- 107 intellectuals and highly educated professionals of different political convictions from the district of Malësia e Madhe address an appeal to the President of the Republic. - The immediate release from prison of Fatos Nano, chairman of the Socialist Party, and an amnesty for all other political prisoners are being called for. - A besa (pledge of truce) is being called for, along with the release from blood-feud confinement of 2,000 people! We, one hundred and seven residents of the district of Malësia e Madhe, with different political convictions, having assessed the situation, express our unwavering commitment to advancing democracy in Albania. The pruning and destruction have also been accompanied by certain negative phenomena: remnants of medieval darkness such as political revenge and Kanun-based vigilante justice. Therefore, we appeal: Let us rise above the parties and say stop to savage political greed and Kanun-based vigilante justice, and set our country on the path of national reconciliation. You, Mr President, must set the example. Taking this situation into account, as well as the fact that the justice authorities are not achieving independence and breaking free from party tutelage, we call for: - Fatos Nano, chairman of the Socialist Party of Albania and a member of the People’s Assembly, to be released from prison, thereby putting an end to revenge and the practice of targeting political opponents. His release could lift the people out of their anxiety and prove that Albania is not on a road to nowhere and that the transition will not last long. - Ramiz Alia, former President of the Republic of Albania, to be granted an amnesty, in view of his political activity and contribution to the establishment of democracy during 1989–1992. - All other political prisoners in our country to be granted amnesty. - Kanun-based vigilante justice to be prohibited as a remnant of medieval darkness. Mr President: Vigilante justice has reached enormous proportions, incomparable even with the period of Turkish rule or that of A. Zog. Of the district of Malësia e Madhe’s fifty-thousand residents, around two thousand people are confined to their homes, while several thousand others live in anxiety alongside them. In the small village of Mushqer alone, out of the 26 villages in the commune of Grumëres, 118 people are confined to their homes. Mr President: It is your honour and responsibility to provide assistance in establishing a nationwide commission for blood-feud reconciliation. The government must demonstrate its commitment and provide assistance for this purpose. The 23 recent killings in our district resulting from vigilante justice were carried out with unlicensed firearms. Ruzhdi Qamil Dulaj, Uçë Zenel Hysmulaj, Bari Brahim Shabanaj, Flutura Ramadani Zekaj, Shaban Ali Memaj, Ramadan Shabë Memaj, File Deçuki, Vojo Bozo Andro, Fadil Ali Kukaj, Nexhmi Hasan Kukaj, Hasie Maliq Sadria, Besnik Asllan Sadria, etc.

NAMIK DOKLE: “Many Albanian politicians will have to eat their words about what they have said…; others will have to deny their fathers when they step onto the podium.” The day before yesterday, a meeting was held in Lezhë with the chairpersons of the Socialist Party in several northern districts. Also attending was the Socialist Party’s deputy chairman and head of its parliamentary group, Namik Dokle. At the beginning, the chairpersons of the steering committees in the districts of Lezhë, Mirditë and Laç reported on the party’s progress following the elections held recently. They observed that the party’s work had gained further momentum through the identification of specific areas of work, the renewal of the governing bodies, and the recruitment of intellectuals and others. However, more work is needed in two areas in particular: in the countryside, where the electorate is also broader but farther from the mass media, and in revitalizing the activities of Socialist representatives in local government. Measures already taken and still to be taken in these districts, as well as in Shkodër, Malësia e Madhe and Pukë, to organize several events marking the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the five Heroes of Vigu, on 21 August 1944, were then discussed. “It is a moral, political and national duty,” said Namik Dokle, “to commemorate such important events of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War. To deny the War is to deny the identity of your people. We all saw how the American landing in Normandy was commemorated. Here, however, memorials were demolished, monuments to heroes were destroyed, and the names of criminals were written on their pedestals. Who did this? In recent events in Albania, as you noticed, there were exchanges between the Democratic Party and former political prisoners who had been persecuted; you have seen war criminals exhumed in [unclear]. You have people at the helm who were collaborators with fascism, while the other side [unclear]. Both sides spoke truths, but they brought those truths out at moments of crisis, whereas the people have known and recognized them for a long time. The people know that it was President Berisha who welcomed the exhumation in Greece of [unclear] Gjirokastër, or received [text cut off at edge of photograph]…” As for the truth stated by Mr Selami, he did not take part in these monstrous acts, without precedent in Europe’s political life, and that should be acknowledged. But this cannot serve as an alibi, because Mr Selami is a party chairman, not merely one of its pampered boys. Therefore, what they have said against the War…; onto the podium. Namik Dokle praised the fact that the necessary measures are being taken for this event, one of the most important in the series of sacrifices for the country’s freedom, to be commemorated at 11:00 on 21 August in Vigu, Mirditë. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

The trial of 5 Greek-minority members continues - Bezhan, Marto, Qirjako attempt to deny… [illegible] - A serious violation of human freedoms and rights. The investigation of the defendants, apart from Mr Bezhan, was conducted… - Further claims of violence and pressure. Panajot Marko: Violence was used against me at the investigative police… … “where I also suffered a nervous breakdown. They hit me on the back with a rubber truncheon, and on my legs until they began to tremble. I tried to kill myself.”

Durrës: A few days ago, the Eurosocialist Forum in Durrës organized an interesting event that served not only as a way to spend leisure time culturally, but also to educate young people in the new European concepts concerning democracy and ways to strengthen the role of youth in the modern left. At this entertaining gathering, young Euro-socialist men and women from Durrës…

- Behzani, Marto, Qirjako attempt to substantiate the espionage charges, which appear to be directed less at the individual defendants than collectively at “Omonia”. - of the defendants, with the exception of Botëzani, was conducted without the presence of a lawyer. - Further claims of violence and pressure. Panaot Mako: I also suffered a nervous breakdown. They hit the soles of my feet with a rubber truncheon The trial of five Greek-minority members, leaders of the Greek-minority organization “Omonia”, accused of espionage, illegal financing and illegal possession of firearms, resumed yesterday in Tirana at around 9:00 a.m. The strict security measures taken by Tirana police to prevent any more “farces on our soil”—which, according to TV journalist Burjar Muharremi (who, strangely, had drifted over to the prosecutors’ side in the courtroom), were [unclear] the independence of the court—make you feel secure within the “working” circle. There was particular interest yesterday from Greek journalists. Many of them were left outside the courtroom, including the BBC correspondent in Athens, the “Deutsche Welle” correspondent, also in Athens, and others. They were left outside.

Opinions from the courtroom There are five Albanian citizens of Albanian ethnicity who, in the role of defense lawyers, are defending five Albanian citizens of Greek ethnicity, thereby giving the trial of the five Greek-minority members a normal appearance. So far, actively defending their clients, they have sought to prove the innocence of the defendants they represent. At yesterday’s court hearing, the defendants said that the investigation conducted by the investigative police had not only taken place under conditions of violence but also without the presence of lawyers. Only Mr Behzani appears to have enjoyed a privilege, albeit one enshrined in law. His case was conducted with a lawyer from the very beginning of the investigation. We therefore put this question to the five lawyers: When did you join the investigation? Here are their answers. KUJTIM PUTO, lawyer for Theodhor Behzani: I joined the investigation from the moment it began, at Mr Behzani’s request, and I was present throughout its entire course. VLADIMIR BINERI, lawyer for Panajot Marto: I became Panajot Marto’s lawyer ten days before the trial began. The investigation was conducted without defense counsel present. My client’s claims that violence was used against him during the investigation will be proved during the trial. PAJTIM HOXHA, lawyer for Vangjel Papakristo: I did not join the investigation at all. I became Vangjel Papakristo’s lawyer a few days before the court hearing began. The investigation was conducted without a lawyer present, and when I asked the defendant, he told me that initially he had not wanted a lawyer, but a few days after the investigation began he requested a lawyer [unclear]. They promised him that they would bring one, but did not do so before the investigation ended. KRISTAQ NGJELA, lawyer for Kosta Qirjako: I joined the investigation in June. Only a small part of the investigation phase, its final part, took place in my presence. It initially began without a lawyer present, although a lawyer had been requested from Gjirokastër, but he declined because of the difficulties involved; it then continued without a lawyer. The defendant Qirjako, who was ill-treated, made complaints during the investigation as well, and this is also recorded in the minutes. Lawyer for Irakli Sirmo: I was not involved in the investigation at all. The investigation of Irakli Sirmo was conducted without defense counsel present. Prepared by: E. BRAÇE.

We warn On the right-hand side of the lake, near the Koman Hydroelectric Power Plant and the village of Arrë, in the Shllak-Dukagj area, at a place called Pylli-Shelbu, around 100 metres above the lake’s water surface, a gigantic block more than 200 metres long has begun to slide. A scientific study is essential of all the geological and tectonic features, the direction and intensity of the slide, and the factors that accelerate, slow down or completely halt it. The opening of the crack caused by the slide averages 50 cm. Sources confirm that the crack first appeared two years ago and has continued to widen, especially during periods of precipitation and rain. What should the Koman Hydroelectric Power Plant be like? Empty or full, if this gigantic block, located relatively close to the dam, were to fall onto it? Let this information serve as a call to action for the relevant state departments and agencies responsible for the fate of the national economy, which deal with studying the geological and engineering conditions involved in the construction of hydroelectric plants and industrial facilities, as well as for the Association of Engineering Geologists and the environmental protection organizations.

Many private businesses in Berat have tried to evade compliance with the law on the fiscal system. For this very reason, the judges have now imposed fines totaling 3.7 million lek on them over the past seven months, in addition to confiscating their proceeds. - Finally, two years after Mallakastra became a separate district, it will now also have its own court in Ballsh. - Twenty doctors recruited at the beginning of September will come to Laç and Rubik. Their purpose is for them, as ophthalmologists, to meet and help patients in these areas. - During 1992 and the following year, 220 residential apartments were built in Kavajë, one tenth of which were given to former political persecutées. - Fifteen-year-old Lea Ypl presents herself to readers through her 40 poems in her first poetry collection, entitled “Wounded Sleep,” which will be released in the coming days. - The Kukës polyclinic does not provide a 24-hour service for patients on Saturdays and Sundays. That’s what you call: people must not get sick on days off! - In the district of Sarandë, families without shelter have taken over [buildings?], seeking to [house?] children inside ... [?] - In the industrial area of Shkozet, in Durrës, where there are, among other things, 100 warehouses, the city council is studying the possibility of adapting them to shelter homeless families. - The 15-year-old Esmeralda Paio-ka was acquitted at the Lezhë court. Some time ago, she killed a 22-year-old young man in the village of Zejmen while resisting an attempted rape. - In the lower neighborhoods of Gjirokastër, despite the alarm this has caused among residents, the “thief in black” has not been caught. That is what people call a person, believed to be young, who robs the city’s families at night. - In Perlat, Mirditë, 55-year-old Prend Doda was killed in a revenge attack. His family was in a land dispute with the Sulejmani family, with whom they had been quarrelling over the past two years. - 11.7 million lek is the investment reportedly allocated for building the road in the mountainous area of Galicë, in the district of Laç. The funds were obtained from NN Hekurudha, but the project was never implemented. The road remains as it was. - Around 30 types of narcotic plants are thought to be grown illegally in our country. One kilogram of dried leaves is obtained from a single plant, yielding 300,000 drachmas. - Greek lawyer Theodhor Aspardiadis returned to his homeland aboard a C-130 military aircraft. He is believed to have been injured during a protest demonstration in recent days outside the Tirana court, where five Albanian citizens of Greek ethnicity are being tried. - At our country’s border crossings, 145,000 foreign nationals and 117,700 Albanians entered during the first six months of this year. Of the foreign visitors, 69 percent came for business and 23 percent for holidays. - The largest contract signed so far with foreign companies is the one between Alb-bakër and a group of Italian companies. The contract is worth 70 million dollars. - To clean Tirana, 200 concrete waste bins have been ordered for use until December 1, when an Italian company will take over the work. They have been manufactured and will be distributed throughout the city. - Our country’s exports to Italy during the first six months of this year amounted to 33 million and 971 million dollars. - The NN Port facilities, several warehouses, the former military academy, the police station, etc., are among the buildings forcibly occupied by homeless citizens at the port of Durrës.