Gerdec Workers Take Hunger Strike Near Berisha’s Office

TIRANA, June 18 – A small group of Albanian workers of a private disposing ammunition company on Wednesday were on a hunger strike asking for money compensation three months after a blast at their factory killed more than two dozen of them.
Eight workers, who were on their 13th day of hunger strike, moved Wednesday near Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s office “to urge him give us our rights.”
The strikers wanted a compensation of 400,000 leks each, 150,000 leks more for the injured ones, one year salary, a pension of 40,000 leks for the victims’ children and social insurance.
“The town hall has told us they are unable to assist us. So we came to Berisha for help,” said Albin Mexhaj, 23, while lying covered from a plastic due to the rain.
On March 15, a series of massive explosions at an ammunition depot near the capital, Tirana, killed 26 people, injured 302 and destroyed or damaged around 5,500 houses. Berisha has said the blasts were accidentally triggered during work to dispose of excess ammunition, but investigators have not yet pinpointed their exact cause.
Earlier this week the parliament lifted the immunity of ex-Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu to allow his prosecution. Mediu, leader of the Republican Party, part of the governing coalition, resigned after the blast but has denied breaking any law.
The same day army chief of staff was also fired.
Seven Defense Ministry officials and managers of the private company disposing of the ammunition have been arrested on charges of negligence.
About 100,000 tons of excess ammunition, mostly Russian and Chinese artillery shells made in the 1960s or earlier, are stored in former army depots across Albania.
Albania has pledged to dispose of the ammunition by 2010, and is receiving assistance from the U.S., Canada and other NATO countries.