Albania reels from munitions plant disaster

The country is still in shock over the explosions at Gerdec, but some warn against politicising the tragedy.

Efforts to dismantle Albania's stockpiles of obsolete munitions took a catastrophic turn on March 15th. A series of explosions occurred as crews were clearing out a storage depot in Gerdec, near Tirana. Two weeks later, the death toll remains unclear. Hundreds of people, including women and children, were said to be working at the facility when the blasts occurred. Thousands of houses and businesses in the vicinity were destroyed or seriously damaged.

Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu has since resigned, and the government of Prime Minister Sali Berisha has been battling opposition claims that it did not oversee the dismantlement process adequately.

Responses among Albanian bloggers vary. Some agree that the leadership bears responsibility, while others say it is inappropriate to politicise the tragedy.

Writing at shekulli, Shoqeria argues that the government has "the duty and responsibility to use millions of dollars donated from abroad in order to de-activate and clear the mines of this land, full of bomb depots that can explode from one moment to another. The government is also responsible for the guns and munitions market that was inherited from communism."

One commenter, Gjorvi, suggests the catastrophe makes a mockery out of the government's claims that Albania is ready to enter the atomic age. "You want to build a nuclear plant while people are dying from primitive bombs?" he asks.

At perpjekja, Fatos cautions against trying to reap political benefit from the Gerdec tragedy. Regardless of who is in power now, the problem has been inherited from successive governments and no one party is to blame, he suggests.

"We have enough of politicians that profit from the mistakes of their adversaries to access power and then commit even bigger mistakes," he writes. "This was what has been done by the Socialists after they gained power in 1997, and this is what has been done by the Democrats since gaining power in 2005. We should learn from the Gerdec tragedy."

Drita, responding to the post, recalls the "hypocrisy of the communist era", when leaders proclaimed that humanity was the country's most valuable resource. "Now, after 17 years in democracy, the hypocrisy continues," Drita writes. "There is a lack of respect for human dignity and life."

A blogger at peshkupauje, meanwhile, faults Berisha for attacking the media. At a public meeting of his cabinet on March 18th, the prime minister criticised coverage of the Gerdec explosions and described journalist as "mercenaries of the mafia". His comments were later critcised by the Southeast Europe Media Organisation (SEEM).

"This attack is shameful and irresponsible," LL writes. "This is a moment when the government has to face one of the biggest tragedies in [Albania's] history, and when the government is at fault." Yet Berisha "also finds the time to think about the media and use cynical and harsh language against them."

Finally this week, Akvll-naja reminds the prime minister that leaders are usually skilled at finding others to blame.

"If you aren't guilty for the tragedy, there is no reason for you to resign from your post," he writes. "You can easily send to prison someone who has nothing to do with this matter, such as the doorman or the storekeeper or some other employee with no decision-making power." (SETimes)