— SALI BERISHA: The vote for the PD by the people of Mallakastra and Myzeqe for the first time was the warmest message, the most beautiful bouquet of fresh May flowers that they sent this spring to all of Albania. (RD, 28 June 1994). — This is not the first time President Berisha has made such an assessment. We need only recall the events in Shkodër and his statement about the “opposition brothers,” that Shkodër does not want the socialists... With all the drama, tragedy and pain that accompanied the elections in the Municipality of Libofshë, President Berisha sees them as a fresh bouquet of flowers. Condemned as the pinnacle of state and police violence not only by the PS but also by other political forces, they marked the highest point on the graph of the authorities’ brutality toward the opposition. Let us accept for a moment that these thorns really were flowers. Who planted them, and to whom were they sent? They were planted by the Democratic Party and its policy of suppressing and eliminating the opposition. They were planted by the newly appointed prefect of Durrës, Viktor Margilaj, denounced as an active leader of this macabre event. They were planted by the Fier police chief, Agron Brace, who, with the PD’s “blessing,” not only remained indifferent but became a supporter of the thugs and criminals. They were planted by 30 hooligans who, on 27 May 1994, with the most insulting words, slogans and shouts that the PD would win, and with the names of Sali Berisha and Eduard Selami on their lips, tried to disrupt the Socialist Party rally. They were planted by those who, led by Captain Pandeli Petani, attacked socialist deputies and members of the election commission on 28 May. They were planted by the arrival and nighttime departure of the PD Secretary-General, Tritan Shehu. By the commitment and support these groups received from PD deputies Llazar Lëngu and Fadil Çepele. The ever-present Ali Spahia undoubtedly also played a part in assembling this bunch of fresh “flowers”; the official silence, repeated three times by the President’s Cabinet, the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Local Government and the entire state apparatus, helped plant them... — That is enough to gather. To whom were these flowers given? The authorities gave them first and foremost to the people of Myzeqe, showing them all their brutality and their deceitful face. The lesson in violence they gave the people of Libofshë was and remains a serious warning about what lies ahead. And that is all; further comment is unnecessary. This is enough to show Berisha once again that his flowers are nothing but thorns, and to remind him that, first and foremost, it is his duty to pull them out.

The census began in neighboring Macedonia more than a week ago. In connection with this issue, there have been and continue to be manipulations and speculation by the Macedonian ruling circles, to the detriment of the real number of Albanian people living there on their own lands, as well as of other ethnic groups living in this republic. To prevent these manipulations, the Council of Europe secured funds to conduct a proper census of the population living in Macedonia and also sent its observers. But the Macedonian authorities in power have tried every possible means to continue manipulating the census and its results. Despite the insistence of Albanian political forces and the Albanian residents themselves that, before the census began, all Albanians living in Macedonia, as well as those temporarily working abroad, be issued Macedonian citizenship documents, this basic requirement for the census has not been met by the Macedonian authorities. It is a fact that without this proof of citizenship, citizens of this state are not allowed to be registered. According to Albanian political forces in Macedonia, more than 50 percent of Albanian citizens have not been issued this document. In practice, then, they have also been excluded from this census. This means that in the final results the number of the Albanian population may be lower, according to statistics entered into the court premises parandolli një të shmurrë. Naturally, one’s mind turns to some defendant who had presented himself as being in poor health during court hearings. But the speculation ended immediately when it became known that the assistant judge of Mr. Çeliku had left in the ambulance. Under these circumstances, the overwhelming majority of Albanians in Macedonia have boycotted this census. Initially, Albanian political forces also called for it to be boycotted. But after some time, reports from Macedonia stressed that they were taking a measured position, afraid to assume responsibility for the final census results. According to reports from Macedonia, Albanians are boycotting this census. LULZIM COTA

For the information of: The President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha We consider it our patriotic duty and moral obligation to address this open letter to you, your fellow villagers of Libofshë. Recognizing how well we know you, and hoping that your conscience has room for correction and repentance, so that you may reflect on the events that took place in Libofshë on 27 and 29 May 1994, involving the black gangs of Viktor Mar- We put forward the following demands: 1. Publicly denounce and condemn, before the people of Libofshë and the country, the fascist act that was manifested in Libofshë on 27 and 29 May 1994. 2. Denounce and condemn the bandits and hooligans of the chief bandit Viktor Margila, who carried out their acts naked in front of your sisters and mothers. 3. Denounce and take a stand against the “thugs” of Agron Brace, who attacked your fellow villagers using images with banners, stones, water from fire hoses, dogs and kicks from plainclothes police officers. 4. Condemn the manipulation of the vote carried out by Ali Spahia’s people. Të dëshët dhe Shtraq Aleksit tek «asallotja» e Todi Gremit and at every polling station. 5. Show your honesty and nobility as an intellectual, not to ... E pranonj votën që ju dha dhame nënat, motrat dhe gjithë bashkëfshatarët e tua, por kriminelët. Vetëm ky veprim do t’ju ndrojë juve i Nikollaq në të kundërt nuk ke për të gëzuar respektin asnjëherë nga ne. In Libofshë, 27.6.1994 Respectfully, Your mothers, sisters, fellow village women Signatures follow Libofshë, 27.6.1994 It is our moral duty to address you with this open letter, your fellow villagers from Libofshë. Taking into account how well we know you, and hoping that there is room in your conscience the three unprecedented disgraces 1994, carried out by the “black gangs” of Viktor Marriles, Behar Plakës and company, we [text breaks off] 1. Publicly denounce and condemn, in the public opinion Denounce and condemn the thugs and hooligans of Mayor critical position toward the illegal actions of the democratic government [the source text continues in a garbled, apparently unrelated passage:] The word for a woman is “lady.” But this makes you want to laugh, because it is easy to cross one leg over the other and have none of the qualities of a lady. The village women have bread in their hands; they have no time to sit at the table, [unclear], bread in their hands, glory to Çajupi’s words about women. Lefter Ligu, reviewing the judicial period, noted that the party in the district had adopted concrete positions and actions and had pursued cooperation. He said that they should go out to the areas more, because people are there and ask for us to come, whereas we go to the grassroots only rarely. He also suggested that the party’s new forums in the district develop more alternatives for the development of specific areas, drawing on intellectual opinion. Thanas Xhamba stressed that today the PS is supported by most of the people in the district; it has its members and organizations, which are growing in number. The views on the PS there are advanced and realistic. He called for cooperation on the issues and stated that minorities should receive greater attention, including in the political struggle waged by the PS. Questions, interventions, and debate were also raised, and senior district leaders and those who had come from the party leadership answered them. Thoma Andren drew attention to the work with the Vlach community in the district. Questions were asked about village issues, municipal and urban problems, individuals’ economic circumstances and especially property, local government and corruption, work with emigrants and refugees, and other matters. Some [Continued on page 2]

COURT: Verdict postponed in trial of former senior officials of the monist state According to the time set by the court, the verdict in the trial of former senior officials of the party and the monist state was to be delivered yesterday at 17:00 at the Tirana District Court. But a police officer had to intervene to get those present to leave, because the trial was to begin at 18:30. People began commenting in all sorts of ways. Someone said the panel of judges had failed to reach agreement; someone else said that the verdict in this trial had still not arrived from “above”; someone... Under these circumstances, a decision by the panel of judges, this time consisting of two people, meant that the verdict would finally be announced on Saturday at 15:00. Correspondent of “Zëri i popullit”

Gjirokastër: Let us do opposition better Gjirokastër: Let us do opposition better Dr. SABIT BROKAJ: The PS is expected to take action. Democracy also means courage, bravery and justice. Until shortly before the conference began, people continued joining the Socialist Party in the Gjirokastër district. It seems this was bringing the two-year political season since the previous conference to a successful close. The maturity of the conditions was evident in the report, discussions, questions and interventions. Afrim Mele said that education workers had an additional problem on top of their usual ones: they could not have a party of their own, because of threats from those in power and the education reform. Speaking about the problems of the Lunxhëri area, Nonda Andoni said that, regardless of the history of the local elections, we cannot be the second power in the administration of the country, although that would be normal in a democracy. The FRESSH chairman, Adria (??), said it is absurd that Zylfi, after saying that it is her own, makes us decide to attack and indoctrinate from the past; he called for more room for the Eurosocialists in the PS and raised the issue of corruption in law-enforcement bodies, citing the decision Kakalavës e eth Konsullatës. Pashkim Rino addressed problems in education and the village’s conditions, spoke of declining social measures for education and of support and funding for the nature of some matter. Gjirokastër said in the city that many needs for funding and education are minimal. From the Party discourse in Lazarat, Berti Pashë i Zamilir Arap (??) spoke about Betim Hysen? që të flir kaluan. Dhuratën e njohën shoqëri e dihet të bë Hetem Cani që thotë se dhe Al Shkodrët? PS s’e. He asked that from Zhulat the PS should also go with? (??) ... (Continued on page 2)

Bajram Curri: The Socialist Party has its own alternatives for developing the Northeastern region Bajram Curri: The Socialist Party has its own alternatives for developing the Northeastern region — 55 percent of Tropoja’s villagers live on social assistance handouts — On 24 June 1994, the third conference of the PS of the Tropojë district was held in the main hall of the “Dardania” Cultural Palace in B. Curri. The conference was also attended by the delegate of the KPP-së, PSSH, its deputy chairman Ilmi Meta, and Fatmir Zanaj, leader of the KPD. The report delivered by Hasan Hyka, chairman of the district PS, provided an in-depth analysis of the severe economic and moral-political crisis that has gripped the Malësia e Gjakovës, especially over the past two years. The vast majority of Tropojans survive thanks to social assistance. Some of the hungry population, rapoten in the closed rural economy. All industrial economic sectors are idle. A large number of villagers and townspeople, especially from the remote mountain area of Lekbibajve, are moving south. For nearly a year, 55 percent of villagers have been living on social assistance handouts, a figure that is increasing. The land has not yet been fully divided. In these dramatic economic conditions, most Tropojans have turned toward the PSSH and await salvation from its alter (??) native. This profound change in ... (Continued on page 2) ILIR META: The PSSH has created undemocratic relations between government and opposition. This is demonstrated by the politically motivated imprisonment of Fatos Nano, the chairman of the Albanian opposition. 77 new members were admitted at the conference. The conference applauded the initiators of new organizations, such as Hysen Leci in Bujçan, Gani Isufi and Jonuz Ademl in Çerçan, Bajram Demushi and Petrit Prenazi in Lekurtaj, Sami Demiri and Demush Sokoli in Dragobi, Avdyli Gjini and Ukë Ndreu in Gjonaj, Gjin Gjoni in Bujkovë, etc. Both the report and the many discussions at the conference criticized weaknesses such as the passivity of some organizations, also prompted by pressure from those in power through threats and dismissals. Restrictive attitudes in some organizations were criticized, such as “there’s no reason to hold a meeting,” “what are we going to do,” “we have no say in anything,” etc. All Socialist representatives elected to local government bodies were likewise reminded that a mistake by one of them—whether appointing someone to a job or giving a careless reply to a person in need—reflects badly on the person concerned, the PS, and its electorate as a whole. The conference unanimously came out in favor of democracy and all of them from the PDSH with the tyranny of the elections in the 6 communes, and expressed solidarity with the positions adopted by [text cut off] [Continued on page 2]

Lushnje: “Berisha must put an end to the five-decade communist rhetoric about Albania as the most developed country in the world” Lushnje: “Berisha must put an end to the five-decade communist rhetoric about Albania as the most developed country in the world” Yesterday’s conference of the PS in the Lushnje district, attended by PS deputy chairman Luan Hajdaraga, focused primarily on work to strengthen the PS ideologically and organizationally. In the report delivered by the chairman of the district PS, Miltiadh Mata stressed that, over the past two years, 462 new members had joined the PS in the Lushnje district and 9 new organizations had been formed. Sixty-five percent of the new recruits are members who had not previously belonged to any party. Today, a total of 3410 members belong to the PS in Lushnje, and 153 organizations are active. 237 new members joined in just the first six months of this year. The PS organizations in the villages and areas of Krutë, L ifat, Kadipashaj, Gjazë, Fier-seman, Allkaj, Çermë, Dushk, etc., were singled out as having done good work. The campaign for new elections in the organizations was accompanied by the reorganization of their governing bodies. Older PS members experienced changes in their party organizations [original wording unclear]. The work carried out in the village of Grabjan deserves particular mention, where a new organization with 65 members was established. Afterwards, similar organizations were established in Dushk, Canil, and Shekollas. The work of recruiting new party members must also be accompanied by greater effectiveness across all its grassroots structures, particularly in the PS district councils. The work of the PS in the Lushnje district must aim to respond to the views of the electorate, the majority of which in this district supports the Socialist Party. The issue of strengthening the party’s work was also prominent in most of the discussions at the conference. In his speech, PS deputy chairman Luan Hajdaraga praised the good work of the PS in the Lushnje district, which has continued to grow. He then spoke about the PS’s positions on the political, economic, and social situation the country is going through. Referring to the proceedings of the national PD gathering held two days earlier, he said that President Berisha continued his familiar euphoric rhetoric, according to which Albania is the most developed country in the world. The country’s situation is not as portrayed at the grand PD events, Hajdaraga said. Economically, most of the people are experiencing levels of absolute poverty. Politically, the situation is highly tense, while socially, large numbers of people are in despair because of stagnation and a lack of prospects. These conditions cause protests to erupt from time to time, such as hunger strikes, which in the future could reach large proportions. We do not deny the achievements that are evident, particularly in the field of [Continued on page 3]

ILIR META: The PSSH has created undemocratic relations between government and opposition. This is demonstrated by the politically motivated imprisonment of Fatos Nano, the chairman of the Albanian opposition.

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