Human rights in post-communist Albania

202 Pages·1996·5.7 MB·English

by  Abrahams, Fred

HUMANRIGHTS IN
POST-COMMUNISTALBANIA
HumanRightsWatch/Helsinki
HumanRightsWatch
NewYork•Washington•LosAngeles•London•Brussels
Cocyrlghlcdmatenal
Copyright®March1996byHumanRightsWatch.
Allrightsreserved.
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber:95-081455
ISBN:1-56432-160-6
Coverphotocopyright®ArmandoBabani.Tirana,Albania.
HumanRightsWatch/Helsinki
HumanRightsWatch/Helsinkiwasestablishedin1978tomonitorandpromote
domesticandinternationalcompliancewiththehumanrightsprovisionsofthe1975
HelsinkiAccords. ItisaffiliatedwiththeInternationalHelsinkiFederationfor
HumanRights,whichisbasedinVienna,Austria. HollyCartneristheexecutive
director;ErikaDailey,RachelDenber,ChristopherPanicoandDianePaulare
researchassociates;IvanLupisistheresearchassistant;AnneKuper,Alexander
Petrov,andShiraRobinsonareassociates. JonathanFantonisthechairofthe
advisorycommitteeandAliceHenkinisvicechair.
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HUMANRIGHTSWATCH
HumanRightsWatchconductsregular,systematicinvestigationsofhumanrightsabusesinsome
seventy'countriesaroundtheworld.Itaddressesthehumanrightspracticesofgovernmentsofall
pohticalstripes,ofallgeopoliticalalignments,andofalletlinicandreligiouspersuasions.Ininternal
warsitdocumentsviolationsbybothgovernmentsandrebelgroups.HumanRightsWatchdefends
freedomofthoughtandexpression,dueprocessandequalprotectionofthelaw;itdocumentsand
denouncesmurders,disappearances,torture,arbitraryimprisonmentexile,censorshipandother
abusesofinternationallyrecognizedhumanrights.
HumanRightsWatchbeganin1978withthefoundingofitsHelsinkidivision.Today,it
includesfivedivisionscoveringAfrica,theAmericas,Asia,theMiddleEast,aswellasthe
signatoriesoftheHelsinkiaccords.Italsoincludesfivecollaborativeprojectsonarmstransfers,
children'srights,freeexpression,prisonconditions,andwomen'srights.ItmaintainsofficesinNew
York,Washington,LosAngeles,London,Brassels.Moscow,Dushanbe,Riode.Taneiro.andHong
Kong. HumanRightsWatchisanindependentnongovernmentalorganization,supportedby
contributionsfromprivateindividualsandfoundationsworldwide.Itacceptsnogovernmentfunds,
directlyorindirectly.
ThestaffincludesKennethRoth,executivedirector;CynthiaBrown,programdirector;
HollyJ.Burkhalter,advocacydirector;RobertKimzey,publicationsdirector;JeriLaber,special
advisor;GaraLaMarche,associatedirector;LotteLeichtBrusselsofficedirector;JuanMendez,
generalcounsel;SusanOsnos.communicationsdirector;JemeraRone,counsel;andJoanna
Weschler,UnitedNationsrepresentative.
TheregionaldirectorsofHumanRightsWatcharePeterTakirambudde,Africa;Jose
MiguelVivanco,Americas;SidneyJones,Asia;HollyGartner.Helsinki;andChristopherE.George,
MiddleEast.TheprojectdirectorsareJoostR.Hiltennann.AnnsProjectLoisWhitman,Children's
RightsProject;GaiaLaMarche,FreeExpressionProject;andDorothyQ.Thomas,Women'sRights
Project.
ThemembersoftheboardofdirectorsareRobertL.Bernstein,chair;AdrianW.
DeWind,vicechair;RolandAlgrant,LisaAnderson,AliceL.Brown,WilliamCarmichael,Dorothy
CH.ulHlemnakni,n.IrHenaeroDlidamHoonndg.juEdKiothh,EJveerheJtto.hnJsoonna,thSatnepFhaenntoLn.,KJaasms,esMCar.iGnoaodPailnet,oJKaacukfGmraene,nbAelregx.aAnldiecre
MacGiegor,JoshMailman,AndrewNathan,JaneOlson,PeterOsnos.KathleenPeratis,Bruce
Rabb,Oi-viUeSchell,SidSheinberg,GaryG.Sick,MalcolmSmith,NahidToubia,MaureenWliite,
andRosalindC.Whitehead.
A4d8d5rFeisfstehsAfvoernHueu,maNnewRiYgohrtks,WNatYchI00I7-6I04
Tel:[phone],Fax:[phone],E-mail:[email protected]
1522KStreetN.W.,#910,Washington,DC20005-1202
Tel:[phone],Fax:[phone],E-mail:[email protected]
10951WestPicoBlvd.,#203,LosAngeles,CA90064-2126
Tel:[phone],Fax:[phone],E-mail:[email protected]
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Tel:[phone].Fax:[phone].E-mail:[email protected]
15RueVanCampenhout1040Brussels,Belgium
Tel:[phone],Fax:[phone],E-mail:[email protected]
GopherAddress://gopher,huinanrights.org:port5000
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ThisreportwasresearchedandwrittenbyFredAbrahams,aconsuhantto
HumanRightsWatch/Helsinki.ItisbasedontimespentinAlbaniafromJuly1993
toAugust1994,andagaininJanuaryandAugust1995. IvanaNizich,former
researchassociateatHumanRightsWatch/Helsinki,alsocollectedinformationfor
thereportinavisittoAlbaniainMay1995.AnnBeeson,BradfordWileyFellow
withHumanRightsWatch/FreeExpressionProjectandtheInternationalFreedom
toPublishCommittee(IFTPC)oftheAssociationofAmericanPublishers,also
visitedAlbaniaonbehalfoftheIFTPCinMay1995,andcontributedtothechapter
onAlbanianMedia. ThereportwaseditedbyIvanaNizich,JeriLaber,Senior
AdvisortoHumanRightsWatch/HelsinkiandMikeMcClintock,DeputyProgram
DirectoratHumanRightsWatch. AnneKuperprovidedproductionassistance.
HumanRightsWatch/Helsmkiinterviewednumerousmdividualsin
Albaniaandabroad,includinglawyers,judges,humanrightsactivists,former
politicalprisoners,journalists, diplomats, governmentofficials,refugeesand
students.Weexpressoursincerethankstoallofthesemdividualsforsharingtheir
expertiseandpersonalexperiences.
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CONTENTS
I.INTRODUCTION 1
n.RECOMMENDATIONS 4
ni.BACKGROUND 7
HISTORY 7
POPULATION 8
IV.THELEGALSYSTEM 10
CONSTITUTIONALREFORM 11
TheReferendumofNovember1994 12
INDEPENDENCEOFTHEJUDICIARY 14
TheHighCouncilofJustice 15
LawCoursesinDurres 18
TheCaseofMaksimHaxhia 20
TheCaseofZefBrozi 21
LEGISLATIVEREFORM 25
LawsRegardmgCommunist-EraSecretPoliceFiles 26
LawonLaborRelations 26
PressLaw 27
PenalCode 28
LawonPohceSearches 29
BanontheCommunistParty 30
AdvocacyLaw 30
VIOLATIONSOFTHERIGHTTOAFAIRTRIAL 31
V.ACCOUNTABILITYANDIMPUNITY 33
THETRIALSOFFORMERCOMMUNISTOFFICIALS 35
LAWONGENOCIDEANDTHELAWONTHEVERIFICATIONOF
MORALCHARACTER 38
IMPUNITYFORPASTANDCURRENTCRIMES 42
VI.POLITICALPARTICIPATIONANDTHEELECTORALPROCESS 44
HARASSMENTOFTHEPOLITICALOPPOSITION 44
PhysicalAttacksAgainstthePoliticalOpposition 45
TheMurderofGjovalinCekini 45
TheAttackonTeodorKeko 47
AttacksonGjergjiZefi 47
AttacksAgainstMembersoftheSocialistParty 48
LegalCasesAgainstthePoliticalOpposition 49
V
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TheCaseofFatosNano 49
PoliticalDiscriminationinStateEmployment 54
THERIGHTTOPEACEFULASSEMBLY 55
SocialistPartyRally 56
AssociationofFormerPoliticalPrisoners 57
PropertyThroughJusticeHungerStrike 58
DemonstrationforArchimandriteMaidonis 58
FTRHEEERAENCODGFNAIITRIEOLNEACNTIDORNESGISTRATIONOFPOLITICALPARTIES..6509
IMPROPERUSEOFTHESIGURIMIFILES 61
VII.FREEDOMOFEXPRESSIONINTHEMEDL\ 64
LEGALSTANDARDS 65
BACKGROUND 67
BROADCASTMEDIA 69
ClosuresofPrivateRadio 73
PRINTMEDIA 75
LegalRestrictions:ThePressLawandPenalCode 76
TrialsofJournalists 77
TheTrialoftheKohaJoneJournalistsAleksander
FrangajandMartinLeka 77
TheTrialofBlendiFevziu 78
TheTrialsofGjergjiZefi 80
PrintingandDistribution 81
AccesstoInformation 82
EconomicCensorship 83
ALBANIANTELEGRAPHICAGENCY(ATA) 84
JOURNALISTSHARASSED,ASSAULTEDORIMPRISONED 85
Vin.ILLL-ETGRAEALTSMTEANTN,DADREDASTHSINCUSTODYANDARBITRARYARRESTS..9934
KILLINGINDISPUTEDCIRCUMSTANCES 95
RomeoGa9e 95
DEATHSINCUSTODY 96
DavidLeka 96
IrfanNanaj 96
DhimitraqPetro 96
EnrikIslami 96
ILL-TREATMENTATTHETIMEOFDETENTION 97
ArbenMemolla 97
GayClubAlbania 97
THEILL-TREATMENTOFPRISONERS 97
IX.MINORITYRIGHTS 99
vi
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DOMESTICLEGALPROTECTIONS 99
INTERNATIONALLEGALPROTECTIONS 100
THEGREEKMINORITY 105
TheGreekMinorityUnderCommunism 106
Gi"eek-AlbanianRelations 107
TheGreekMinorityToday 110
PoliticalRepresentation 110
TheTrialoftheOmoniaFive 112
MinorityLanguageEducation 118
RestrictionsonReligiousFreedom 121
RestrictionsonFreedomofAssembly 124
RestrictionsonMinorityAccesstotheMedia 125
OTHERETHNICMINORITIES ." 126
X.THERIGHTSOFWOMEN 128
LEGALPROTECTIONS 128
WOMENSRIGHTSUNDERCOMMUNISM 129
WOMENSRIGHTSTODAY 130
XI.THERIGHTSOFHOMOSEXUALS 133
XIIUNITEDSTATESGOVERNMENTPOLICY 134
XIII.EUROPEANPOLICY 137
XIV.CONCLUSION 138
APPENDIXA:LAWONGENOCIDE 139
APPENDIXB:LAWONTHEVERIFICATIONOFMORALCHARACTER 142
APPENDIXC:LAWONTHEPRESS 150
vii
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HumanRightsinPost-CommunistAlbania
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INTRODUCTION
I.
FornearlyhalfacenturyAlbaniaexperiencedabrandofcommunism
imknowntotherestofEasternEurope. Afatefulblendofisolationismand
dictatorshipkeptthistinyBalkancountrythepoorestandmostrepressiveinallof
Europe. Duringhisforty-yearreign,theAlbanianleaderEnverHoxhabanned
religion,forbadetravelandoutlawedprivateproperty. Anyresistancetohisrule
wasmetwithsevereretribution,includingmtemalexile,long-termimprisonment
andexecution.HisdommationofAlbania'spolitical,economicandsociallifewas
absolute.
Inlightofthishistory,Albaniahasmadesubstantialprogresstoward
respectforcivilandpoliticalrightsmthepastfiveyears.Democraticelectionsin
March1992sweptthecommunistpartyfrompower,installedanewgovernmentled
byPresidentSaliBerishaoftheDemocraticParty,andpavedthewayforaseriesof
liberalizingreforms.
Still,fiveyearshasnotbeenenoughtowipeawaythelegacyHoxha'srule.
Thecompleteabsenceundercommunismofindependentcourts,afreemediaand
humanrightsmechanismsposesaseriouschallengetoAlbaniandemocracytoday.
Moreseriously,theone-partymentalityisstilldeeplyingrainedinmanyofthe
country'snewleaders:criticsoftherulingDemocraticPartyareoftenregardedas
criticsof"democracy."
Asaresult,Albaniancitizensarestillplaguedbyserioushumanrights
violations, such as restrictions on freedom ofexpression and association,
manipulationofthelegalsystemandviolencebythepolice.Inpart,theseabuses
aretheresultofAlbania'sStalinistpast. Butinmanycases,thehumanrights
violationsinAlbaniatodayarethedirectresultofspecificactionsonthepartofthe
newgovernment.
Ofparticularconcernisthestate'scontinuedinterferenceinthejudiciary.
Despitemanyimprovements,thecourtsystemisstillusedasaninstrumentofthe
state,especially againstthepoliticalopposition. Theleaderofthelargest
oppositionpartyiscurrentlyinprisonafteratrialfraughtwithdueprocess
violations. Since1992,numerousothercriticsofthegovernmenthavebeen
haassraaislsaendt,s—triuesd,uaillmyprwiistohnoeudtaorn,yirnesapofneswefcarsoems,thpehygsoivcearlnlmyenatt.tacJkueddgebsywuhnokmnaokwen
independentdecisionsonsensitivecasesaresometimesreassignedtolesserpostsor
fired. Morethan400persons,predominantlyselectedbytheDemocraticParty,
1
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2 HumanRightsinPost-CommunistAlbania
wereappointedasjudgesandprosecutorsthroughoutthecountry,uponcompletion
ofaspecialsix-monthlawcourse,therebystrengtheninggovernmentalinfluence
overthejudiciaryandlawenforcementofficials.
Despitesomepositivedevelopments-suchasanewBillofRights-some
ofAlbania'snewlegislationdoesnotconformtointernationalstandards. Of
particularconcernisanewlawthatcreatedacommission,appointedpredominantly
bythegovernment,toreviewthecommunist-erasecretpolicefiles.Allthosewho
weremembersofpre-1991governmentsorfoundtohavebeencollaboratorswith
the former secret police are banned fromholding elected office or other
government-appointedpostsuntiltheyear2002.Thereisconsiderablefearthatthe
lawwillbeappliedselectivelyagainstpoliticalrivalstothegovernment.
Thegovermnenthasundertakenanambitiousefforttoprosecuteformer
commumstofficialswhocommittedcrimesduringthepreviousregime.However,
theprocesshasbeenselectiveand,attimes,mviolationofmtemationallaw.Some
formercommunistofficialsweredeniedtherighttoafairtrial,whileothershave
avoidedprosecutionaltogetherbecauseoftheirtiestothecurrentgovernment.
Freedomofthepressisalsocircumscribed.Nolegislationexiststoallow
forthetransmissionofprivatetelevisionorradio,leavingthestate-runprograms
thatfavorthegovernmentasthesoleproviderofnewsforthemajorityofthe
population.Whiletherearemanyprivatenewspapersthroughoutthecountry,they
arerestrictedbyarepressivepresslawandobstaclestotheirdistribution. Since
1992,alargenumberofjournalists,includingforeigncorrespondents,havebeen
harassed,arrestedorbeatenbyunknownassailantsafterwritingarticlesthatwere
criticalofthegovernment.
Therightsofminoritieshaveimprovedsincethefallofcommunism.
Nevertheless,problemsdoexist,particularlywiththesizableGreekminorityinthe
southofthecountry. InSeptember1994,fivemembersoftheethnicGreek
organizationOmoniaweretriedandconvictedonchargesofespionageandthe
illegalpossessionofweaponsinacasethatwasinviolationofbothAlbanianand
internationallaw. Thefivedefendantswerelaterreleasedbutnotbefore70,000
AlbanianguestworkershadbeenexpelledfromGreeceasretributionbytheGreek
government. Large-scaledetentionsofethnicGreeksbytheAlbanianpoliceand
secretservicebeforethetrialcreatedanatmosphereoffearinareasinhabitedby
Greeks. TheissueofGreek-languageschoolingandthereturnofpropertyowned
bytheOrthodoxChurcharealsoareasofconcern.
Parliamentaryelectionsaredueinthespringof1996but,asofFebruary
1996,nofixeddatehadbeenset.Theclosingmonthsof1995sawrenewedefforts
bythestatetosilenceindependentvoicesinthejudiciaryandmedia,aswellas
thoseofoppositionpoliticians. HumanRightsWatch/Helsinkifearsthatthese
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