- The Democratic Party seeks to impose its will on the people by force - - After the misuse of state duties, the gathering of soldiers, the unlawful and shameless manipulation of ballot boxes, the relentless propaganda of the fascist government began - - EDUART SELAMI IS LYING IN A SHAMEFUL WAY - S T A T E M E N T F O R T H E P R E S S O F T H E L E A D E R S H I P OF THE PS AND THE PARLIAMENTARY GROUP Today, Monday 30 May 1994, the by-elections for mayor in Libofshë are being held, where the anti-popular, anti-constitutional and anti-human character of Sali Berisha's violent regime is once again being demonstrated by the most brutal means. Before voting began in Libofshë, PD deputy Aldo Bumçi had ordered that no PS observers be allowed to enter the polling station. This was immediately opposed, but not heeded. From the early hours of the morning, on the order of PD deputy Sali Shehu, armed police forces surrounded the polling station and terrorized the population of this commune. PS and independent observers were beaten and insulted by armed and civilian persons. The polling station was completely occupied by government people. After this terrorist act carried out against the socialists and their supporters in the commune of Libofshë, the KQZ of the PSSH officially ordered its observers to withdraw from the process, declaring that elections in Libofshë cannot be held freely and fairly. The situation in Zall-Herr is grave and tense. Almost the entire state apparatus has arrived here. From the early hours of the morning, groups of soldiers and police have been deployed in the commune and are terrorizing and threatening the residents. Present at the polling station is the Minister of Defense himself, Safet Zhulali, who is openly interfering in the voting process. Likewise, PD deputy Ylli Veizi and high-ranking government officials are exerting brutal pressure on voters. In Cërrik / Creshicë [?] and in other areas where the by-elections are taking place, our representatives report numerous violations of the law and organized attempts to manipulate the vote. We declare that the Socialist Party will make all the facts and those responsible for this political violence known to the public. The main responsible parties for the terrorist climate being created in these elections are Sali Berisha, Eduart Selami, and the local leaders of the PD. The Democratic Party is trying to impose its will on the people by force because it has lost the trust of the citizens and cannot win through a free vote. The Socialist Party declares that in Libofshë the elections are invalid because of the organized state and bandit terror. It calls on all honest democrats, international organizations, and public opinion to condemn this anti-democratic and fascist activity.

Mr. Fatos Nano Chairman of the Socialist Party On behalf of the Peace Commission of the Helsinki Civic Assembly, we firmly condemn your imprisonment, as well as the taking of these other repressive measures, for expressing a different opinion. We sent this statement by fax to your personal number. After preliminary inquiries, we were told that this was impossible because the line had been disconnected since you had not been there for some time. CHAIRMAN OF PAJU Xhozef PAJAU

- Declares the chief socialist, deputy chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Mr. Skënder Gjinushi. Why? - "Mr. Selami, even if he were to insist thirty thousand times that Mr. Nano had money in the tart, this cannot be imposed on people who see it with their own eyes and confirm with facts that this is a false accusation. ... On the other hand, if you have come to power not with the people's vote but with violence, with tanks, with ko[?] and with a technical government, it is natural to keep power with tanks and violence as well. Mr. Selami has openly declared terror against the opposition. At the end of the police terror, in Libofshë the chief socialist Mr. Gjinushi stated that the elections had turned into a farce. ..."

(Continued on page 6)

ZALL - HERR Where violence and pressure are blocked, the justice of the people's votes begins "According to the data so far, the number of voters in Zall-Herr was small. There are around 3000 ballot papers and 2000 invalid, due to mistakes and violations during the process. Citizens have denounced continuous pressure." (Continued on page 6)

"In all the massacre that was carried out on Saturday 27, Sunday 28 and Monday 29 May, there are only 2 people responsible: 1.- Minister of Defense Safet Zhulali and 2.- Secretary of State Edi Mehta. These two have the police, prison guards, SHIK guards and the bandits who are paid with their money under control. They ordered forces to be gathered from the police of Vlorë, Fier and Berat, prison forces from Tirana and soldiers from the military units of Vlorë and Berat in order to terrorize, threaten and beat the people of Libofshë. The Chairman of the Commune Electoral Commission, Mr. Ramadan Murtezaj, was present, observed and denounced these actions and strongly opposed them, but he was driven out of the polling station, being replaced by another person inserted there illegally." (Speech delivered at yesterday's rally by the deputy chairman of the PSSH, Gjinushi, in Libofshë.)