Gazetat — Albanian Newspaper Archive

“How I saved Sali Berisha’s life when he was arrested”

EXCLUSIVE / For the first time, Azem Hajdari’s former bodyguard Bajram Hidri speaks: The prosecutor who tortured me is now a minister “They lured Azem Hajdari from the DP into an ambush and killed him. Today they mourn him. I was arrested over September 14. My trial has not ended, whereas Ilir Meta’s, who takes 700 thousand euros, is getting acquittal. Berisha today has joined the thugs.” News The night of November 28 and 29 would have turned out very tragically if calm had not been preserved. Bajram Hidri recounts the delicate moment when he stopped armed men in the DP headquarters from shooting at the special police, which had surrounded the headquarters and wanted to stop Sali Berisha. ■■■ TIRANA ARBEN KROZHANI “I did a very good deed. Not only because I saved Sali Berisha’s life and that of others that night, but also because we avoided a bloodbath.” Bajram Hidri remembers well the night of November 28, 2000, when together with 10 other people they were inside the DP headquarters, which had been surrounded by dozens of special forces sent on the order of former prime minister Ilir Meta, to stop Sali Berisha at all costs. The decisive moment was when two armed men wanted to leave the blue headquarters to respond with weapons to the special police, but at that moment Bajram Hidri managed to turn them back, avoiding bloodshed. Why were you at the DP on November 28, 2000? Together with other DP militants I was there to protest the theft of the votes in the local elections, which had been held in October. There I learned that Syl Lusha had been killed, my friend, and he was killed while wearing my shirt, which I had given him when we were in a cell in prison 313, because he asked for it since he liked it very much. Even today Syl’s father keeps it hanging at home and says: “It is Bajram’s shirt.” On the night of November 28, 2000 I was inside the DP, surrounded by police forces sent there by Prime Minister Ilir Meta. I was staying in the office of the late Pjetër Arbnori and that night I slept on Pjetër Arbnori’s armchair... continued on page 2 In the photo: Bajram Hidri with DP chairman Sali Berisha during a rally in 1997 EN: EXCLUSIVE / For the first time speaks Azem Hajdari’s former bodyguard Bajram Hidri: The prosecutor who tortured me is today a minister. “How I saved Sali Berisha’s life when he was arrested” “They lured Azem Hajdari from the DP into an ambush and killed him. Today they mourn him. I was arrested over September 14. My trial has not ended, while Ilir Meta’s, who takes 700 thousand euros, is getting acquittal. Berisha today has joined the thugs.” News: The night of November 28 and 29 would have turned out very tragically if calm had not been preserved. Bajram Hidri recounts the delicate moment when he stopped armed men in the DP headquarters from shooting at the special police, which had surrounded the headquarters and wanted to stop Sali Berisha. TIRANA. ARBEN KROZHANI. “I did a very good deed. Not only because I saved Sali Berisha’s life and others that night, but also because we avoided a bloodbath.” Bajram Hidri clearly remembers the night of November 28, 2000, when together with 10 other people they were inside the DP headquarters, which had been surrounded by dozens of special forces sent on the order of former prime minister Ilir Meta, to stop Sali Berisha at all costs. The decisive moment was when two armed persons wanted to leave the blue headquarters to respond with weapons to the special police, but at this moment Bajram Hidri managed to turn them back, avoiding bloodshed. Why were you at the DP on November 28, 2000? Together with other DP militants I was there to protest the theft of votes in the local elections held in October. There I learned that Syl Lusha had been killed, my friend, and he was killed while wearing my shirt, which I had given him when we were in a cell in prison 313, because he asked for it as he liked it very much. Even today Syl’s father keeps it hanging at home and says: “It is Bajram’s shirt.” On the night of November 28, 2000 I was inside the DP, surrounded by police forces sent there by prime minister Ilir Meta. I stayed in the office of the late Pjetër Arbnori and that night I slept on Pjetër Arbnori’s armchair... continued on page 2. In the photo: Bajram Hidri with DP chairman Sali Berisha during a rally in 1997.

USA, our embassy without a flag

BY PETER TASE Page 5 EN: Blunder in Washington. USA, our embassy without a flag. By Peter Tase. Page 5.

“December 8” or Power to the people

Editorial by ANILA BASHA I remember when we were young on December 8, ’90, when in the hall of the Academy of Arts some students and lecturers had the courage to listen to Beatles songs and to be the actors of the new democratic revolution in Albania. But the panorama became clear yesterday with the memories of the actors of that time, when Erion Veliaj, as secretary of the Socialist Party Youth, had occupied the same hall of the Academy, calling some of the actors of December 8 to bring the reflections of that day before today’s youth. The current SP deputy Arjan Gace, a former student of December ’90, was very courageous at the time when he told the school and party leaders, while they were asking what the students wanted: “I want to go out,” Gace told them calmly. “All right, you are free to go out,” was the immediate answer of the leaders to the rebellious student. “But I have a problem,” the December activist continued. “I don’t have a visa.” Recalled today, 21 years later, with the slogan ‘To Europe without visas,’ this exchange sounds rather normal. Back then, student Gace had on his shoulders expulsion from school and other disciplinary measures. I was equally struck by the memory of Hervin Çuli, the former student who, when he stood up to speak, pointed his finger toward the third-floor loggia because he “wanted to see the reflections from above...” continued on page 5 The beauty of the memories and events of December 8, ’90 is marred by events like yesterday’s, just as the reflections of that time 21 years later make you think that the time has truly come to say “Power to the people.”

TNT, suspicions about “Shullazi”

YESTERDAY’S EVENT Shaken family members of police chief Muça and the neighbors: We thought it was an earthquake YESTERDAY’S EVENT Shaken family members of police chief Muça and the neighbors: We thought it was an earthquake TNT, suspicions about “Shullazi” BESMIRA MUÇAJ A quantity of 400 grams of TNT was placed at the home of the deputy director of Tirana police, Dorian Muça. It is suspected that the explosive substance was placed to threaten Muça because of the duty he performs as an official for solving crime and arresting criminal agents... continued on page 10 EN: YESTERDAY’S EVENT. The family members of police chief Muça and the neighbors are shaken: We thought it was an earthquake. TNT, suspicions about “Shullazi”. Besmira Muçaj. A quantity of 400 grams of TNT was placed at the home of the deputy director of Tirana police, Dorian Muça. It is suspected that the explosive substance was placed to threaten Muça because of the duty he performs as an official for solving crime and arresting criminal agents... continued on page 10.

PS protest over the “Brother-in-law’s kiosks”; the deputy is beaten, here is the dialogue

Page 9 EN: SP protest over the “Brother-in-law’s kiosks”, the deputy is assaulted, here is the dialogue.

The reassessment of housing prices: 20 more days remain for the procedures

Page 6-7 EN: Reassessment of housing prices, 20 days remain for procedures.

The DP will have three party vice-chairpersons; elections are expected in January

Page 4 EN: The DP gets three party vice-chairpersons; elections are expected to be held in January.

Neurology is soaked in damp; doctors: the key problem is the drainage system

Page 8 EN: Neurology is swimming in humidity; doctors: the key problem is the sewers.

The law that turns artists into slaves

The debate on Opera BY RUDIN SATA Page 12-13 EN: Debate on the Opera. The law that turns artists into slaves. By Rudin Sata.