Protest by free owners - The properties demand possession, but he does not show up - 21 people detained by the police - Azem Hajdari: Why are you asking for the President? Go to the Prime Minister, he issues laws More than 800, several hundred house owners, accompanied by members of their families, gathered yesterday morning in front of the Presidency. Their demand was for the implementation of Article 17 of the law. The property restitution commission has not even touched the files and has not returned their houses to them. They further demanded an explanation of why the President, as chairman of the Council of Justice, is not enforcing the law, and why the Government is not enforcing it. “Is this law for us or for the other strata?” they asked. Such a protest had been announced in several newspapers for yesterday, and the organizers had stated that a delegation from the Presidency would receive them. In fact, the exact opposite happened. After some time of standing and waiting (about an hour and a half), a group of policemen, followed by their commanders, came toward the protesters. Without any attempt to clarify matters or meet with the crowd of demonstrators, the law-enforcement forces began to push them forcefully with their shields. Within a few minutes, a tense situation developed, and there was no shortage of shouting, opposition, and indignation from the owners. Despite any sporadic provocation that may have occurred in such a situation, the police forcibly loaded all the protesters into special vehicles and buses, without excluding women and elderly people. From that moment on, the event unfolded in a complete absence of tact, harshness, and arbitrariness. According to police leaders, who also arrived there with water trucks (perhaps to replace the President in a show of force), the protesters had no permit. At the same time, the police announced that the Tirana police leadership had objected to such a protest. A group of 20 people were taken to the police station, while the others were released. What should have been a peaceful, civil protest was turned into an unnecessary display of force. Had a civilized way of communicating with these people been found, what happened might also have been avoided. At around 1:15 p.m., Azem Hajdari arrived in front of the Presidency, and in his conversation with the protesters he said that he understood the protest, but according to him they should address the Prime Minister and not the President. According to Mr. Hajdari, the President does not make laws, so their request should be directed to the Prime Minister, who issues laws. This statement made an impression on those present. There was no official reaction from the Presidency.

At the invitation of the International Understanding Youth Association (CAIN) and Harvard University, a delegation of the Socialist Party of Albania, headed by the Secretary General, Mr. Servet Pëllumbi and composed of Ethem Ruka, Secretary for Foreign Relations, and Luan Rama, head of the Press Office, left last night for the USA for a 10-day visit. During this visit, our delegation will hold meetings at the State Department, the Senate, with senators and congressmen, at American research centers and at Harvard University. The delegation will also hold meetings with representatives of various American associations and foundations as well as with businessmen interested in investing in our country. ALI KOURVELA

He stole the mayor’s cow from the village green

We are in that area which was the most special and the harshest of the so-called agrarian reform. There are about 2,500 people who risk being left without land, a danger that has now taken deep root. These are the inhabitants of the village of Kalimash in the Kukës district, the inhabitants of this village who have suffered more than anyone else the harmful consequences of the totalitarian regime. In 1976, they were forcibly displaced from their lands to make way for the construction of the Fierza hydroelectric plant. They had good land in the valley, but the communist state compensated them very little, not enough even to build a new shelter. Then they were dumped where there was not even any question of roads or schools, without water and without electricity. And since their lands were flooded, the land the state gave them brought these people into the cooperative. This land has never passed into their ownership. However, with the implementation of the reform being carried out today, this right is being denied them. There are about 1,400 hectares of very fertile agricultural land and 900 hectares of meadows and pastures with more than 20,000 sheep that are being transferred in favor of a cooperative. The inhabitants of Kalimash are being denied this land on the grounds that it belongs to the cooperative members of the village of Kukës. In fact, this is a new injustice toward a population that has been punished several times. “The responsible parties” It is not the government. Apparently, the municipality. It seems that the article that defined then and now has no value in concrete implementation. Those voices that were raised for agrarian reform and property rights have been heard only little. The inhabitants of Kalimash say that the documents proving their ownership and the compensations made when they were displaced still exist. But no one takes responsibility for providing a solution. They are asking only for their land and fair treatment. It remains to be seen whether there will be any reaction from the relevant institutions.

They are being denied by force not only possession, but also the right to transfer compensation to former owners. During yesterday’s gathering and denunciations, many owners of homes and other properties declared that they would turn to the Court, the Prosecutor’s Office, and every state and international institution to demand the enforcement of the law. They said they could not accept that, after having won the right with legal documents, they should be blocked by arbitrary decisions, police intervention, or administrative delays. “We acquired these properties by law and we will defend them at all costs,” they said. In their testimonies they mentioned numerous cases in which they are not allowed to enter their homes, where the documents are not taken into account, and where the relevant commissions do not act. According to them, yesterday’s police response further aggravated the situation and showed a lack of will for dialogue. They called on public opinion and the institutions not to allow their rights to be violated.

Joint enterprises have also begun to close

A headline for Mr. Sali Berisha either the medal or the dollars

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