Victims of Jan. 21. 2011 remembered in ceremonies
TIRANA, Jan. 22 – Ceremonies have been in held in the Albanian capital to commemorate the victims of the Jan. 21, 2011 protest, when four died and tens were wounded as protesters and security forces clashed in front of the prime minister’s office.
Organized by the Socialist Party, then in opposition, against former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, the protest came at the end of a lengthy campaign against what the opposition saw as electoral fraud and massive corruption. Three years on, questions still linger about the shooting deaths of four protesters and how those involved should be held accountable.
Several members of the security forces protecting the prime ministers’ office were tried and found innocent of the charges. The victims’ families have protested what they see as a mockery of justice.
Prime Minister Edi Rama told the victims’ families in a meeting that the justice system had not done enough to set things right, adding the killings were done through “a firing squad without trial.” He added reforming the justice system was an imperative for the new Socialist-led government.
Rama led a procession laying flowers and inaugurating four bronze tiles set at the places where each protestor was shot dead three years ago by a Guard of the Republic unit in charge of protecting the government building.
Rama said the justice system in Albania has failed to meet the required standards, calling it a “hell” on earth.
“Many things have changed, but one that has not changed for Albania is the hell of the existing system of justice. It is the hell where all the hopes are vanished and in which all of Albania is laughed at in front of its challenge between what is right and justice institutions,” Rama said.
Two guard officers were charged for the murder of three of the four dead. They have admitted firing shots in the air, but denied hitting anyone.
Last year an Albanian court acquitted two senior police officers of shooting dead four opposition supporters during an anti-government protest in 2011.
The ruling was bluntly criticized by the United States, which provided assistance in the forensic investigation, and was met with outrage by what was then Albania’s Socialist political opposition, fueling the country’s rising political tensions ahead of its June 23 general election, in which the Socialists and allies won in a landslide.
Family members of the victims have told local media they will take the matter into their own hands in accordance with Albania’s long history of vendettas, if the case is not properly reviewed.
Ndrea Prendi, head of the elite Guard of the Republic force, and Agim Llupo, a senior officer in the unit, were charged, while a third officer was acquitted of concealing evidence.
Prendi and Llupo were charged with the murder of Faik Myrtaj, Hekuran Deda and Ziver Veizi; no one has been charged in the death of the fourth protester, Aleks Nika.
Berisha reacted Tuesday after the ceremony repeating his claim that the 2011 protest was an attempt from Rama to come to power through violence. Expressing condolences to the victims, he said through a social media channel that the security forces had defended state instructions against a violent takeover.
The opposition has accused Berisha and other officials under him of authorizing police to use lethal force at the protest נa claim they have rejected.
Rama has always assured the families of the four dead that “their deaths cannot be forgotten … until a fair verdict is obtained.”
After the innocent verdicts early last year, the U.S. Embassy in Tirana issued a statement saying it was “dismayed” by the court decision. Similar comments were made by EU officials.
On Tuesday, European parliamentarians repeated that the Jan. 21case is a test for the country’s justice system.
In an interview with Albanian media, General Prosecutor Adriatic Lala said that investigations are still under way on the events.
“What is most important in this discussion, are as yet unresolved facts about one of the killings and arbitrary actions taken by police against protesters. As you are aware, to shed light on these, there is an ongoing investigation that has the commitment of the Attorney General’s Office. I should stress that the investigation is comprehensive, including those questions for which there is high sensitivity in the media and in public opinion,” Lala said.
This year also marked the first time that representatives of the Socialist Movement for Integration participated in the commemoration. SMI is a main partner in the Rama government, but three years ago,it was in the government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, and at the time it shared Berisha’s views on the protest.
Petrit Vasili, the leader of SMI’s parliamentary group, said the party wants the entire truth to come out through an imparcial process.
