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- Re: Tirana Sitrep
- Released on 2012-08-09 18:00 GMT
- Email-ID 374960
- Date 2011-01-22 20:49:16
- From [email protected]
- Is this a U.S. or an Albanian LE source?
- And if U.S., what is he doing with the opposition groups?
- Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------
- From: Michael Maness
- Date: Sat, 22 Jan 2011 14:29:08 -0500
- To: Fred Burton
- Subject: Tirana Sitrep
- Just in from a contact (Former senior law enforcement officer with direct
- access to Opposition party members).
- Tirana : 22 Jan 2011 (Situation at 1930 local)
- . Situation today calm, as Govt declared day of mourning for the
- "martyrs" (Berisha's words).
- . The Opposition has been hold-up all day today in Mayor Edi
- Rama's office discussing next steps. There is some reluctance on their
- part as to whether tomorrow's protest should proceed as planned. They have
- apparently received word that many protesters intend to come armed to
- protect themselves against the police. Rama has commented privately he
- may lead the protest to try and keep them peaceful.
- . Despite this, the Opposition continues to insist they will not
- stop actions against the current regime until Berisha resigns. In
- response, Berisha has declared that "anyone touching an official
- government building will meet the same fate as the protestors yesterday."
- . Rumblings have started in other major cities throughout Albania
- re. sympathetic protests. Most notably Shkoder, Durres and Gjirokaster.
- . There are reports of a handful of arrests of senior police
- officials following yesterday's incident. Investigation is now underway as
- to who gave the order to fire upon the crowds.
- . Rumors continue to spread within the population that agents of
- the State Intelligence Service (SHISH) had infiltrated the crowds and
- provoked yesterday's violence. (Comment: No proof of this, but would not
- be the first time SHISH was used in this capacity).
- . Note: Great deal of fear and apprehension amongst the populace,
- particularly in Tirana. Most still have vivid memories of '90 and '97.
- Average Albanian is still well armed following the ransacking of weapons
- depots in '97 and an escalation in violence is not unthinkable.
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