Why is this country burning because of Trump’s son-in-law? Thousands of people took to the streets

Thousands of people protested for the fourth consecutive day in Tirana, the capital of Albania. People are protesting against a big tourism project related to US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and his wife Ivanka Trump. This project is worth about 1.2 billion dollars.

Protesters say this will harm the environment of the protected Vlyosa-Narta area on Albania’s southern coast. Under the plan, luxury hotels and other tourism facilities are to be built here. People participating in the protest also raised slogans asking Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign. In some posters, Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama was shown handing over the keys to Ivanka Trump.

The project was approved 2 years ago

This project was announced 2 years ago, in which it was said that Sajan Island would also be converted into a tourism centre. This island earlier used to be a secret military base during the communist rule. Videos of bulldozers and preparations for construction work also surfaced on the beach. Apart from this, security guards beat up a person near the protected area, after which the protest increased further.

The protesters are demanding the government to abolish the Strategic Investor Act. This law was made to give quick approval to big investment projects. People are also demanding withdrawal of changes made in the Protected Areas Act, which allow hotels and major construction works in protected areas.

What do the people of Albania want?

About 22% of Albania’s land falls in protected areas. Human rights activist Luciana Kokaj said that this is not just a matter of a project, but a question of protecting the country’s natural wealth and future. He said people are not against development, but want the development to be transparent and not harm protected areas.

Meanwhile, Albania’s anti-corruption and organized crime office has started investigating the project. However, not much information related to the investigation has been made public yet.

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