The past two weeks, against the backdrop of a mini electoral campaign, clearly showed that the political crisis gripping the current government is extremely deep and widespread. The elections for mayor in five municipalities in the country, and the possibility that Socialist Party candidates might win them, set the entire political pyramid of today’s state on high alert. In their view, if the Socialists won, their demand for early elections would then have its strongest argument and the clearest indication of the need to dissolve the current parliament and announce an electoral campaign for new early elections. Therefore, the entire DP-state machinery was put to work at full capacity. Even a cursory look at these two weeks would show that, regardless of the election results, it is essential for Albanian democracy itself that what the Socialist Party has demanded become reality: these elections must be organized as soon as possible. This is necessary to block the path of authoritarianism, arrogance and mediocrity. It is necessary to lead the country out of its deep crisis, rampant corruption and, above all, lack of hope for the future. This mini-campaign itself showed that certain forces shamelessly abuse their power. The party’s dictates and people have taken the place of law and order. For these two weeks, the entire state was mobilized at the party’s command. Helicopters and government cars were made available free of charge to DP branches in the districts, transporting ministers, deputy ministers, department directors and all sorts of apparatchiks and police officers, in uniform and out of uniform. People’s poverty was openly exploited, with charitable aid used as a means of putting pressure on their vote. Army vehicles were used, funds taken from the poor taxpayers’ pockets were spent, and water supply systems, paved roads and telephones were promised. (Apparently, only organized emigration was not promised, given that the DP itself is aware of its isolationist policy.) Even the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër, after tiring visits to many countries around the world, went to Libofshë as well to hear the villagers’ grievances. And there the carrot and stick came out: the DP would provide funds, but the elected Socialists did not know how to use them! The conclusion: the very same idea Selami promoted during the July 26 elections, that «the DP will not help those places where the Socialists win». The case of the ministry headed by Safet Zhulali is scandalous: it moved soldiers in order to balance the number of voters in the municipality of Zall Herr. These two weeks were also enough to expose all the declarations about the impartiality and independence of national television. No Albanian with eyes in their head and sense in their mind can fail to understand that RTVSH has become a propaganda loudspeaker for its own Democratic branch. It is perfectly clear that harsh dictates and censorship are being imposed on television. The opposition was completely shut off from the screen and microphone, while scenes straight out of Sillo were shown on screen: neofascists beating the drum and clutching their Democratic Party membership cards to their chests. The total monopolization of the mass media is not merely evidence of the servility of some journalists, but something deeper that explains the very essence and nature of today’s state, stripping the mask from the so-called state governed by the rule of law. On television and radio in Albania, there is no political pluralism and no other parties apart from the Democratic Party. The two weeks mentioned above offered a clear indication of the truth in Albania, of how democracy is being built and how the rule-of-law state is being installed. The way the DP uses power by placing itself above the laws, its arrogant disregard for rules, speaks louder than any newspaper or communiqué about the need for immediate action to stop monist, dictatorial phenomena and practices. The very practices we have mentioned have badly discredited the DP in the eyes of the people, and this image cannot be changed even if it wins in some municipality and promotes that victory day and night through its obedient loudspeakers. The DP is determined to convince the people that the people love the DP. Today this party is beginning to resemble someone who, after telling a lie to two or three of his friends, starts believing the lie he himself invented. THOMA GELLÇI …to decide to move in an orderly manner. Everything has? stood up over these past two weeks on the party’s orders. Helicopters and government cars, and harsh censorship. If the opposition was completely cut off… …had to … to … It is quite understandable that television is subjected to diktat

Yesterday at the Tirana court After the explanations given the previous day by former President Ramiz Alia and senior officials of the monist state, Hekuran Isai and Simon Stefani, at yesterday’s session, which opened at 9:00, the defendants Aranit Çela and Faqi Mina spoke. At the beginning of the hearing, Mr. Alla’s lawyer, Klea[n]thi Koçi, also on behalf of the other lawyers in this case, protested against a statement issued by the spokesperson for the Tirana court, describing it as distorted and unrealistic, and at the same time requesting that such incidents not be repeated. The floor was then given to the defendant Aranit Çe[la], who offered his explanations. “From the outset, I want to emphasize,” he said, “that this is a typical political trial. The character of a judicial proceeding is ultimately determined by the objectives that the people or groups who actually exercise power in a given state seek to achieve through it. I have not knowingly agreed to commit acts contrary to the laws and my duties.” The defendant Faqi Mino then spoke. Rejecting the charge, he emphasized: “I consider this a political trial.” In his explanations, he clarified that the State Security Platform, as an act of a senior body of the PPSH, could not be subjected to the Prosecutor’s Office, and that the actions of the Political Bureau as a party organ had legal force derived from the Constitution, especially with regard to the forces of the Ministry of the Interior. After the prosecutor asked the two defendants a few brief questions, yesterday’s hearing was adjourned, to resume with further explanations today at 9:00. «Zëri i Popullit» correspondent

Once again, a shocking incident in Elbasan. This time it was not caused by the explosion of fuel at some garage, as happened a week ago, but by terrorists’ bullets. On the morning of May 26, Thursday, gunfire was opened from an unlicensed car near the city’s open-air market, where the road to Cërrik begins. It is not yet known what—

Letter to the newspaper Forty of us, former workers at the former bread factory, went on May 25 to collect the equivalent of 24 monthly wages, as we had been told, from the sale of the buildings. The balance sheet has not been drawn up, it has not been...

More than 2,000 residents of Libofshë gathered in the central square to talk with Socialist Party leaders Servet Pëllumbi, Ilir Meta, Ylli Bufi and Ndre Legisi, as part of the election campaign under way for elections in the first five communes, one of which is Libofshë. But, as on other occasions, the state-backed contingent of 10–15 thugs brought from Fier and directed by the police authorities themselves, the SHIK and the so-called prefect of Fier, Viktor Margilaj, showed the true face of the DP. With their hysterical shouts and deliberate attempts to disrupt the Socialist Party rally, they showed what the true face of the DP is. But the thugs did not frighten the others, despite their howling, since the PS leaders, with all their characteristic composure, managed to communicate with the people of Libofshë and set out their positions as well as the alternative of democratic socialism, which is essential for the times and the situation the Albanian people are going through today. Dr. Servet Pëllumbi, vice-chairman of the PS of Albania, said in his speech that activities such as the one organized by the DP are disastrous for democracy and violate the rule of law. The Socialist Party is not frightened either by the pressure and blackmail of paid individuals like these, or by their organizers, who today, unfortunately, are leaders of the Albanian state. He called on the people to distance themselves from such acts of vandalism, and said this distancing would happen only when the people voted for distinguished people who stood for dialogue, not confrontation; for those who rise above the passions of the moment and believe in the future. This body of intellectuals, who can and should lead the government, is found in its majority in the Socialist Party. Therefore, the people, with their composure, will know how to distinguish hooligans from intellectuals, and [shming] from scoundrels. These thugs you see here today are campaigning for the PS, revealing the true face of their organizers and of the Democratic Party. With such hooliganism and political imprisonment, like that of F. Nano, Albanian democracy is in great danger; the people are threatened with a new dictatorship. It is precisely for this reason that a broad popular movement is becoming necessary to defend democratic achievements from anti-democratic usurpers. PS vice-chairman and MP Ilir Meta said that, in view of the illegal and anti-democratic activity of this contingent manipulated by the DP, the people of Libofshë should vote for the PS, because only in this way will they vote for peace, and only in this way will they vote for true democracy. In his speech, MP Ndre Legisi said that the socialists are not afraid either… (Continued on page 2)

The Democratic Party and its officials at various levels are in serious trouble these days; they are being put to the test before the electorate in five communes. Although these are local elections, they test the electorate’s support for the DP, as well as for the PS or any other party. Apparently, the DP absolutely needs to win in order to tell the public that the people continue to support it, and to show domestic and international opinion that it will not lose in general elections or snap parliamentary elections. But the view that the electorate has changed and no longer stands with it is now prevailing. Backed by its electoral chief with pro… propaganda and … In this way, the truth comes out, by… … in the same way and … … for the DP… … (Continued on page 2)

- The DP is sending it to Rec to make Eduard Selami look good - Eduard Selami’s promise to install the television relay transmitter in Rec, Dibër, has now been made public. The transmitter was destroyed during the implementation of the “shock therapy” and “zero quota” policies pursued by the DP when it came to power. During these two years, although the DP held local power in Rec, the relay transmitter was not repaired, just as many other transmitters throughout Dibër were not repaired. Now, in the context of the election campaign, the authorities in the district, with their characteristic servility, are making a show of trying to repair Rec’s transmitters temporarily. In this context, although the Begjunec transmitter has been receiving a television signal for three years, it does not work. This is the third night that television sets have not been working in the villages of Begllovë. The transmitter has been dismantled and sent to Rec. Electricians and electronics specialists have also been assigned to get it working, doing everything possible to put it into operation and make Eduard Selami look good. Meanwhile, in the commune of Melan, under whose jurisdiction the television transmitter falls, its removal is considered an act of violence by the central government against them, a violation of human rights and of their rights to access information and freedom of information. By removing the Begjunec television transmitter, the ruling authorities have demonstrated their inability to keep their word. Through the transfer of the transmitter from one area to another, removing it from the commune of Bardhë and moving it back to Rec, as happened a week ago, they have made a spectacle of themselves. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Forty people, former workers of the former bread factory, came on May 25 to collect 24 monthly wages, as we had been told, from the sale of the property. Forty people, former workers of the former bread factory, came on May 25 to collect sale of the property. “The accounts have not been finalized; the whole enterprise has not been sold,” we were told. We got up and went to the district council. “We will look into your problem,” was the reply. We are all workers who worked at the bread factory for between 2 and 18 years. We have been receiving assistance for 10 months. We are entitled to it for another two months, and then… There are rumors that after the assistance ends, you are no longer entitled to receive 24 monthly salaries. Through this letter in the newspaper, we want to bring the matter to public attention, defend our rights and receive even the little that is in fact being given to us from the property belonging to everyone. We await a response. Ten workers of the bread factory, Gjirokastër

“Tirana” wins the Republic Cup - Party and state leaders, President Berisha, Ministers Zhulali, Teliti and Co., present the cup to the winning team. Yesterday afternoon at the National “Qemal Stafa” Stadium, the second Republic Cup final ended with “Tirana” winning 1–0, with Malko scoring Tirana’s goal in the second half. The match was fiercely contested; Teuta appeared more capable, even though it did not score. It threatened, shot and pressed, but was unlucky not to be awarded a clear penalty. Thus the champion, crowned by Prime Minister Meksi, Deputy Prime Minister Kopliku and party leader Shehu a few weeks ago in Durrës, was not crowned as the winner of the “Republic Cup” this time in Tirana by number 001, President Berisha, Ministers Zhulali and Teliti, the leading party figures and Co., who had occupied the “reserved seats” in the central stand. Opposite them, Durrës’s supporters, who behaved with decorum everywhere, were subjected to the police’s repeated injustices, the reasons for which can be known only to the police command posts present in the stadium and its surrounding area. In response to the beating, the people of Durrës, who had not been allowed to watch the match in Tirana and had been pushed around by the police, saved their greetings for Berisha and the other party and state leaders, shouting: “Party, Enver, we are ready at any time.” Incidents continued outside the stadium, where dozens of people from Durrës ended up in police vehicles. ERION BRAÇE

THERE IS NO EVIDENCE TO IMPLICATE FATOS NANO By lawyer Agim Tirana

Today’s issue of the newspaper also includes a supplement containing the speech of the former President of the Republic, Ramiz Alia. This page costs 3 lekë and is sold together with the newspaper. From the sale of each copy, the seller receives a commission of 10 percent of the 3 lekë, that is, 30 qindarka. THE EDITORIAL OFFICE