Student Emanuel Daçi was taken away on October 20 by nearly 50 State Police officers while he was sitting in a bar, on the evening of the severe unrest that took place in Tirana. The young man from Durrës has returned to the protest, expressing regret over the drop in participation. ”The small number we are today is as if we are surrendering. We must not surrender, because we were beaten, a lot of blood was spilled, the other one lost an eye. It is very shameful if we surrender”, Daçi says. Speaking about his stay at the police station, where he was taken after the protest, the young man says he was not physically mistreated, but claims he received a message not to take part in rallies anymore.
”They didn’t treat me badly at the police station, but the message was that we must not come out to protest”, he recounts. Daçi says he has taken part since the first day and will continue to support the protest, but opposes violence against police officers, who have been attacked with stones, Molotov cocktails and pyrotechnic devices. ”Police officers have families too, they do as well. I don’t know how they got to this point. We didn’t start it violently, the police started the violent protest”, Daçi tells ”Rerport TV”.
Regarding the package against violence at protests, presented by Prime Minister Edi Rama, he expresses his opposition, considering it an attempt to intimidate protesters. “It is inhumane, it is the torment that they want to instill fear in us”, the young man says. The protest, through which the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama is demanded, according to Daçi aims to create opportunities for a better future in Albania, so that young people are not forced to leave the country.
”Let’s do something for a better future, to create something more beautiful for our lives. Let’s build something here and not leave abroad”, he stresses. Referring to the student protests in Serbia and the political developments there, Daçi believes the movement in Albania should also turn into a political force to achieve concrete change. “It definitely must become a political party”, concludes the young man from Durrës.