Yesterday, as we have been informed from Kavaja, all the teachers at the city’s schools are on a general strike, which has paralyzed classes. Their economic demands concern an increase in wages. We will inform you about further developments in the strike in upcoming issues. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Today everywhere in ALBANIA : NATIONAL PROTESTS AGAINST VIOLENCE AND VIOLATIONS OF HUMAN RIGHTS—FOR FREEDOM, EQUALITY, JUSTICE - Today, more than ever, we demand respect for human dignity. - Today, more than ever, a message of freedom for the entire nation. “If democracy is a worldview; if democracy is tolerance; if democracy is consideration for others; if democracy is the protection of the individual from state violence, then your democracy is nothing but propaganda.” REXHEP QOSJA (30.1.1993, LETTER ADDRESSED TO SALI BERISHA) Not simply because Fatos Nano is in prison, but because the leader of the Albanian opposition is in prison, because the insulted «people’s deputy» is in prison; not simply because David Leka, the Korçë native Romeo Gaqe, the Saranda native Irfan Nanaj, and four other Albanians have died as a result of the bestial violence of the police in Laç, but because dozens of Albanians have been beaten by the police and hundreds of thousands of others have had their [??] subjected to the weight of the psychosis of violence; not simply because more than 350,000 people are unemployed, but because over 100,000 of them have been forced to leave their homeland, violating the individual’s right to enjoy freedom of thought, conscience, religion and belief, freedom of association, and freedom of movement. Not simply because the completely innocent Gazi Martini Leka is in prison, sentenced to one year and six months, but because freedom of expression has been severely [??] through the «press law» and repression, and has been turned into a medieval inquisition; the free press has been [??]. [??] have been refused by the police, under the decree of July ’90, permission to hold more than [??] peaceful protests in civilized Europe; not simply because 8 people connected with the peaceful protest of July 30 in Tirana have been sentenced to prison, but because Ramiz Alia’s July ’90 decree continues to survive and punish, transformed into a form of «decree for the reconciliation of living monuments». Not simply because Socialists were prevented from entering Shkodër, but because political crime first appeared there, took on greater dimensions with the attacks [??] at the entrance to Lezhë, and later became dominant with the political murder of January 14 in Shkodër. «national», which states that: Amnesty International (AI) is informed that a series of incidents took place in Albania in 1993. The police beat participants in demonstrations in support of the PS with batons and ill-treated them. The main opposition party was [??] against those who protested against government policy on various occasions. A number of incidents occurred when demonstrators were peacefully seeking their rights to freedom of assembly and expression. Among AI’s main concerns are prisoners of conscience; at least 14 people were imprisoned on charges [??] in August 1993. And this is not the only organization. Another report by the US Department of State was made public in Albania in recent days, commenting on human-rights violations in Albania. According to it: freedom of peaceful assembly and association is subject to significant restrictions. Some public gatherings of the opposition Socialist Party were not allowed to take place in the squares or at the times requested. In addition to all this, [??] is the authoritarian «no» of Berisha’s regime, [??] by the resolution of the [??]. Let us no longer see scenes such as those in Kuçova on May 9, followed by those in Peshkopi, Korçë, Kukës, Tirana, Shkodër, Berat, Vlorë and Poliçan; scenes of police violence. Let us no longer see images like those of January 21 and March 1 in Tirana, identical to those of the military juntas of Latin America, Chile, Haiti and the Philippines. Precisely because of all this, protests will take place democratically everywhere today, even in silence, in the manner of Gandhi, against state violence and violations of human rights, for freedom, equality, justice, human dignity and civilization. because of the brutal police violence against Laç resident David Leka, Korçë resident Romeo Gaçe, Sarandë resident Irfan Nanaj and four other Albanians, police and hundreds of thousands of others have felt themselves under the weight of a climate of violence—not merely 100,000 of them have been forcibly dismissed from their jobs because of their political beliefs under Article 24-1, since this article, through the threat of economic expul- PS. The main opposition party ... has significant restrictions. Some public rallies of the Socialist opposition party have not been times requested. It is precisely for these reasons, precisely because the “authoritarian ‘no’ of Berisha’s regime,” incompatible with the European Parliament’s resolutions, is being exceeded and degenerating into totalitarianism, that “... safeguards human rights and the construction of living monuments” is the policy pursued by the government on various occasions. A number of incidents have occurred in which demonstrators’ rights to freedom of assembly and expression have been peacefully threatened. Among the main concerns of (AI) are prisoners of conscience charged with having taken part in unauthorized demonstrations in the months of July and

When human rights are violated in the case of a party chairman and members of parliament, just imagine how far this violation goes for ordinary people! The authorities’ attitude is insulting to us young people, who are now completely disappointed with these so-called democrats. ARBEN SULA student

The «Nano case» has now become one of the «barometers» of Albanian democracy. It is with regret, but also indignation, that I have followed the procedural violations of the law in the drafting and signing of the charge several times, in the lifting of immunity, in the blatant and arbitrary arrest, and in holding him for over 7 months for investigations, contrary to all the norms of a democratic society. I have followed with hope all the stages of the investigations by the Albanian justice authorities, and the opportunities they were given to correct the violations committed. I welcome the Resolution of the European Parliament, the decision of the Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the motion by European deputies concerning the «Nano» case, which are [??] in defense of the consolidation of democracy in Albania. But we cannot fail to express our indignation and concern at the positions taken by the justice authorities, the prosecutor’s office and the Tirana court, which are sending Fatos Nano, chairman of the largest opposition party and a deputy in the People’s Assembly, to trial in serious violation of the Code of Criminal Procedure—that is, without giving him the opportunity to examine the case file. In this way he is deprived of the right and opportunity to defend himself. To avoid reaching the conclusion, now prevalent not only in Albania but also in Europe, that this trial is politically prejudged and that justice is not independent, these irregularities and scandalous circumstances must be corrected. The case must be returned to the prosecutor’s office, and Fatos Nano must be given the opportunity to enter the courtroom as a free man and defend himself. Otherwise, no one can be sure of finding justice. VIOLETA MANUSHI People’s Artist European, the decision of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Committee and the motion by the European deputies on the “Nano” case, which are a contribution to defending the consolidation of democracy in Albania. But we cannot help expressing our indignation and concern at the conduct of the judicial authorities, the prosecution and the Tirana court, which are bringing the chairman of the largest opposition party and member of the People’s Assembly, Fatos Nano, Procedure, without giving him the opportunity to familiarize himself with the case file. This deprives him of the right and ability to defend himself. To avoid reaching the conclusion—which is now prevailing not only in Albania but also in Europe—that this trial is politically prejudged and that the judiciary is not independent, these irregularities and scandalous actions prosecution, and Fatos Nano must be given the opportunity to attend the courtroom freely and defend himself. Otherwise, no one can be sure they will receive justice. VIOLETA MANUSHI People’s Artist

These days in Tirana, slogans such as «We want a state governed by the rule of law», «Freedom-democracy», «Free Fatos Nano», «Long live the European Parliament», etc., were written on the façades and walls of many buildings. Special teams, immediately supported indirectly by the police, worked intensively to erase these slogans. For example, you can no longer read the slogan «Long live the European Parliament» on the walls and façades of the capital, even though to this day you can still find the slogan «Long live Father Bush» written everywhere; it was written before March 22, 1992. MUSA ULQINI Deputy Sources who wish to remain unidentified report that three citizens of Shkodër, one of them from Velipoja, were arrested by the police and held for four hours in the cells of one of the capital’s police stations, solely because they said to someone who was erasing the slogan “Long live the European Parliament”: “At least don’t erase this slogan!” The source in question says that all three citizens were fined 100 new lek for disturbing public order! No further comment is needed in this case.

with these so-called democrats. ARBEN SULA student

Fatos Nano declares in court: This is not my trial but yours. Because in the Nano case, Albanian justice itself is on trial. October 1, 1992 - Fatos Nano sends an open letter no. 2 to Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, expressing his interest and ... and his rights as a deputy, and under the conditions of imprisonment. October 2, 1992 - Under Article 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the investigation period in the Nano case has expired. October 6, 1992 - Fatos Nano, from prison (cell 47), sends a letter ... in which ... the Albanian public ... . October 7, 1992 - At the Tirana hearing ... Fatos Nano has decided to [??] the arrest measure of ... The decision ... October 12, 1993 - This ...

Karolos Papulias: I have valued and continue to value Fatos Nano as a modern and cultured politician. Italian MP Albertini: Fatos Nano does not appear at all in the records of the Italian judicial authorities. Wilfrid Martinez: I have read the Constitutional Court’s ruling on this matter, and it seemed unjust to me. November 14, 1993 — Asked by the Rome correspondent of Radio BBC whether he had learned anything of value concerning the Nano case from what he heard at the first hearing, where several Italian public figures gave testimony, Tirana Prosecutor Arben Qeleshi replied: “Many of the witnesses are defendants in the Italian investigations and may therefore refuse to answer questions or may even lie, and I don’t know what happened at all.” November 16, 1993 — Arben Qeleshi and the investigative team in the “Nano Case” remain in Rome for a week without seeing any results. Torkuanto Kardilli — former Ambassador of Italy ... (Continued on page 2) — October 1, 1993 The chairman of the PDS parliamentary group in the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany, Mr Gyuli, declares: “The PDS parliamentary group will ask the German Bundestag to help with the request for F. Nano’s release. This is a just humanitarian request from the legal, humanitarian and human-rights standpoint.” — October 5, 1993 At the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Nano case is discussed at length in the Socialist Group. — October 7, 1993, Karlos Papulias declares: “I have valued and continue to value Fatos Nano as a modern and cultured politician.” PA-SOK has called, and will continue to insist, in all international bodies and institutions on the immediate release of PS chairman Fatos Nano. — October 10, 1993: Xhaxhapollon ... — October 12, 1993: A PSSH delegation is in Germany, where Fatos Nano’s arrest is discussed. Fatos Nano is a member of the Bureau of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. — October 13, 1993 Mr Tonson says: “Through an expedited procedure, the Inter-Parliamentary Union will make a public statement ... regarding the just resolution of the Nano Case.” — October 13, 1993 The Mayor of San Filipas Filloi addresses the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania in Athens ... consultations with the mayors of ... call for Fatos Nano’s immediate release. — October 15, 1993 The Bulgarian PS ... Reiterates its call for Fatos Nano’s release, stressing: “We consider the immediate release of Fatos Nano not merely a personal matter, but part of our commitment to defending democracy.” — October 19, 1993 The Spanish Ambassador Emilio Menéndez Del Val received ... PSSH vice-chairman Ilir Meta, and the issue of the arrest of PS chairman Fatos Nano was also discussed. — October 24, 1993: The newspaper “Zëri i popullit” publishes an article, “Albania: Everyone Is Going to Prison,” published in “Eastern Europe News,” a letter in which it is stated: “Nano is in cell no. 5. Apparently they caught him reading the PS newspaper ‘Zëri i Popullit’ and, as a result, forbade him to ... (Continued on page 2)