Albanian “ZETA”: the civilization of death 2 April 1991, Shkodër. Four young men from the city are killed. Two groups are implicated, among them Arben Broci. By whom? Two trials have been held, and five people have been sentenced on the charge of “indirect intentional murder.” They are serving their sentences. Meanwhile the walls of Shkodër bear accusations and the like. But only in the city’s citizens’ eyes, not in the eyes of Justice. In fact, it is not at fault. No accusation has been brought against it; moreover, the walls of Shkodër cannot be taken to the offices of Justice’s lawyer. 18 June 1993. Shkodër. Deputies from the Socialist Party of Albania are not allowed into Shkodër. From television reports we learn that a group of people has blocked the Migjeni theater under police protection. The vanguard of these “peaceful people,” armed with long-barreled weapons in their hands, reaches Baçhallëk, threatening and insulting people! Who is the television author? Was it serious “to declare this unlawful group”? But the hands of the PS deputies, the PS, the PS? Are PS deputies and Parliament involved in the blockade of the Migjeni theater for the city’s indictment? Shkodër, before being blocked, was it turned into a blockade? 14 January 1994, Shkodër. The 26-year-old Gjovalin Çekini is killed after a meeting (early afternoon) before the public meeting (in the afternoon) that the criminal police were looking for him for, and also near someone incriminated before the murder was taken up in the hall. For the event. He is killed the same day after several murders. Çekini is hit. But why do the murders continue? Enough? Or the people too? A man is killed in the hall. Did this turn the presence into a demand? 17 January 1994. Tirana. What is declared. Albania will not become Palermo. Presented by Imami, “this murder is a typical fascist one,” and further, in an AD statement, the chairman of the Democratic Party, Ali Spahia, is directly incriminated. It seems as if the revolt has ceased, the spirit of these people. They are demanding justice. But... Where is justice? 16 January 1994. Tirana. The statement of the investigative group regarding the murder of citizen Gjovalin Çekini says: “After the investigations carried out, the expert examinations and bullet prints, it was concluded that the murder was committed in the act and that there was a perpetrator in a straightforward murder without motives.” What does this mean? Prejudgment? How is it possible, before the murderer is even identified, to say that the murder was committed without motives? Is such prejudice allowed for justice bodies? Further on, the investigative group’s statement, broadcast on TV, says the murder was committed with an old weapon. Once upon a time we learned these announcements: “Murder with an old weapon.” Once upon a time the announcements of the authorities. And the Minister of Public Order, in response to AD’s irresponsible statements, allegedly had a quarrel. Further, according to Ar... Imami, in his meeting with the public-order employees of Shkodër, he was given an interesting account to see and for the murder so that we would not have religious conflicts. The murders still have not... In Tirana. In a public testimony made in the conference hall of the PD party, it is said that “the incriminated persons have seen” (continued on page 3)

The political climate in our country is becoming increasingly complicated by events and actions that threaten democracy, freedom and human rights. The party in power continues, as before, to pursue a policy of dividing the left-wing forces and the opposition. There is no dialogue with the opposition, no attempt whatsoever at understanding. The press of the Democratic Party continues with intensity to attack and insult, without any sense of responsibility, the PS and its chairman Fatos Nano. Phenomena such as the blocking of local government, corruption, the tight centralization of power, state crime, murders and rapes, and the growing insecurity are becoming a way of governing and of the state’s conduct in its relations with our democratic and popular society. There is much to be done to set things right. But of particular importance is the firm opposition to anti-democratic actions and violations of the law. Every democratic state has the duty to respect human rights, to avoid policing political life, and not to politically divide citizens. In our country these developments are becoming a serious obstacle to the normal course of life. Instead of strengthening democratic institutions and dialogue, the country is being pushed into a climate of hostility, hatred and fear. These are facts that cannot be denied. They have highlighted the need for a mature political and social stance. The PS has not sought and does not seek destabilization. On the contrary, it has been and remains committed to the democratic path, pluralism, free elections, the rule of law and Albania’s European integration. It is clear that with this policy pursued and applied against the PS as a major opposition political force in the country, democracy, freedoms and human rights are endangered, and the divisions and hostility among Albanians deepen. And all this is happening in the current economic conditions of the country and of a Balkans sick with the ongoing war in Bosnia, threatening peace, our country and Albania’s sovereignty. This policy and these attitudes toward the PS, the lack of understanding and dialogue, this deafness of the party in power to the reasonable and responsible demand of the PS for understanding and dialogue, add hour by hour to the threat of their greed and of the “occupying state” seeking further destabilization of ours, which could turn into conflict and into a direction that is state-forming, state-building, risk-laden and harmful to Albanian democracy. The question of Fatos Nano cannot be solved outside of mutual understanding by any means, and even less so with indifference, a spirit of insults; it cannot be solved by moving outside the procedures of the state and the code of the legislation in force. Cold, objective political struggle, with bias, does not allow one to see reality straight in the face. Therefore, national interests and the need to defend democracy and its institutions today require every political force to avoid narrow subjectivisms and unnecessary hostilities. Personal sympathies and antipathies of anyone do not enter into this. The Nano issue is seen as a sharp problem of our society that must be solved with justice. The release of Fatos Nano is a demand for justice, for civic peace, for democracy and understanding. It is also a national issue. It must be resolved by political means.

In Sarandë, the ministerial signature sheet for the privatization of Ksamil arrived, and everyone was surprised by the division of the land there, although we have become used to all kinds of unexpected paradoxes. So said public opinion, specialists, politicians and local officials. Ksamil had been handed over to the Islamic Bank in exchange for capital for Albanian assets, for the creation of an agricultural export enterprise, which never even got off the ground; we recall that before this bank, the powerful Italian company “Six-pack” had come here with projects, protocols and agreements for the tourist zone. Everything seemed enthusiastic, work and all, as was also written in this newspaper, but one day, unexpectedly, everything collapsed and was ruined. The Italians left and it was said that the money for Ksamil came from another point on the horizon. Very little was hoped for. For years, 200-300 old lek a day began to be paid for doing nothing, nothing was produced, and they say the supposed investments did not meet the contract deadlines and so on and so forth. We cannot say these things with certainty, since the ministry concerned with foreign affairs has not yet come out at a press conference, but the damage report that has arrived and the areas to be divided, the number of people and the outline of the two nodes. Poor Ksamil, it suffered like the beautiful girl of the neighborhood whose fate leads her to a house. The DP government can heal it better than what is being broken here by some order. It cannot be explained, let the PD have the electoral and governing advantage, the world helps us replace it with another one, for example “when we govern, the world leaves us,” the market is over a mile from Ksamil, but it is not known why even more so than the stubbornest understand, the Italian investors leave too, let us wait for other investors, our plate and the golden landscapes are given here. Thus Ksamil was “liberated” for the second time. But what suffering? It will not last after other works. People were strolling, people who will clear things up, as they say, raise shacks, tie up cattle pens too, seize land and plots; let us see what the minister’s letter will do. TH.

On Sunday evening around 21:00 in the city’s “Rus” neighborhood, Ruzhdi Tulla was shot dead with a firearm (an automatic weapon). The perpetrator of this brutal crime has not yet been found by the law-enforcement authorities. Meanwhile, the day before in Koplik, Skënder Peraj, a member of the law-enforcement forces of this district, took his own life. The reasons for the suicide have not yet been made known by the relevant authorities. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Yesterday, on 19 January, in Gjirokastër, the secretary of the General Committee of the PSSh, Gramoz Ruçi, had a discussion with the chairmen of the Socialist Party in the districts of the south of the country: Gjirokastër, Përmet, Tepelenë, Delvinë and Sarandë. A report was presented on the work and review of the materials and the latest meeting of the PSSh Executive Committee held in December, and views were exchanged on the preparatory measures for the national conference of the PSSh. Comrades reported on the state of the party’s work, in the districts on the political, economic and social situation, party–government relations, the opinions and remarks of the electorate, etc. Special place was given to the dialogue on the preparation of the national conference in February, including the dialogue, demands and problems, the treatment of current issues in its main documents, participation, organizational measures, etc. On Wednesday, the specific problems facing the three southern districts were also discussed. THANAS DINO

According to BEC In recent weeks, several Italian press organs have featured a dense presence of Albanian emigrants, in a denigratory way. For example, in articles in the daily paper that came out as a newspaper, mainly television, the state broadcaster RAI and RAI 2 devote 2-3 minute reports to an ordinary theft (of cows in Rimini by runaways), and this even makes the main news that evening, when normally this news would not even be considered important by the Rimini newspaper. For example, one blatantly denigratory piece is about the entry from the south. Ken Shtiu and the translation by “Leko” (in Albanian, Jehona), reach the conclusion that Albanians are supposedly untrustworthy people, who in the end allegedly brought things around and not money, “the Italians’ losses.” Meanwhile, in an article published in the daily “Brindisi,” written in the final words by its editor-in-chief, the latter does not hesitate to use the title: “We continue to receive clandestines, thieves and vagabonds.” Below, then, a series of crimes allegedly committed by Albanians is recounted, according to him. From the article it seems as if all Albanians, or at least some of them, should be engaged in stealing motorcycles, car theft, various robberies, drug distribution, and organizing prostitution. The southern newspaper, “La Gazzeta del Mezzogiorno,” in its text article, is astonished by the denigratory tone, but gives a description that the anger of Albanian emigrants is more well known to real Italy. Letters to the editor publish a letter from French citizen Guglielmi who uses these words: “My lady has hundreds of emigrants, almost all Albanians. What a tendency to be honest?” That certain individuals from Albanian emigration commit criminal activities in Italy is known, and on several occasions the publication of stigmatizing reports on flagrant cases has been the object of our chronicles. But a minority of individuals cannot be taken as an example to judge the entire community living night and day in Italy and supporting itself with the sweat of daily hands through honest work. For everyone, a majority in a state of reaction even when there has been some of the press organs of a civilized country. BBC 19 January 1994

For several days, students of the school bearing a lofty name, where lessons are held in the “Bashkim Balna” school, have begun mass movements of students from one school to another, and teachers and the school are left in a difficult position, seeking support from the directorate and the council. These movements are organized by adventurous students, who also put pressure on their own collective for mass departures. Although clearly identified, because of absences and the smashing of light bulbs, they find protection first and foremost from the school administration, which maintains an intolerant attitude toward these flagrant violations at school. M. V.

On Monday morning near the Shkodër court building, investigating officer Vladimir Gërmenji was beaten with fists. The perpetrators of this act are the brothers Trixo and Gjorgj Pjetri from the village of Vrakë. They committed this shameful act in the presence of a lawyer (as a form of revenge against the police officers of the local police station in connection with the complaint filed regarding weapons and explosives). The suspects had previously had dealings with Tahir Pjetri. Investigating officer Vladimir Gërmenji held his ground, although he was armed, and filed a criminal complaint. The district prosecutor, Demush Keci, 2001, took up the matter with the district police commissariat, where it was possible to detain the two perpetrators and place them under arrest. The acting police director in Shkodër also dealt with this case. We emphasize that threats and physical intimidation against employees of the justice system, the prosecution and the courts in this district are becoming increasingly frequent. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

On 18 January 1994, the Second National Conference of the Independent Trade Union Federation of Employees and Pensioners of Albania held its proceedings. In the report delivered by the president of this Federation, Petraq Tapja, and in the discussions of the participants, the difficulties faced by employees and pensioners in this difficult period of transition and the Federation’s commitment to supporting their interests were highlighted. The Government was asked to take into account the ongoing demands of this part of the population and to immediately revise the wage system for employees and especially pensions. The Conference was also attended by and heard from the Chairman of the National Steering Council of the Confederation, Kastrit Muço, who spoke about the need for a better assessment and treatment of employees and pensioners. The Conference elected the new governing bodies of the Federation. Mr. Petraq Tapja was elected Chairman by the Conference.

450 families receive bread on a list A woman, after her assistance for the four children was cut off because of the difficult economic situation, a few days ago handed over her four children, aged 2, to the municipal offices of the town of Mamurras in protest against the local authorities. She had been left for more than a month without receiving bread on a list from a private vendor. Meanwhile, the family of eight, including her children, had been reduced to begging. This is what is happening now in Mamurras: the assistance to workers from 16 N.B.s was cut off and they have not benefited from anything ongoing. So far, about 450 families from Mamurras have registered at the bread-selling shops, and they receive bread on a list. For some time now, a considerable number of people have been coming every day to the administration of this municipality to raise a number of their problems, especially of an economic nature, and every day they leave these offices disappointed. BEKTASHI ZENELI

“Wise” sayings about work from the period of transition in Albania — Man is born tired and lives to rest! — Rest during the day so that you can sleep at night! — Don’t do today what you can do tomorrow! — Work less so that you have more time to rest! — No one has ever died from resting! — If you get a longing for work, sit down and rest a little, because the desire to work comes while resting! A. V.