- The same scenario in every district of the country - Fascist actions by certain heads of public order departments PROTEST STATEMENT AGAINST THE PUBLIC ORDER DEPARTMENT OF PESHKOPI The District Steering Committee of the Socialist Party sent a strong protest to the president concerning the unprecedented situation in Peshkopi. - The same scenario in every district of the country - Fascist actions by certain heads of public order departments PROTEST STATEMENT AGAINST THE PUBLIC ORDER DEPARTMENT OF PESHKOPI The District Steering Committee of the Socialist Party sent a strong protest to the president concerning the unprecedented situation in Peshkopi, an incident of violence, and asked the public order department for the right to hold a protest rally on 7 March 1993. Although the request was submitted in writing a week beforehand, permission for the rally was denied on the grounds that 7 March was an official holiday. Faced with this naïve and unconvincing justification, we requested that the rally be held on 6 March at 14:00, submitting the appropriate request on 3 March. Our request was ostensibly approved, and following the approval public opinion was alerted and preparations were made for this demonstration. But on 4 March a written reply arrived stating that the rally would not be held. The arguments now were that 6 March was not a holiday, and so on... Because of the district’s geographical position... because of the situation in the region... and to prevent possible confrontations, we, as an organ... for employment, for the right to freedom trampled underfoot by the class struggle, for the land law... everything they need to survive and keep body and soul together, and for the luxury and prosperity that today’s holders of power sowed by deceiving and manipulating the people a year ago, solely to reap the comfort of their armchairs. Gentlemen of the Public Order Department! A rally is a legal right, and you have the right to protect it from provocateurs and unlawful actions, not to deny the legal right to hold this demonstration! Gentlemen, you are here to enforce the law, not to violate it. The right to demonstrations and gatherings, gentlemen, was written into law and implemented even under post-dictatorial and monarchical systems, let alone in a democratic state governed by the rule of law, which, as they preach, is what we are building. Do not forget, gentlemen, that such actions only kindle tensions and revolts; they do not serve peace, stability and democracy, but disorder, spontaneity, destabilization, revenge and dictatorship. We remind you, gentlemen, that socialist culture and emancipation are not the same as the actions of those who, not so long ago, held illegal rallies and gatherings, burning and destroying the country, inspired by the theory of zero and by vandalism in order to carry out their demonstrations. Do not forget, gentlemen, that this people cannot be kept in check by violence, terror and antidemocratic, unlawful actions. These are the prey and quarry of dictatorships, and in a democracy dictatorships are weapons that first destroy those who wield them, not those at whom they are aimed. We hope, gentlemen of public order, that you will be conscious and independent in your work, as democratic order and a state governed by law demand—not a party-state, or the party as state, which, by what it has said and done, divides one into two and three. As transparent and tolerant socialists, we wish—so that this action of ours will not be remembered in the annals of history as a black stain and an accusation against true democracy—that you judge as soon as possible when the situation is suitable for granting the deprived poor and needy people of Dibër the right to demonstrate and protest publicly, in accordance with legal norms, democratic freedoms and their legal rights. District Steering Committee of the Socialist Party, Dibër District [The movement] was mobilized and prepared for this demonstration. But on March 4, a written response arrived saying that the rally would not take place. The arguments now offered for March 6, when it was not a holiday, are different... in the region, and to prevent possible confrontations for which we, as an agency, have information... no demonstration will be held in an open area. Then, continuing this irresponsible response, instructions are given that the rally may be held in some hall on that date, provided the venue is notified so that checks can be carried out at the entrance, participants do not bring bags, etc. Gentlemen, we are expecting at least 20,000 people at that rally. Please tell us, using your police-style arithmetic, where in our town there is a hall that can hold that many people. Our rally could have 3,000 or even 30,000 participants, because in Dibër 80 percent of the population is at a crossroads in life and is experiencing the pangs of economic and social hardship and the tragic insecurity of life. It is not to your honor or dignity, gentlemen, to show this army of downcast and distressed people, victims of «democratic» preaching, chicken coops as places to gather! You even go so far as to tell them—and threaten them—that if they come to the rally, they must not bring bags, or they will be searched and thrown out, etc. It is a good thing you do not tell us, gentlemen, that men must come in bow ties and shorts, and women in flimsy dresses so they can be seen through and searched. In this act, gentlemen, you have insulted and outraged not merely the Steering Commission, but the entire body of Socialist Party members and supporters, who today make up more than 60 percent of the people of Dibër. You have also insulted the most elementary rights and freedoms of those who will come to protest for their daily bread, for the continuation of assistance...

On Thursday, 4 March 1993, at around 3 a.m., members of the Berat Public Order forces, equipped with an official legal document, went to the home of Luan Socialiste, a member of the district Socialist Party Presidium and editor-in-chief of the newspaper «Berati», and took him to the police station for public order. The family, relatives and neighbors experienced moments of genuine psychological terror. At the Public Order Department, the journalist was taken in for the second time because he had accurately reported the unconstitutional removal of the head of the Kualisë Commune, Xhevahir Hata, who had held a meeting at a school. For the second time at the police station, he was held for 30 minutes for the absurd reason: «We have the right to summon any citizen at any hour,» and because the surname of Mr. Vreko had supposedly been deliberately “distorted” in «Z.P.» to «Vdeko»—a typo corrected by the newspaper itself a few lines below, not a distortion by the author. We express our regret and indignation that such disgraceful, extremist, vengeful and utterly undemocratic actions are an uninterrupted pattern at the Berat Public Order Department. Despite our meetings and our desire for mutual understanding and strict observance of the law, the heated and extremist attitudes that have taken over this department do not stop, risking undesirable events in the ancient city of Berat. The Socialist Party of Berat District is not only not intimidated, but will know how to oppose such extremists, turning, if necessary, to international bodies, so that democracy and fundamental human rights are not violated. We trust in your vigorous intervention and the adoption of appropriate measures. STEERING COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY, BERAT Berat, 4 March 1993

«I would not want the President’s statement, “The greatest good for the greatest number,” to be associated with today’s parliamentary majority, because in reality it has remained fictitious» - His interview is published in full below - I would like to understand President Berisha’s statement, “The greatest good for the greatest number,” in the context of the position he has publicly maintained up to now, at least regarding the resolution of the conflict over former owners. I would not want fictitious. I do not say this for political interpretations, but because in reality everyone in Albania has been dispossessed by the communist regime; in other words, they are without property. If priority were given in the legal solution to the physical restitution of former owners’ property (here I naturally exclude criminals and collaborators of fascism), this would conflict with the property interests of 85 or 90 percent of today’s Albanians. Therefore, I would like the President’s statement to support the law on land for the peasantry. I hope that sound reasoning will gather around this concept among the majority, and that we will not leave the matter to be decided through the uncertainty of the law of the largest numbers. I hope European reasoning will prevail—not only that of the East, but also reasoning informed by the experience of Western countries after dictatorships—that compensation in value, spread over time and in accordance with the commitments the state undertakes toward its citizens, will be the rule for resolving this major problem. This does not rule out recognition of former owners’ rights, but it does not sideline the majority of the population either. (Thank you!)

- Meeting between MPs and residents of Hamallaj in Durrës. The day before yesterday, a meeting took place in the cultural hall of the Hamallaj farm in the district of Durrës between residents of the farm and Socialist Party MPs and councilors Bardhyl Agasi, Mojkom Zego, Zihni Beqiraj and Spartak Braho. At this meeting with the farm workers, attended by ordinary laborers, specialists and many young people, views were exchanged on the hardships and concerns the people are going through today, especially the residents of this farm, who are being kept in dire straits by the prospect of its possible destruction. In general, the farm workers’ view was that the farm should be reorganized and restructured, not dismantled. This is also because Italian companies have expressed interest in coming to cooperate and invest in reviving the agricultural economy of this enterprise. The farm workers raised issues closely connected with safeguarding the enterprise’s assets, livestock, barns and other facilities, which, owing to the incompetence of the managers and the Ministry of Agriculture, are being left to their fate. The meeting stressed that there is no obstacle to establishing a joint enterprise with an Italian company; the only obstacle is the insecurity that today’s authorities create for foreign investors. - Particular concern was expressed about the total inability of the government officials and the administration to govern and resolve the hardships the people face today. The residents of this farm unanimously expressed the view that the present government is no longer capable of governing the country: it lacks transparency, is caught in the grip of scandals, and is unable to find solutions to the people’s problems today. The Socialist Party MPs and councilors also spoke at the meeting and answered many of the questions put to them, emphasizing that the general view among the population, as well as throughout the Party, from the grassroots to the center, is that the government is incapable and should resign under its own weight. Correspondent of «Zëri i popullit»

On the morning of March 1, dozens of people witnessed a tragic, shocking scene. On ... Street, near ATSH, a car with Tirana license plates ... killed a person, an ... elderly man. The accident could have been extremely «spectacular»; indeed, one might say it was a warning. The person driving the car, a young man, perhaps no more than 20 years old, sped back and forth 7–8 times within a few minutes, at a crazed or insane speed, across the ... Lana River bridge–Ministry of Foreign Affairs route. Strangely, nobody stopped or warned him, as if there had not been a single police officer along that entire stretch of road! The people watching the car—the monster—immediately thought it might take someone’s life, because the driver was speeding recklessly. And the terrible thing, which could so easily have been prevented, happened: a ... died. It is also true that after the tragedy, the police were immediately there. So, after the horse had bolted! A few hours after the accident, something even more unbelievable happened? The person who had hit the elderly man (we do not know whether the attention he received helped the unfortunate man survive after that moment, or...) got back into the monster car and ... sped off toward the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Only then did a police officer on a motorcycle begin to pursue him. That is all the people saw. How is it possible to let the young man get back into the car after he has just killed someone? Why was the Tirana Directorate’s public order spokesperson silent? Who was the person who caused the accident, and what became of his victim? Should the silence of the public order branch be understood to mean that the culprit was some person with «special connections»? From a group of citizens who witnessed this incident

The Italo-American International Company is seeking the following staff for its new offices in Tirana: - A secretary with an attractive appearance, higher education, and an excellent command of English and Italian. - An assistant to organize commercial activities. Applicants should know English and Italian. To arrange an interview, you may call 23932 (Tirana).

YOU WILL CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR IN YOUR OWN HOMES. At the end of last year, just before the New Year, at one of his customary press conferences, President Berisha declared publicly and emphatically that Three months have passed. All Albanians are witnesses that the President kept his word. They celebrated the New Year only in the privatized homes in which they continue to live, and happily so. We all thank the President from the bottom of our hearts; your fellow citizen wishes you: HAPPY HOMES!...

The Socialist Women’s Forum of Albania, on the occasion of 8 March, International Women’s Day, wishes all our mothers, sisters and daughters, wherever they may be: Happy 8 March. Happy holiday to us all. On this festive day, we wish: That work, bread and peace of mind be secured for our lives and those of our children. We hope that the mass layoffs, the rise in prices and the drastic decline in the standard of living will come to an end. That the cultural, educational and scientific potential achieved by Albanian women be preserved—something of which we rightly used to be proud before today’s developed world. That the state’s political genocide against members and supporters of the Socialist Women’s Forum come to an end as soon as possible. That women be a decisive and powerful force in preserving, consolidating and strengthening the Albanian family. Rejecting the concept of woman-as-man, let us not allow the concept of woman-as-doll to arise. We wish rural women strength of spirit to withstand the blows and heavy burden of today’s rural reform. On this International Women’s Day, we once again address all the other Albanian women’s organizations and forums in Albania and wherever they may be around the world. Happy holiday, dear sisters! This day reminds us that our goals, wishes, hardships and concerns are shared. They stand above party divisions. Happy 8 March 1993! Socialist Women’s Forum of Albania

- Mr. Sali Berisha, President of the Republic - We, the trade unionists of the city of Kukës, who are addressed in the District Trade Union Constitution, make this appeal: on 7, 8, 1993 ... (Continued from page 2)

On Monday, March 8, 1993, at 10:00, a press conference with the chairman of the Socialist Party, SH... Fatos Nano, will be held in the hall at the Tirana Socialist Party headquarters, concerning current political developments in Albania. Journalists from the press, ATSH, Radio-Television, as well as representatives of the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Tirana, are invited to attend. Information Office of the SP