Political prisoner sets himself on fire

Early in the morning, while all other strikers were reading the newspapers, Ndreca stepped aside from the group and tried to kill himself.

The other members of the hunger strike tried to stop him, together with the police officers. While they were trying to hold him, Ndreca asked for a lighter and it was given by another fellow striker, Perikli Shqevi, who started the fire.

The flames spread all over his body for a few seconds, while the other former political prisoners tried to put the fire out. Ndreca was sent immediately to hospital, together with another striker who received light burns.

Police arrested Perikli Shqevi and charge him of intentional arson with severe life threatening consequences. The other strikers are shocked by what happened, but they are determined to continue the strike.

After 17 days of hunger strike, this was the most tragic event in a peaceful protest, which has found only silence from the government.

Ndreca’s attempt to sacrifice was an extreme spontaneous action, but it was almost warned one week ago.

The strikers had declared that they would undertake similar acts in protest against the government during a live interview on Top Channel.

Former political prisoners: Ndreca burned by PM Berisha

The former political prisoners held a protest in front of the Albanian Parliament, a few minutes after the extreme act undertaken by Gjergj Ndreca. His friends blamed the government for the silence and asked more solidarity form the citizens.

“Ndreca was burned by Berisha. It had been warned and the government did not answer. What was this criminal Prime Minister looking for? Gjergj Ndreca was burned also by our indifference. If we would have fought in these 22 years, we would nto be here today”, the protesters declared.

The former political prisoners declared that they would continue the protest until receiving the compensation.
Skender Tufa, one of the protesters, asked for solidarity from everyone, since according to him their requests were similar to those of the citizens.

“Today we saw the sublime act of Gjergj Ndreca. He answered to the government’s silence in self denial. Democracy was damaged today. This is the situation of real democracy. The former political prisoners are showing that this is violence. A retired person who is unable to buy even a coffee for himself, the miners, activ youth and everyone else are invited to appeal the national and international immunity. Whoever feels oppressed must rise up”, Tufa declared.

He appealed the police to live. “Ndreca is in a bad situation and the hospital entrance is blocked by the police. After this protest we will use force to enter the hospital. The police have surrounded us, but they must leave. We appeal the citizens to join us at the Parliament every Monday and Thursday. No one should make the mistake and touch the strikers, because democracy is being damaged here”, Tufa declared.
 

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