TIRANA, Nov. 22 – The protests of Astir area residents against the government’s plans to demolish a number of buildings under the Great Ring project turned violent on Thursday, when protesters clashed with police forces in front of the parliament building.
Firecrackers and smoke bombs were thrown to the courtyard of the parliament, where numerous police forces were lined up, trying to fight off several protestors’ efforts to break through the wall the police had created.
Local media reported 11 police officers have been injured from being hit with strong objects or explosive devices. One of them is reported to have lost one hand’s fingers, while some protesters have also ended up in the hospital too.
Tension in front of the parliament came growing while, inside the hall, Prime Minister Edi Rama, speaking of the expansion of the new Ring, was set in his position on the solution offered for the removal of the affected habitants.
Concerning the police violence, Rama said it is intolerable and that it will not be tolerated, implying legal measures will be taken against protesters.
Residents have told local media covering their protest, ongoing for almost two weeks now, they suspect they are becoming victim of secret and corrupt government plans to empower private businesses, all behind the facade of supporting a street-expansion project.
Protesters are seeking transparency and an open dialogue with municipality officials, because they claim to be uninformed on the projects that are taking place in the exact locations they have erected their homes for over 20 years.
Every day, Astir protesters have been demanding to meet with municipality representatives who can offer them concrete answers that will solve their housing problem and have attempted to forcibly enter the municipality building, but have been prevented by the police.
The opposition has backed these protests, saying the Great Ring project is nothing but another corrupt affair of the socialist majority which is giving millions of euros to a dubious firm that appeared and won without a real competitive race three months ago, destroying hundreds of flats and removing a large number of unemployed families and people of all ages and without shelter out of their houses.
Tirana’s Mayor Erion Veliaj said last Thursday that three police officers were wounded during that day’s protest, but that it will be hard work and developing projects which will win in the end.
Earlier, Veliaj has said the municipality will not withdraw from its Great Ring project – a well-known project for the last 30 years – and that the foreseen facilities will be demolished, while residents will be attributed rent and compensations.
Protesters have sent letters and filed petitions to the leaders of the highest state institutions, seeking to not be taken to the streets on the eve of winter without having first been fully compensated of the market value of their houses.
On the other hand, opposition lawmakers who have constantly attended and supported the protest have said protesters are in their right and have called on the police to not provoke them.
“I urge the police not to provoke residents. They are in their right. The police are not guilty, Edi Rama, who is the main person responsible for this situation, is hiding and does not come face to face the residents. The Socialist Movement for Integration is supporting the residents,” SMI lawmaker Endrit Braimllari.
