FATOS NANO ON THE NOVEMBER 6 REFERENDUM “I am convinced that the overwhelming majority of Albanians, as is only natural, will not be deceived again and that, by defending the NO vote, they will save Albania and Berisha himself from the ghosts of the past.” “Voting against this Draft means saving Albania from the nightmare of shutting off its prospects for development, from the return of the danger posed by a leader’s paranoia, which blocks all social energy by creating and eliminating ‘enemies’ without building anything.” It is not enough to call Berisha’s constitutional initiative illegal, just as boycotting the November 6 referendum is wholly inadequate. A passive stance toward the regime’s adventures or follies, and, in the worst case, “faithfully” supporting a vacuum, have shown that the consequences weigh heavily on spiritual progress. THE SECOND: fundamental human rights and freedoms are systematically made conditional on “loyal dreaming” of the regime, with which the constitutional order itself is identified (?). At a time when the civilized world has developed and advanced solely thanks to the institutionalization of competition and alternatives, Berisha’s exclusion and regime block … … freedom, and corruption in place of the law. Turning this Draft into the Constitution will have boomerang effects for those who support and vote for it, including Selami, Tritani and other “pioneers of Salut.” But it would also seriously harm Albania itself, because instead of strong and free citizens, it would create new generations of slaves… just as it is entirely insufficient to boycott the 6 November referendum. A passive stance toward the authorities’ adventures or follies, and, in the worst case, loyal support for the «wrecking», has social significance and weight for Albanian representation. This Draft Constitution, if it does not remain merely a draft as evidence of an adventure never realized, not only curbs but blocks the development of democracy and civil society in Albania, for at least two fundamental reasons: FIRST: instead of a genuine separation of powers, they are once again monopolized in the hands of one man, who is exclusively granted the initiative to propose and dictate on fundamental matters of development and on the «construction of the main institutions of the state». To see this, one need only look at the state to which the representatives of «justice» have been reduced. on «faithful dreaming» of the authorities, with which the constitutional order itself is identified (?). Berisha’s draft straitjacket and regime block precisely these mechanisms, the opposition and pluralism itself. To vote against this project means saving Albania from the nightmare of a closed-off development perspective, from the recurrence of the danger of a leader emerging who building anything. Berisha’s noisy, costly and disastrous campaign is the final proof that he and his regime have no other culture than the Bolshevik-kanun culture: a culture of domination instead of coexistence, recruitment instead of dialogue, division instead of reconciliation, submission instead of free initiative, and corruption instead of law. Turning this Project into a Constitution will have a dehumanizing effect on those who support and vote for it, including Salami, Trihani and the other «pioneers of Saliu». of servile minors of «banana republics». The opposition is waging the political struggle and civic resistance against the totalitarians’ paranoia that has attacked Albanians with wisdom and courage, and it certainly has the right to declare: «I HAVE PAID MY DEBT TO YOU». But I am convinced that the vast majority of Albanians will not, as is only natural, of the past. In any case, the file of this Albanian Watergate, or the «permanent file» Berisha - Arbnori, is now in the hands of the people’s judge. Only a NO vote can turn 6 November into a day of national reconciliation.

GRAMSH “NO” to Berisha’s personal rule! Residents of the Gramsh district warmly welcomed Socialist Party leaders Servet Pellumbi, Namik Dokle and Sabit Brokaj, as well as the area’s MP, Bashkim Koci. The residents of the Skënderbegas commune had the honor of hosting the comrades from Tirana in their village. During a brief stop in the town of Gramsh, we try to find… traces of the president’s visit a few days earlier and, even more, the effects of the television spectacle staged for the residents of Gramsh. There are no traces and no effects. Local officials in Gramsh tell us that the president’s visit there was very subdued. There was no enthusiasm among the people of Gramsh and they were not at all taken in by the television spectacles. On the contrary: Berisha’s arrival here, they tell us, freed people from the “shock” effect of television. They saw how the president’s rally in Gramsh unfolded; they also saw how television presented it. Therefore, the people of Gramsh multiply all the president’s rallies in other districts, trumpeted so loudly on television, by the downward coefficient of the rally organized by the president in their own town. In the Skënderbegas commune, people welcome the Socialist Party leaders with affection and enthusiasm. The meeting is held outdoors. Residents shout: “Socialist Party!” “No, No, No to the constitution.” Before they speak at the rally, three or four young thugs try to provoke incidents with obscene words. But this time the group of Socialist MPs is accompanied from Tirana by a police escort. They do their duty in accordance with the law, showing the thugs—led by the brother of the Gramsh district Democratic Party secretary—where they belong. The meeting then proceeds normally. Socialist Party leaders explain the party’s position on the draft constitution and call on people to… (Continued on page 2)

— The opposition and its electorate are experiencing thuggish interventions by the civilian police and SHIK agents with pistols at their belts, while those who earn their daily bread working in state enterprises and institutions are being subjected to psychological intimidation: “Sign in favor of the referendum, or you’ll be thrown out onto the street…”

The opposition and its electorate are experiencing thuggish interventions by the civilian police and SHIK agents with pistols at their belts, while those who provide for their children through work in state enterprises and institutions are fearful because of the psychological “threat”: “Sign in favor of the referendum, or you’ll be thrown out onto the street.” The Socialist Party’s opposition to the adoption of the Draft Constitution—and its campaign urging the electorate to say “No” in the November 6 referendum—has greatly angered the ranks of those in power who want more power. The Democratic Party has therefore brought all its weapons into play, (Continued on page 4)

On 28.10.1994, in the center of the Krahes Commune in the Tepelenë district, Eduard Selami and several MPs from his party held a meeting with their members and supporters. In that day’s television report, it was said, “among other things: Mr. Niaz(i) Kapllani, chairman of the Socialist Party in Krahes, speaks in favor of the constitution.” This statement is a lie and a manipulation. The truth is that the person’s name is Razi Kapllani, not Niaz(i) Kapllani. Mr. Razi is not a member of the Socialist Party, but the chairman of the Socialist Party in Krahes. MUHARREM AGAJ Deputy Chair of the Socialist Party Zonal Council, Krahes

On the front page of the newspaper «Dita» on 27.10.1994, in a report about Tropojë, it says: «The Chairman of the PS in Tropojë ...» . Before Borxhës [sic] it says ... It seems that the purpose was ... This lie ... The Chairman of the PS in the Tropojë district, because ... the truth is ... Many of this party’s officials in «Dita» are not convinced of it. The «YES» vote on the draft constitution, which is being put to a vote by unlawful means; they themselves oppose it. 17 political parties in the country; a draft constitution that is being pushed for approval in haste, by means of a campaign; which we are seeing carried out in documents such as these; The Chairman of the PS for Tropojë ... HASAN HYKA Chairman of the PS of the Tropojë District.

PUT AN END TO THE VIOLENCE PROTEST To the President of the Republic of Albania, Mr. Sali Berisha To the Central Commission for Referendum Voting, Mr. Vladimir Kristo To the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr. Aleksandër Meksi To the Minister of Public Order, Mr. Musaraj To the Chairman of SHIK, Mr. Bashkim Gazidede Tirana Amid the ongoing escalation of the situation and the excesses accompanying Socialist Party leaders and MPs during meetings with the electorate about the 6 November referendum, we regret to observe the involvement of the security forces as well, as happened with SHIK. On 28.10.1994, at around 11:00, the head of the Kavajë police station, Lulëzim Sollaku, stopped a car in Rrogozhinë for no reason. It was carrying members of the People’s Assembly, Servet Pëllumbi and Ylli Bufi, who were on their way to meet the people of Libofshë in the district of Fier. In response to the MPs’ request for an explanation, the head of public order, Lulëzim Sollaku, gave no answer and, with a cowardly swagger, ordered the many police officers around him to «put» handcuffs on them and take them to the police station. In front of them, an officer from the criminal police was trying to dig through the pile of gold, saying that they would kill them all. If this were the only incident, we would not have reached the above conclusion about the involvement of the security forces. The incidents in Sarandë, where MPs were pelted with stones, in Krujë, etc., speak for themselves. On 20.10.1994, both as the MPs were going to meet the people of Krujë and as they were leaving after the rally, a group of SHIK agents, carrying pistols and knives without bayonets at their belts, violated the status of the MPs and the people accompanying them. They damaged with stones the cars of MPs S. Pëllumbi and N. Dodle, the cars of the Lushnjë PS steering committee, and also stoned MP Vladimir Metani. Through these actions, the group of hooligans became the main obstacle to holding further activities in the district of Lushnjë, especially to bringing to a close the meeting with the residents of the village of Dushk. As they were leaving the district of Lushnjë, this group of elements from the village of Dushk, the old part of Rrogozhinë, attempted to terrorize the cars and the people inside them as well. Unfortunately, they are exploiting ... (Continued on page 2)

Aleksandër Meksi Tirana The Electoral Commission of the PS of Albania, concerned about the consequences and reports from the electoral commissions of the District Steering Committees concerning the progress to date of the campaign for voting by referendum on the draft constitution, observes that: From an administrative and legal perspective, it is still proceeding with bureaucratic delays, legal violations and often major irregularities, especially in those districts where representatives of the Democratic Party sit in the various local government structures. Among the most damaging legal irregularities and violations, with the most serious consequences for the normal conduct of the campaign, were: 1. To date, the full registration has still not been completed, and the electoral lists have not been fully posted in the districts of Shkodër, Kavajë, Korçë, Durrës, Tropojë, Sarandë, the Tirana district, and some other districts. This situation runs counter to Articles 2 and 12 of Law No. 7573 dated 16.8.1992 on elections to local government bodies. 2. In some districts the posting of the electoral lists has been ... (Continued on page 2)

Check your names on the voter lists. Look for yourselves and make sure your names are there. In many cases, registrations have not been made. ATTENTION!

On Thursday, November 3, at 16:00, the Elbasan District Council of the Socialist Party is organizing a meeting with its members and supporters at the “Tomor Sinani” Sports Palace, to say No to the draft constitution on November 6.