ERRC Calls for Investigation of Police Assault on Roma Settlement in Slovakia

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Date: Fri, 6 Nov 1998 11:17:25 +0200 (EET)
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Subject: ERRC Calls for Investigation of Police Assault on Roma Settlement in Slovakia

From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>

Original sender: Tatjana Peric <[email protected]>

ERRC Calls for Investigation of Police Assault on Roma
Settlement in Slovakia


PRESS STATEMENT - 2 NOVEMBER 1998
 
ERRC Calls for Investigation of Police Assault on Roma Settlement in
Slovakia
 
On October 27 and 28, 1998, the police assaulted Roma inhabitants of
the village of Hermanovce, Eastern Slovakia. In letters sent today to
the Minister of the Interior and to the Chief Prosecutor, the ERRC
urges the Slovak authorities to undertake a prompt, thorough and
effective investigation into these events and ensure that those
responsible are brought to justice.
 
The ERRC has learned that, on 27 October, at around 4:30 a.m., police
entered the homes of two Romani families in Hermanovce, Slovakia,
where they beat two Romani youths � A.Z.* (14), and P.Y. (21),
handcuffed them, then forced them into the trunk of a car and drove
them to the police station in Hminenska Nova Ves. The police offered
no explanation to the detained or their families; nor did they show
arrest or search warrants to justify their actions. At the police
station, the two youths were allegedly beaten with truncheons and
kicked. They were interrogated and shown diverse items, (for example,
a sleeping bag), and pressed to falsely say that they had stolen some
of them. They were released later the same day, apparently without
having been charged with any crime. Doctors who examined them
documented bruises consistent with a beating. At no point were the two
detainees advised of their rights; nor, despite his minor status, was
A.Z. interrogated in the presence of a parent or another authorised
person.
 
According to eyewitness accounts, the following day (28 October) at
around 6 a.m., more than 20 policemen arrived in Hermanovce; some led
police dogs. The police broke down the doors of Romani houses and beat
Romani men, women and children, many of whom were still in bed at the
time. At least one police officer used threatening, racist and vulgar
language against a Romani woman while he was beating her. The police
then brought six men � B.Z., C.Z., D.Z., Q.Y., J.K. and U.V. - to the
village mayor�s office. Mr. U.V. is not a Rom; he is a citizen if the
Czech Republic, an anthropologist. Once again, the police offered no
explanation for their conduct and showed no arrest or search warrants.
 
At the mayor's office, one of the detainees, Mr. B.Z., was released.
Five others were taken to the Hminenska Nova Ves police station, then
released by noon without being charged with any crimes. Two of the
five were taken to a local hospital for treatment.
 
This act of mass police brutality targeting Roma puts in question the
minority policy of the first post-Meciar Slovak government. In recent
years, although racist violence against Roma in Slovakia has
increased, effective prosecution and punishment have been rare. The
Roma minority, which numbers above 500 000, forms about 10% of the
total population of this country. The national unemployment rate is
about 13%, yet among the Roma it is above 80%. All of the Roma
referred to above are unemployed and very poor.
____________________________
* The initials have been changed.
 
* * * * * *
 
The European Roma Rights Center is an international public interest
law organisation which monitors the situation of Roma in Europe and
provides legal defence in cases of human rights abuse. Romani
organisations and Romani individuals throughout Europe contribute
time, money and expertise to the ERRC.  ERRC reports and other
information concerning the organisation's activities are available on
Internet at errc.org.

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