nr. 94 / 3 gusht 2006

Albania Needs a Third Political Force It Should be the Christian Democratic Party

There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Democratic Party of Albania is predominated by Muslims and that the Socialist party is mostly Orthodox. There is nothing wrong with that. Free people should be able to join whatever party they wish, regardless of their religion, as long as they do not attempt to impose their political beliefs upon others and are not exclusive to others, as this would be detrimental, harmful and divisive to our nation.

However, since 1992, both parties, i.e., the DP and the SP, have been excluding the Catholics. From 1992 to present, regardless of which party was in power, out of all the minister appointed by both, only one has always been a Catholic. Further, very few Catholics have held powerful positions, such as ambassadors, political advisors to the Prime Minister, or members of his immediate cabinet.

One may ask why is this? Is it because Catholics do not have qualified candidates to fill these positions, or is it because both the DP and the SP consider Catholics to be less patriotic than the Muslims or the Orthodox? Do they fear the Catholics because they do not know them, or they fear them because they know them too well? Or is there a conspiracy between the DP and the SP to divided Catholics, and, therefore prevent them from being empowered in Albania?

Whatever the answer to these questions may be, ime has come for the Albanian Catholic Community to realize that they are not going to be helped by either party. If this was not been obvious until now, it should now at this juncture, especially since Berisha returned to power. Despite all what the Catholics did for the Democratic Party in general, and for him in particular, look at his ministers, ambassadors, and his cabinet and tell me how many Catholics are there? Does not he know that Catholics were the first ones to rise against the communist regime and the first ones to spill their blood to bring democracy to Albania? Does not he know that Catholics elected and re-elected him? Has Berisha forgotten the contribution that Catholics have given to Albania generally and to Democracy particularly? Does not he know that Catholics can be great and loyal people but terrible enemies? Or it is true that, as Zef Brozi put it in his article on April 8, 2006, in Koha Jone “Berisha has not changed”.

Catholics must realize that neither the Muslims nor the Orthodox will embrace them, politically speaking They, the SP and the DP, have divided the political power and their spheres of influence and they are happy with what they have. Why should they care about Catholics, when the Catholics themselves have allowed both the DP and the SP for way too long to get away with pure anti–Catholic policies.

Therefore, the time has come that Catholics, which compose 15 to 18% of Albanian’s population, must form their own political movement, i.e., join the Christian Democratic Party. This Party should not be exclusive, but inclusive instead. Anyone should be allowed to join our party, regardless of their religion. However, the Party’s main goal should be the establishment of a third political force in Albania which would be predominated by Catholics, that would compel the two major political parties to form coalitions with it.

The time is ripened that Catholics must do what is good for Catholics.

The fist step to achieving this goal has been taken. On June 6, 2006, Koha Jone reported that Nard Ndoka, Ndue Shpani, Jak Ndoka, Pashk Ujka, Frrok Gjini, and Nikoll Lesi openly joined the Christian Democratic Party. And on June 24, 2004, Ndue Pjetra, a Social-Democrat jumped ship and joined the same party.

Now they may be able to form a parliamentary group, and that is why Brisha has recently made some enticing offers to this party.

There are 19 Catholic Deputies in the Albanian Parliament, which translates to approximently15% of the members of parliament. They are: Paulin Sterkja, Tom Doshi, Alfred Dalipi, Alfred Gjergji, Petrit Gjini, Ndre Legisi, Angjelina Kola, Gjovalin Prenga, Ndue Shpani, Aldi Bumco, Pashko Ujka, Gjok Vuksani, Prec Zogaj, Jozefina Topalli, Jak Ndoka, Nard Ndoka, Nikoll Lesi, Frrok Gjin and Ndue Pjetra. They represent mainly the northern Albania, such as Malsi e Madhe, Shkodder, Puke, Lezhe, Mirdite, Luc and Mat, and that is where most of the Catholics mainly live.

These deputies have three things in common: They are Catholics; they represent Catholic areas, and every time that they ran, regardless of their party affiliation, they won. We had Lek Cukaj, Paulin Sterkaj and Tom Doshi win as Socialists in districts that were the most politically persecuted by the communist/socialist regime and are now overwhelming democratic. They elected and re-elected only because they are Catholics running in Catholic districts. This shows that Catholics are loyal voters, and that they want their own to represent them, even though they disagree with their political affiliations. This should assure us that if the Catholic candidates were to run as Christian Democrats, they would win again thus giving this party between 18 and 20 deputies which would change the face of Albanian politics forever.

To achieve this goal, the leadership of the Christian Democratic party should work in five fronts. Firstly, we should be getting individuals such as Sportak Ngjela Gjovalin Bzheta, Lek Cukaj, Valentin Palaj, Gjergj Zefi, Fran Dashi, Lek Lumaj, and all others, who know fully well they do not belong to either the DP or the SP, to join our party. Secondly, the national leadership of this party should do a more aggressive grassroots political recruiting and coordinating work in the areas where Catholics live. The party leadership should visit these areas and make it clear to the people there that they are the party that represents them. I mean after all, the DP and the SP are doing the same thing with their supporters. Thirdly, we must establish a direct contact with our supporters in Diaspora, such as the USA, Italy, England and Greece and tap into their intellectual and financial potential. Fourthly, we must develop contacts with other Christian parties and Christian Associations around the world, especially with the Christians in the USA. And finally, we should demand that, as it was previously decided, Albania should take a religious census and decided once and for all the religious makeup of our Nation.

Should we be able to achieve the above, we will have a real say in the Albanian politics and the Catholic voices will be heard again, after having been silenced for many, many years. This would be a good and positive step for Albania in general and for the Catholics in particular, as it would force an honest and open dialog between our political parties.

Manuela Zefi

Political Coordinator, Christian Democratic Party Albania

Revenge because of duty

After the Parliamentary elections of July 3rd 2005, Alban Dodani faced revenge and wilde acts of violence and physical terror. Alban was born on March 31, 1969, he is married and has two children, a son 6 years old and a daughter 10 years old. His children attended the “Zemra e Krishtit” School. He was one of the activists of the SP, with important charges. After he entered the Constructions’ Police, he left politics and cuts every link with it. He does his work with precision according to the law. He has a very good background in his life, family and friends. He frequented the fourth year of the “Luigj Gurakuqi” University of Shkodra, where he studied physics, while his wife studies administration-business at the same university. A family with clear perspective and aims. After the victory of the DP, Alban had the first signs of firing from his work. Persecution started on February 7, 2006, when he was fired because of the dirty politics and the discrimination against Christians. In the campaign of revenge were included psychological threats through anonymous phone-calls and letters, but also by people whom he and the institution of Constructions’ Police “hit” by pulling down illegal constructions. While doing his job, he had also pulled down illegal constructions of people linked to politics. In Shkodra today there are over 2400 illegal constructions. Only in the commune of Velipoja there are 980 of them. In this very problematic sector the State is facing every day the barons of crime and money cleansing invested in constructions. Lately were found bank accounts of Osama Bin Laden. The accounts were frozen and the constructions were sequestrated. But, coming back to the police officer Dodani, he asked to meet the General Director of the Constructions’ Police, Mr. Ibrahim Marina, for he was fired unjustly. The director didn’t receive him and neither answers his letter. Terror increases. An envelope with four bullets inside was sent to him, obviously meaning the threat of life for the four members of his family. Terrorists asked even money from him. On May 4, 2006, while driving his car back from Velipoja, he faced an ambush, an attempt to eliminate him physically. Bullets hit his car, but fortunately Alban came out safe. His mother doesn’t bear the threats to his son and has a cerebral hemorrhage, what causes her to spend two months in the Neurological Hospital of Shkodra. Terror increases even more. On July 21, 2006, explosive was placed at his house. The building was damaged seriously, but there were no victims.

After this serious happening he had to stop sending his children to the “Zemra e Krishtit” School, while he and his wife had to stop attending university and live hidden.

It’s a very bad clime, while innocent people get killed everyday. Revenge is a phenomenon that’s increasing, and even being a Christian is dangerous.

Vasel Gilaj