Name: - Luftëtar Matohiti Age: - 39 Place of birth: - Vlorë Residence: - Elbasan Married? - Yes Children? - Four children, aged 1 to 8 Convicted? - No Where does he work? - Unemployed for two years Party member? - Yes, member of the Democratic Party Does he admit the accusation? - No These were the first formalities of the trial held the day before yesterday at the Tirana Court. The accused was the aforementioned man. The crime he committed is that, with the article titled “Disappointment Can Turn into Hatred,” published in the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit” on 10 December 1993, he “insulted and slandered the highest state organs.” The court’s decision is now known: 2 months in prison for Matohiti. Arrested on 23 December, he cannot spend the New Year with his family. Tomorrow “Zëri i Popullit” back in court again On Monday at 8 o’clock, the Tirana Court has once again summoned “Zëri i Popullit” to court. This time, as it is understood, the Minister of Defense, Safet Zhulali, [will?] seek damages from our newspaper over the reform in the army. This concerns articles published about a year and a half ago, already since the introduction of the law of Albania. On this occasion, we also note that our newspaper has received messages of solidarity from many newspapers around the world, including several American newspapers. There is also the sympathy “will never be silenced.” After the trial the day before yesterday, he must remain 40 more days away from his family. It is not a big thing. In prison he has thought to himself in prison cells. During the 6 hours of the protracted trial, with handcuffs on his hands, he never weakened. Perhaps he only weakened when those present at the trial, mainly journalists, after the verdict was announced, stood by him and wished him not to be upset. He was waiting, escorted by his own police guards. And the prison van came to take him. And perhaps at that moment the art of human endurance seemed greater to him, to stand as he had stood all the time that day, Durrës socialists from the offices of the People’s Assembly with 50,000 lek each. We thank all our friends and well-wishers, many wherever they may be, for reaffirming that it is their support that gives us more courage than words can say. This response is neither new nor unexpected for us; it is in the wake of 8 others, through which members and sympathizers of the PS have been prevented from holding normal peaceful gatherings since last August until today, in one of the public squares of the city of Tirana. It is no coincidence that this is being done to us for the 8th time. We regard it as a repeated violation of the law “fundamental rights and freedoms of the person and the community,” article 21, the right to assemble, approved by the People’s Assembly on 19??, with which the highest officials of the PD have boasted in Europe before foreigners who have come to our country. Despite the fact that it is in a brief response, it had wanted to express his feelings about what was going on around him. He had been one of the ardent activists of the PD in Elbasan. He had even become a party member. He had believed in democracy. He had also believed the empty promises of the PD. Promises that were never fulfilled, but which he had sincerely believed. What are the reasons and explanations he gave to the highest state organs? Here is what was written in the court decision: “In the content of this article it appears that expressions were also written such as ‘Suddenly, the issue has come to coffins, have you calculated them? For a new life you have washed and felt things, and the irritation, which is a manifestation, because the right raped us, since such acts are new and bring honor into harm to the state of the highest state organs. Thus, it is clear that the president cannot be guilty for a death or killing of an Albanian citizen who is outside the border. With such reasoning, the court decision continues below as well. One thing is known for certain. They have taken away his freedom for a few lines written with a wounded heart, but even in prison the only thing that could keep him going was himself. He will never accept that he himself had no right to speak. He will remember this disappointment all his life. And perhaps this disappointment will be eternal. (To be continued on page 4)

NATIONAL LIBRARY TIRANA For the ninth time, the holding of a peaceful gathering in the capital is prevented — Statement by the chairman of the PS of Tirana, Luan Shkollari — As has been made known, the request of the PS of Tirana for a peaceful gathering, announced, was negatively answered by police no. 1. This response is neither new nor unexpected for us; it is in the wake of 8 others, through which members and sympathizers of the PS have been prevented from holding normal peaceful gatherings since last August until today, in one of the public squares of the city of Tirana. It is no coincidence that it is being done to us for the 8th time. We regard it as a repeated violation of the law “fundamental rights and freedoms of the person and the community,” article 21, the right to assemble, approved by the People’s Assembly on 19??, with which the highest officials of the PD have boasted in Europe before foreigners who have come to our country. Despite the fact that it is a response sent by a police body, it is clothed in profoundly state-related reasons concerning the obstacles placed before the socialist opposition. It is known that the Ministry of Public Order, in cooperation with the police stations, has issued orders to restrict the movements of the PD and other political forces in the squares “Skënderbej”, “Studenti” and in front of the Parliament headquarters. We stress that currently the police station [?] is under the Ministry of Public Order, which has still not responded to our request sent by us No. 47 dated 12.1.1994. We will use all means of the democratic and legal path to unblock the implementation of this constitutional law by appealing to the Constitutional Court as well as to international organizations that deal with the protection of fundamental human rights and freedoms.

The day before yesterday, at the headquarters of the KPD of the Socialist Party, the Intelligence Commission organized a round table devoted to the Albanian mass media. Participants included professional intellectuals from the mass media from Radio Television, the Albanian Telegraphic Agency, the agency “Dejta Velle”, the newspapers “Rilindja Demokratike”, “Zëri i popullit”, “Albania”, “Koha Jonë”, “Alternativa SD”, “Kombi”, “Bota Informacion” and others. “Afër dhe larg” and other newspapers, independent, were represented before the Intelligence Commission of the KPD by Dr. Maqo Lakrori and Dr. Ethem Ruka. Dr. Maqo Lakrori opened with an analysis of the Commission’s reflection: the achievements and problems of the mass media on the independent path. The participants focused on issues affecting the individual and social development of each participant in the discussion. All those present took part in the discussion. In all (To be continued on page 4)

On the occasion of 15 January, the second anniversary of the creation of the Youth Eurosocialist Forum of Albania, an evening cocktail was organized at the President Hotel Dajtit. Participants included students from one of the secondary schools of that place, members and sympathizers of the Forum and of the Socialist Party, young people from the Forum and other invited guests. On behalf of the Steering Committee of the Forum, greetings were extended by the deputy chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania, Dr. Servet Pëllumbi. Thanking them for the great contribution they make in the dignified representation of the Albanian socialist alternative, he wished the youth success and new victories. On this occasion, a greeting message from the chairman of the Forum group and organizations from different places was also read. Guests also attended from the youth forums of other countries. The evening passed in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Correspondent of the newspaper “Zëri i popullit”

The young man GJOVALIN CEKINI is laid to rest — The author of the killing has not yet been caught — Yesterday two Albanian newspapers, “Zëri i popullit” and “Koha jonë”, reported on the killing that took place on the 14th around 3:00 p.m. in the city of Shkodër, where the 20-year-old Gjovalin Cekini was killed. In its report, the newspaper “Koha Jonë” gave its own opinion of Imami, according to which “He paid with blood for a peaceful meeting”, but the newspaper “Zëri i popullit” does not agree with such an approach. Concerning this event, our editorial office contacted the general secretary of the PAD, Mr. Arben Imami. Question: Mr. Imami, today the newspapers and a large part of the citizens are speaking about a killing that happened yesterday in the city of Shkodër. For a newspaper and journalists there should be an official public interpretation of the facts. As the general secretary of the PAD, do you have an opinion? Arben Imami: “In my opinion this is a typical fascist killing with a political background. Normally the MBP together with the Democratic Party, which works in the local organs, mainly those of the PD, has made it clear that it is growing against Albanians because it has increased.” Yesterday afternoon hundreds of residents of the city of Shkodër accompanied, with sorrow, to the final resting place the young victim of the crime, the 20-year-old Gjovalin Cekini. The coffin with the body of the victim carried on people’s shoulders passed through the streets toward the church - the Catholic cemetery where the last honors and farewell were paid. In the afternoon the funeral procession moved quietly and in silence through the neighborhood “Tomë Kola” up to the secondary school, where a second burial was held; residents of Shkodër expressed their indignation at the insecurity of life and at the inability of the police authorities to uncover the crime. Representatives of political forces also took part in the funeral ceremony, including deputy of the People’s Assembly Aleca Demiraj; representatives of the Democratic Alliance party described the killing of Gjovalin Cekini as a political killing. Yesterday at 1 p.m. the public order branch of Shkodër officially announced that the perpetrator of the crime has still not been caught. Also, until yesterday at 6 p.m. there had been no announcement regarding his killing. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit” Sali Berisha is calm and such, do this and that. There had been a micro-conflict there; the person they always talk about drew out a revolver to pursue someone with whom he had clashed, other people tried to hold him back, to stop him from shooting, while he committed the crime against a person who is a member of our party. Among them are 3 years that the police have identified those who were together and one of whom committed the crime, whose names they have, but of course they will wait for the ministry to provide them, since undoubtedly from Tirana they went there and reconstructed it as an organization of the main exponents and a provocation inside the meeting hall. The plan is very clear: they enter the meeting to disrupt it, if they cannot disrupt it, they go out, they organize, they decide what to do, they came with a car which left. The author of the crime, where the car, where there were masks on their heads and they still have not all been caught.

— According to the BBC, 14.1.1994 — These days an interpellation on Italo-Albanian relations is being discussed in the Italian Parliament. In fact, the issue is Albania’s future and that of the countries of the region. Among a certain number of deputies, the organization of an interpellation on Albania with a more rigorous stance toward the Albanian authorities is not excluded. The initiator of this interpellation is the well-known deputy Paolo Lavazzi, an exponent of the Republican Party, known for his activity against crime. Supported also by a large number of other parliamentarians, deputy Lavazzi has submitted an interpellation expressing the concern of a large number of people in Italy about the trafficking of emigrants, weapons and drugs coming from Albania. According to these sources, a broad group of deputies will soon present another interpellation with the same content. BBC