An increase of protests and strikes

TIRANA, Oct. 18 – One hears every day, many times a day on how the hunger strike of the former political persecuted is going on. Albanians also listen that people in a northern small town block the national road after their power supply was cut. In another protest in capital Tirana, in suburbs people came out in the street and burnt tires to protest on the lack of the power supply. Infants and their families supported from the social insurance paid from the authorities have also threatened also in Tirana to start a hunger strike after the power supply was cut as they (authorities) had not paid the consume for the last months.
In another case Albanians listen to news that hundreds of prisoners in two facilities have started a strike asking the government they also be included in the expected pardon for the 100th anniversary of independence next month.
So what are all these protests? Is there an increase? For sure, yes.
And one would say they luckily are not organized from the political parties against the one in power. They are held from common people and most of them these days from people where the power is cut. In some cases that is a good move to be made after they do not pay for the power consume. But in other cases there is no need for a collective punishment, like that in capital Tirana suburbs, Kombinat.
Social experts would be good to make analysis of the protests, to see why the people now seem to have taken more competencies in their hands, to analyze why that is an increase at this moment, because of the upcoming political elections next year and thus pressing the government, or any other cause.
Whatever the reasons or the causes of the protests it is good that people are thinking more of themselves and not leaving the request for their rights in the hands of their politicians.
That is the goal of a project that the US. Embassy started recently, a project called Act Now! So that they ask for their rights on their own, be more active, or proactive in defending their rights.
“I’ve been told by some people, including by some of the protesters themselves, some of the hunger-strikers themselves, that part of the inspiration to present their case was from ACT Now! So there is a part of me that appreciates that, saying that it has inspired some citizens to voice their concerns,” said U.S. Ambassador Alexander Arvizu when asked at the interview in the ABC TV station.
Naturally he was quick to add that they would not prefer the protests in the form of hunger strikes or self-immolations as there are other good ways to express the views.
So Albanians should really take care of themselves and hold the politicians they cast their vote for accountable for what they have promised. Or change the name in their ballot before being cast next year.