Hunger strike of ex-political persecuted continues

TIRANA, Oct. 04 – The group of some 20 people, former political persecuted are continuing their hunger strike for the second week asking for immediate compensation from the authorities.
The former political prisoners are holding the strike in Tirana suburbs saying they have always been sidelined by all the post-communist governments.
More than two decades after the fall of the communist regime they are very displeased with the way they are treated, not compensated, and also exploited by the political parties.
They warned strongly the governing Democratic party they will vote against them in next year’s parliamentary elections unless they have immediate compensation.
They are determined to continue their strike to the end and have even threatened of committing public suicides.
Some 100,000 Albanians were imprisoned, sent to internment camps or executed during the 46 years of Hoxha’s repressive regime.
Albanians toppled a 20-foot (6-meter) statue of Hoxha in the capital’s central Skanderbeg Square on Feb. 20, 1991, about two months after the collapse of the communist regime. Hoxha himself died in 1985.
the strike has been visited by all local political leaders and also western diplomats, like the US or the EU ambassadors.
On Wednesday a group of former political persecuted held a protest rally parading in front of the main government building and many other institutions, asking for immediate compensation.
What is a problem for them is also the fact they are very dispersed, have so many associations and are not in joint efforts when they make a move.
More protests are pledged to be held.
Until Albanian communism collapsed after student protests in December 1990, activities considered subversive were dealt with by Hoxha’s powerful secret police, the Sigurimi. About 40,000 people were held in 48 labor camps set up across the country, while another 26,000 were imprisoned in jails, according to authorities and rights groups.Some 6,500 people were executed or died while in detention, but only about 500 bodies have been found to date.
However, many of those who suffered under the former regime are still dissatisfied with what they say are unfulfilled pledges on compensation and reintegration into Albanian society.
Almost all of them complain that none of Albania’s post-communist governments has helped.
They say every government is not interested in them and that while they cannot get rid of the sons of the former communists, who persecuted them then and now run the country.
Those who suffered political persecution have been awarded compensation of 2,000 leks (euro14; $18.5) per day of imprisonment. Out of 25,000 applicants, only a few thousand have received funds and they have gotten only the first of eight installments of what they are entitled to.