Subject: Romnews on Roma situation in Kosovo
Reply-To: [email protected]
Sender: [email protected]
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Date: Sun, 11 Apr 1999 11:59:52 +0300 (EET DST)
Message-Id: <[email protected]>
Subject: Subject: Romnews on Roma situation in Kosovo
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Roma National Congress <[email protected]>
Romnews: Roma situation in Kosovo
Komanovo / MACEDONIA (RNN Correspondent) March the 25th, 1999
"Situation in the region is very critical.I tried several times to
connect with our Roma in Kosovo and Serbia, but it was
failure.According to the information of the people who are coming in
Macedonia, the situation there is very bad.
After the attacks of NATO forces we got the information that few
civilians were hurted and there where victims, too. The radios in
Serbia transmit information that same rockets came from the teritory
of Mcaedonia. Our minister of defence, Nikola Kljusev gave information
with these word: "It isn't true". Macedonian people are worried about
the whole situation and they are afraid from the eventual attacks on
Kumanovo, Tetovo and Gostivar. Big movements of the people where seen
toward the neigbouring countries Bulgaria and Greece. Everyone is
expecting what will happen today and the following nights. We don't
have amything left but to inform you and to pray for the situation not
to come in our country."
25.03.1999, 11:30 hour
Asmet Elesovski
-----------------
Situation in Kosovo and Macedonia Kosovo:
Kumanovo / MACEDONIA (RNN Correspondent) March the 30th, 1999
The situation is getting worse day by day. Few days ago we could
succeed to establish telephone contacts with the citizens of
Yugoslavia, but now it is not possible any more. The fights between
Albanians and Serbian's are intensified. On the other hand NATO is
continuing their attacks against targets in SR Yugoslavia. It is
obvious that there are victims on both sides but their number is
uncertain.
Concerning the situation of Roma in Kosovo, right in this moment we
can not give any information. But according to previous information,
they maintain in crossfire. Roma People are against war and therefore
they are in the hardest position in Kosovo. In Belgrade - Serbia,
yesterday Roma People protested against war and NATO attacks with this
general exclamation: "WE are against war will defend her if it's
needed. This is not a war for protection of Albanians this is a war of
American interest". In Macedonia the situation is critical in the
North-Western part, or in the cities that are the nearest to the
border with Albania, Serbia and Kosovo. This is the so called
experience of borderlines. Every day the people's revolt is getting
bigger. They show it through many protest demonstrations pointed at
the presence of the NATO forces in Macedonia. On the contrary there
are some cases of destabilization of the safety in Macedonia. Though
the Macedonian government is giving permanent information about our
safety: "Macedonia is safe, the life goes on normally, the only
difficulty is the refugees coming from Kosovo. They are situated
through the families here in Kumanovo.
Besides the reactions of the citizens for night noises of planes on
the Macedonian sky, with regrets and disagreements on using of our
space for NATO attacks on SR Yugoslavia. Even though the controls are
growing stronger, in some places the citizens gather and protests. The
situation is the same in Kumanovo. First step was the protests of the
transport organization JUG-TURIST this afternoon. There was a whole
convoy composed of trucks, buses, cars with transparents and flags.
The transparents run: "Macedonians wake up", "War has two ends", "NATO
go home", "Don't sell our country for dollars", "Clinton fascists". In
this moment from 14:00 o'clock until 16:20 on the streets of our city
there were massive gatherings of People, they walk on the streets and
shout "NATO go home", and "Gougoslavia, Yugoslavia","We're going in
Kosovo". Macedonia is not in situation to accept large number of
refugees, if any increasement of their number occurs, over 20.000 of
them, there will be danger of economic catastrophy with consequences
on every citizen of Republic of Macedonia. For the situation of Roma
we can inform with certainty that hard days are coming. After our
contacts with the Roma organizations and the representatives of the
political groups, the following information are gathered: "There are
about ten families from Kosovo and now they are with their relatives.
Some families succeeded to go into other European countries (with
paying large amounts of money to persons for taking them into other
states, and the sum is 5000,- DM).
On the other hand Albanian refugees declared that the Roma get into
their houses now and steal from them. It all brings to the fact of
false information with the aim of covering the guilt and putting on
the other. The Roma people didn't want the war, and they do not ask
anything that is different with the laws of the states where they
live.
Anyhow, the situations getting worse. The situation is becoming more
complicated by the nonobjective media information, too. All citizens
of Macedonia, no matter what nationality they are, will be strucked
from the economic catastrophy from the reason that 90% of the Roma
population are unemployed, they are social cases, they receive monthly
help 120,- DM, not enough for their bare needs of food, and not even
to think about visiting the doctor. Those who worked as daily paid
workers until yesterday, now are without any work and without any
existence. But still they say: "We wish there is no war-peace is the
biggest wealth of every nation". Roma political and non-govermental
organization have permanent contacts in order to see the general
situation in the country. As for the situation by the European
institutions-organizations-medias working for the interest of Roma,
there is big interest. (London/ England; RomNews / Germany; RPP /
Hungary).The
representative of the Board of RNC, Rudko Kawczynski had contacted us
in the Roma Community Center "DROM" in Kumanovo / Macedonia
contributed for true support by your own Roma-man.
For all of you from Macedonia Kumanovo 30.03.1999
Asmet Elezovski - members of the Board of Roma National Congress.
e-mail : [email protected] Roma Community Center "DROM"
Kumanovo
e-mail : [email protected]" Asmet Elesovski - RNC Board
----------------------------
Situation in Kosovo and in Macedonia / April the 1st, 1999
Kumanovo / MACEDONIA (RNN Correspondent) April the 1st, 1999
The situation on the Balkan peninsula is very bad, in Kosovo-SR
Yugoslavia, NATO is continuing with their operations and bombing, the
fights between Albanians-OVK-organizations and Serbs-their Army and
police is
continuing, too. It number of refugees is increasing. You can hear
this on the media every day. But there is an information that now in
Kosovo instead of the severe conflicts, NATO are more dangerous for
the civilians with their air strikes. The bombs do not know who is
guilty or not, which religion or nationality people are, the bombs
simple fall down and kill people. Besides the Albanian refugees, there
are Roma refugees too, who succeeded to come to the border, legal or
illegal with paying large amounts to some people who make profit from
this. The number of refugees from Kosovo went over the number of
20.000 and the Macedonian GOV. decided not to close the border. The
GOV. asked for help from any state. Humanitarian help and financial
means is coming every day, here in Macedonia. Most of the refugees in
Skopje where people stand in lines to enroll in from of the police
stations, because if they not legally marked they don't have a right
of status-refugee. The state is preparing camps for the refugees
located in the area of Skopje.
Still we don't have detailed information about the situation of Roma
people, are they in their homes is certain that after the end of the
war, we could not know the real number of the murdered, tortured Roma
people
from the reason that Roma isn't so important now. Some other questions
of the conflict-sides are important, and Roma who are in the crossfire
will get the worst. That was thew same in the Second World War when it
was said it's not true that large number of Roma were executed. It
wasn't war that Roma wanted. That is what the older Roma say who
wanted. That is what the older Roma say who were 10 or 14 years old in
the wart-time. As for the number of Roma refugees we can inform you
that there are over 120 situated in Skopje. After instisting by Roma
Community Center "DROM" Kumanovo and contacts with the representatives
of the Roma organizations from Skopje, and with Roma Center Skopje
about the information how many Roma families from Kosovo are in
Skopje. It was said that 100 Roma are here, situated in the houses of
their relatives but with one problem, they are not signed in the
police as refugees, because of the large crowds of people. A meeting
in Skopje is planned for tomorrow the mayor of commune Suto
Orizari-Nezdet Mustafa, in realizing the situation and making some
decisions the situation and making some decisions about acting.
There are 32 Roma refugees in Kumanovo. One family with 7 members,
from Decani Kosovo, few families from Bujanovac, but according to the
decision of the Government of R.M. refugees are considered only
people from Kosovo, and these people won't be able to go back if they
are forced to. Now they can stay here for 60 days. They are placed in
native families and do not receive any help. In such conditions they
are additional burden
to the families. Some efforts were made to help them by the Roma
organizations, but still without any success. Roma refugees who came
in Kumanovo crossing the border at Tabanovce, considering the
situation went to Skopje, and one family went in Bulgaria and from
their in some of the European Countries. Roma refugees stay away from
Kumanovo because in Kumanovo live many nationalities: Macedonian,
Serbs, Albanians, Walachians, and the
Roma are afraid from ethnical conflicts in the city because they know
the history of this town about the Albanian question.
Situation in Macedonia
Demonstrations in the cities trough Macedonia against war in SR
Yugoslavia are getting bigger and more often. The gov. in R. of
Macedonia gives everyday information about the situation in our
country, claiming that the safety is guaranteed by the NATO forces,
there are attempts of destabilization by some groups here in
Macedonia. Financial help to Macedonia arrived. The air space of R.M.
is not used for the attacks on Yugoslavia, said the vice-president of
the Macedonian GOV. Mrs. Radmila Kiprijanova.
On the other hand, all of the citizens are afraid, some of them
revolted from such statements because in the recent days many time
through the night loud noises of air-planes were heard. Some of the
citizens called the radio stations reacting nervously, saying why
Macedonia should suffer consequences we have relatives in Yugoslavia,
we don't want no killing more no matter what religion or nationality
people are, we don't want to see our sisters and brothers dying and is
it possible Macedonia to be next involved in this pulp. This leads to
the fact that the situation here in R. of Macedonia is critical. In
the cities beside the border with Kosovo: Tetovo, Gjostivar, Kumanovo,
Skopje people feel big fear, but there is no excess. But on the other
side it can't be said that there are no incidents with the
representatives of NATO, with slogans "NATO go home".
The statements of the NATO spokesman on CNN lead to the fact that NATO
regard themselves as superior force no matter if there is going to be
some other conflict in some other sovereign state and some other time.
So much for the reactions of the citizens.
The situation of Roma
The gatherings of people on the streets are frequent, police
protection is improved and increased. Yesterday there was a repression
between the police and the local population in Tbanovce, near the
Macedonian-Yugoslav border. The police was forced to use gas to put
the situation in control. In these protests took part Macedonians,
Serbs and small numbers of Roma. It provokated some hate toward Roma
by the Albanians and next day some Roma shoe-cleaners were threathened
and some of them bitten. It was because they gave support to the
Serbs. Immediately after that the Roma organizations had a meeting
where the situation was analyzed and it was said that Roma should be
informed not to take part in the anti NATO protests, because it means
giving support to one of the sides in the conflict, and at the top of
it the GOV. decision is not respected. Macedonia is country of the
Roma. The ROM must not be a marionette of someone and in case of war
in Macedonia it is hardly to believe that someone will protect them.
Just as information in Skopje the Humanitarian organization EL-HILAL
is giving humanitarian help to Albanians from Kosovo. When the Roma
asked for help they were said to go back in Kosovo and to fight. From
such information we can predict the situation of Roma in the following
period. These days I received some back-up information about my
informing for some opinions that we, Roma should be quite, to get
informed - to get together and to work with deeds in action, not words
only. Well, I don't know if this informing of mine is not an action,
the richness of the informing are the words, and in this moment my
people is about to face very hard days, not only from the escalation
of the conflicts in Macedonia, but also the economic crisis. Everyone
can understand the information on his own, but the direct presence and
feeling for these things is different from the opinion of the people
who live far away from here. 90% of Roma people here are unemployed
not by their guilt, most of them are social cases, they don't have
finances to survive. Hungry and frightened people need help in this
situation, but not war and
conflict, This is the statement and the appeal of the Roma in
Macedonia.
God be with us all.
Elezovski Asmet
Board member of RNC
Your help is welcome our contact address and bank account:
Roma Community Center "DROM"Kumanovo
Lokalitet Serava zgrada 106, objekt 5, prizemje 7a
91300 Kumanovo,
Tel.fax:++38990127558
email:[email protected]
Stopanska Banka a.d.-Skopje
SWIFT:STOB MK 2X
Bank account: 40100-623-79
ZPP-Kumanovo- 40900-678-6121
----------------------------
Situation in Macedonia
Kumanovo / MACEDONIA (RNN Correspondent) April the 5th, 1999
In Macedonia have arrived 1000 Roma refugees. Most of them are
situated through the cities in Macedonia (Gostivar, Tetovo, Skopje,
Kumanovo). There are Roma refugees who still can not get a
legitimization of humanitarian refugee because of the large crowds of
People. But yet the Albanian non governmental organizations organize
themselves better than the Roma organizations. It may be because they
had know previously that such situation will occur. The state
institutions cannot take over with such large number of refugees, now
it is not needed just humanitarian help but also help from another
countries that will accept some part of the refugees. Those refugees
who are still on the border-places want to be put within families and
some of them even in hotels. They avoid staying in the refugee centers
made by the authorities. Macedonia has not such capacity. Some
contagious diseases are there thinning to the People in Macedonia.
98% of the refugees are Albanians and for this situation they say it's
scary and they wouldn't like to go back in Kosovo.
Most of the Roma refugees came here in Macedonia illegally and they
have left their id-s, which makes many difficulties at their arrival.
This is not war for their interests, they are suffering a lot and it
will make
big consequences to them.
All of the Roma are loyal citizens, no matter where they live. Every
human being is trying to save his life, looking for shelter in every
state. The poor Roma People are in very bad situation, they can hardly
bear this.
Besides the refugees, the Roma People from Macedonia are struck by
this. As an example in Kumanovo, city near the border with Yugoslavia,
live 6000 Roma People 95% unemployed-social cases, they live on the
social help
from state (120 DM), and they haven't taken money for three months.
When we contacted them in their settlements, we saw these cases:
1. Families who accepted Roma refugees are not able to procure every
day needs (food).
2. A number of families are starving for two days, the heads of the
family are looking for work but there is no work. There are some
problems in the Roma settlements because of the lack of hygiene - the
People are having illnesses. The private owners and the factories of
the country proclaiming stopping of work.
3. One family has 4 kids, one of the kids is hospitalized in Skopje,
the kid is in coma, his parents don't have money to buy food for the
other three kids and they can't visit him in the hospital.
4. Many families go the social institutions for help but they are
refused because there is no finances.
5. The Roma organization help them according to their abilities. Roma
NGO RCC "DROM" Kumanovo helped as much as possible. Now we like to
help but how?
The situation is giving no peace in the people's souls. Every night
People hear noises from airplanes flying over their heads. People are
afraid. There was a proclaim for mobilization in order to protect the
borders from the big number of refugees.
The life on the streets is normal, but there is fear among People. The
GOV. is making big efforts to control the situation but the
consequences will be catastrophic and they are already felt.
Asmet Elezovski Board Member of the RNC
Emails:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Kumanovo 05.04.1999
----------------------------
The Roma Center Of Skopje, during the situation in Yugoslavia was
concerned with the Roma refugees in our Country.
Skopje / MACEDONIA (RNN Correspondent) April the 5th, 1999
RCS took efforts for helping these refugees and we have managed, till
now, to help them in some way. On the first day, we took efforts to
find a van and the Caritas National Section-Skopje provided us with a
mini-bus. The next step was to go to the Blace border and transportate
the refugees to their relatives and friends. At that time, other
group, Roma volunteers has begun their search for information about
refugee's data.
Till this moment, we managed to find 600 Roma refugees in Skopje, 31
families in Kumanovo, 5 in Kicevo, 32 in Gostivar and their general
data were put in the computer.
Our cooperation with The Roma Center of Kumanovo happened to be of a
large success, because a lot of the information we have, were brought
by the RCK. In general, we may say that the biggest problem at the
beginning of our work was to inform the citizens of Macedonia and the
world that, apart of the Albanian refugees, there are many Roma
refugees, too. We had a meeting with the Roma media in our country and
the information about the needed document, all the bureaucratic things
and the number of Roma refugees, as well, were shown at the Roma TV
stations and told at the Roma radio stations.
The next step was finding the needed help for the refugees. We had
meetings with many humanitarian organizations and we were told that
the provision of the help would take many days.
After that, we contacted People and groups who were willing to give
material support for the refugees. Until now, we have found old
clothes (5 bags). The accommodation of the refugees is a big problem,
too.
Many of them are settled at their relatives and friends in Macedonia
but there are many who have not a place to go. In cooperation with
Roma NGO's in Macedonia, we've managed to find not many empty houses
and take refugees in. There are many Roma and non-Roma People who are
willing to take Roma refugees in their houses, but many of them are
still on the streets. For an example, at this moment we are contacting
Roma People from Tetovo who can accommodate a Roma family from
Urosevac. This family is consisted of 31 People(including 5 babies, 7
children and 10 women). Today, we went to a village called Radusa,
where many refugees are accommodated. There are many Roma refugees and
their situation is better than the situation of the Roma who are put
in tents nearby this village. When we went there many of them were
crying for their situation and we were told that they cannot exit this
"camp" because there are policemen and army force who are protecting
them from others. We could not enter the camp but we managed to talk
to the Roma refugee from aside. All of the refugees who are in our
list, said that their fundamental needs are food, clothes, medical
care and medications and hygienic materials, as well.
So, please take these information into consideration and help our
activities and help these Roma refugees. Any information or potential
help would be of a large interest.
Sincerely,
Roma Center of Skopje
Coordinator
Azbija Memedova
----------------------------
Situation in Balkan-SR Yugoslavia-Kosovo-Macedonia
Kumanovo / MACEDONIA (RNN Correspondent) April the 8th, 1999
Great thank fullness and warm greetings to all of you who want to help
us in these critical moments. Your help in these moments is most
needed. The situation in Kosovo and Yugoslavia according to the
information from the
refugees and telephone contacts made, is as follows:
Very, very difficult, most of the cities in Yugoslavia are ruined,
there are victims of the bombing but the People are united. Still no
information but the is no such official information. One refugee who
wanted to stay unknown told us that Urosevac is ruined by the NATO
strikes, the refugees are running to save their lives, but nobody is
enforcing them. Is there more such information, we don't know.
The borders are closed by the Yugoslav side. There are refugees
waiting on the no man's land between Yugoslavia and Macedonia. Every
night and lately along the day the citizens from Tetovo, Kumanovo and
some other places hear loud noise of airplanes and explosions near the
living areas.
Situation in Macedonia
The GOV. and our prime-minister on the press conference said that the
only innocent victim from this war is Macedonia. The state is
beginning to feel big consequences from this. Refugees are placed in
families and promises for help were not kept. The number of refugees
is over 13000. The right number of Roma refugees is still unknown,
from the information we have their number is over 1200. We succeeded
to procure little help through foreign donors and Roma organizations.
If the war on Balkan continues it will make the situation of the Roma
from Macedonia worse, they have had it hard already. The refugee
families placed within their relatives are big burden for them.
Republic of Macedonia for the years past managed to secure and provide
peaceful life for all the citizens on democratic way. The question is
raised: Why not to stay so, further on? Once again, we would like to
thank us very much for your help and contacts with us and God bless
you all.
P.S. Today, April 8, 1999, is the Day of the Roma people in the world.
Since 1971 when the first Congress in London was held, the true
development of Roma People have started. On that occasion, in my name
and in the name of all Roma I would like to send greetings to all and
I send this message to all human beings on the planet for peace, stop
for discrimination and racism. For better tomorrow to everyone.
Sincerely
Truly
Asmet Elezovski members of Board Roma National Congers
Roma Community Center "DROM"Kumanovo
----------------------------
Kumanovo / MACEDONIA (RNN Correspondent) April the 9th, 1999
In Macedonia have 1427 Roma refugees or 263 families who are
accommodated in Skopje, Gostivar, Kicevo, Tetovo, Debar, Kumanovo,
Prilep, Radovis, the are evidented by the Roma organizations. There
are families who are not coming from Kosovo but from Serbia and the
state does not accept them as refugees. The authorities considere them
as tourists, even though in Yougoslavia is warlike situation. We are
looking forward to other contact.
Note from the editorial office:
Germany's Hotline on Kosovo Refugees in Germany, they said they will
provide help in finding family members.
Telephone: + 49 911 943 77 77
----------------------------
RomNews is published by the Roma National Congress on a Non-commercial
basis
European Central Office:
Simon von Utrechtstr. 85
D - 20359 Hamburg, Germany
Phone: ++ 49 40 319 42 49
Fax: ++ 49 40 31 04 75
URL: http://www.romnews.com
Emergency Hotline ( Phone ): ++ 49 171 8931 831
Emergency Hotline ( Fax ): ++ 49 171 8910 702
Emails:
Editorial Office: [email protected]
Send News to: [email protected]
Comments: [email protected]
RomNews Network: [email protected]
Moderator Listserver: [email protected]
ITEMS PUBLISHED IN ROMNEWS ARE COPYRIGHT OF THE RNC
PLEASE ACKNOWLEGDE ROMNEWS NETWORK / RNC WHEN QUOTING.
--
==============================================================
MINELRES - a forum for discussion on minorities in Central&Eastern
Europe
Submissions: [email protected]
Subscription/inquiries: [email protected]
List archive: http://www.riga.lv/minelres/archive.htm
==============================================================