Christmas will be celebrated in darkness

Small manufacturing businesses on the brink of bankruptcy on page 11

Torture in police stations and prisons against people from the DP

“Amnesty International” writes to Meidani: Government must stop violence against the opposition AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Latest Press Releases ALBANIA: “A disturbing pattern of disregard for basic human rights” Amnesty International has written to the President of Albania to express concern over reports that supporters of the Democratic Party were ill-treated during arrest or in detention following last month’s sometimes violent demonstrations. Among those reported to have been ill-treated was Besnik Papa, arrested on 29 November and held in a police station in Tirana where, it is alleged, he was severely beaten after he required hospital treatment for broken teeth. Although Albania is obliged to implement the convention against violence and torture, violations of this convention by the Albanian police authorities are evident in police stations and prisons. The prestigious human rights organization calls for immediate measures to stop the practices of violence and torture by the police, in accordance with the law and the conventions signed and ratified by the Albanian authorities as well. It asks Meidani to intervene forcefully to stop the violence and torture. on page 4 Syl Lusha, killed during the peaceful protest in Tropojë

The “Rilindja” retrial

By Halit Shamata I believe I am not referring so much to the retrial of the three journalists of “Rilindja Demokratike” (one of whom is the editor-in-chief) by an appeals court, which, by upholding the decision of a lower court, has likewise upheld its own innocence and inability to be independent on page 4

The protests and the dogma of “free elections”

Mujë BUÇPAPAJ The elections of 1 October fell, and with them the dogma of “free and fair elections,” so insistently claimed by those in power. Now that the opposition Democratic Party has managed to “show” the world “the terrorist face of the rulers” on page 4

Berisha: Protests will change the CEC

DP chairman indifferent to Nano’s statements on page 2

Police threaten the DP secretary with a gun

on page 8

Vlora: We don’t want the “gjiririt” government

on page 8

Ilir Kryemadhi’s power has come to an end

on page 6

With two mandates, Meta ignores the PS statute

on page 3

Nano wants Dokle and Poçi’s heads

on page 3

Rustem Gjata sets out the criminal liabilities of the CEC

on page 4

The troubled soul of Agim Spahiu

By Visar ZHITI on page 4

The government protects Azem’s killers

Sol. 833 days since the killing of the December leader Every day that passes since the killing of Azem Hajdari proves the involvement of those in power, of Fatos Nano and of all the other leaders who were shattering his Albanian life. The government is either failing to bring the criminals to justice, or it must be involved in the crime. It is itself the one that committed the murder.