Translated from Albanian · Original article in Albanian →
A student delivered a powerful message while protesting alongside other young people demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. The young woman says they have been out in the square for three months, protesting peacefully, and that no one has listened to them.
The student broke into tears as she said she is alone in Albania because her family is abroad, adding that those in power cannot steal and get rich from their taxes.
“You and all these others should know very well that your end will come. He uses violence with rubber batons. People could die here. Do you know what happens if a student dies here? You will have the whole nation on its feet. They are taking our future. We came out peacefully for three months, nobody listened to us. We will do this every day. We will be here every day. Did you want someone to speak? I am speaking.
What do we want? First, Rama’s resignation, because he has made our lives miserable. Second, decent dormitories. Third, that you respect the rules and the laws, that there is justice. That no more lawyers are killed, as that one was killed over there. Do not use violence against the people when they demand their rights. That is what we want. We want nothing else. We are asking for the minimum rights. Let them go after all the banks, let them burn every institution. We apologise for the private businesses that were burned. They may have been affected; as a student, I apologise to them.
Let the others burn and be set on fire. Starting with parliament. Kiduina and Zegjineja come out and say these are not students. I studied at the Faculty of Economics. For 5 years I had to go to work and to school. It is painful to live here. I have no family here. My sister and brother have left. My parents are emigrants too. That is why I came out here. Parents should support us too.
There is no other way out; they get rich from our taxes. They buy villas. They live in apartments, or Belinda Balluku. Students who have done nothing are dragged along the ground and have to work one job against six, while Vlora, who goes out with Ergys Agasi, is helped out of the car like a lady. Isn’t this painful?” she said, among other things.
She added that they will not give up the revolt.
“We build beautiful towers. When will we ever be able to buy their tower, with a salary of 530 thousand lek? We are forced to live in houses with girls we don’t know at all. There is no other way out, the students will not stop anymore. Let them use as much violence as they want, they cannot defeat our voice. Only if you kill us will you no longer see us here. We have nothing left to lose.”
