This time the route is different. The island of Sazan in Albania is the new landing site for the ships of the “Global Sumud Flotilla”, the humanitarian fleet created to support the people of Gaza.
The ANSA news agency writes that 3 ships have set off from Puglia towards the Albanian island. The scenario has also changed: this time, the mission is to support the protests of the Albanian people against the granting of the island of Sazan to an investment fund linked to businessman Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law.
The activists traveling from Puglia will join the "Flamingo Revolution," an initiative that has long involved dozens of people in an effort to stop the construction of a new American resort on the island.
On Thursday morning in Brindisi there was also a press conference to explain the reasons for the gesture. Those who spoke were Paola Romano, Councilor for Culture for the City of Bari; Antonela Dedja, a Mediterranean activist and director of the diaspora, and Tony La Piccirella, an activist from Bari. Also present at this event was Bobo Aprile (Committee against the Genocide of the Palestinian People, Against Rearmament, for Peace, Brindisi).
It is no coincidence that Puglia, and in particular Brindisi, is the place chosen by activists to launch this new mission. Even in this area of Puglia, and especially in the Ostuni area, the possible construction of a resort has long been contested.
The investors, in this case, as the activists themselves pointed out, are linked to the luxury tourism group, Four Seasons, "financed by Omnam Investment Group."
"There is a historical and geographical proximity between Puglia and Albania. What is happening is very similar, with the dynamics of land and coastline confiscation.
La Piccirella said this "is a very similar dynamic to Gaza."
"When the 'Flamingo Revolution' broke out, we had just returned from our missions in Gaza and renewed contact with our comrades in Albania. In this case we thought of a useful way to create this direct and supportive link between Puglia and Albania and to support a people who have been fighting for more than 80 days" – he said.
"A few days ago" - emphasized the Councilor of the Municipality of Bari, Romano, "we remembered the arrival of the ship Vlora in 1991. Now, just like then, we want to stand by them, convinced that their battle is just for the respect of that cultural and environmental heritage, not only of Albania, but of the entire Adriatic." ©LAPSI.al
