ATA News from Albania, 96-08-11

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From: The Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at <http://www.telpress.it/ata>

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIANS DO NOT ALLOW SERB POLICE TO ARREST WITHOUT REASON

[02] APPEALS COURT TO TRY SIX EX-COMMUNISTS

[03] DP INVITES ALBANIAN POLITICAL PARTIES TO DIALOGUE

[04] PRESS REVIEW

[01] ALBANIANS DO NOT ALLOW SERB POLICE TO ARREST WITHOUT REASON

The Serb Police asked the arrest of Limani under the pretext of searching for arms; they did not carry out a raid on his house but ordered him to appear at the Police Station on August 9.

After Limani did not appear at the police station the Serb police asked to arrest him in his village but failed to do so because of his co- villagers' intervention.

After the villagers' resistance the Serb police left threatening to return soon.

The Gergoc inhabitants are decided to resist so that no villager be subjected to Serb police violence. b.j/a.ca/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[02] APPEALS COURT TO TRY SIX EX-COMMUNISTS

Foto Cami, Prokop Murra, Muho Asllani, Gaqo Nesho, Zef Loka and Dilaver Bengasi are charged with crimes against humanity, in complicity, envisaged by articles 74, 25 and 67.

The Appeals Court panel will examine the case after the defendants's appeal rejecting the Tirana Court's rule.

After the denunciation made by the Forum of the Independent Democrat Intellectuals, the Tirana Prosecutor's office accused them of crimes against humanity in complicity while they were senior officials of the PLA and communist dictatorial state.

The court's jury declared them guilty and sentenced Foto Cami, Prokop Murra and Muho Asllani to life imprisonment, Gaqo Nesho to 16 years imprisonment, Zef Loka 20 years imprisonment and Dilaver Bengasi 18 years imprisonment.

The accused, while in high state and party posts, organised and carried out "the class struggle" , signing and ordering the internal exile of many people and families.

During the communist dictatorship some 100 000 Albanians are thought to have been sent into internal exile for political reasons or for a word uttered. Those who were executed, convicted ,send to internal exile and persecuted for these motives is thought to be around 500 000.

The Appeals Court has earlier tried on the same charges eight other former senior officials. This court has substantially changed the sentences upheld by the district court. The Forum of the Independent Democratic Intellectuals has protested against these decisions. ksh/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[03] DP INVITES ALBANIAN POLITICAL PARTIES TO DIALOGUE

"On August 12,1996, at 12.00, at the palace of Congresses the Democratic Party has invited to a high level party round table all those parties which currently take part in the local governing to discuss several problems in connection with the local elections and the law on local elections". ksh/lm

Albanian Telegraphic Agency

[04] PRESS REVIEW

The paper carries reports on the meeting of the Euro-socialists forum which considers the latest events in the SP a clans' war; on the SP conference in the Fier district which asked that the SP deputy chairman, Ilir Meta and Namik Dokle be discharged from the party; on the SP conference in the Permet district in which many socialist in power were accused of corruption and theft and other reports.

Rilindja Demokratike reports that the Democratic Party has invited on August 12 all the parties which are currently taking part in local governing to discuss problems linked with the local elections and the law on local elections.

The paper reprints an announcement of the "Voice of America" about the visit of Greek Foreign Minister Teodor Pangallos to Albania by the end of August.

Zeri i Popullit carries an interview of the SP deputy chairman, Servet Pellumbi, saying that the democracy in Albania is in a crucial moment but not without wayout.

It also carries a chronicle from the third SP conference of the Gjirokastra district in which the SP deputy chairman Namik Dokle stressed in his speech that :"Unless the opposition's conditions are realized we will not take part in elections. We will remain in opposition outside the government".

In an economic article Zeri i Popullit accuses the state of not being accurate in announcing the increase of prices at home.

Republika says that the idea of boycotting the local elections by the Center Pole and other parties is likely to be a reality.

Balli i Kombit entitles its editorial:"Some morning Albania will find itself with all of its schools Greek". The paper also carries a chronicle from the news conference of the chairman of this party, Shkodra branch, who calls on the right wing parties to attend the local elections with united candidates.

Albania, responding to question:"Who is undermining order in Albania"?, says that....courts are releasing criminals", and "...certain segments of Albanian courts coexist with the crime".

In this context the paper also carries an interview with the Interior deputy minister, Agim Shehu, saying that "The court and the prosecutor's Office should not sabotage the war against crime".

Poli i Qendres considers the DP invitation for a dialogue between the parties a "political diversion".

Koha Jone reports that the SP deputy chairman, Namik Dokle will visit Washington on August 26 but adds that it is not known who has invited him and what problems will he discuss.

Dita Informacion carries the third and the last part of the interview of the renowned writer, Dritero Agolli, entitled:"Agolli attacks the presidency".

The paper also carries a statement of the SP deputy chairman, Server Pellumbi, who considers the Local Elections Commission in Albania "undermined" because it "it has more democrats'.

Tribuna carries an article saying that in the SP all are against all.

Gazeta Shqiptare reports that on the way to Tirana, two traders and their driver are robbed and beaten by false policemen. ksh/lm

From the Albanian Telegraphic Agency (ATA) Home Page at http://www.telpress.it/ata

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