Not denouncing the arsonists on time, makes us all responsible

Published: Monday, 25 March 2019 13:45

The Ministry of Defence and the General Directorate of Civil Emergencies are following with concern the unusual situation of recent days when dozens of fires have covered multiple areas, in some administrative units in almost all prefectures.

From March 3 to this day, i.e. in 22 days, there have been detected 69 fires, which have burned 167 hectares, pastures, orchards and forests, considered as protected areas, resulting in enormous consequences such as in economy as well as in the environment.

According to the analysis performed by the General Directorate of Civil Emergencies, in all cases, this situation, which, I repeat, is unusual for the season is deliberately triggered. All fires have been ignited by humans, aiming at the burning of shrubs, thorns and dried herbs for the opening of new land for pastures or the creation of construction sites.

Regrettably, we see that, in the face of such a reality, local authorities are only sufficed with the detection of the problem or requests for airborne intervention. Meanwhile they are silent when it comes to taking preventive measures for such cases, annually repeated, or even worse, for identifying and making the arsonists responsible.

For all those local leaders, whether be they mayors or heads of administrative units who turn deaf ears, I remind you that, based on the law on “Civil Emergencies”, “Law on Fire Protection and Rescue,” as well as all other legal acts and bylaws, local government is directly responsible for: the organization of preventive measures, the preservation of forest areas and pastures and the detection of the initial fires and identification of authors with maximum responsibility.

All state structures, local government institutions and the community should not only contribute to the prevention and elimination of these phenomena, but also denounce in time all the perpetrators of arson by considering it as a criminal offense that brings serious consequences for the normal conduct of our society, the economy and the environment.

Any malpractice in this regard charges you with direct responsibility, as they risk creating dangerous precedents that impinge the security of the community and common national assets.

I urge all employees of the local or central administration, forest and protected areas management and preservation workers as well as the citizens to denounce the cases in the following telephone numbers 112, 129 and in the number +355 69 411 0198 of the National Center for Civil Emergencies, every individual or group of individuals identified in arson.

At the same time, we require from the state police and the prosecution a more effective cooperation in the identification, detention and arrest of all perpetrators of deliberate arson and bringing them under legal accountability.

Civil Emergency and Fire Protection and Rescue Structures in municipalities and prefectures should not only engage their capacities but also sensitize and follow up in time information intake at the initial stage of fire detection and engage all structures, institutions, volunteers and the community.

If each of you does the duty and enforces the law, nobody, for personal or political interests, can harm the national wealth and above all impinge the security of the Albanian citizens.

Thank you!