Since October 13, the miners of the copper mine in Spaç have stopped work and are on indefinite strike.

According to them, the “Tete Albania” company, which administers the copper mine, has not yet recognized the trade unions created in August and has refused to enter into dialogue for a collective labor contract.

MP of the Democratic Party Jorida Tabaku joined the protest.

Tabaku assured the miners that she will bring back to the attention of the Parliament her legal initiative “On the status of the miner”, previously filed, but according to her, rejected by the ruling majority.

Tabaku also conveyed the miners’ concerns to the Assembly session.

Tabaku also asked the Minister of Economy and Innovation to receive a representation of the miners to provide solutions to the issues raised by them for dignified working conditions.

“We cannot allow a private company to prevent miners from having the right to organize, to have their demands and to protest for more rights,” she added. /a.f/r.e/p.s./

This activity brought together hundreds of participants from all over Albania and brought a new approach to the painful history of the country, through art and authentic testimonies.

The exhibition “Masks That Reveal” brought portraits of former political prisoners and former prison employees, accompanied by audio testimonies that exposed personal experiences, going beyond the usual narratives.

While the book “Areas – Eight Views on Spaç” was presented as an important contribution to the documentation and deep understanding of the past, encouraging continuous dialogue on it.

During this event, there was also played the animated film “Anti-museum”, exploring the idea of ​​freedom and forbidden dreams through a symbolic and artistic language.

While the Human Library created a rare platform for interaction between generations, the young people had the opportunity to hear vivid stories from those who suffered in Spaç prison.

This activity was held under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports with the support of the EU4Culture grant program, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNOPS.

The activity aims not only to refresh the memory of the past, but also to promote healthy social reflection and the building of a culture of dialogue about history and freedom.

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Zhupa argued that the project was not in respect of the historical memory of Albanians, of the pain that the people who suffered there.

“The project is not intended to preserve the legacy of what happened there and what we must transmit to our children, future generations, but also to our own compatriots about the horror, the hell that Spaç was and what Spaç personified as a prison for all those who decided to be different from the government, to think differently from the state power, to think differently from the dictator, to show them that freedom of expression, that freedom of thinking differently has a cost. And now, you decide to alienate it, embellish it, change it and transform it into a more or less a luxury hotel, how you want it should have been”, she said.

Zhupa stated that, “I have joined all the associations of the politically persecuted, the foundations that have reacted and all those who have felt affected even in the first person, but also those who have felt affected because of the significance that the protection of such institutions should have for the history, culture, tradition and for the common memory that we should have for what happened to Albania in the bloodiest dictatorship that perhaps even Europe has known”.

Therefore, she added, I have requested a hearing session with Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation Blendi Gonxhja, with Director of the Institute of Cultural Heritage and with representatives of associations of the politically persecuted.

While the vice-chair of the Committee Evis Kushi reminded that, “In this specific case, the minister has made a very clear explanation accompanied by photos. Not only is the project and the conditions of the contract being respected, but also the main objective to preserve and conserve the historical values ​​of this object.

“In fact, the photos are public and it is clear, however, the minister has declared that every responsibility for what has happened so far is being examined in terms of implementation of the project. Not only are the values ​​being preserved, but measures are also being taken for security and to develop this place so that it is also accessible to tourists and all interested parties”, said Kushi.

After discussions, an agreement in principle was reached for a hearing session with Minister Gonxhja, the head of the Cultural Heritage Institute and representatives of associations of the politically persecuted, while the date of the session will be discussed within the Committee’s leading board. /a.f/p.s./

This management plan was drawn up in cooperation with former prisoners of the communist period, experts in the management of cultural objects, as well as with the knowledge and expertise provided by the Swedish Government, CHwB Albania and the “Santagata per l’Economia della Cultura” Foundation.

Minister of Economy, Culture and Innovation Blendi Gonxhja emphasized in a post in the social media that, “We believe that in Spaç we are doing something truly unique, following a detailed analysis of the cultural property, its values and conservation status , as well as after a round of consultations with interest groups that included more than 50 individuals”.

Gonxhja said that, “There will be taken actions to stop the rapid deterioration as a result of years of neglect, exposure to theft and frequent damage to the property.”

“No action will be taken to restore the buildings to their previous state, as they used to be when the reform school was closed in 1991 (e.g. restoration of doors and windows, reconstruction of balconies, etc.)”, underlined Gonxhja.

But, Minister Gonxhja added, there will be carried out conservation works to preserve them in such a way as to witness these three decades in which the Albanian society has tried to come to terms with its most recent and painful history while the signs of the passage of time on buildings are also a metaphor and risk of losing this memory.

The management plan of the former Spaçi prison aims to preserve this monument as the most symbolic place of memory of the cruelty of the communist regime in Albania and of the numerous acts of resistance of Albanian citizens, the approaches for the realization of the museum of memory, the mechanisms of organization and implementation of an appropriate site management structure, etc. /k.s/p.s./

Minister Blendi Gonxhja wrote in the social media that the purpose of the meeting is the presentation and discussion together with the stakeholders of the topics covered in the Management Plan of the former Spaçi Prison, such as the preservation of this monument as the most symbolic place of memory of the cruelty of the communist regime in Albania and the numerous acts of resistance of Albanian citizens, the approaches for the realization of the museum of memory, the mechanisms of organization and implementation of an appropriate management structure of the site, etc.

“Given its extraordinary importance, the time has come for Spaçi to be returned to the Albanian citizens and this hearing will present the management plan, the implementation of which will enable the change and materialization of the vision for the future of Spaçi”, said Gonxja.

According to him, the management plan was conceived after a detailed analysis of the cultural property, its values and conservation status, as well as after a round of consultations with interest groups that included more than 50 individuals: former political prisoners; professionals of memory preservation, advocacy and research institutions in Albania; directors of museums and museum areas inside and outside the country, representatives and members of the Mirdita community, artists and cultural professionals, history teachers and professors./p.s./

The meeting was organized on occasion of the “Present-Past” exhibition supported by the EU4CULTURE programme.

Through sculptures and recordings of 49 former political prisoners, this exhibition reminds of the suffering but also the resilience of the Albanian people and thus fosters a genuine discussion about Albania’s past.

The EU ambassador to Albania considered deeply moving the meeting with the survivors of the Spaç Prison, one of the most brutal prisons of the communist regime in Albania.

“Listening to their stories reminded me that so much remains to do in dealing with the past”, said Gonzato.

“I’m glad so many young people came to Spaç to meet the survivors – they need to understand where they come from and what Albania went through. One needs to heal the wounds of the past by addressing the rights of the victims. I am truly proud that we supported this event, but this is not enough. The former prison of Spaç is deteriorating rapidly and should be preserved so that we can remember what happened here and say, Never again!”/p.s./

The 49 portraits of former political prisoners who are still alive, along with their confessions, will be open to the public from April 13 and onwards. Everyone can see the embodiment of 49 portraits in a single sculpture which turns into a monument of collective memory, meeting point and starting point of the social development process.

This exhibition is an artistic-cultural act which is finalized with the presence of the public, youth, institutions and everyone as active actors in building a society.

The audiovisual exhibition organized by the non-profit organization “Tek Bunkeri”, is a project financed by the European Union, part of the EU4Culture program, implemented by UNOPS, in partnership with the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation.

To realize the sculptures, survivors from Spaçi prison who are still alive were sought. “Tek Bunkeri” traveled to 8 cities in Albania where met with more than 60 former political prisoners, of which 49 were willing to participate in this project, taking their portraits and recording their personal stories. in Spaçi prison in Mirdita. The purpose of the exhibition is to show this part of Albanian history through the creation of a monumental sculpture which will stay forever in Spaç./r.e/p.s./

Head of State, accompanied by the First Lady Armanda Begaj, joined the activities organized on this occasion by the Diocese of Rrëshen and the Municipality of Mirditë, in cooperation with institutions and organizations engaged in the field of education and preservation of historical memory.

In his speech, President Begaj focused on respect and estimation for all those who under communism sacrificed for freedom.

“Pal Zefi, Skënder Daja, Dervish Bejko, Hajri Pashai, Dashnor Kazazi, Jorgji Pepa, and many, many others that I am not mentioning, are just some of those names who made their sacrifice to show that even after death, hope does not die!” – said President Begaj.

“The most important thing is to build the future, apologizing for the mistakes of the past, and completely detaching ourselves from the shadow of the darkest period of our nation”, said Begaj.

At the end of his speech, President Begaj expressed his deep respect and gratitude for all the martyrs of this revolt”.

“On this historical day, the survivors of the Spaç Revolt are the best example that, despite all the suffering they have experienced, they convey tolerance, wisdom, hope and kindness. Therefore, and for all your struggles, our society owes you a great debt,” the President concluded. /m.m/p.s./