A member of the Presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania, Prof. Dr. Sabit Brokaj, is Berisha’s political hostage. Accused of inciting the events in Vlora!... A member of the Presidium of the Socialist Party of Albania, Prof. Dr. Sabit Brokaj, is Berisha’s political hostage Release our comrade Sabit Brokaj from prison immediately Accused of inciting the events in Vlora!... The Socialist Party of Albania strongly protests the systematic terror inflicted on its leaders by the current authorities. Its chairman, Fatos Nano, has been held hostage for four years as a political prisoner. Its Secretary General, Rexhep Mejdani, and its Secretary for Public Relations, Pandeli Majko, are being pressured by being summoned for questioning at the prosecutor’s office. Presidium member Eduard Alushi has been under house arrest for 15 days. Finally, they are seeking to hold Prof. Dr. Sabit Brokaj as a political hostage on an extremely absurd charge, with the aim of extending this campaign even further, up to the complete elimination of the leadership of the Socialist Party of Albania and the opposition. The National Intelligence Service tapped his telephone with the authorization of prosecutor Shkëlqim Gonaj The Socialist Party of Albania calls on the President of the Republic to abandon this vindictive scenario, which will cause irreparable damage to political developments and the prospects for democracy in Albania. Page 2

A ballad by Dritëro Agolli In honor of the brave people of Vlora, with love from the author A ballad by Dritëro Agolli The grief of Ismail Qemali In honor of the brave people of Vlora, with love from the author 1. All alone, Ismail Qemali Walks through Vlora, grieving The blue night pierced by gunfire, The gray road churned with human blood. The old man of Vlora walks beneath the moon His beard yellowed, his shirtfront yellowed: “My sons, what terrible sin did you commit, What have you against my sons, Sali Berisha! Why did you have them beaten with clubs and stones, Why do you take pleasure in tormenting them at their homes; You trampled my flag right to its very end With batons, bullets, and helmets. I know that my flagpole in Vlora Was stolen like a thief in the night; You hold the pole like a stick in your hand And beat my sons, Sali Berisha! You beat my sons with the flagpole, You struck them, my sons, with the banner’s cloth, The pole lunged forward in place of the club, The cloth twisted in place of the noose.” 2. All alone, Ismail Qemali Talks to himself on the road from Shushica: “Why did you darken the lives of the boys, Leave my sons alone, Sali Berisha! Leave my sons alone, for the mountain path Is long and full of many wonders: One travels on foot, another rides a horse, The horse slips, and horse and rider fall into the river.” 4. All alone, Ismail Qemali Stands at Kuzbaba beneath four pines: “The mountain eagle does not eat its own young, Do not eat your own young, Sali Berisha! Leave my flagpole With the standard-bearer who has earned its honor, Do not raise the pole in place of a club, A club can sometimes strike in another way.” Poor Ismail Qemali spoke And, lost in tears, through the silence, Slowly fading away through Vlora, He went to his eternal chamber... 5. Ismail Qemali, all alone, Cannot sleep; awake, he waits in Vlora, For he hears them marching overhead, Three battalions clad in helmets. For he hears the bullets boiling and whistling, For he hears the beast’s bellows heave: “Shadows of the state, do not scatter my doves Beneath my flag, Sali Berisha! This great flag was raised by me, And whoever mocks it, I’ll rise from the grave myself, I’ll come and light a torch in the storm, A helmet and visor can do nothing to me!” 11 February 1997

The Democratic Party’s National Council appeals to the people. No measures, no decisions to calm the situation. Memorandum by several National Council members calling for the government’s resignation receives no support Tirana high-school students skip classes The Democratic Party’s National Council appeals to the people. No measures, no decisions to calm the situation. Memorandum by several National Council members calling for the government’s resignation receives no support Protests engulf all of Albania Tirana high-school students skip classes Yesterday, the day after massive protests erupted in Vlora, when the number of injured was reported to be “in the hundreds” and three people had lost their lives, one of them shot by the police, the government of Dr. Berisha did not even bat an eyelid. It would be naive to expect any significant change from it. Berisha and his party have gone so far down the road of wrongdoing that they are terrified to look back and try to put anything right. But even if no political change is expected, one might at least have thought they would do something to show that they retained some trace of humanity. But they have lost their humanity. That is why they did not say a single word of condolence, not even hypocritically, for the victims of state violence in Vlora. What is more, Berisha’s government is not even allowing opposition representatives to go to Vlora. Under the northern-style code of conduct that he applies in his actions, our President, Mr. Sali Berisha, has gone so far! Even a blood-feuder is received at a house of mourning, let alone the head of the tribe, but let us turn back because… [unclear passage] A significant change was observed in Tirana. Berisha and his party have gone so far down the road of wrongdoing that they are terrified to look back and try to put anything right. But even if no political change is expected, one might at least have thought they would do something to show that they retained some trace of humanity. But they have lost their humanity. That is why they did not say a single word of condolence, not even hypocritically, for the victims of state violence in Vlora. Following Vlora’s example, thousands of people also demonstrated yesterday in Tirana, Fier, Tepelenë, Skrapar, Lushnje, Mallakastër, Gjirokastër, etc. Yesterday in Tirana Pages 4, 5, 8

An appeal by the Forum for Democracy addressed to the citizens of Tirana Peaceful demonstration on Durrës Boulevard On Friday, 14.2.1997, at 12:00, the Forum for Democracy in Durrës invites the citizens of Durrës to hold a peaceful protest demonstration along the city’s main boulevard, against fraud, violence, and state terror, and in support of the protest of the people of Vlora.

On Friday, February 14, at 12:00, the parties and associations belonging to the local branch of the Forum for Democracy will organize a peaceful protest rally in the square in front of the city stadium, under the motto “Flowers instead of stones.”