BY ARGIRIS MALAPANIS
In both the March 9 and March 12 issues of the New York Times, correspondent Jane Perlez filed reports from Vlore, Albania. She is my favorite writer of the month, since she put me on to one of the central leaders of the revolt by Albania's toilers, by exuding scorn for this working-class fighter.

Perlez first described Albert Shyti as "a nattily dressed man in red shirt and black leather jacket" who "says he worked in Greece as a laborer." Perlez added that "Mr. Shyti appeared suddenly as a rebel leader on Friday [March 7], apparently because none of the better known politicians from the political parties wanted to come forward." Never mind that Shyti had emerged as the central leader of the Committee for the Salvation of Vlore nearly three weeks earlier. Perlez apparently had no interest in dates, or as it turns out, for facts in general.

In her subsequent article, also with a Vlore dateline, Perlez wrote, "While others were searching for food, the leader of the so-called Committee to Protect Vlore, Albert Shyti, a 27-year-old laborer who drives a new Mercedes with a Kalashnikov in the front passenger seat, enjoyed vermouth on the terrace of a hotel at 10:00 this morning. He was talking with a group of associates about how to divide the spoils of the revolt.

"He was back at the hotel in the afternoon, sampling more vermouth while his bodyguards shot their rifles across the concrete yard for fun."

Perlez did not offer any quotes from interviewing Shyti or his associates. She only quoted a local bartender in connection with the above allegations, who supposedly said that "Shyti was not more qualified than anyone else to lead a revolt."

I and other Militant reporters interviewed Shyti on March 23 (see article on page 7), saw him function in Vlore for a couple of days, and spoke to several other local people about Perlez's claims.

It turns out that Shyti does not drive a Mercedes, he usually walks. In fact, he currently does not own a car, let alone a new one. The reference to a "Mercedes" is intended to show superior status. But most taxis and other cars I saw in the streets of Albania are Mercedes Benz, usually older models that people buy in the used markets of Greece, Italy, and Germany.

Shyti does not have bodyguards, although under the circumstances it would be perfectly in order if he had some. He says he doesn't drink vermouth, although he does like other drinks and wished he had time to enjoy some. Both times we were in Vlore, he was speaking at 10:00 in the morning at the rally in the town's Square of the Flag. The rallies in the central square happen daily, and according to everyone we spoke to Shyti is always there if he is in town. The Committee for the Salvation of Vlore also meets daily, usually into the late afternoon hours.

It turns out Perlez never even interviewed Shyti. So much for "all the news that's fit to print."

Is there a better reason for why we need the Militant, which tells the truth about workers' struggles around the world? To publish every week, the Militant depends on contributions from those who want these facts to be available. That's what the $110,000 Militant Fund drive is for.

With four weeks to go, this is the time for supporters of the Militant and Perspectiva Mundial in every local area to assess their efforts and develop a plan to get the fund- raising campaign on schedule. Internationally, the momentum from last week slackened, with contributors sending in $9,011 as of this issue. We now need some $17,000 being sent in every week to the Militant business office to make it to the $110,000 finish line by April 26.

Militant supporters in Detroit are on target. How do they organize the fund campaign? "We know every week how much our area has to collect," Detroit fund director Frank Gorton explains. "So we maintain a regular rhythm of actively soliciting those who have made pledges to make payments," from those who are able to give $5 to those who kick in $500. Every amount adds up!

Ardy Blandford from Des Moines writes in on the success of their benefit for the Militant Fund. Six young people attended, two from Grinnell College who expressed interest in the Young Socialists. A former Firestone striker also attended the meeting. At the meeting they collected $334.

Supporters of the Militant in both Canada and the United Kingdom have begun sending in their pledges this week, giving an international boost to the drive. Keep those pledges coming, and remember the deadline to get on the chart is noon on Tuesdays.

Valerie Johnson, a member of the United Transportation Union in New York, contributed to this article.  
 
 
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