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Albania: Treatment of members of the Democratic Party of Albania (DPA) (Partia Demokratike e Shqiperise, PDSH) by police and government; protection available to members through government, police, judiciary and non-governmental organizations; whether relatives of members are at risk of ill-treatment (2005-2006)

Information on the treatment of members of the Democratic Party of Albania by police and government was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

The Democratic Party of Albania (Partia Demokratike e Shqiperise, PDSH) is a centre-right, pro-democracy and pro-market political party led by Sali Berisha (The Europa World Year Book 2005 2005, 470; BBC 14 May 2006), who is now the Prime Minister of Albania (ibid.). After the 3 July 2005 election, the PDSH controlled 56 of 140 parliamentary seats, winning more seats than any other party (OSCE 7 Nov. 2005, 30; see also BBC 14 May 2006). This election marked a shift in power from the Socialist Party (SP) to the PDSH (OSCE 7 Nov. 2005, 3). The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) noted that although the election process had improved in comparison with previous elections, the election process only partly adhered to OSCE commitments and "the process was again protracted and at times uncertain" (ibid., 1; see also Freedom House 2006, 6). However, the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) noted that the elections were remarkable because they failed to spark the type of angry protests which had previously been common in Albanian politics (14 May 2006).

According to Freedom House, power was transferred peacefully after the 2005 election and the PDSH and the SP were less confrontational during this election campaign than in the past (Freedom House 2006, 5-6). In what Freedom House described as a random event, the Head of the PDSH for the Kukes region was killed during the election, although Freedom House did not explain the circumstances surrounding his or her death (ibid., 10) and further or corroborating information on this event could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

In a 14 June 2006 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, a professor of History at Indiana University, who is considered an expert witness in political asylum cases from the Balkans and who has authored several publications on twentieth-century Albanian history, stated that the treatment of PDSH members and activists had recently improved. In the opinion of the Professor, card-carrying members of the PDSH are not at risk of ill-treatment, but there have been confrontations between activists, including those members who organize party activities, observe elections and run in campaigns (ibid.). The Professor added that harassment of political figures tends to happen at the local level (ibid.).

In contrast, the United Kingdom Home Office concluded in its Operational Guidance Note on Albania that there was no evidence indicating that members of opposing political parties faced any serious danger and that those members who are subjected to threats can count on sufficient protection within the Albanian state (UK 12 Jan. 2006, para. 3.8.7). This information was corroborated by an official with the Embassy of Canada in Rome, who stated that according to their sources at foreign embassies, political "persecution" did not exist in the past when the SP was in power, nor did it exist as a result of the change of power after the July 2005 election (Canada 14 Feb. 2006).

According to the United Kingdom Home Office, individual PDSH members should be able to access protection from the Albanian authorities or to relocate internally within Albania in order to escape personal threats (UK 12 Jan. 2006, para. 3.8.5). Further information on protection mechanisms available to PDSH members who have suffered ill-treatment could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. Information on whether relatives of members are at risk of ill-treatment could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 14 May 2006. "Country Profile: Albania." <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/country_profiles/1004234.stm> [Accessed 14 July 2006]

Canada. 14 February 2006. Embassy of Canada, Rome. Correspondence from a Migration Integrity Officer.

The Europa World Year Book 2005. 17 June 2005. "Albania." London: Routledge.

Freedom House. 2006. Nations in Transit: Albania. <http://www.freedomhouse.hu/nit.html> [Accessed 14 July 2006]

Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). 7 November 2005. Republic of Albania Parliamentary Elections 3 July 2005: OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Report. <http://www.osce.org/documents/odihr/2005/11/16905_en.pdf> [Accessed 14 July 2006]

Professor of History, Indiana University. 14 June 2006. Telephone interview.

United Kingdom (UK). 12 January 2006. Home Office, Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), Country Information and Policy Unit. "Operational Guidance Note – Albania." <http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/countryspecificpolicy/albania?view=Binary> [Accessed 5 June 2006]

Additional Sources Consulted

Oral sources, including: Albanian Helsinki Committee; Human Rights Group; Center for Democracy and Reconciliation in Southeast Europe; Centre for Russian and East European Studies, University of Toronto; Central Elections Commission, Government of Albania; Democratic Party of Albania; International Foundation for Election Systems; MJAFT!; Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe [Albania]; Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.

Internet sources, including: The 2005 Albanian Election Study, Albanian Political Science Association, Amnesty International (AI), Comparative Study of Electoral Systems, European Country of Origin Information Network (ECOI), Factiva, Government of Albania, Human Rights Watch (HRW), International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights (IHF), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI).