Mahasiswa pengunjuk rasa menyerang gedung-gedung pemerintah di Albania

The scene in Tirana, Albania's capital on Wednesday

Thousands of students have taken to the streets in the Albanian capital of Tirana, attacking several government buildings on the second day of violent anti-government protests.

The demonstration began outside the ministry of education on Tuesday, as students called for better university conditions and job prospects.

Wednesday saw part of the education ministry's building set on fire, while the prime minister's office, finance and interior ministry, and several surrounding businesses were also attacked.

Albania's Deputy Prime Minister ​Albana Koçiu has called for "calmness, self-restraint and maturity" and said "Albania does not need to burn to change".

Dozens of protesters wearing gas masks and balaclavas were seen throwing rocks and firecrackers through the education ministry's gates

Riot police have clashed with the protesters, using tear gas and water cannons to disperse them.

One demonstrator, Enida Bimi, told Reuters news agency that the protest is not just for the students, but "for all the people of Albania".

"The people are very angry at the system. They need to change everything. With this corruption all around, the crime and everything else is happening. And the people now are angry. They need to change the system," Bimi said.

Another protester, Arber Leshi, said people are angry at "the most corrupt government our country has ever seen".

Education Mirela Kumbaro said that while she respects the right to protest, "civic student protest and violence against public buildings and property are two different things".

Protester Enida Bimi said people "are very angry at the system"

Officials have criticised the behaviour of some protesters.

"Setting fire to an institution is not a peaceful protest. It is an act that endanger's peoples lives", said economy minister Delina Ibrahimaj, responding to a video appearing to show protesters throwing rocks at the finance ministry building.

Sixteen people were arrested "in connection with violent acts" during Tuesday's protest, Albania's state-run news agency said.

Sali Berisha, the leader of the opposition - the Democratic Party of Albania - has praised the protesters.

"The streets and squares of Tirana have never seen lions like these students," he said during an evening meeting on Wednesday, Albania's state-run news agency Ata reported.

This student-led protest comes after months of anti-government protests, known as the Flamingo Revolution, which is calling for Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign.

The protests were sparked by a luxury tourism project linked to Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, which fuelled anger over alleged corruption and a lack of transparency from Rama's government.

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Pemandangan di Tirana, ibu kota Albania pada hari Rabu

Ribuan mahasiswa turun ke jalan di ibu kota Albania, Tirana, menyerang beberapa gedung pemerintah pada hari kedua protes anti-pemerintah yang berujung kekerasan.

Demonstrasi dimulai di luar kementerian pendidikan pada hari Selasa, saat mahasiswa menuntut kondisi universitas dan prospek kerja yang lebih baik.

Pada hari Rabu, sebagian gedung kementerian pendidikan dibakar, sementara kantor perdana menteri, kementerian keuangan dan dalam negeri, serta beberapa bisnis di sekitarnya juga diserang.

Wakil Perdana Menteri Albania Albana Koçiu menyerukan "ketenangan, pengendalian diri dan kedewasaan" dan mengatakan "Albania tidak perlu terbakar untuk berubah".

Puluhan pengunjuk rasa yang mengenakan masker gas dan balaclava terlihat melempar batu dan petasan melalui gerbang kementerian pendidikan

Polisi antihuru-hara bentrok dengan para pengunjuk rasa, menggunakan gas air mata dan meriam air untuk membubarkan mereka.

Seorang demonstran, Enida Bimi, mengatakan kepada kantor berita Reuters bahwa protes ini bukan hanya untuk mahasiswa, tetapi "untuk seluruh rakyat Albania".

"Rakyat sangat marah pada sistem. Mereka perlu mengubah segalanya. Dengan korupsi yang merajalela, kejahatan dan segala hal lainnya terjadi. Dan rakyat sekarang marah. Mereka perlu mengubah sistem," kata Bimi.

Pengunjuk rasa lainnya, Arber Leshi, mengatakan rakyat marah pada "pemerintah paling korup yang pernah dilihat negara kami".

Menteri Pendidikan Mirela Kumbaro mengatakan bahwa meskipun ia menghormati hak untuk protes, "protes mahasiswa yang sipil dan kekerasan terhadap gedung dan properti publik adalah dua hal yang berbeda".

Pengunjuk rasa Enida Bimi mengatakan rakyat "sangat marah pada sistem"

Pejabat telah mengkritik perilaku sebagian pengunjuk rasa.

"Membakar sebuah institusi bukanlah protes damai. Itu adalah tindakan yang membahayakan nyawa orang", kata menteri ekonomi Delina Ibrahimaj, menanggapi video yang tampaknya menunjukkan pengunjuk rasa melempar batu ke gedung kementerian keuangan.

Enam belas orang ditangkap "terkait tindakan kekerasan" selama protes hari Selasa, kata kantor berita milik negara Albania.

Sali Berisha, pemimpin oposisi - Partai Demokrat Albania - memuji para pengunjuk rasa.

"Jalan-jalan dan alun-alun Tirana belum pernah melihat singa seperti para mahasiswa ini," katanya selama pertemuan malam pada hari Rabu, lapor kantor berita milik negara Albania, Ata.

Protes yang dipimpin mahasiswa ini terjadi setelah berbulan-bulan protes anti-pemerintah, yang dikenal sebagai Revolusi Flamingo, yang menyerukan Perdana Menteri Albania Edi Rama untuk mengundurkan diri.

Protes dipicu oleh proyek pariwisata mewah yang terkait dengan menantu Trump, Jared Kushner, yang memicu kemarahan atas dugaan korupsi dan kurangnya transparansi dari pemerintah Rama.

'Revolusi Flamingo' meletus saat ribuan orang menuntut pengunduran diri PM Albania

Rencana resor mewah yang didukung Kushner memicu protes di Albania