Defense minister promises further clean up of the area, as victims’ families call for tougher punishments for those responsible
TIRANA, March 15 – A ceremony has been held to remember the victims of Gerdec, a village close to Tirana where six years ago a massive explosion at a disposal ammunition factory killed 26 people, wounded tens of others and caused wide damage.
Defense Minister Mimi Kodheli visited the area last week to honor those who died.
The ceremony came as families of the victims repeated calls for tougher punishments on those who have already been convicted in the case as well as for other officials to be brought to justice for their involvement.
Several officials and business associates were sentenced to prison for their involvement in the explosion, but most are now free with appeals courts reducing sentences for several top defendants convicted in a deadly ammunition factory blast and acquitted one defendant, despite the dismay of relatives of the deceased.
The explosion at Gerdec near Tirana in March 2008 killed 26 people, wounded 300 others, destroyed or damaged 5,500 houses and caused the temporary closure of the Albanian capital’s airport as unexploded ordnance landed near it.
Investigators said it was started by a lit cigarette, in the factory where some 1,400 tons of explosives, mostly obsolete artillery shells, were stored for disposal.
Then-defense minister Fatmir Mediu had also been charged with breach of duty over the accident after Parliament agreed to lift his immunity from prosecution. But the charges were dropped when he was subsequently re-elected to Parliament, as Albanian law didn’t allow a lawmaker’s immunity to be lifted twice for the same alleged offence. Mediu then served as environment minister. Now he is a parliamentarian for the opposition Republican Party and the investigation process against him has been dropped.
Kodheli went to the areas of the explosion together with top army commanders and laid a bouquet of flowers at the memorial. Kodheli said that the event would not be easy to forget.
The minister also said that the Gerdec area is still considered as a place that needs to undergo a thorough clean-up despite the many efforts and money already spent on the rehabilitation of the area.
The latest cleaning project comes to an end in September this year. But she said that only 7,000 square meters have been turned back cleaned to the population and 68,000 square meters more remain to be worked upon.
Kodheli also accused the former government not only of mismanagement but also of abuse and mistakes. She said there were some more court processes to be over.
