief of the independent daily “Gazeta Shqiptare,” Fatos Baxhaku, the photojournalist of the American news agency AP, and the Reuters agency cameraman. This act comes after the wounding of journalist Muje Bucpapaj, the brutal beating of the editor-in-chief of the independent daily “Bulevard,” the beating of Reuters correspondent Engjell Seriani, the attempt to physically eliminate the editor-in-chief of the daily “Albania,” Lutfì Dervishi, and photojournalist Armando Babani, and the savage physical assault by the heads of the Librazhd police on two journalists from “Gazeta Shqiptare” and “Albania,” namely Rexhep Polisi and Ylli Dosku. The extremely negative record of violations of freedom of speech by a government over such a short period is indisputable evidence of the atavistic, communist-Stalinist mentality of the clique that has usurped governance in Albania. Promoting and respecting freedom of the press and freedom of speech are more necessary than ever for a society in transition, a transition made so difficult by violent practices such as those being pursued by the current demagogic government.

Babo’s dismissal causes serious concern in Korçë On the day Meidani signed the agreement with the persecuted and Ambassador Everts to prevent former Sigurimi agents from returning to the administration, 12 former Sigurimi agents were dismissed from SHIK in Korçë . From the editors’ protests in front of the Prime Minister’s Office, September 1997

ON PAGE 3

Using the stolen money from Otranto, Arben Malaj is building apartment blocks and kiosks in Tirana. His accomplice Zani Çaushti and the architects of the Albanian pyramid schemes have not only failed to repent for the crimes committed, but also appear aggressive in public, accusing others of their crimes. The Otranto tragedy, the greatest maritime disaster for Albanians, has as its main actors Zani, Malaj, Qjushini, Brokaj and other dark names who today are at the top of the Albanian pyramid. The money paid by innocent people to go to their deaths is now being used by people such as Malaj and Ço to build apartment blocks and kiosks, and for other dirty dealings. In Parku Rinia and other places in the capital, Arben Malaj’s buildings began to go up after last March. The money of the Otranto victims, the money from the pyramid schemes, and the money from smuggling are the financial sources on which they are being built. The 21st man of Vlora not only feels no remorse for the misfortune inflicted on hundreds of families, but accuses others in the hope that his crimes will be covered up. But he forgets that no village, however much money it may have, [unclear] this pyramid scheme, smuggling, or the Otranto victims. Crimes cannot be hidden, not even behind a ministerial office. They are known, and justice will judge them.

Interview with the renowned film screenwriter Nexhati Tafa Our government officials think—or try to make us believe—that Albania is as good as and just like the “Rogner” hotel. ON PAGE 5

ELBASAN — The Dental Clinic in the city of Elbasan was robbed late last night. Masked individuals threatened the guard with a gun and then attempted to rob the premises. But apart from the 4,000 lekë in its cashbox, they were unable to steal anything else. The police arrived only a few minutes after the robbers had entered the clinic. They could not be apprehended, even after the dog followed their trail. The police source explains that the robbers were on the police dog’s trail and that their capture will soon be made possible. The police operation, according to this source, will be considered complete only after the robbers have been caught. This clinic has been robbed for the third time within a year. A.SELA

The government again promises money from the pyramid schemes ON PAGE 5

Brokaj’s ministry seeks “new class fighters” ON PAGE 4

The Property Restitution Commission is not functioning ON PAGE 5