PAGE 3 DOKLE: “Information smuggling to conceal the truth and attack the dignity of politicians uninvolved in a dirty affair”

The court released them, but they found death A new massacre by gangs in Vlorë VLORË—The three Gërdhuqi brothers, known as members of a powerful group in Vlorë, were killed yesterday in an ambush. At around 19:00, near the Statue of Liberty, about 100 metres away and close to the village of Mifol, the three Gërdhuqi brothers were found dead inside a car: Stefan, Gjikë and Kastriot Gërdhuqi. According to preliminary police sources, the three brothers manage [unclear] and had gone there to extort people, when someone opened fire on them with a burst of shots. This is the preliminary version given by the police. Only a month ago, the three Gërdhuqi brothers had been released from prison by a Tirana court, following a proper trial. A few days after their release, they were detained again by Vlorë police for carrying weapons without a permit. During a police search at one of the establishments in Vlorë, “Kalashnikov” rifles were found. But after their legal detention by Vlorë police, the court released them again. They walked freely around Vlorë until they were caught in the hail of gunfire that brought them death. Poor? When you have 2,470 lekë in your wallet, the family wallet has 6,500 lekë PAGE 5

The trend of events in recent years makes urgent reforms necessary. Particularly in three important areas: justice, the fight against organized crime, and finance. For a party midway through its term in government, the time available to make up lost ground and do what it promised is extremely precious. Proposals are sprouting in every office pot belonging to the ministers, while some of them are also waiting to acquire the force of law. The urgency to do the best requires care and determination, which the comfort of a minister’s rocking chair usually shows to be out of fashion. LAW AND ORDER: STRUCTURES THAT KNOW HOW TO USE WEAPONS Recent police operations are establishing the Rapid Intervention Forces, the RENEA forces, and the Commando troops as successful forces against crime. Wherever there have been dark spots and insecure public-order conditions, these are precisely the forces that have been called in, while local police forces have been powerless to strike and, in extreme cases, have collaborated with crime. The situations demanding change in Burrel and Tropojë, following the severe law-enforcement interventions by these forces—which went as far as executing criminals—have been effective and restored security of life and property in the towns. Meanwhile, the use of Commando troops has truly borne fruit in restoring the efficiency and proper functioning of state agencies. In recent days, their deployment at the port of Durrës has been decisive in locking the door to the biggest gateway for crime in the Albanian Adriatic. Criminal trafficking has met the response of the force of arms, which until recently had grown rusty, having been left behind by the police officers responsible for public order. Therefore, a change in the structure of the forces fighting crime is essential, in terms of the structure, powers, and armament of the forces recently engaged in the fight against organized crime. IN JUSTICE: SPECIAL COURTS FOR SERIOUS CRIME Criminals leaving prison have set prosecutors—the people bringing the charges—in motion. Everything is aimed at urgently preventing, by legal means, deals with the scales of justice in Albanian courts, which have resulted in the failure of justice to perform its duty of sentencing the country’s most dangerous criminals. So far, the game has been played through witnesses who have withdrawn their testimony given months earlier, or have not appeared in court to testify, out of fear of threats from bandits who make the rules in courtrooms. Prosecutors propose the creation of a special court for serious crimes, which would also change the procedure for taking testimony by collecting it directly at the time of the incident. Thus, everything is ready and awaiting the Minister of Justice. IN FINANCE: WHAT HAPPENS TO EVERY TAX PENNY? Albanians are increasingly saying, “This government has done nothing for us.” But the government points to figures, words, and images documenting dozens of public investments carried out throughout the quarters it has administered. Nevertheless, it remains troubling that the value of buildings, roads, water-supply systems, and every investment does not match the amount of money spent on it. This money comes from Albanians’ taxes. The state should protect it and, if necessary, use police methods to collect it. Meanwhile, trust between the state as tax collector and citizens as taxpayers is low. This is precisely where the lack of transparency in the use of taxpayers’ money has an impact, particularly in investment. The state must build this trust by promptly showing how every penny collected from Albanians’ taxes is used. The Minister of Finance promised a month ago to do this every two weeks, but so far nothing has happened. The distortion of tax collection, also encouraged by corrupt dealings, only serves to increase taxpayers’ distrust of the state.

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