Author: admin 2 September 2015

Operazione Colomba has decided to re-launch its own commitment against the Blood Feuds Phenomenon by sending again the questions on the phenomenon to the Mayors who have not answered yet. It is the third solicit, the third consignment of the questionnaire. In fact, after three months from the launch of the campaign “A Crowd Against Blood Feuds” it is time to settle accounts and collect data about candidates and mayors’ participation. Until now we have received a very few answers: only seven candidates have answered our questions and even less have done the mayors. Only four of them, out of 61, have sent us an answer.

Cover letter accompanying the third sending of the questionnaire

Notwithstanding, Operazione Colomba doesn’t give up. We have at heart the overcoming of the Blood Feuds Phenomenon, too much to let us dishearten by the widespread indifference of the political representatives. That’s why we insist. The letter specifies that it is the third time we sent it, the third consignment of the questionnaire – the last one! – and that the definite time-line to receive the answers is the 30th of September. Following this date, we will publish a report on the campaign’s results. The statistics produced will take into account both the replies and the non-responses. The document will be sent to all national authorities (President of the Republic, Prime Minister, Ministries, Parliament, and Ombudsman) and the main international institutions (European Union, OSCE in Albania, the UN Human Rights Council).

The entire letter’s text follows:

Dear Mayor,

Operazione Colomba, the Nonviolent Peace Corps of the Association Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII – Komuniteti Papa Xhovani XXIII, has been working in Albania since 2010 to promote the overcoming of the blood feuds phenomenon.

Every year Operazione Colomba organizes national campaigns against this phenomenon in order to unite and focus the efforts made by civil society and national institutions in fighting it. This year, on the occasion of the mayoral elections, Operazione Colomba decided to ask all the candidates a few questions on the topic of the blood feuds phenomenon to urge for an eradication of this practice. We received some answers from some of the candidates before the 21st of June 2015 (available on our blog).

Now the election returns are available and all the Albanian mayors have been elected. Therefore, Operazione Colomba needs even more the answers of the Albanian mayors to fight this phenomenon. Currently, we also received some replies from some of the newly elected mayors.

Consequently, Operazione Colomba forwards you again the questionnaire, already sent on the 9th of May and on the 9th of July 2015. Through these questions, you will have the opportunity to demonstrate to the civil society, who you represent, which concrete measures you are going to take in order to fight and to curb this phenomenon that, in different parts of Albania, is cause of death, of pain, of violence, of fear and risk for the Albanian citizens.

Hereby, we ask you to answer to the attached questionnaire by the 30th of September 2015. Following this date, we will publish a report on the campaign’s results. The statistics produced will take into account both the replies and the non-responses. The document will be sent to all national authorities (President of the Republic, Prime Minister, Ministries, Parliament, and Ombudsman) and the main international institutions (European Union, OSCE in Albania, the UN Human Rights Council).

We are confident that you too have at heart the eradication of the phenomenon.
Looking forward to your kind reply,
Many thanks for your collaboration.

Sincerely,

Operazione Colomba

Pictures: The third  consignment of the questionnaire

Operazione Colomba Volunteers in action: with patience and perseverance they carry on the third consignment of the questionnaire.