On Saturday, 5 March, the trial of Fatos Nano, leader of the PSSH, the main opposition party to the Albanian government, accused of abusing his office for personal gain, will take place in Tirana. “According to reports from fairly reliable sources,” explains Kristian Monti, head of foreign relations at the Political Secretariat, “it seems clear that there is a possibility this trial will be used as an instrument of political persecution. Lega Nord,” Monti concludes, “calls on the Italian Government to intervene with the competent Albanian authorities to ensure that the accused receives a fair trial and is not politically persecuted, and that the conventions on human rights are not undermined. This concern is justified both by the substantial humanitarian aid Italy has granted Albania (Operation Pelican) and by the fact that this aid must never have anything to do with the political persecution of opposition members by the present Albanian government. Finally, Lega Nord calls on the information media to inform the public about this matter.

- Police forces, openly violating constitutional provisions and the Law on the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms of the Human Person, are preventing peaceful Socialist gatherings in many districts Skënderbej Square – afternoon of 4 March 1994 The sky is overcast. A light drizzle is falling. People moving calmly about their business and policemen. Many policemen, in plain clothes and in uniform. The square is surrounded by police cars. Police whistles can be heard everywhere. Azem Hajdari, accompanied by a deputy minister of public order, passes in front of the mosque. The mosque is full of people; it is the month of Ramadan. A group of boys aged 18–19 are running, pursued by several policemen, toward Hotel “Tirana.” A policeman catches one of them and strikes him on the head five times with a rubber baton. The poor lad falls to the ground. The policeman grabs him by the hair and kicks him. Other policemen come to help and put the beaten lad into a police car. A plainclothes policeman in a suit, without an overcoat, reports to someone by radio that they have cleared the people out of the mosque. The police push people onto the sidewalk. The sidewalks are full of people. Even on the sidewalk, no one is allowed to stand in one place, alone or in pairs. On the left side of the Skënderbej monument, two policemen and a plainclothes officer were telling an old man with glasses to leave. “We liberated this square ourselves; we shed blood, we fought the Germans,” says the old man, “so I will stay right here. What is this that you are doing? Italy occupied us and did not surround the square like this.” Minister Musaraj, with his tojo[t], moves around the square. (Continued on page 4)

Namik Dokle, deputy VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE PS Today in Albania, people are protesting in defense of human rights and freedoms. With rallies, meetings, free and fair gatherings, defending the freedom of assembly and association; - the police have beaten the accused ... ... deputy Fatos Nano, Chairman of the main opposition party. After 7 months of unlawful, prejudged and ordered imprisonment, the Tirana court decided to open the trial against Fatos Nano on 5 March 1994. Neither we nor Fa-

Says deputy Musa Ulqini, deputy chairman of the PSSH Parliamentary Group. “Last night, at around 19:00, I was at the editorial office of the newspaper «Zëri i Popullit» for work. Unlike other times, the building where the editorial office of «Zëri i Popullit» is located was surrounded by numerous policemen, who went into the entrance of the editorial office. The journalist Shyqyri Meka, who is also one of the newspaper’s deputy editors-in-chief, had come down from the newsroom to take some of the material to be printed to the printing house. ... that this action was unlawful, and I insisted that it absolutely had to be discussed with their commander. At that moment, one of the policemen, who was also holding a service radio, addressed me with the words: We are just- Deputy Musa Ulqini, vice-chairman of the PSSH Parliamentary Group, declares: “Last night, at around 19:00, we were at the offices of the newspaper ‘Zëri i Popullit’ for work-related reasons. Unlike on other occasions, the building housing the offices of ‘Zëri i Popullit’ was surrounded by numerous police officers who, without any motive or reason, but in a completely absurd and arrogant manner, seized journalist Shyqyri Meka on the building’s stairs at an entrance to the newspaper’s offices. He is also one of the newspaper’s deputy editors-in-chief and had come down from the newsroom to take some material to the printing house. Having witnessed this scene with my own eyes, I identified myself and energetically protested to the police officers against this unlawful act, insisting that I speak to their commander. At that point, one of the policemen, who was also holding a police radio, said to me: ‘We are merely carrying out orders, so don’t…’ (Continued on page 2)

Namik Dokle, deputy VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE PS Today in Albania, people are protesting in defense of human rights and freedoms. rallies, meetings, protest letters. All means of democracy. All conducted through the democracy of free speech. Why are we protesting? Because human rights and freedoms are being seriously violated. Because the constitutional law on these rights has been reduced to a [unclear] in the hands of the police and the prosecutor’s office. Because, as emphasized in the Report of the American Department of State: - there have been incidents of police violence; - the government has restricted freedom of speech and of the press; - freedom of assembly and association has been noticeably restricted; - the police have beaten defendants while they were in custody; - the police have mistreated PS demonstrators; - the police have arrested PS demonstrators, but not the anti-rally provocateurs (who were just as unauthorized during the events of 30 July); - procedures under the Code of Criminal Procedure are not properly followed; - repealed laws are being exploited to restrict criticism of the government; - the press law may seriously restrict freedom of the press. Why are we protesting? Because the rights and freedoms of deputy Fatos Nano, Chairman of the main opposition party, have been seriously violated. After 7 months of unlawful, prejudged and violent Fatos Nano on 5 March 1994. Neither we nor Fatos Nano are afraid of the law, justice, or the rule of law, but we denounce lawlessness, injustice, and a customary and totalitarian state. Bringing the case to trial while brutally denying the defendant the right to examine the investigative group’s file is one of the rare cases of this kind in the approximately 5000 cases that the Albanian justice system has tried recently. And this court is doing it precisely to a deputy! This is happening precisely (continued on page 2)

. By Dr. Fehmi Abdiu, deputy. On 15 February 1994, quite by coincidence, at a time when the prosecutor’s office had completely failed in connection with the Nano case, a smoke screen was introduced and the charge against him was changed in order to create confusion for several purposes: 1. To justify all the DP’s propaganda against the Socialist Party, especially against its chairman, Fatos Nano. In other words, to convince Albanians that the party in power is not going after Fatos Nano over trivial matters, but over serious issues. 2. To justify the exhausting work of the prosecutor’s office, which for months has been making strenuous efforts to organize its prosecution case with more [unclear] than they have worked. 3. To create a more credible climate in Europe and beyond for Albanian democracy in relation to European democracy; since the latter has recently, it seems, been exposed by many organizations, such as the European Parliament, the Inter-Parliamentary Union for the Rights of MPs, and the U.S. Department of State. 4. To put the President of the Republic in a more favorable position, who says that he would go to (continued on page 2)

. Dozens of policemen led by Lieutenant Colonel Luan Hoxha attack the Socialist Party offices in Durrës. Yesterday, on 4 March, as part of the national day of protest in defense of fundamental human rights and freedoms, the Socialist Party committee in Durrës organized a meeting in the premises of its offices, in the Socialist Party hall. Although the PS committee had repeatedly requested permission from the public-order authorities, and although the latter had approved a permit by 3 March for holding a peaceful rally, at 19:00 yesterday the head of the public-order police station, Luan Hoxha, issued a written order prohibiting the planned meeting, since, as the letter stated, by order of the Minister of Public Order A- (Continued on page 3)

The Steering Committee of the Socialist Party of Laç applied to the competent authorities for permission to organize a protest rally in the city’s central square. . Police disperse protesters. The Steering Committee of the Socialist Party (PS) of Laç applied to the competent authorities for permission to organize a protest rally in the city’s central square. But the law enforcement authorities replied in the negative. The Socialist Party leaders then addressed a special letter to the mayor of the city of Laç, asking him to allow them to hold an event in the city’s Palace of Culture, since this fell within his jurisdiction. Mr. Gjet Gj[o]naj, mayor of the city of Laç, gave a positive reply. He allow[ed] the Socialists to hold a protest rally in the Palace of Culture hall. According to the mayor’s letter, all participants in this event had to be provided with (Continued on page 3)

18 January 1994 — An interview with “Zëri i Popullit” with the secretary-general of the Greek Socialist Party, Andreas Papandreu? . Martinez: A leader cannot be put in prison without his guilt being proven. A European Parliament resolution supported by 268 members calls for the immediate release of Fatos Nano. 18 January 1994 — In an interview with “Zëri i Popullit,” the secretary-general of the Greek Socialist Party, Andreas Papandreu [?] ... 23 January 1994 — At the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, 26 members of parliament from 9 parties and 12 different European countries call for the Nano case to be verified, as part of the consideration of Albania’s application to join the Council of Europe. 5 February 1994 — The Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Geneva carefully examines the “Nano case” (Continued on page 2)

Fatos Nano in the perspective of “Albanian democracy.” Fatos Nano: I am preparing for a genuine political trial, where I will denounce everyone who engineered such a disgrace. I am in excellent condition thanks to the healthy state of the party itself. 31 December 1993 — On the occasion of the New Year, PS chairman Fatos Nano says: “If the Albanian state, in 1994, continues to serve the interests of national circles, then this is the alarm bell. Faced with the Albanian Apocalypse, open-minded Europe will finally close its bridges to us.” 10 January 1994 — At the PS press conference, it is declared: “If the question is whether I should be replaced as PS chairman — I would say that this issue does not arise, because I consider the arrest and imprisonment of Fatos Nano to be political in nature. — Why? Because Fatos Nano’s imprisonment has not diminished his popularity, but has increased and continues to increase his standing and credibility, among the people. We, his comrades and collaborators, have taken it upon ourselves to make up for his temporary absence.” 13 January 1994 — Bashkim Zeneli, a member of the PS presidency and a deputy in the People’s Assembly, declares after a meeting with Fatos Nano in Tirana prison: Fatos Nano is in excellent moral and psychological condition. 13 January 1994 — For the eighth time since August 1993, the law enforcement authorities prevent the holding of a pro- (Continued on page 2)

. THE STATE IS AFRAID. Throughout the day yesterday, the PS offices in Korçë were packed [with?] people protesting against the violation of human rights, which reaches its peak with the violation of procedures in the case of Fatos Nano. For this event, the PS Steering Committee had requested the sports hall and the square in front of “Skënderbeu” Stadium. But none of the (Continued on page 3)

Deputy Musa Ulqini, vice-chairman of the PSSH Parliamentary Group, declares. Last night, at around 19:00, we were at the offices of the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit” for work-related reasons.