Fascist-style terror against the workers and people of Fier A BRIEF CHRONICLE OF A PEACEFUL RALLY, ANNOUNCED AND AUTHORIZED, WHICH WAS SABOTAGED AND VIOLENTLY DISPERSED BY THE PUBLIC ORDER DEPARTMENT. THE BRUTAL VIOLENCE SPARED NOT EVEN PENSIONERS AGED 70. They were forcibly detained and taken to the Public Order Department: - Confederation Chairman Tasi Proko and Secretary Ylli Bezhani. - Free Pensioners’ Union Chairman Veli Llakaj and 23 other pensioners. - Former MP and deputy chairman of the Frakull commune, Faik Memushi. - Employees of the District Council office. - Around 100 residents were checked for carrying weapons without a permit in Fier’s central square. More than ten ... had announced a peaceful rally in «Fitorja» Square on 22. 2. 1993 at 16:30, to appeal to the government by demonstrating for their rightful economic demands amid mass unemployment, social assistance and a lack of public order and security. All political parties and other workers’ unions had been invited to the rally. At the same time as the announcement was published in the press, at workplaces and production centers, as well as in neighborhoods and districts, the required permit had been obtained in accordance with the law in force on meetings and gatherings of people, from the Public Order Department, specifically from the police chief, Agron Braçe. Under the law, since the Public Order Department had made no objections to the location, time or program up to 24 hours before the rally began, the rally was to take place at the location and time, and according to the program, previously set. All the relevant documents had been submitted to the police chief a week earlier; indeed, he wished the Confederation Chairman «Good luck, and may you come away with honor! You can count on us there for any problem!» But, strangely, on the 22nd, only two hours before the rally was to begin, in violation of the law and contrary to all normal logic, the Public Order Department objected to the meeting being held in central «Fitorja» Square and moved it to the stadium on the outskirts of the city. All organizational arrangements and announcements for the rally had been made for «Fitorja» Square, and a new announcement was impossible, given the problem. (Continued on page 4)

In its protest dated 39.1.1993, addressed to the Chairman of the District Council, Mr. Vruz Kafazi, the Mayor, Mr. Ylli Ruli, and Mr. Ali Shenepremte, head of the Public Order Department, the Presidium of the Berat District Veterans’ Committee requests, on behalf of the families of the martyrs and veterans of the National Antifascist Liberation War, that the burial of Kris-taq Stefa, Tajfur Haznedari, Hamit Myftiu, and Bedri Carkatij be decided on the basis of the laws of our democratic state. That same day, however, the head of the Public Order Department sent the following reply in letter No. 228-1 prot.: «We take into account all decisions that remain in force for the full establishment of democracy in Albania, without being influenced by any party affiliation, but we do not enforce those laws that still smell of communism, because communism is dead. We advise you not to make threats about social conflicts, because this does not constitute any evidence that would set in motion any hotheads or adventurers you may still have among you, who do not obey the laws of the state. Any attempt will be severely punished, in accordance with the law». From this context, we quote one sentence: law». Regarding the place, time and progra- We are all in favor of the rule of law, but we will denounce every instance in which the law discriminates on the basis of party affiliation. There has not been a single case in Berat of members of the district council or municipality who belong to the Democratic Party being checked for carrying weapons without a permit, at a time when squads of police officers, acting on orders from their chiefs, terrorize and search the Socialist Party. Such a search was requested by the head of the Public Order Department, as well as by the Chairman of the District Council, Mr. Nevruz Kafazi, even though by law he is entitled to carry a weapon; yet the Public Order Department apparently has no weapon on record (the reference is to a pistol). Whereas, when it comes to members of the DP, they even dig them out of the «grave». We do not want to blame all the employees of the Public Order Department, because there are certainly honest people there too who want to uphold the law, but they are forced to carry out different orders, or else they face social assistance. We remind the hotheads in the Public Order Department that justice may be delayed, but it is not forgotten. Democracy is built through laws

Who took the 1 million 600 thousand dollars!... An honorarium agreement signed by ARDIAN XHYEHRI proves that the sum of 1 million 600 thousand dollars was paid in favor of NIKOLAS ARSIDI. Did he really receive it? On what basis did Mr. Xhyheri sign the honorarium agreement? Is it true that NIKOLAS ARSIDI brought those dollars to Albania in favor of a major party, which used them in the election campaign before March 22?... A mystery?!... Corruption and yet another mystery!!! But so that readers can form a clearer picture, we are publishing the text of the honorarium agreement signed by Ardian Xhyheri, a name that had not appeared in documents until now.

For the attention of Mr. NICOLAS ARSIDI 276, Boulevard Saint - Germain, 75007 - PARIS - FRANCE With reference to the Mandate issued on 1 November 1991 in Tirana by the Bank of the Albanian State and signed by its Director General (Governor) in favor of Mr. Nicolas ARSIDI, relating to his official and exclusive mission to reduce the external debt of the Albanian State to certain foreign countries, the following agreements have been made; - Mr. Nicolas ARSIDI and his associates are authorized to handle the external debt, in part or in its entirety, (Continued on page 4)

Luan Shmili, editor-in-chief of the newspaper «Berati», who a few days ago published an article in «Zëri i popullit» concerning the unlawful detention of the chairman of the Kutallisë commune, was himself detained by the Public Order Department in Berat. The reason was the publication of the article in question. For this reason, the chairman of the Presidium of the Berat District Council and the chairman of the Berat PS District Council met with the Minister of Public Order, Mr. Bashkim Kopliku, to whom they presented the aforementioned problem and many other problems caused by this head of public order. The Minister listened to them courteously and attentively and promised that he would intervene and take the appropriate measures to clarify these problems. sets in motion those hotheaded or adventurist types quote one sentence: law.” Take note: threats, blackmail and terror are covered by the shield of the law. Under this shield, Mr. Ali Shepremte is carrying out many illegal acts, which have been denounced in the newspaper “Berati” and in “Zëri i Popullit,” such as the recent case of the detention of the head of the Kutalli commune because he had to whom he presented the problems mentioned above and many other problems caused by this head of order. The Minister listened to them politely the appropriate measures to clarify these problems. KADRI KUKA Member of the District Council, Berat

- “Zëri i Popullit” does not take orders from policemen, let alone from policemen who are not in their profession - Two or three days ago, a letter marked “Not for reply” from the Durrës Public Order Department arrived at the editorial office of the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit”; the letter was also published by the Democratic Party’s outlet, “Rilindja Demokratike.” Respecting the rights of the Durrës police authorities, we are publishing their letter in full, so that readers can judge for themselves. “Continuing its destructive articles about the work being carried out with great sacrifice by the law-enforcement forces during this difficult period, ‘ZP’ accuses the Durrës police of having released the thieves who broke into the Municipality. In response to the public, already influenced by newspaper articles, the Durrës Public Order Department clarifies: 1. Ordinary items of little monetary value were stolen from the Municipality, contrary to what was reported in ZP. The Durrës law-enforcement authorities have taken, and continue to take, measures to identify the actual perpetrators. 2. No one was caught in the act and then released after confessing, as ZP claims, citing a supposedly inside source. 3. Regarding the Minister of Public Order’s being informed, and the attention he gave to the matter, by the head of the Durrës Public Order Department, we emphasize that the Minister is officially informed of every incident nationwide through reports sent to him every day. In one of the reports concerning this matter, he was informed that a reward would be offered to anyone who identifies the perpetrators. 4. The Public Order Department has received no request for the return of items, nor any notification from municipal employees who might have information. 5. As for the opinion of the employees of the Durrës Public Order Department, we emphasize that this department is working, and will continue to work, honestly and solely to uphold the law. It has respect for Mr. Kopliku as a citizen of Durrës, a member of parliament and Minister of Public Order, who has demanded and continues to demand that the law be applied equally to everyone. 6. As for being held accountable before the justice system, ZP would be acting rightly if it raised its voice to bring to account those who concealed the murders of innocent people and then buried them chained to coffee tables. Durrës Public Order Department (stamp and signature) On this occasion, the editorial staff of “Zëri i Popullit” congratulates the Durrës Public Order Department, which was ultimately forced to admit publicly that the Municipality of the city of Durrës had been robbed. The letter they sent officially proves that the information published by our newspaper is accurate and substantiated as regards the commission of the theft—something the Durrës Public Order Department had not disclosed until now, for reasons it knows best. What is astonishing in this context is that the new leaders of the Durrës police have the nerve to admit publicly that “ordinary items were stolen from the Municipality.” How can you put it like that, gentlemen? Aren’t you at all ashamed? Let us suppose for a moment that nothing was stolen, but that someone merely attempted to commit an act against a state institution such as the Municipality, which is guarded by police officers. Wouldn’t that also make you accountable before the law and the people you are paid to serve? The very notion that “ordinary items were stolen”—a notion that has resulted in negligence and indifference—is enough to... LUAN M. RAMA (Continued on page 4)

ONCE AGAIN IN ALBANIAN...