The trial against Nexhmije Hoxha and Kiço Bukheli • The prosecutor presents the indictment: He is seeking sentences of 14 years and 9 years of imprisonment respectively for the defendants Nexhmije Hoxha and Kiço Bukheli The entire day yesterday was spent on the judicial procedure of examining the questions put to the defendant Kiço Bukheli. At yesterday’s hearing in the trial against Nexhmije Hoxha and Kiço Bukheli, former president Ramiz Alia testified as a witness. After a question from the prosecutor, he said that no written decision was ever issued for the Central Committee apparatus regarding administrative salaries. For these expenses there had been a planned fund, a budget for the administration approved by the government, while for other allowances it was the Political Bureau that determined them. After being questioned by the prosecutor about bonuses for members of the Political Bureau, former government members, etc., Mr. Ramiz Alia said that there had been several acts by the state and the government, which were reduced to several decisions and not a single separate decision. Referring to the benefits of the former leadership, the witness said that he did not remember there being a written decision for them, but as far as he recalled, such matters were dealt with separately by the CC apparatus. Asked by the judge whether he knew of any decision on the basis of which members of the leadership had received material benefits, the witness replied: “There were TV sets and vehicles, and there were also medical treatments. But there were no written decisions, nor decisions from CC or Political Bureau meetings.” Former president Ramiz Alia also said that former members of the Political Bureau took holidays in guest houses. In his testimony he said he was aware that they were used free of charge by the leadership and, according to him, there was no special decision for this. Regarding the prosecutor’s question about the disbursement of at least 450,000 dollars for the villa in Vlora, Mr. Ramiz Alia said: “There was a decision to buy it. I know it was bought from an Albanian trader in Turkey.” When asked further by the prosecutor whether he knew who made this decision, the witness said he believed it had been made by the government of the time. Later, in response to the prosecutor’s question about the value of importing a 24,000-dollar Philips color television, the witness replied that he was in the role of deputy prime minister, but could not know what benefits the other members of the leadership had received. In other questions he said he had no knowledge of most of the bonuses and other material benefits enjoyed by the senior leaders of the former leadership. At yesterday’s hearing, questioning of Kiço Bukheli also continued concerning the movement of various bank funds, the 30 million dollars transferred to different accounts, sums in German marks, etc. Asked whether he knew anything about 2,129 sacks of banknotes sent as aid to Kosovo, the defendant said he had no knowledge of their final destination. He then said that indeed about 26.999 million dollars had been withdrawn from the Bank of Albania for the construction of tunnels and that he had taken part in the record of withdrawing the sum of 12.993 million dollars for the construction of houses for the staff. He later categorically denied that, on his orders, the amount of 10,250 sacks of banknotes sent by special plane had been sent to Hungary. Asked whether he knew the prosecutor’s orders for carrying out the actions, the defendant said that on 11 December 1992 his secretary had brought him such a letter, which requested actions for checking a warehouse. Regarding the use of the sum of 29,000 dollars to buy a television and a video recorder, the defendant said he had learned about it from television. (Continues on page 4)

On 3 January, around 11 in the morning, Albanian mother R. H. arrived at the Mitrovica ambulance in Kosovo, accompanied by her children and husband. They were seeking help because of her serious condition. The woman was bleeding and in a very grave condition. The Mitrovica ambulance had 12 specialist doctors, but no gynecologist. She was urgently taken to the city hospital of Mitrovica, where there was also no gynecologist. She was sent on a long trip to Prishtina, where she arrived almost unconscious. The Serbian doctors at the gynecological clinic in Prishtina left her waiting for hours without giving her the proper help. Only after many pleas and protests from family members did they carry out the necessary intervention. But the child had died in the mother’s womb. The woman remained in a critical condition. This is only one of the many testimonies about the inhuman conditions being imposed on Albanians in Kosovo. The lack of Albanian doctors, their dismissal from work, the refusal to admit Albanian patients to health institutions, and the discriminatory and inhuman behavior of Serbian staff are turning into a deliberate policy. (Continues on page 5)

Why did justice remain silent when so many people were dying? Where is the Albanian Helsinki Committee? When will it rise to defend an innocent baby? - Why did justice remain silent when so many people were dying? - Where is the Albanian Helsinki Committee? When will it rise to defend an innocent baby? (Continues on page 5)

We do not want to comment on or generalize about the so-called “dead TV” and “live TV”, but it is enough to point out that, before any “hostile group” or “counterrevolutionary activity” could be discovered, the “enemy” had first to be invented and prepared, the one who would embody it. Otherwise, how could failures, persecution, and repression be justified? (Continues on page 2)

- Who are the authors of the worldwide slanders about the disabled from rifle fire and the collaborators of the occupier? We are not talking about ordinary disabled people, but about a special category that, sheltering behind the status of disabled person, has obtained undeserved privileges. This does not include those who have rightly sacrificed for the country, but those who have used this status to obtain unfair benefits, to take jobs, to avoid obligations, and to demand even more. (Continues on page 2)

- Yesterday’s protest against the TNT in Kufoge - Yesterday, the workers of the Fushë-Kruja Cement Factory held a protest against dismissals from work and their replacement by party militants. According to them, political interference in the administration is bringing injustice and revenge, creating tension in the workforce and harming production. The workers demanded an end to political retaliation and respect for their rights. (Continues on page 4)

Do we not know, or do we not want to do this service? In Agrigento, in the summer of last year, some of the journalists and photo-reporters covering the hearings in the mafia trial gathered in front of a shop selling shirts and T-shirts with ironic slogans against the mafia. The event made a sensation. Equally sensational was the act of an Italian policeman who helped a foreign female journalist find a hotel and carry her suitcases. These are signs of a normal civilization. Among us, it is still difficult to find even the most ordinary help, even when it comes to ordinary situations. To prove this, it is enough to mention the difficulties foreigners face in public services, in finding their way around cities, in transport, in obtaining information, and in the culture of hospitality. (Continues on page 3)

Rooms for rent are available in the building of the former “Borealis” hotel, near the industrial complex, with an area of 8 m x 6, heated, suitable for private activities. For information, apply every day at the location. Address: “Ali Kelmendi” Street, No. 6 neighborhood, industrial complex, Tirana.