Greece: State Sacks Roma Barracks in Aspropyrgos

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Date: Sat, 27 Feb 1999 19:33:47 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: Greece: State Sacks Roma Barracks in Aspropyrgos

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Panayote Elias Dimitras <[email protected]>

Greece: State Sacks Roma Barracks in Aspropyrgos


GREEK HELSINKI MONITOR
& MINORITY RIGHTS GROUP-GREECE
P.O.Box 51393, GR-14510 Kifisia, Greece
tel. +30-1-620.01.20, fax +30-1-807.57.67
e-mail: [email protected] web site: http://www.greekhelsinki.gr
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
18/2/1999
 
TOPIC: ROMA HOMES SACKED BY POLICE AND MUNICIPAL AUTHORITIES
 
The cooperating non-governmental organizations Greek Helsinki Monitor
& Minority Rights-Greece denounce to the Greek and the international
public opinion the bluntly racist, illegal and brutal operation of
state authorities in the Roma camp in Nea Zoi, Aspropyrgos, last
Tuesday morning (16/2/1999). Employees of the Municipality of
Aspropyrgos raided the camp, tore down eight barracks, and, encouraged
by by-standing policemen and the Deputy Mayor of Aspropyrgos, burnt
them, lest Roma build them again! When the few Roma present at the
camp at that moment (most were out to work) protested in despair as
they saw their household being destroyed, the Deputy Mayor, policemen
and municipal employees responded with laughs and sarcasms. After
putting the fire out, they left threatening that they will return
soon. Late in the evening, a young Rom tripped and fell in the ashes
with a light burn as a result.
 
This unprecedented terrorist arson operation by state authorities is
the most recent of a series of racial attacks by the Municipality of
Aspropyrgos aiming at the forceful eviction of the Roma from the area.
Already, during the previous weekend, the Municipality carried out its
previous threat and turned off the water tab in the primary school
adjacent to the Roma camp (a school many Roma youngsters attend), the
only possible source of running water for the camp community. Never
mind the pre-election (October 1998) promises of the Prefect of West
Attica that, if elected, he will see to it that the camp has the
minimal decent living conditions.
 
The unequivocally criminal act of last Tuesday, carried out by state
agents, whose mission is supposed to be the prevention of such actions
and the protection of law abiding citizens, has created a major legal,
social and moral issue. It is necessary to react to such phenomena so
as to avoid their repetition. Along with other NGOs or concerned
organizations, we will follow closely the developments. We have
already informed the European Roma Rights Center and competent
European and Interna-tional Institutions. We are also preparing the
filing of charges and related legal reports to the Public Prosecutor's
Office. We will finally take all necessary action to help prevent that
the brutal and racist agents of the apparently indifferent state put
ever again the dignity, the property and the lives of simple and
unprotected citizens at risk.
 
_______________________________________
 
Greek Helsinki Monitor &
Minority Rights Group - Greece
P.O. Box 51393
GR-14510 Kifisia
Greece
Tel. +30-1-620.01.20
Fax +30-1-807.57.67
e-mail: [email protected]
http://www.greekhelsinki.gr
________________________________________

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