- The Association of families displaced by the Fierza hydroelectric plant organized a protest rally in the town of Kukës on 9 May. Thousands of people, participants in the 30,000 residents of the 40 villages displaced by the Fierza lake, strongly demanded that their just requests be resolved as quickly as possible by the current authorities. In a protest petition sent to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister and Parliament, it was stated that the people displaced by the construction of the lake and later the unjust punishments of that time have been left with only 4 percent of their land, while the rest was never given to them, although it had belonged to their family since the time of their ancestors. Not a single piece of land has been returned to the displaced from the state’s more than 2,000 hectares of land, but instead they were given rocky and stony plots. "Forgive us, what did our displaced people gain from the electrification of the whole country?" asks the petition. It said that because of the government’s disregard, which has supported manipulations in the courts, the persecuted owners turned to a peaceful protest addressed to no one other than the very power that has left them in misery. The petition declares that the Helsinki Committee, the People’s Advocate[?], the Association for the Protection of Human Rights and the people of Kukës are asked to ensure justice for 120 families with 200 people and 310 hectares of land unfairly occupied by 22 employees of the state enterprise in Shëmri. The petition protests against the justice authorities which, under the pretext that the court is reviewing the procedures, do not implement the final decisions ordering the owners’ usurped land to be returned. (To be continued on page 3)

- Conversation by the newspaper’s deputy editor-in-chief, Luan M. Rama, with the leaders of the Kukës district prosecutor’s office and with the director of that district’s police. As you enter the city of Kukës, the main road split in two by Hasan’s grave[?] imposes on you the calm of a sleeping town, but that sleep, despite the early morning hours, is shaken and disturbed by a part of the road unusually crowded with people. Thousands of Kukës residents, men and women, old people, children and young people, coming from villages and various communes, have gathered in front of the District Court building. They are demanding that judicial proceedings be carried out honestly. They are demanding that the law be restored, which was stolen from them by deceit and trickery. They are demanding that the violations of the past, which continue to make the law today, be uncovered. They are demanding that abuse of power and the sweat of the poor be stopped. They are demanding justice and honesty. In the eyes of every protester, on their faces scratched by the worries of a miserable life, concern, resentment, anger appear. In their gaze persist questions, facts, hope, impatience and pain. Through this troubled and determined crowd passes the clear message of rejection of injustice. At the center of the protest were the issues of land ownership, the delay of court proceedings, and the non-implementation of final decisions. Many of the protesters stated that they had been deceived by local officials and powerful individuals who had benefited from the chaos of recent years. They demanded immediate intervention by the prosecutor’s office and the police to return the property to its rightful owner and punish those responsible. (To be continued on page 3)

Police violence against the democratic people of Kuçovë PROTEST - To the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha. - To the Chairman of the Democratic Party. - To the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr. A. Meksi. - To the Chairman of State Control. - To the Chairman of General Control. - To the "Helsinki" Organization. - To the Human Rights Protection Committee. - To the People’s Advocate. - Koha jonë Address of the protest Police violence against the democratic people of Kuçovë On 6 May 1993 in the district of Kuçovë, after a police raid carried out without cause or warning, the police used unchecked violence against citizens and, with shamelessness, entered their homes, where belongings were turned upside down and innocent people were beaten. This event has brought great indignation among the people of Kuçovë and has created an atmosphere of terror. We protest against this violence and demand punishment for the perpetrators, as well as the removal of the officials who ordered these illegal actions. (To be continued on page 4)

The lawsuit filed a few days ago against the chief prosecutor of the Tirana district, Mr. Ilir Tirana[?], for serious legal violations had a new development yesterday. It has been learned that the general prosecutor has suspended the Tirana prosecutor from duty until the investigation into his activities is completed. An official statement from the prosecutor’s office says that disciplinary and criminal proceedings have been opened against him for abuse of office. Sources close to the institution said the charges are related to arbitrary decisions, favoritism, and failure to comply with legal procedures. L. HUPI

As someone who is being strongly supported by Berisha’s government, Mr. Sali Kelmendi has come into the center of public attention because of his one-sided positions and his statements against political opponents. He is accused of using harsh language and of defending double standards when it comes to the application of the law and respect for citizens’ rights. According to the author of the article, Mr. Kelmendi tries to present himself as a defender of the public interest, but his actions show the opposite. In this context, he is described as an example of the political hypocrisy of the time. (To be continued on page 5)

In recent discussions concerning property conflicts and court procedures, it has been emphasized that many of the cases in question are civil matters and not criminal ones. As a result, the justice authorities must follow the proper procedural path and not handle cases according to political interests. The author underlines that clarifying jurisdiction and respecting the civil code are essential in order to avoid arbitrariness and restore citizens’ trust in the rule of law. (To be continued on page 5)

Our boys crossed the border to support their families LETTER To the President of the Republic SALI BERISHA To the Prime Minister ALEKSANDËR MEXI To the Chairman of the Socialist Party Fatos NANO To the Chairman of the Republican Party SABRI GODO Mr. PJETËR ARBNORI Gentlemen! We are writing to you in our capacity as the mothers and wives of clandestine emigrant boys, asking you for help in bringing our sons back to their homeland. These boys crossed the border not for adventure, but out of poverty and the inability to provide bread for their families. Today they are in foreign prisons, mistreated and without support. We ask that the Albanian state intervene with the authorities of the countries where they are being held, send diplomatic representatives, and help secure their return. Many of them are young men with no criminal record, driven by misery and unemployment. We ask not for privileges, only for human compassion and state assistance so that these sons do not lose their lives far from their country. 2 REPRESENTATIVES OF THE MOTHERS Aferdita Pesha[?] Chairwoman of the mothers’ committee 2. PERVESH NAÇAKU[?]

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA