Information reaching the newsroom from Tirana and the districts indicates that the party-state is preparing the “Manifesto for the Constitution.” It is a kind of “manifesto” like the one of 22 March, signed by 182 “intellectuals,” which called on the people to vote for the DP. The way the current “manifesto” is being prepared is mafioso. Heads of state enterprises and institutions are approaching their employees and asking them to sign that they are “in favor” of the constitution. Anyone who refuses to sign this “in favor” statement will be dismissed. Faced with the prospect of their children going hungry, some of these employees, who receive state salaries, are compelled to sign. Others who do not want to sign are terrorized by the prospect of losing their jobs. State-paid employees who say “in favor,” together with some intellectual aides of the party, who take pleasure in serving those in power, will be put on lists, and these lists will be read on radio and television and published in the government’s newspapers a few days before the referendum, to convince the people that the constitution is good.

Once again, vote for Fatos Nano by saying “NO” to Berisha’s draft constitution The large number of police officers; the sirens of their cars; the checks of vehicles entering the city of Kuçovë; and the detention of PS members and sympathizers did not dampen the enthusiasm of Kuçovë’s residents to say “No” as well to Berisha’s draft constitution. Amid calls of “Freedom,” “Democracy,” “No to the constitution,” “We want Fatos Nano,” and “The left will win,” the meeting was opened by the chairman of the PS in Kuçovë, Bardhyl Islami, who said: “We have gathered to say no to the draft Constitution that has been presented. And we, like all socialists, will say no; and no. But we will not ask this only of ourselves: we call on all members of the other parties to join our vote.” Amid cheers, Dr. Pëllumbi took the floor. Addressing those present, he said that he had a special request from comrade Fatos to meet with his electorate, and this energized the hall even more, with applause and cheers. At that moment, a little girl approached the microphone and presented him with a bunch of red carnations, then addressed the hall, saying: “Long live the Socialist Party; long live Uncle Fatos Nano.” And the hall’s reply was: “We want Fatos Nano.” Continuing his speech, Dr. Pëllumbi said: “Love him, because the entire Socialist Party loves him, and today Fatos Nano is stronger than ever, because he is not alone—we are all with him. His arrest and imprisonment (Continued on page 3) SERVET PËLLUMBI: Those who fill Berisha’s television spectacles are not the Socialist Party. Its electorate, members, and sympathizers will say “NO” to this project.

The police state in action: A thuggish act by the law-enforcement forces of the Librazhd branch. Yesterday morning they brutally stopped and took to the detention rooms of the law-enforcement branch the chairman of the district’s Socialist Party, Fatos Zharri, who was on his way to several villages in the district to meet Socialist Party members and sympathizers and to deliver the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit” and other propaganda materials. This act needs no comment. Berisha’s police state is using every means to restrict any space for the opposition. Berisha’s words about freedom in this district need no comment either. Everything he says is hypocrisy, demagoguery, and deceit.

Fushë-Krujë

“The call to vote ‘yes’ for Berisha’s draft constitution is also powerful in Fushë-Krujë. Hundreds of members and sympathizers of the Socialist Party from the town and surrounding villages welcomed the Socialist Party and Fatos Nano at its head with cheers and ovations. Fatos Nano at its head with cheers and ovations. Hundreds of residents of Fushë-Krujë. The head of the PS, Servet Pëllumbi, and Luan Hajdaraga, deputy Alfred Paloka, and Socialist Party presidium member Arta Dabulla. ‘No, no, and only no’ were the shouts heard for about an hour from hundreds of residents of Fushë-Krujë. ‘It is not the first time you have shown enthusiasm and support for it,’ Dr. Servet Pëllumbi said. ‘May enthusiasm and support for the Socialist Party become a tradition.’ This (Continued on page 3)

The coordinating council of the commune of Dushk and the leadership of the Socialist Party analyzed and drew the relevant conclusions about the situation at the rally held yesterday and the so-called consensus that Mr. Berisha reached with the electorate of our area. The coverage provided by RTV was a filthy manipulation, since those who appeared on screen were not from Dushk, nor from the surrounding villages, but were the informers and members of the escort accompanying the president throughout Albania. At least 48 vehicles with government plates came to Dushk, bringing the servile administrators of today’s Lushnjë authorities and the buses that transported pupils from the city’s “school” gymnasiums. On this occasion, we denounce the self-proclaimed “chairman of the Socialist Party in the village of Thanasaj,” the professional fraudster Dashamir Sula, who is not only not the chairman of the village party section, but is not even an ordinary member of it. He has left (or, more accurately, we have removed him) as a corrupt person and an avowed careerist throughout our area. Nevertheless, on behalf of the electorate of the entire commune, we declare that they will say a resounding No to the Berishian constitution. Meanwhile, to substantiate the “consensus” the president reached in Dushk, we inform you that on the 25th of this month, April 7, 17 villagers joined the ranks of the SP, 7 of whom were residents of Thanasaj village. For the Coordinating Council of the Commune of Dushk ALEKSANDËR ZGURO

Thumanë All the residents of Thumanë had come out onto the road to welcome the deputy chairman of the Socialist Party, Servet Pëllumbi, Luan Hajdaraga, and the group accompanying them. It was a warm and cordial gathering, at which there were also bunches of flowers presented by children; it was not at all diminished by the presence of the security forces, who had come to prevent it. After the greetings, the large group of vice- (Continued on page 3)

Krujë As always at election campaign time, the PD has now begun mobilizing its minions. Encouraged by the growing authority of the Socialist Party, by its numerous electorate, and by the No that the electorate gave to Berisha’s constitution, at the behest of the PD leadership and with the protection of the law-enforcement agencies and SHIK for their actions, they tried to prevent the opposition’s activities from taking place. This also happened in Krujë. In front of hundreds of people, members and supporters of the SP, a small group of thugs who receive their pay from the PD’s consulates tried to disrupt the meeting organized with the Socialist Party deputy chairmen Servet Pëllumbi and Luan Hajdaraga. But the calls of those who had come for Sali Berisha were self-evident, as was their defeat, amid chants for Fatos Nano. The law-enforcement agencies did not act, even though their intervention was requested. Under these circumstances, in order to prevent confrontations with paid thugs acting according to prepared scenarios, the SP deputy chairmen continued their tour to hold a (Continued on page 3)

— More than two weeks have passed, and the Constitutional Court has said neither “yes” nor “no” on the unconstitutionality of the Berishian referendum — It has been more than two weeks, and the Constitutional Court has said neither “yes” nor “no” on the unconstitutionality of the Berishian referendum. More than two weeks ago, the Socialist Party parliamentary group submitted a request to the Constitutional Court to rule that Article 2 of the Law “On the Referendum,” as well as the decision of the Council of the Constitution of Albania on the referendum approved by the People’s Assembly (the PD), were unconstitutional. As is known, they consider Articles 16-2 and 16-7 of the main constitutional provisions to be unconstitutional, since the parliament has the right to approve the Constitution and decide on the referendum. Yet despite all this time having passed, and despite there being only a few days left before the Berishian referendum is held, the Constitutional Court has closed its eyes and ears. It is becoming an accomplice to the adventurers who have taken it upon themselves to undermine Albanian democracy. Indeed, according to well-informed sources, this court (or, more precisely, its chairman, Mr. Rustem Gjata) has no intention—today, tomorrow, or ever—of promptly deciding on the request, based on Article 24 of the law on the main constitutional provisions, submitted by the parliamentary group of (Continued on page 4)

— Every “Covenant” of Berisha costs a total of 2 million lekë. — Albanian taxpayers pay for the presidential caravan. The poor state, the president so that ... (Continued on page 3)

— After the repeated requests for a pledge, there was a new betrayal — Sali Berisha and his touring entourage went to Pezë too, the glorious partisan Pezë, the proud Pezë of good people and true patriots. Pezë, a school of democracy and the struggle for progress, whose alphabet cannot be taught to the villagers by a former communist from Vëlladoll of Tropojë. Sali Berisha went to Pezë, but instead of honoring and respecting the villagers, he insulted them. Because he went with a whole troop of guards, with paid rally-goers, with mercenaries, thus violating both the customary code he claims to know so well and the customs of the region. Sali Berisha offended the villagers because he went to ask them for their pledge of allegiance without first having honored them, having removed from the calendar one of the greatest and most glorious feasts, the feast of the martyrs of 1944, the day of the liberation of the homeland from the Nazi-fascist occupiers and domestic traitors, for which the people of Pezë shed so much blood. Sali Berisha has betrayed the people of Pezë with a false pledge when he brought the legendary Pezë partisan Myslym Peza out from under the earth, from his grave, and dishonored him, making him turn in his grave, by not mentioning his name even once when he spoke at the rally—not to honor Pezë- (Continued on page 4)

To the President of the Republic, Mr. Sali Berisha. To the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori. To the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi. To the Chairman of the Central Election Commission, Mr. Vladimir Kristo. To the Prosecutor General, Mr. Alush Dragoshi.

Commission, Mr. Vladimir Kristo. To the Prosecutor General, Mr. Aliush Dragoshi. On 27.10.1994, at around 03:00, the chairman of the Socialist Party in the Librazhd district, Mr. Fatos Zharri, was arbitrarily detained, together with the driver and the vehicle of this institution, in which campaign newspapers and other propaganda materials were being carried, by the Librazhd district police station. This action contravenes Article 19 of Law 7866, dated 6.10.94, on referendums. We request your immediate intervention and that responsibility be established for these arbitrary actions. The Mayor of the city of Librazhd FLORI ALLA