Bursts of gunfire were fired to frighten the protesters The people of Vlorë demand their money. Berisha shows them the guns State of war in Vlorë. The city has been surrounded for 24 hours and is isolated from the rest of the country. It is continuously being subjected to controls by the army and Berisha’s government. And the Interior Ministry too. 7 dead and over 100 injured. There is also 1 victim in the city of Fier. The government, signed “Shkumbin”, but weapons are also being used against women and children. Scenes of war for an unarmed people. The citizens of Vlorë, supported also by the rest of the country, are demanding only one thing: that their money invested in the pyramid schemes be returned. “Gjallica” is losing. The company “Xhaferri” has refused to give explanations. Instead of calming people, the government has chosen military force. Vlorë from the rest of the country Militia and military forces isolate Vlorë from the rest of the country

“Gjallica” creates tensions in Kukës Growing dissatisfaction with Mexi’s answers Residents of Lushnje gather again Berat: Anxiety over money and soldiers Pages 4 - 5

Citizens reacted: The savings books should be kept by the bank as relics The government, supported by the stock exchange, has not yet published the economic indicators for 1996 “Price of the corruve”, “VFA Holding”, “Silva”, “Kamberi”, “Cenaj & Co.”, At a press conference We guarantee our capital Citizen reacted: The savings books should be kept by the bank as relics Page 3

Editorial Albania the country of pyramids In this bustle of kiosks, Egypt is like the land of shrines and pharaohs. But Albanians are preparing a new form of worship: in their new aid, it brings the cacophonous and eroding work of shopping and the market, while being “modern” only with a forced arrangement. This panorama is not only a shadow brought in by imports, but also a symmetry of its own “spiritually rich” character. Even if the pyramid were to help Albanians, it would also be extraordinarily strange. For 1 year now, Albanians, as in Eastern Europe before, have entered the “game” of cheap investments and quick profits. This has worried the Brussels authorities and at the same time has also put the Albanian government on alert. Analysts explain their fear by the possible shock to the domestic economy and by the overall damage that would come to the people’s “savings.” But it is not out of place to recall that, unlike the other former socialist countries, an incomparable phenomenon is taking place in Albania: a large part of the money is going into the hands of a private group, without entering normal economic circulation. Since the day the protests began in the South, there have been many voices describing them as a “law and order” issue rather than a signal of a deep social crisis. Yet reality is showing that the anger of many families is much more than a temporary dissatisfaction. If no fair and honest way out is found, the consequences will be severe for everyone. (continued on page 5)