The village of Jale is situated on the coast the Ionian Sea, on the road linking the port of Vlora with Saranda, and is considered by many as one the most beautiful hamlets on Albania’s Riviera. The inhabitants of this serene little village have been struggling with new home laws for the past decade or so. The article is a more in depth study of the destruction of several homes not too long ago. These homes were erected illegally, technically. However, the people in the area had long lobbied for the right to build.
While there is more to this complex story than I can go into, or even fathom at 9 a.m. on a Saturday, the article is worth a read. Apparently, police told villagers not to worry because soon they would have all the money they could dream of. When the World Bank set up a tourist spot that is. That's the first conspiracy.
There is also talk that the demolitions can be linked to Prime Minister Sali Berisha, although this is only based on one statement by Vangjel Dule, head of the Union for Civil Liberties Party. Whether or not this is a political jab more than anything else, I do not know.
One week after the demolitions, then Minister of Transportation Lulzim Basha told parliament that the demolition was a result of the World Bank project on Integrated Coastal Zones Management and Clean-Up.
“The demolition was a must because of the World Bank project in the area, the Bank asked for it,” Basha said.
So, what can we take from all of this? Innocent villagers had homes destroyed by police, working for the World Bank in some way, to further the World Bank's profits by setting up a resort? Not even the World Bank is that evil, is it?
Peace.
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