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Cases of blood feuds – October 2015
Current Situation
In October no public case of gjakmarrjes were recorded. Nonetheless some cases of hakmarrjes were selected from the systematic reading of newspapers. Monitoring cases of hakmarrjes is paramount as these could later be reasons for blood feuds. For this reason two murders are here reported. First, a 24 years old boy was killed, in Shkodër district, for having bothered the assassins’ sister, two years ago. Second, a 58 years old man was killed in Laç because of an argument over the property of some chestnuts trees. At first the murderer’s sister took the responsibility of the assassination in order to avoid a feud between the two families. According to the Kanun tradition, women and children cannot be involved in the blood feuds phenomenon. Later, however, her brother decided to confess the murder.
Cases of blood feuds – September 2015
Current Situation
September begun with a striking episode of violence between rival fis (extended families) in which an Albanian politician was involved. The press pointed to MP Armando Prenga charged of shooting a man during a clash between rival fis. The cause of the conflict lies in the assignment of a contract for the exploitation of Patok lagoon, in the area of Laç. Moreover, some cases of hakmarrje were found out from the monitoring of crime news. It is important to point out what happened on September 16th in Bathore, a small town close to Tirana. Milazim Shehu, a family man, was killed because of a conflict over a property which had already caused two deaths in 2012. It is significant the fact that the victim had begged the intervention of the former Prime Minister Sali Berisha, before the beginning of the bloodshed, “in order to take concrete decisions and not resort on Kanun” (http://www.gazeta-shqip.com/lajme/2015/09/18/vritet-nga-kusheriri-me-12-goditje-thike-inspektori-i-ikmt-se/).
Light of Peace and Reconciliation! – 12 November 2015
Light of Peace and Reconciliation!
On 12th November, Operazione Colomba held its monthly demonstration against blood feuds in Scutari downtown. As this month celebrates the Albanian Independence, Operazione Colomba’s volunteer would like to honor such important anniversary by asking people to light up Albania with their own choices of Peace. Coherently with this purpose, people were proposed a symbolic gesture which consisted in lighting up a small colored candle and put it on an Albanian map drawn on the ground. (more…)
Be light of Peace! – Demonstration 12 november 2015
Be light of Peace!
On 12 November 2015, Operazione Colomba is here (Shkoder) to remember the victims of blood feuds and to say out loud that, together, we must achieve a national reconciliation.
As this month celebrates Albanian Indipendence, we would like to honor such important anniversary by trying, together, to light up Albania with our choices of peace. (more…)
The answers from the Mayor of Shijak about blood feuds
Today we post the last letter received by an Albanian Mayor in response to the Operazione Colomba questionnaire about the blood feuds phenomenon. The Campaign “A Crowd Against Blood Feuds”, and its questionnaire, has been launched with the aim to raise Albanian institutions awareness about the phenomenon, a plague still alive and well rooted all over the Country.
Following the answers from the Mayor of Shijak, Ardian Kokomani. (more…)