Revolution in Albania?

Following growing anti-government protests and strikes, the Albanian people have risen up, and the government is on the verge of complete collapse. The prisons have been opened up, military and police armories have been emptied, police and military troops have abandoned their posts, and it is all the government can do to round up members of their secret police to protect a few of their most valued institutions in the capital. As each town falls to the armed populace, Autonomous Municpal Councils are set up and decisions are made democratically.

Meanwhile, news reports claim that *all* political parties are pleading for NATO or UN intervention to prop up their government. That's right, *all* parties, from the right-wing to the old stalinists have lost control and fear the armed populace more than foreign troops.

Anarchist Sources

News from Freedom correspondent in the rebel town of Saranda, in Southern Albania!:

May 10 - Correspondent arrives in Saranda, gives first impressions of situation
April - Correspondent travels to Saranda

Revolution in Albania - at last Everybody Wins - from the British Anarchist Magazine Black Flag (April 2, 1997)

News from the Initiative for an Anarchist Federation in Germany (I-AFD) Hamburg:

March 28 - UN decides to send troops
March 27 - OSCE decides to send 5000 troops, UN Security Council must approve first. Amnesty law intends to bring back prisoners, so far 15 are back.
March 25 - Fino talks with EU foreign ministers about "ending the crisis".
March 24 - Italy wants control of Albanian ports. Foreign governments talk of sending troops to "escort" humanitarian aid.
March 23 - Flow of refugees slows to trickle. Fino talks of delaying promised elections. Humanitarian supplies arrive.
March 22 - Berisha refuses to step down. Rebel delegates to meet next week.
March 21 - Delegates from 13 rebel towns meet in Tepelena, Demand Berisha step down.
March 20 - Italy sends humanitarian aid. Despite rebel deadline, Berisha refuses to step down.
March 19 - Government rejects rebel's ultimatum. Italy starts deporting Albanians.
March 18 - Rebels threaten to march into Tirana if Berisha refuses to step down.
March 17 - Berisha welcomes EU's delegation. Rebel delegates from several regions meet in Balji. News from Bulgaria.
March 16 - Foreign governments leery about sending troops. Independent town councils organize food distribution.
March 15 - Most of country in "rebel" hands. Berisha refuses to resign.
March 14 - Foreign governments evacuate. Albanian government calls for foreign troops.
March 13 - All of Albania now in revolt. "Rebel" towns hold mass meetings.
March 12 - Revolt spreads to Albania's capital, Tirana.
March 11 - Twelve towns now independent. Army attacks town with tanks, people defend.
March 11 - Revolt spreads north. 1/4 of Country in revolt. Town councils organizing together.
March 10 - Seven towns are in the hands of "rebels".
March 8 - Revolt spreads in South, army desertion on the rise.
March 5 - State on the run, people self-organize in South.

Albanian Government Sources

Crisis '97
The Democratic Party of Albania -- the guys that aren't too popular anymore
Albanian Telegraphic Agency -- official news from Albania

Corporate and Other Pro-Establishment Sources

Yahoo newswire reports
Voice of America and other mainstream media reports

Direct News from Albania

Keep in mind that only a tiny privileged fraction of the Albanian population has access to the internet.

a page with email from Albania

Authoritarian Communist Sources

Albania in Revolt -- a Leninist web page about Albania
Fora les Mans d'Albania -- Spanish Communists?
Revolucion en Albania -- more Spanish Communists

Miscellaneous

Albania in rivolta -- Information in Italian
Koha Jone -- An online, English edition of Albania's leading independent Newspaper
Albania: revuelta o revolucion -- Information in Spanish

Go back to the Seattle Anarchism and Revolution page.