DIALOGUE WITH THE STRIKERS IS THE WAY TO AVOID CATASTROPHE The Kukës district council supports the hunger strike THE HUNGER STRIKE IS SEEN TO BE CRUSHED BY STATE INDIFFERENCE As we noted yesterday as well, our newspaper is following with close attention and great concern the hunger strike of the inhabitants of Kukës. It has now reached such proportions that alarm bells could sound for other citizens and state officials as well. If yesterday our editorial staff, led by Mr. Arian Bejko, secretary of the col- legium, together with several jour- nalists, closely followed the situa- tion in the strike and had at least some impact in lessening its con- sequences, last night we again phoned Mr. Shefqet Musaraj, secretary of the PS Committee for the Kukës district. He informed us about the con- dition of the strikers, matters that justifiably deeply worry public opin- ion and Albanian officials. According to Mr. Musaraj, by 18:00 there were 67 people still in the strike area out of the 75 who had started the hunger strike. There were still 4 women and 2 minors. At least 15 strikers had shown clear signs of marked phys- ical deterioration. The 60-year-old Fatime Shima, mother of 8 chil- dren, had been taken to the reani- mation unit. An 18-year-old woman striker had been unconscious for over 30 minutes. The condition of a large part of the strikers was de- scribed as tense. Among other tings, there had also been a clash with the police. Last night the strikers were even more enraged because of the lack of serious at- tention and any response from the government. In the strike area there were still very few government officials or representatives of central bodies, even though the hunger situation could worsen greatly. Meanwhile, as we learned from the telephone conversation with Mr. Musaraj, the Kukës District Council met urgently last night. At the request of this council, the prefect of Kukës, Mr. Avni Angjeli, based on the law, assigned the head of the investigations depart- ment to verify on the spot the strikers’ arguments. The district council reached the conclusion that the hunger strike in Kukës was justified and supported it. At the same time, the Kukës District Council unanimously decided to draft a protest letter to the Presi- dent of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament, the Prime Minis- ter and the Head of the State Con- trol, denouncing the complete blocking of the state of emergency in this district. Furthermore, it was asserted that the government’s lack of indifference in the face of the serious situation makes the hunger strike in Kukës even more serious and dangerous. The Coun- cil also stressed that the solution to this situation must be sought urgently through dialogue with the strikers, and not through police measures and criminal prosecu- tion of its organizers. In addition to Mr. Avni Angjeli, the Socialist deputy for the area, Mr. Bashkim Fino, and the pre- fect of Dibra region had also gone to Kukës. The head of the PS for the district, Mr. Shefqet Musaraj, also happened to be there. From Kukës the situation was becoming even more difficult. According to the assessments our journalists there gave us yester- day, state officials must reflect as quickly as possible in order to stop this strike, which could turn into a tragedy. Otherwise, the social and political situation in this remote area of the country would worsen even further.

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At a meeting together with the population of the neighboring districts of Soreva, representatives of the leadership of the PSSH discussed peacefully the situation and the demands of the participants and the strikers. They then requested a meeting with representatives of the local and central authorities and discussed the grave economic situation of the district. At the end of the meeting, a declaration was drafted and signed by the leadership of the PSSH, the PS branches of Kukës and Radio-Kukësi. The University of the President of Parliament and the government in order not to allow the consequences of the hunger strike to worsen. Prof. dr. A. Milo for lectio At the “Luigj Gurakuqi” University of Shkodër, a lecture will be held tomorrow on the theme “Albania in international developments after the Cold War.” The lecture will be delivered by Prof. dr. A. Milo. It will begin at 11:00, in the hall of the university’s Scientific Library.

Support for the economic demands of the hunger strikers Vice Chairman of the Presidium and Chairman of the People’s Alliance Party in Albania Prof. dr. Vasil Melu In Tirana The Vice Chairman of the Presidium and Chairman of the People’s Alliance Party in Albania, Prof. dr. Vasil Melu, speaking about the hunger strike in Kukës, declared yesterday that “the economic situation there is extremely grave and unsettled. The reason for this is the city’s neglect, the lack of investments, the failure to solve housing problems, widespread unemployment and the violation of human rights. For these reasons the strikers are right in the economic demands they present.” He called on the government and the President of the Republic to find peaceful ways to resolve the situation and “not to use violence and pressure against the innocent strikers.”

THE PRESIDIUM OF THE INITIATIVE COMMITTEE OF VETERANS PROTESTS AGAINST CHANGING THE NAME OF THE SCHOOL “PROVO BIBA” The protest has been addressed to the presidium of the Tirana Municipal Council, the prefecture of Tirana and the Council of Ministers. It expresses indignation and outrage over the changing of the name of the school “Provo Biba.” The deputy chairmen of the Presidium, the deputy and chairman of the initiative committee of the veterans of the National Liberation War, prof. dr. Ismail Kadare [?], Avni Bula Niko Gjyzari, Ibrahim Sali Hoxha Pjetër Arbnori [?] and Haki Toska [?] For October The “Aleksandër Moisiu” University [?] Prof. dr. Haxhi Dervishi [?]

Interview with Mbo. Lakrori, deputy and member of the PSSH leadership, and with Adrian Myslimi SOME OF THE LESSONS OF 6 NOVEMBER ’94 THE TRUE OWNERS OF THE COUNTRY ARE ALL THE CITIZENS OF THE REPUBLIC Interview with Mbo. Lakrori, deputy and member of the PSSH leadership, and with Adrian Myslimi For a referendum in favor of the constitutional state it cost nothing. What exactly was the loss? Even from the published figures it seems that it cost a lot. In April parliament had set a deadline until 6 November for the approval of the constitution, which would also have been the basis for early parliamentary elections. After 1992, the government had ruled the country mainly by decrees, without bringing it out of crisis, without giving hope for the future. Are you saying that the loss of the referendum, if we can call it that, is greater than that of the government? Perhaps it would be more correct to speak of the loss of some of the economic and institutional positions that were presented as premises for the establishment of the legal order. There are also other factors. For example, the results of the referendum expressed a certain distrust toward governance and toward the way the process was conducted. Could it have been done differently? Yes, for us there should have been more dialogue, participation and understanding. Such an important issue could not be rushed through. Citizens should have been convinced, not confronted with a fait accompli. (Continued on page 2) Pet reformendum i favor të shtetit të së drejtës kushtetuesit nukle kushtoi asgjë? etc. [?]

THE KUKËS HUNGER STRIKE - ACCUSATION AGAINST THE PRESIDENT Government indifference, blockade and the non-publication of the news, the government’s first priority, increased the burden on the people of Kukës