The state must urgently establish an Anti-Crime unit, where all criminals will be killed Yesterday, another police officer was killed by street crime, while politicians continue playing their game of competing versions page 11

BY ALEKSANDËR ÇIPA Today, the Albanian police will pay its respects, with a solemn yet modest ceremony, to another officer killed in the line of duty in a criminal ambush on the outskirts of the country. Another victim of duty, whom officials will proclaim a martyr. In this way, Albania adds to its martyrs for law and order and security, in an absurd example. Despite this shocking truth, the state platforms continue the ritual of pompous declarations about achievements in law and order and security. And on the political platforms, the irresponsible opposition continues to howl for protests, leaving us every day in the terrorizing anxiety of the street’s onrush and tried-and-tested vandalism. It is this same opposition that, at its first rally last week, did not react at least to the long-haired men who had hidden among the peaceful participants and provocatively threw cigarette butts in the faces of ordinary police officers. It is this same opposition that uses its blunt weapon of rallies and marches through the streets, and cynically enjoys the duel—not with the political entity administering power, but with the state structures and institutions that keep the state standing. In this costly game of error, from 1991 until today, the political leaders of the Ministry of Public Order also continue to play a part. By becoming participants in this absurd and naïve duel, they unwittingly bring back the wounds of the innocent and brave police officers of this country. Today, the official side will hold ceremonies and pay high honors to officer Ylvi Bengasi. The same happened to Colonel Arben Zylyftari three months ago. These are genuine heroes of the Albanian police, but in the face of the tragic end of their lives, the state and Albanian politics will remain guilty forever. Today’s tribute to officer Bengasi is the latest challenge to the disrespect shown to the blue uniform, the state, the law, and its institutions by criminals and their political “donors.” The exhausting coexistence of politics with “uncombed ruffians,” “modern bandits in the middle of the track,” and “ordinary thieves in the suburbs” is the ongoing reality that repeatedly costs the Albanian police lives. Political factions in Albania must be punished, legally and morally, for this scandalous coexistence and collaboration. This corruption and immorality of political headquarters with the street and common criminality promise us nothing but the killing of police officers and state employees, who become martyrs of the homeland because of their misplaced idealism.

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The unprecedented drought of the last 30 years shook the Albanian economy and society in recent weeks, threatening to plunge everyone, everywhere into darkness. The Greek side responded negatively to the Meta government’s urgent request to import energy from Greece, using a thousand and one flimsy excuses such as “the grid can’t handle it,” “we don’t have any at the moment,” etc., although at its core Athens’s response was connected to Himara, as a counter-reaction to Prime Minister Meta, who showed patriotic values and did not remain silent, unlike some politicians who failed to respond as Albanians because they had economic interests beyond Kakavijë, as well as children on Greek scholarships. (Continued on page 2)

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