PS Chairman FATOS NANO meets residents of the town of Fushë-Krujë Twenty-five girls seek admission to the Socialist Party The public-order police in Fushë Krujë perform their duty correctly Television, which had been informed about this meeting, does not attend - PS Chairman FATOS NANO meets residents of the town of Fushë-Krujë - Twenty-five girls seek admission to the Socialist Party - The public-order police in Fushë Krujë perform their duty correctly - Television, which had been informed about this meeting, does not attend. Yesterday at 10 o’clock, the Steering Committee of the Socialist Party of the Krujë district organized a meeting between the people of the town of Fushë-Krujë and the Party chairman, Fatos Nano, at the town cinema. Around 700 people attended the meeting, members and supporters of the Socialist Party, as well as of other parties in that town. Comrade Fatos Nano was accompanied by Socialist Party MPs Gramoz Ruci, Mehmet Loci, Etem Ruka and Ndre Legisi. At the beginning of the meeting, the chairman of district, Bashkim Maloku, welcomed the Socialist Party representatives from Tirana, calling this a much-anticipated meeting. He then gave a brief overview of the economic and political situation in the Krujë district. “The economic and political situation is getting worse and worse,” he said in his remarks. The PD’s promises in the Krujë district have brought further impoverishment to the people. The land is still not being distributed in the countryside and the prices of labor [?] the Steering Committee, but quarrels, as others accuse us of. It is others who incite the quarrels, not us Socialists. Speaking further about the Socialist Party’s positions on events in the country, Fatos Nano said, among other things: “As a Party, we have continually called for understanding, coexistence and harmony with other political forces, especially those in power, because the new society must not be fragmented by Albanians denigrating Albanians, but must give everyone the opportunity to integrate with dignity into the new society. From the very beginning of the democratic processes, we have been concerned that the country not be led toward destruction. Honest Albanians, regardless of their parties, are not in favor of destruction. Recently, Fatos Nano continued, political tensions in Albania have increased considerably. The majority is passing undemocratic laws in parliament, ignoring the voice of the opposition. At the orders of police chiefs, innocent people are being beaten. Violence is being elevated to state policy, and the system [?]—the system that was set up for officials [?]. The President grants us rights in words, but in practice things are done differently. This shows that either he speaks one way and acts another, or nobody listens to him. The voice of the opposition—not only ours, but that of the other opposition parties too—is not being heard. We ask for work, privatization of state property, investment and partnership with foreigners. But none of these demands is heeded. It has come to denying us the right to speak. Democracy is being strangled by mercenaries who, for a salary, are ready to kill their own brother. Under these conditions,” Fatos Nano said, “if today’s government continues with this attitude, if the way of governing does not change, then the country needs a new political solution. There are two ways: either the parties find common ground to put an end to quarrels among people through dialogue and cooperation, in order to find better solutions to problems, or those in power must leave office and make way for capable and honest people, loved by the people regardless of their parties. As we have done until now, we will not abandon our call for dialogue. But in these difficult times, we are calling for new political solutions to remove the incompetent, charlatans and revanchists from power. The hands and feet of local government bodies have been tied by the government’s illegal decisions. The laws are made by the branches and sections of the PD. Albanians, from Tropojë to Konispol, are forced to come to the government’s doors over even the smallest problem, because local authorities lack the powers to resolve their concerns. Speaking about the Socialist Party’s alternatives for economic reform, Fatos Nano said that we demand that people be financially compensated for the properties to be privatized. We demand ... having called this meeting eagerly awaited. Then he in the district of Krujë. he said in his speech. The PD’s promises in the district of Krujë have brought further impoverishment to the people. the costs of working it are unaffordable for farmers. The nepotism of those in power is flourishing everywhere. Enterprises are closing, increasing unemployment. The laws passed in parliament are not being implemented at the local level. People’s situation is hopeless. Then he gave the floor to the chairman of the PS, Fatos Nano, who thanked you for your interest in this meeting and, first of all, Fatos Nano. This is an expression of the traditional hospitality of the people of Krujë, but also of the trust they have in the Socialist Party. You deserve to be greeted while standing, he said, as a sign of respect for your ability and intelligence in doing good work. Fushë-Kruja has capable people who are respected by their families, their clans and all of Albania. We have come to learn from your strengths, and to meet with you—not to open...” regardless of party affiliation, are not a matter for joking. Recently, Fatos Nano went on, political tensions in Albania have risen the voice of the opposition. Innocent people are being beaten on the orders of police chiefs. Violence is being elevated to state policy, whereas democracy means respect for the law and human rights. Those who incite hatred among people have taken all the power of the dictatorship we left behind in order to fill their own pockets. In making these observations, we are not seeking to gain partisan political capital, but want Albanians to participate genuinely in governing the country. We want the national wealth to serve everyone and not a minority that does not work for the masses, but for particular clans, seeking to turn Albania into the feudal estates of before 1939. Those who lost when fascism fell are seeking to win today and turn the people into slaves. Democracy is not built with demagogic slogans. The result of the 22 March elections expressed the people’s will to change the situation. Those in power are...” returning to class and clan warfare to eliminate their opponents. This does not smell of democracy, but of fascism. That is why the call “Down with the fascists” will serve Albania for a long time yet. The country’s development today requires the establishment of political balances. Unlike in the 22 March elections, on the 26th the people called for these balances. We respected the PD electorate, supported the electorate, and made efforts to win over those who had stayed aside because of disappointment. The elections of 26 July obliged us to defend the interests of the masses more forcefully. We stepped up our struggle in parliament to pass democratic laws. We have called for economic laws that favour the majority of the people; we have called for an objective assessment of history; we have called for corruption to be genuinely fought; we have called for the round table of political parties to function regularly on the current problems facing the country. This is the path of our struggle for democracy today.» Papa shpien. We have made it clear to those in power that only mutual understanding and solidarity among people can make the country better. As for our demands and proposals, they have remained...»

The government officials in action - Two deputy ministers of Public Order and three department directors throw five ordinary citizens’ families out onto the street to take over their homes The government officials in action THREATS, RETALIATION, RAIDS - Two deputy ministers of Public Order and three department directors throw five ordinary citizens’ families out onto the street to take over their homes Yesterday around midday, the public-order police in Tirana began forcibly evicting five workers’ families from their homes so that the new ruling-class bosses could move in. To explain: the building was constructed through the voluntary contributions of employees of the construction enterprise of the Ministry of Public Order. It was completed a year ago. The families, according to their housing needs and their contribution to the construction of the building, were issued proper authorizations, approved by a commission established specifically for this purpose. The residents have been living in this building for eight months. But their good fortune in having a home in the center of Tirana has made the leaders of the Ministry of Public Order very jealous. The administrative actions and communications with the Tirana Municipality were carried out by Deputy Minister Hami through a letter bearing number 643, dated 10.4.1993, followed by other letters sent by the Tirana court. The latter, too, has trampled on the «Law on Human Rights and Freedoms», recently approved by the Albanian Parliament. It is worth emphasizing that this court did not hold a hearing on this matter. But let us acquaint readers with the names of those thrown out onto the street with their children and elderly women. They are: Hysen Zaimi, Sokrat, Qose, Misar Kurti, Lumturi Luga and Adrian Haxholli. All five are working-class families who contributed their sweat and toil, as the saying goes, to the construction of the building (not the bones of Shkëpit Roniqit [?]). And who are the people who will move in? They are officials Astrit Mehaj and Hajri Mezini, both deputy ministers. The outrage peaks when Mr. Mezini moves the family of Mehmet Hyseni, a simple officer, out of the first floor so he can move into the second. Three others are Agim Shehu, Ismail Klosi and Rasin Boriçi, who are directors of departments at the ministry. This is even more inhumane when families of 6–7 people are evicted while another family or two have only one or two children. (Mr. Hajri Meh'ni has even sent abroad the only son he has.) We saw the moments of the families’ eviction with our own eyes. The household goods, furniture and appliances were taken outside in the middle of a heavy rainstorm. Even the police officers who carried out this act felt humiliated before public opinion and the people watching them. But they had nothing they could do: their superiors’ orders had to be carried out. Curses, insults and threats could be heard from people who were themselves under threat, but who could hear them?! «We took the road to have the President make you one,» says Lumturi Luga, «but when we came back, we found the doors of the houses smashed in.» «This is a scandal; this is what they mean by killing yourself,» shouted another woman, Dhurata Haxholli. BASHKIM KOÇI

Parenthesis: the director of the Merchant Fleet in Durrës, appointed by the PD, is the blue Bolshevik Mehmet Ypi. As soon as he took up this post, in carrying out the tasks assigned by the party, he dismissed sailors and other managerial staff—of course members and supporters of the PS—and replaced them with other “trusted” people recommended by the personnel office of the party currently in power. Some of them had even been convicted of theft, but they had the Party’s recommendation to work in the fleet. Up to this point, not a thorn has pierced this director’s foot. In a few words, that was his political activity in personnel matters: a policy of human discrimination, ordered from above. After that, he thought he would be just as capable of meddling in the economy, regardless of anything. Parenthesis: Petrit Deliallisi was head of the Finance Department of the Merchant Fleet in Durrës. He is known as one of the most capable and reputable financiers, experienced, fair and devoted to his work and profession. His fellow financiers, the public and the workforce all know him as such. To silence this employee, the “vezhgzek” [?] fleet director Mr. Mehmet Ypi, by order no. 51 dated 23.2.1993, relying on the notorious article 24-1 approved by the majority, dismissed him and put him on unemployment assistance. He had no other option, because the finance chief’s accusations of corruption against his director had been made openly. What did they concern? 1. Petrit Deliallisi was threatened by the director to clear the way for additional work on a car engine, following an order from the Ministry of Transport to take it out of service. 2. Director Mehmetti buys a used van-type vehicle from a private individual for 3800 USD. The director orders the transactions to be carried out, but the head of the Finance Department refuses. 3. On 17.2.1993 this car was bought from a private company in Kavajë. (Continued on page 2)

Gëzim Mustafaraj is the village headman in Povelçë, Fier. He is the village headman in Povelçë, Fier. He has understood the duties of a village headman well. Before the property of the NB is divided, he thinks of himself first. In addition to some admirers, with several [?] of the enterprise’s warehouses, he has, under his own watch, gone after the livestock like the old-time [?]. This right-wing extremist, without any document and without paying a penny, has become “the terror of every living thing.” First he took five sheep, then apparently he liked the meat and took six rams, băr... Malig Agara [?], and later five heifers that were under supervision. He was not content to keep everything for himself, but distributed some to his people too. After all, why is he the village headman? FETE LUMI

I live in Tirana, Kavaja Street, neighborhood no. 4, no. 28, in a single-storey house; there are seven of us. I, who am addressing the public, parliament, the President and the government with this letter, am a very poor citizen. My wife and I are on assistance, without work. The house where I live had been uninhabitable, but the state spent money and made it habitable. But... Now the former owners of the land have come to my house, because apparently it once belonged to someone. He came with six others, insulting me and my family, demanding that I pay him 5000 lekë in rent per month, otherwise they would throw me out. I ask you first, Mr. President: where am I, with six others, supposed to go? Am I to go out onto the main road with my wife and children? Can I pay the rent for the house with the assistance they give me and still provide for my life? Article 14 of the law on the return of property is leading us into bloodshed with the owners; it is putting us out on the street. Put yourselves in our position, gentlemen of the state, and you too, Mr. President. An Albanian is [?] in the world. It is absolutely essential that parliament review this law. We too contributed to the houses that were nationalized. The owners want to take back houses that had been hovels and turn them into villas with designs of the time. These former owners want the houses so they can sell them to others. Let the owners of houses and shops live in every comfort. As for us, who have no government, let God alone think of us. We did not know that democracy would get us into such great disputes. We all want democracy, but not like this. SHABAN REÇI, NAILE REÇI and ASLLAN BERISHA

Yes, Blerimi is blooming in Korçë too. Full proof of this is the recent appointment as head of the state inspection service for this area of Mr. Agim Shalli, 59, from the village of Melcan in Korçë, formerly a timekeeper in the planning department of the Lumalas cooperative. Mr. Agim, very zealous in this job, to demonstrate even more the “blooming” of Blerim Çela, whose maternal aunt’s son he is (oh, when will these branches and Blerim’s arses run out?), has now grown a moustache too. Mr. Agim comes every day from Melcan to Korçë; he sees his obligations to his post as inseparable from his obligations to his clan and his cousin Blerim Çela, while qualified urban economists are pounding the pavement. Keep blooming, Blerim, keep blooming! KOÇO DRENOVA

1. The village of Çoraj writes letters After putting up with things for a while, the villagers of the remote mountain village of Saranda start sending telegrams down: “To the Party. We have no water, electricity or bread; they have stolen our millstones. We don’t even have, aspin...” It is said that the deputy of one of them, who does not wish to be identified, supposedly said: “Democracy still hasn’t reached Çoraj. Don’t they know that these matters are dealt with by the rule-of-law state?” But the people of Çoraj did not give up; they keep writing letters. 2. An educational landscape from Bajkaj The education directorate official was astonished. It was the middle of the week, but the school in the village of Bajkaj, between Delvinë and Saranda, was locked and there was no sound of pupils. What could have happened? the inspector wondered, and went on so as not to be seen by the pupils. The pupils came out in front of him on a path. “The teacher is taking his turn at harvesting,” they explained. The correct answer. 3. Instead of wool, for the Minister of Labour An elderly man, hardened by the old days of emigration, stood up and said: “I didn’t come back so that a refugee boy from Saranda could get a job. Find one of your own to kiss our forehead.” SARANDITI