The hunger strike continues... THE CITY OF KUKËS IS LIVING THROUGH A TRAGEDY: THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO REMAIN SILENT KUKËS DEPUTIES FROM THE DP HAVE “LOST...” It is evening, and darkness has just begun to fall over the mountain peaks surrounding Kukës, December 9, 1994! It is cold, although the first snow has just begun to appear on the mountain peaks. Below the city lies Old Kukës, exposed by the long drought, so much so that people can be seen moving along the streets of this once-flooded city. In the distance, we make out the old buildings and, among them, a monument pedestal,... Slowly, darkness falls and, not at all surprised, we see that Kukës itself—the city that was flooded to provide light—is in darkness. There is activity in the city center, many people and burning fires. Large fires, and around them people wrapped in sheepskin coats and blankets, waiting at the entrance to the Palace of Culture. They are tired and thoroughly fed up with this party round table. We have been informed that, following the sessions held so far, the round table has revealed two opposing positions on several issues. One position says: A general parliamentary commission should draft the project, then it should go to Parliament and, if the latter deems it necessary, receive final approval by referendum. The other position: Let us first prepare the project, and then we will see about the procedures. So, take note! One side adds the entire procedure for both preparing and approving the project, while the other prefers to do half the work. As for the other half, we are here. It seems both groups have grabbed one end of a rope, and just as we are about to cross, first one group and then the other pulls it according to its own interests. And we are left unable to cross. There is a risk that the rope will snap just as we are about to cross, leaving us able to do so only in our dreams. So, all the parties agree that the Constitution should go to Parliament, after being prepared by HALIL LALAJ deputy (Continued on page 5) They had tied red ribbons there; we were smoking, and they offered us one too. “What can you do! A person from Kukës isn’t in the habit of welcoming you with a cigarette...” One of them, upset, said something else: “We’ll welcome you with raki...” They were terribly tired, yet still seemed courageous and determined. Thanking us for our interest, the hunger-strike committee chairman Jahin Trota stressed that, as in the first strike, the strikers’ demands were purely economic. “The first time they came at us, using force too ... they dragged us along ... they achieved their goal. We agreed to talk with the government, trusting that we would have their help and that we would help solve the problems. We agreed to have our minimum demands met, but again nothing was done. We have requested meeting after meeting with the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha, but not even a ... has taken place. We have requested meetings and submitted petitions to everyone...”

- THE DP IS ALONE IN ADVOCATING A NEW REFERENDUM. - NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO MAKE AN AGREEMENT AGAINST WHAT THE SOVEREIGN DECIDES. More than a month has passed since November 6, the referendum on the Draft Constitution. Much has been said during this time, from many different perspectives, about this act, and I still firmly believe that the significance of that day is much greater than what has been said about it, and that its dimensions are far greater than our assessment to date suggests. In any case, November 6 is not an experience after which all that remains for us is to make observations, assessments and generalizations about it. First and foremost, November 6 urges you to act in many respects and directions. And since that day centered on a draft constitution, the essence of the subject under discussion—the Constitution, and only that—will remain. The rest is secondary, and one does as much of it as one knows how, as much as one wants—in other words, as much as one is interested in doing—and finally, as much as one can do. Then let us return to the Constitution. Not the one that was, but the one that is expected. A party round table has been set up for this purpose. I think this is a responsible thing to do, but also a necessity whenever something gets stuck in large mechanisms. Nevertheless, hoping for faster and more effective results, I would like to make a few comments on what we have been told about (Continued on page 5)

THOSE FLOODED BY THE VAU I DEJËS HYDROELECTRIC PLANT WANT TO GO ON A HUNGER STRIKE More than 70 families live in the town of Laç - Vau i Dejës, the youngest town in Albania. For a long time they have laid claim to land flooded by the hydroelectric plant’s lake in 1971. They continue to insist that they be compensated for the land they owned. In October of this year, the Shkodër District Council decided to give them land in the village of Çar, in Velipojë. The amount of land for each family was to be based on the area registered in the cadastre up to the day it was flooded by the waters of the hydroelectric lake. They were also told at the time that they would receive loans to build houses in the village they would move to. However, the families in question rejected this solution offered by the district council. They say it is absurd to leave the town and their homes today and start life over again, ten kilometres away, in the villages of Velipojë. In their view, this solution, besides being ... , would also mean creating further conflicts, since disputes over land between residents continue in Velipojë; all the more so if we were to go there as well to build a house and start life on land. Thus, as a solution, they see compensation for the land at the price set by the government itself. In support of their demand, they say they have sent letters and complaints far and wide, but the replies have been negative. They too have now decided, like the hunger strikers in Kukës, to begin a hunger strike. They complained that they wanted to start it the other day, but were not allowed, being told that force would be used if they took such an action. MUSA KURTULAJ

After the referendum: 300,000 lek... in rewards! Signed by the Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, Mr Vullnet Ademi, 300,000 lek arrived at the Mirditë District Council in recent days as... a reward for zealous DP activists, including its officials and party members, who contributed to the “proper conduct” of the November 6 referendum. According to a source who declined to be identified, a much larger sum had originally been planned as a reward for the gentlemen, but since they lost the referendum, a little is better than nothing... According to some information we have, the amount of money allocated to each district depended on the referendum results. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

Once again, the head of the public order department in Durrës, Lieutenant Colonel L. Hoxha, appears as the strong arm of the authorities, for the umpteenth time acting against veterans of the LANÇ and PS activists. DURRËS New purges in the public order department in Durrës Once again, the head of the public order department in Durrës, Lieutenant Colonel L. Hoxha, appears as the strong arm of the authorities, for the umpteenth time acting against veterans of the National Antifascist Liberation War (LANÇ) and PS activists. There have been many occasions at commemorative events when this official has raised his hand, mistreating and imprisoning innocent people—those who commemorate historical events and dates, the heroes and martyrs of the war. Installed by the DP as head of public order in Durrës, he has not hesitated to use violence, together with his associates, even against former political prisoners. It was his violent orders and actions that left some members of the Association of Former Political Prisoners who took part in the hunger strike injured by police beatings and repression several months ago. The brutality of his actions also extends to ordinary public-order employees, the police officers. For those who obey—and those who fail to carry out his unlawful orders—there is only one path: purging and dismissal from these bodies. Just in recent days, following the violence used during the commemoration of the November 29 holiday, he transferred and purged several police officers for “failing to carry out his orders.” The purpose is clear. He wants only blindly obedient people around him and under his command, people who will serve his violent rule, regardless of the fact that one day he will answer for these actions and other abuses of office and the law. Although he has been exposed several times for breaking the law, instead of addressing the serious insecurity in Durrës, the rising crime rate and the criminals roaming freely around the city, he continues irresponsibly to neglect his duty. There are nearly 30 troublemakers, murderers, robbers and rapists supposedly being sought by the public-order authorities, but some of them walk freely right under the police’s noses. Instead of the head of public order, Mr L. Hoxha, and the department he leads dealing with their capture and bringing them to justice, he targets grey-haired veterans and opposes PS activities; and for all this, the authorities and the DP clan that keeps him as its strong arm and servant allow him to grow fat, preparing for him with “special care” a new home as a reward. The Socialist Party, the Organization of Veterans of the Antifascist War and the Association of Former Political Prisoners have protested these actions. They have insistently called for the resignation of Mr Luan Hoxha, since the acts of violence he has committed and the orders he has issued will never be erased from the people’s memory, today or in the future.

Albanian Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi is leaving for France today to sign a treaty of friendship and cooperation on Monday, at the invitation of the French Foreign Ministry. The treaty will be signed by Prime Minister Meksi and French Foreign Minister Alen Zhype. Paris wishes to develop its trade with Tirana, a spokeswoman for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, since the current level of trade is very modest. France is currently Albania’s seventh-largest trading partner and ranks fourth in terms of investment.

PHARE, under the TAC programme for Democracy; the French foundation Est Libertes, in cooperation with “Zëri i Popullit,” is organizing a seminar on “Political Structures and Strategy,” from December 9–11, 1991. At this seminar, being held in the hall of the Social Democratic Party, discussions are taking place on topics concerning parties such as organization; training; financing; relations with other parties, trade unions, associations and various organizations; relations with governing bodies; relations and the definition of cooperation within the party (relations with the press; newspapers; electoral campaigns). The seminar is attended by leaders of political parties in Albania: the S-së; the DP; PSD; PAD; PR, BD and PDNJ. The seminar was opened by the French specialist Milnea Berindel, Mr President of Est Libertes, and was followed by presentations from Jerome Grand D'E...; legal adviser to the General Secretariat of the Union for the Republic Party, on issues concerning the party’s organizational structure and financing; Des...; an engineer assigned to the mission of training cadres at the General Secretariat of this party, on issues relating to the political and professional training of party activists; and Michel Cazt, assigned to the party’s international relations mission, on international policy and the place France occupies in current world politics. For the participants in the meeting, the French Ambassador in Tirana, Lul Dominique, hosted a cocktail reception at his residence. Correspondent of “Zëri i Popullit”

Elbasan An hour of anxiety in a city neighborhood — Masked bandits, after robbing several dairy owners and passers-by, beat and injured at least 12 people, who received medical treatment in hospital. — The evening of December 7 was an hour of anxiety for the residents of the “Begir Dardha” Neighborhood. At the scheduled time, when the lights were to go out, that is, at 19:00, something happened that had never happened before in the city of Elbasan. Two groups of bandits, apparently working together, took advantage of the darkness and, equipped with masks, began their robbery operation. First they entered a straw shop and stole a sack of flour. In this way they moved from one ... (article cut off in the image)

It is almost three years since the country came under the rule of the Democratic Party, and it has been dragged along, despite the fact that during its period in government it was supposed to carry out major economic reforms to move the country from a centralized economy to a free-market economy. These reforms were said to support foreign investment in building infrastructure and modern enterprises like those in America and Western Europe. Naturally, as an important part of the infrastructure, the energy sector was also supposed to undergo major development. But what results do we have in this sector today? As regards the construction of new energy sources, whether hydroelectric or thermal power plants, nothing has been done. Even more serious is the state of the electricity grid. It has not only failed to be reconstructed, but is falling apart more and more every day. In this situation, with fuel in short supply on the market, including coal, which our underground reserves have in abundance, the use of electricity by many citizens to heat their homes has made it more difficult to ensure a regular electricity supply. Nevertheless, it is technically completely abnormal for other users to be left without power because of an electrical overload at one user’s premises. It has long been technically possible, indeed automatically, to detect an overload at one user’s premises and cut off power to that user—not to all the other users. In light of this elementary principle of electricity-grid design, the power cut imposed on the population seems very unjust, as does the use of television to warn that using electricity for heating and cooking will worsen the electricity shortage. As one of the many people responsible in this field, I feel it is my duty to offer some thoughts on how to remedy the situation regarding the reliable supply of electricity to the population, including by addressing the many weaknesses and mistakes in the management of work in this vital sector. To begin with, I want to emphasize that leaving the distribution grid in its backward and deteriorated state is not only illogical but harmful. Most of the transformer substations supplying residential areas do not meet technical standards. Basic protective elements have been installed in them, but anyone can get in, because all the doors are open; many are even without ... (text cut off) (Continued on page 2)

Tomorrow in Tirana Tomorrow Albania will be at the center of activities within the framework of regional cooperation among the Black Sea countries. This time, Tirana is hosting the Fourth Assembly of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation, which begins on Wednesday, December 12, 1994. The Political Committee will discuss procedures and the issuing of visas between the participating countries; the Economic Committee will discuss the creation of joint mechanisms to protect against industrial pollution. The Culture Committee will discuss measures to protect the cultural heritage of our peoples, an issue of great concern in post-communist countries. At the end of this conference, Albania will, in accordance with the rotation system, assume the organization’s presidency for six months. In addition, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Mr. Pjetër Arbnori, will serve as Chairman of this Assembly for the period January–June 1995. (ATSN)