By order of the prison director, visits and food are forbidden to him for ten days — After his arbitrary and unlawful arrest and confinement in a cell under strict police guard, after being forbidden to receive visitors at home and to communicate with friends or the public, another measure has been taken against the Chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania and member of the People’s Assembly, Fatos Nano. By order of the prison director, Mr. Tanush Mileti, he has been prohibited from receiving visitors and food for ten days, because a newspaper, «Zëri i Popullit», was found in his cell, and for the additional reason that he had taken a letter he had written out of the prison. Everything is clear. All those in power are so frightened of Fatos Nano that they will not even allow him to read the newspaper, wishing in this way to imprison his words as well. But words cannot be imprisoned; words cannot be killed, just as a person’s spirit and heart cannot be imprisoned. Those in power know this too, but, terrified by their final feverish apprehensions, they have lost their logic and do not know what to do. That is why they have set the police against Fatos Nano’s words... KRENAR LABI

In many neighborhoods of Korçë, drinking water has been absent for days. Young and old, from 9 months to 99 years of age, with bottles, jerrycans, buckets and other containers...

GJIROKASTËR On 15 August, the 50th anniversary of the formation of the partisan battalion «Mi-

ONCE AGAIN: Political maneuvers in the Tirana court to attack the Socialist Party

THE missing for ten whole of age, with bottles, jerrycans, buckets and other containers, roam and rush around as fast as their legs will carry them, searching for a drop of water. Someone said that a many-headed dragon had appeared. We believed it. Because we believe so many fairy tales; that is why we have put the fairy-tale tellers at the head of the country and the assembly. Fine, we accepted the care—but where is the prince who will cut off its heads? We hoped that one day the fairy tale would bring down from the sky the prince with the sword. And he came. He strode confidently through the streets of Korçë. He climbed onto the platform and took off his disguise. Those present recognized the worthy heir of the tribe of Shëndëlli, the famous Prince Ilir Manushi. Right there and then he drew the sword of promises (which had rusted because it had not been used since the last election campaign) and shouted: «12 million dollars just for Korçë’s water supply system (God alone knows what stopped him from saying 12 billion).» And off he went, just as he had arrived, with a majestic stride. The old folks say that the flash of this sword blinded the dragon, but it still has not released the water. So the neighborhood council has met and drafted a letter in which, with their hands on their hearts, they implore Prince Manushi to use his sword once again. Will he come or not? We know what has happened; as for what will happen... may Allah grant us the years to live long enough to find out.

of the formation of the partisan battalion «Misto Mame» was celebrated in the plain of Erind. Residents of the Lunxhëri region, former partisans and the families of martyrs honored them by laying wreaths and bouquets of flowers. The ceremony was opened by the commune chairman. Thimo Mici, a former cadre of the formation, spoke about the activities of this glorious partisan unit. On behalf of the veterans’ committee, its secretary, Zilfo Latifi, offered greetings. Representatives of the district’s political forces also gave greetings. At the end, representatives of the district and commune authorities and of the political parties visited the families of the region’s martyrs. Correspondent of «Zëri i Popullit»

The season of trials in Tirana ONCE AGAIN: Political staging in the Tirana court to strike at the Socialist Party FATMIR KUMBARO DECLARES IN COURT: «If they are trying to teach me and my friends a lesson, gentlemen, you cannot do that by imprisoning us; answer the people who are demanding bread, work and peace.» - Yesterday at the Tirana Court: Fatmir Kumbaro, member of the Presidency of the Socialist Party, Bilal Semanaj and Ilir Ismailati - Judge Martin Deda took two hours to sentence to four months’ imprisonment, Bilal Semanaj to 20 days’ imprisonment, and Ilir Ismailati to a fine of 200 lekë. - On Tuesday, Zeir Këndella was sentenced to 20 days in prison, as was Behar Muça. Yesterday at 10:00, the trial resumed at the Tirana Court against members of the Presidency of the Socialist Party, Fatmir Kumbaro, as well as citizens Bilal Semanaj and Ilir Ismailat, accused of the criminal misdemeanor of gathering at an illegal rally, as provided for in Article 6 of Decree 7408. The trial panel concluded the judicial investigation and admitted the evidence; a photographic cassette was also admitted as evidence. Fatmir Kumbaro denied that he was the person shown in it, saying that in the photograph I am shown wearing a white shirt, whereas I was wearing a beige checked shirt, and that the watch had a black strap, whereas I have a watch with a metal chain, which is in the prison as evidence. Reading the record of personal belongings drawn up at the time of his detention, Judge Martin Deda quoted: «“Sillava” watch with a metal chain». The prosecutor read the closing submissions and, in conclusion, requested that Fatmir Kumbaro be found guilty and sentenced to one and a half months in prison; that Bilal Semanaj be found guilty and sentenced to 20 days in prison; and that Ilir Ismailati be found guilty and fined. The defendants’ lawyers sought acquittals for their clients. Fatmir Kumbaro’s lawyer thus pointed out the lack of objectivity on the part of the prosecution authorities, as well as the violation of human rights. The arrest was unlawful and the charge was not communicated to the defendant. The witnesses denied the written complaints made at the police station and said that what they were saying in the courtroom was true. The other witnesses to the alleged apprehension in the act denied the accusations. Lawyer Agim Tirana also stated that Bilal Semanaj had been detained arbitrarily and, after the court examined the evidence, which did not prove the charges but instead refuted them, he requested an acquittal. Lawyer Spartak Braho also requested an acquittal for Ilir Ismailati. In his closing defense statement, Fatmir Kumbaro stressed once again that he had been at the «Dinamo» stadium for only 20 minutes. They had been in contact with the rally organizers for 20 minutes and had committed themselves to preventing confrontations and excesses. He described his detention at the Socialist Party headquarters as unlawful. -I am (Continued on page 4)

Paradox or corruption? Well-informed sources report that the General Directorate of Electrogeneration (under the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy) will buy from a Danish company for the needs of our hydroelectric plants. Even the simplest reader may be surprised by such a move and immediately ask why these are not being bought directly in China, but from a company in Denmark. The DPE and the relevant Ministry must answer precisely this question. We are trying to help them with the facts at our disposal. The World Bank, in the form of a project loan, allocated $1.5 million to the General Directorate of Electrogeneration for Chinese equipment, machinery and spare parts for our hydroelectric plants. In other words, Chinese equipment was needed to generate electricity from water, and it was to be bought in China. Now comes the most serious revelation: to this day, despite all its promises, the DPE does nothing but drive up the price. In this particular case, instead of placing orders directly with the manufacturing plants in China, or at least with the corporation representing them, the DPE enters into an arrangement with another corporation, which in turn deals with a Danish company! If each of them asks for a 10 percent commission on the World Bank’s $1.5 million, they will take $300,000, or one fifth of the total amount. It is said for good reason that everything always costs the poor more. Is this luxury financed with the money? But not to that extent, even by God. On the contrary. It is clear that any buyer, Albanian or foreign, is interested in lowering the price and, indeed, as much as possible. Could this be corruption? Why don’t we deal directly with the manufacturing plants? What does the General Directorate of Electrogeneration have to say? And the Ministry of Mineral Resources and Energy? The shadow of suspicion hangs over them. D. T.

It is pointless to look for empty courtrooms; they are all at work. There is no point looking for benches for criminal defendants and thieves of the state: they are all at ease. The state is dealing with its opponents, who have foretold the end of its salvation. Today at 9:30, a judicial hearing, followed closely by no one who asked to be excused, opened again; the testimony was postponed until the afternoon, with the final words of the accusation in the grotesque comedy being staged by the Tirana Court of Appeal. As always, once again they are facing each other: Mr. Idajet Beqiri, defended by lawyer Përparim Sanxhaku, who was seeking an acquittal, and, on the other side, the trial panel, consisting of presiding judge Zija Vuci and judges Arqile Nini and Dëshira Subashi, to rule on the charge, which was supported by the prosecutor in the case, Mr. Kadri Skëra. The state accusation was that Mr. Beqiri had insulted the Republic’s presidency, in a piece entitled «Mr. Berisha...» As always, once again they are facing each other: Idajet Beqiri, defended by lawyer Përparim Sanxhaku, who sought and Dëshira Subashi, to rule on the charge The charge was the same: Mr. Beqiri was accused of insulting the Republic’s presidency in a piece entitled «Mr. Berisha, you are a murderer ...» At the outset, the presiding judge, Mr. Vuci, announced the decision to summon as an expert in the criminal case the distinguished poet Ylljet Aliu Ralks? pëlqejnëshkë kryes? dakstor in the newspaper «Republika», regarding the matter of... 1. Whether the article had been written in accordance with journalistic ethics; 2) whether or not the truth had been balanced... (Continued on page 4)

STATEMENT of the Presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania STATEMENT of the Presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania Our public has learned of the shocking events in Laç on 13 and 14 August. Over the course of two days, an officer responsible for maintaining public order was seriously stabbed. One of the participants in the incident was arrested and, following the police’s inhuman treatment of him, he died. The outraged people protested spontaneously in front of the police station and in the city streets. After this, stale accusations were heard on television that political forces had organized the spontaneous uprising in Laç; an unknown correspondent even named the SP. There is no need for comment on the fact that the party-and-government authorities, eager to please, and especially their extremist clique, have launched an unprecedented attack against the Socialist Party. It is also clear that, in this attack, they are inspired to pursue an inhuman course. But, finally, an abnormal appetite is becoming evident: after every incident, punitive actions are undertaken against the SP. This is what happened in the case of Laç, which was exploited to arrest even the chairman, deputy chairman and a member of the SP Steering Committee for the Laç district, on the basis of police conjecture and orders from above. The contrived nature of this scenario becomes all the clearer when it is learned that the SP deputy chairman, Albert Zhviti, lives in Mamurras and was not in Laç at all on the day of the incident. But the people issuing the orders apparently did not know where those they had ordered arrested were. We denounce the wrongful actions being carried out against the SP according to the scheme, «an attack on the centre must be accompanied by an attack in the districts»—something that is becoming clear following the arrest of SP Chairman Fatos Nano. At the same time, however, we tell the revanchist reactionaries that SP members and leaders, both centrally and in the districts, are not frightened by threats, because truth and justice are on our side. You may carry out the punitive schemes served up in the kitchens of revenge and revanchism. You may arrest innocent people according to the political lists you have drawn up. You may stage farcical and inhuman trials, like those held in recent days, sentencing SP members, even a member of its Presidium, Fatmir Kumbaro, for taking part in the 30 July rally in Tirana. None of this weakens the SP or its standing among the people. What you seek to take away from us by threats, you can never gain in courtrooms; on the contrary, every staged trial is a trial against the very neo-dictatorship you want to install. But at the same time, we strongly denounce, with deep indignation, the violent police action that took the life of citizen David Leka. He was indeed implicated in an incident that should have been investigated and tried. But under no circumstances should it have ended as it did. The first words of the much-publicized law «Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms» guarantee every person’s right to life and its protection by law. Our Parliament has approved Albania’s accession to the convention against the use of torture. Yet the case of Laç, following those of Korçë, Fier and Lezhë, is the fourth in which citizens of our Republic have died in police custody. Why do we make laws and take these actions: to deceive Europe, or to protect the citizens of the Republic from police violence and political revenge? The Socialist Party of Albania has consistently declared its commitment to upholding and respecting the laws of the state, to stabilizing and preserving public order, and it has faithfully honored this commitment in all its activities. It has condemned, and will continue to condemn, every hooligan act. Those who wounded and endangered the life of the police officer in Laç, when he opposed arbitrariness, must be identified and punished under the law. But the law must also act swiftly and firmly against those public-order officers who barbarously took the life of the young man from Laç. This would help calm public opinion, rather than serve political, police or television manipulation. Yesterday, today and in the future, the Socialist Party of Albania has acted and will act only through democratic means to resolve problems. We have no need to incite or exploit anarchic actions. Others are the ones who have exploited the revolt of the crowds for political purposes. The party in power is wrong to try to characterize and judge the SP by its own standards. The people know who has at heart the escalation of political conflict, even when it is built on human suffering. Once again, we strongly denounce every kind of politicization and incitement of violent acts, because this can only divide and destabilize the situation, when the country and its people need calm and understanding more than ever. The Presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania TIRANA, 17. 8. 1993.