CANDIDATES DISCUSS WITH THE ELECTORATE

At the meeting of 9.8.1992 with university students and lecturers, members of the DP Youth Forum, Mr. Sali Berisha stated: “University students and lecturers are to be sent throughout the country to persuade the people to vote for the DP.” With this “decision” of a monarchist-monist kind, he deals another blow to democracy, culture, and Albanian education.

EXAMPLE OF THE DAY The older people remember the terror of the Nazis in our country, but so do the younger ones, because there are countless books, films, chronicles and chroniclers that describe it in detail; even more, they portray it in its true colors, through acts of the most barbaric and inhuman kind. But this multifaceted terror is present even in our days, in the days when people are fighting for true democracy. The dictatorship of the new, modern dictators has gradually begun to settle scores, committing all kinds of social crimes. They beat some, kill others, with the aim of continually imposing political intolerance in favor of a single party: the Socialist Party and its members. The aggressiveness of the pseudo-democrats has become evident in attacks on dignified people who work simply and honestly for justice and social peace, for national reputation. It was painful to hear what our white-haired former colleague told me indignantly: “Just look what they did to me yesterday,” he said. “They beat me savagely on the head, body and legs.” “But… please,” he continued, “do not put my name in the newspaper, because I don’t want to draw public attention to myself.” And, naturally, we cannot fail to honor this modest request. Continuing the list of the “exploits” of the democrats, I should add that the massacre inflicted on the artist Agim Shuke is still fresh in our memory; painful events are fresh everywhere. Yet the people must know and understand well what kind of democracy an extremist faction seeks to bring us. Those who speak of transparency, credibility and national reputation do the opposite. Lined up side by side with the representatives of the arsonists, they work passionately; alongside the provocateurs and arsonist publicists, they too work passionately, serving anti-Albanian totalitarian revanchism with distinction. A blow—denied—has been dealt at a journalist’s door; a large bundle of copies of “Zëri i popullit” was snatched from a distributor… And so many other acts of wickedness, followed by human strikes. These actions are being carried out because they want to prepare an emotional and psychological climate in support of pseudo-democracy. Furthermore, as another illustration of these arbitrary acts, two days ago in the village of Mënik, Tirana, people were threatened: “If you don’t vote for the DP, we’ll burn down your house.” But the message of the people’s justice, of loyalty to socialist ideals and to the interests of the nation, will ultimately pass from mouth to mouth and heart to heart. A powerful “No” will strike the shameless in the face! Public opinion is rallying against terror, and Albanian courage will rise up against it and smash revanchism and dictatorship to pieces. PAVLLO GJIEDEDE

Conversation with LEONTIEV ÇUÇI, candidate for deputy in electoral district No. 31, Gjirokastër. — Of the objectives in the SP’s electoral program, which seem to you most feasible to implement soon under the conditions in Gjirokastër? — The objectives of the SP’s electoral program are realistic and promising for all of Albania. They are based on the conditions of our situation, our potential opportunities, and the guarantees of aid and loans that will be provided to fulfill them. As such, these objectives are entirely achievable; they are also anticipated by European and world experience. In the conditions of the Gjirokastër district, the objective that can be achieved soonest is completing the division of the land and issuing title deeds to the farmers as soon as possible. By carrying out this legitimate program for the Gjirokastër farmer as soon as possible, we eliminate any possibility of the land estates being returned to the former landlords and beys. The SP’s electoral program categorically rejects the recognition of the property claims of former owners and assures the Gjirokastër farmer and town dweller that they alone will be the true owners.

The candidate for deputy, Janaq Katundi, held a meeting with the residents of the village of Symizë, which is part of electoral district No. 39. Kostaq Duka, chairman of the Socialist Party in the Korçë district, introduced the candidate for deputy to the voters of this village. He said the candidate’s work was appreciated both during his time as a teacher in this area and as a school principal, and also for the time he ably and conscientiously led the Pluralist Executive Committee of the town of Maliq. The candidate for deputy then spoke. He focused on the fundamental issues in the Socialist Party’s electoral program, especially those concerning the social alternative for the village. The Socialist Party, he said, supports full implementation of the land law as passed by the pluralist People’s Assembly. Implementing the land law and obtaining title deeds give fuller effect to respect for the interests of the entire working peasantry. The candidate then spoke about several aspects of the Socialist Party’s electoral program and the state agricultural enterprises. The Socialist Party supports three types of ownership: private, co- (Continued on page 4)

The first meeting between the Socialist Party’s candidate for deputy in electoral district No. 30 of the Gramsh district, comrade Bashkim Koci, and the people took place in the remote mountain area of Lenie. Its people give him their hearts openly. They expect the same from the person they are speaking with. He presented the views of the SP’s electoral program, focusing in particular on the agrarian question. More than 150 people attended, including SP members and sympathizers as well as opposition supporters, and listened attentively. They wanted to know more clearly what the SP’s position would be toward the village, and so on. Would it help them through “roads and means”; would the state create opportunities for economic emigration from these areas too; what development prospects does the SP offer such parts of the country, which are on the European periphery, where parties differ from one another, and so on? With the tolerance and spirit that characterize them, they raise concerns and make requests related to their most vital needs. “We have asked for representatives of the Pluralist Executive Committee to come,” they said, “but they still haven’t arrived.” The prices of

We are referring to the television report on the evening of March 8 about Mr. Berisha’s meeting in Peza. Not that there was any editing or trickery there—no. The DP sympathizer operating the camera (according to the TV presenter) had worked diligently, but the message conveyed by this footage across the country is real. Here is why: The number of Peza sympathizers was 30–40 people, not the 200 or 300 captured by the television camera. How the «rally-going sympathizers» arrived is shown by the fact that the minibus serving the DP had taken a long route the previous day, with a loudspeaker mounted on its roof, through the Tirana district—Vaqarr, Shesh—Ndroq, Rumanat, Shijak, Peza, Grece, Pojan, and back. No doorstep was left without hearing the announcement: «...Professor Dr. S. Berisha is coming to Peza»... In the end, that is their business, but it cannot be their business to lie and say that «there was a magnificent rally in Peza». The democratic people of Peza wanted to ask the professor doctor some questions in a civilized way, but how could we get the «rally-going Democrats» who were not from Peza to leave us in peace? What did the «rally-goers» of yesterday, who carried slogans against the President of the Republic and Fatos Nano, look like to Peza—the Peza of heroism and generosity, today’s Peza of democracy, Peza which has so generously hosted thousands of demonstrators every September 16? And, in all honesty, at the center of the rally we saw that none of those slogans were in the hands of Peza residents, but were held by the «guests». This is not because the people of Peza want to avoid being drawn into an electoral campaign waged without arguments or logic against other parties or various politicians. We were puzzled by why Mr. Berisha asked so many questions and kept sidestepping without giving answers... As best we can tell, we say: «Perhaps this professor doctor wanted to leave some windows open on purpose.» What the PS and DP electorates in Peza were yesterday, we saw clearly: 300 and 30. People’s interest in the programs of these two parties was also evident from the questions asked and the answers given at both meetings, the PS one and the DP one. An honest person from Peza asks: Why did the television operator’s camera supposedly work when the meeting with Fatos Nano took place? Perhaps the opposition is content to deceive itself with its own noise, as someone turns back, delighted by the sound of his own voice in an empty hall. The voice of the real Peza will be heard on March 22, and this voice cannot be that of just one person, whoever he may be. The voice of Peza belongs to those who asked questions for clarification, to those who did not come to the meeting at all, and to the others who know how to decide for themselves. The voice of Peza cannot be the voice of «imported rally-goers». NIMET ÇELMETA — unaffiliated PËLLUMB ZGURA — unaffiliated GANI KOLA — PS member SHYQYRI FJOLLA — unaffiliated

Don’t make yourselves ridiculous The fever for power has raised the opposition’s «temperature» considerably. And the headache is making it talk incoherently to the people. It may indeed have its head in the clouds, but, unfortunately for it, its feet are not on the ground. Party leaders and candidates for seats in the People’s Assembly are doing everything possible through their multifaceted propaganda to win over the electorate—or, more precisely, to get votes on March 22. This mindset is increasingly leading opposition members, who claim to have «the people at heart», into reckless promises. They treat voters as though they were primary-school pupils. Apparently, their eyes have been dazzled by the thought that the squares where they hold rallies are filled only with the organized children in the front row (these scenes remind us of monism), who hold up two fingers and shout «freedom—democracy». No, gentlemen of the opposition! The people are not a crowd that can «swallow» your fairy tales. The DP leader, Mr. G. Pashko, told people at a meeting he organized in Corovodë that after taking power in March, the DP would build the Corovodë–Greece highway and that, in order to get there (to Greece), even the people of Kavaja would... [unclear]. The people of Skrapar stuck their tongues out at this reformer of the Albanian economy, mocking him behind his back, but what strikes us is what everyone said...? So, are you taking it seriously? We should realistically show the voters what is worthwhile, rather than making such deceptive declarations before the elections... [unclear passage]. what strikes us is what everyone said... [the reading of the middle section is uncertain] ...

THE WORLD DOES NOT PREJUDGE ANYONE As part of the aid being provided to Albania by various countries and international organizations, several ships carrying different food products have arrived in Durrës. Fifteen thousand tons of wheat have arrived from the European Common Market aboard the ship «Flakona Blazhe». Likewise, two ships carrying aid have arrived from the Italian government: the ship «Xhibuli» with 2,400 tons of edible oil, and the ship «Lemane» with 4,400 tons of flour and 150 tons of sugar. The ship «Teuta» has brought 944 tons of soap as aid from Turkey. As Feruz Mataj, the government’s plenipotentiary for ports, told us, the port authorities have taken all the necessary measures to ensure that all the products are unloaded on time and sent to their designated destinations. VANGJEL DUSHI

A ceremony was held at the «Ndre Mjeda» school in the city of Shkodër to honor teacher Fiqret Hoxha, who performed an act of self-sacrifice by protecting a 15-year-old student whom a group of criminals were trying to kill. Teachers and representatives of independent education unions, the Ministry of Education, and the district’s Pluralist Executive Committee took part. The only person absent was teacher Fiqret Hoxha, who has been confined to bed for more than 10 days because of the wound he suffered. On behalf of the Ministry of Education, Deputy Minister Vasil Ilaç Zoto spoke; on behalf of the district’s Pluralist Executive Committee, the head of the Education Section, Besnik Belteshi, gave remarks. The father of the student whose life this teacher saved also spoke. Representatives of visited the teacher’s family and presented him with the «Order of Civil Courage», awarded by the President of the Republic, Ramiz Alia. (ATSH)

SOCIALIST PARTIES P.S.D. P.R.

The man who, in Parliament, accused the previous Government of closing the University of Tirana “without cause” today, by “decision” of his own Party, “orders” all the universities of our country to be closed.

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Aid for Albania