I was accused recently of
trying to slander Greece here on the internet
Sadly, it seems the authorities in Greece do not need my help. They are doing a great job all by themselves.
Each year, Geneva-based Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions (COHRE) bestows its Housing Rights Violator Awards on three governments or public institutions guilty of particularly serious housing rights violations in the preceding year. This year the awards go to Nigeria, the Philippines and Greece.
COHRE’s Executive Director, Jean du Plessis, said,
Although many governments continue to violate the right to adequate housing, in 2006 Nigeria, the Philippines and Greece stand out for their appalling disregard for this basic human right
For those of us who have witnessed the conditions of Roma housing here and are following the continuing illegal evictions, this award comes as no surprise.
Du Plessis goes on to say
Roma communities in Greece continue to face pervasive and persistent discrimination in access to housing. A majority of Roma in Greece live in extremely poor conditions – lacking access to basic services such as water and electricity – and frequently face segregation and forced eviction by local authorities. The conditions in which these communities live are dehumanising and constitute a grave human rights violation by the Government of Greece. It is completely unacceptable for a long-standing member of the European Union (EU) to allow such a situation to continue within its borders. What we are facing here is the blatant and deliberate exclusion of a particular group, creating a third world reality within a wealthy European State. The shacks of the Roma in Patras, Athens or Asproprygos are no different from those in slums in Nairobi or Manila. These evictions clearly indicate that the Greek government is not taking its international legal obligations seriously and is turning a blind eye to local governments’ systematic abuse of the human rights of Roma in Greece
The photograph I took from the edge of one of the settlements, does not really do justice to the view. The Parthenon is clearly visible between the trees. Make of that what you will…. the irony was not lost on those who were there.
Read full details of the award
For information on the COHRE go here
I will be returning to Votanikos in the very near future so I will update you on the situation there as soon as I can.
Technorati Tags: greece, housing rights, roma
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COMMENT DELETED BY DD
I really have got better things to do than read your snide comments.
If you’d like to read a rebuttal of the recent COHRE report from the right-wing Greek point of view, take a look at this (in English): http://phylaxblog.typepad.com/.....ce_ge.html
Like I really need to go and read things like
or in the comments
Remind anyone of anything ?
Generally I do not allow links from right-wing sites (especially not one that has caused me so much grief in the past from its members) but in this case it is such direct opposition to what I posted and what appears in the mainstream media and all over the internet that it is almost laughable (if it wasn’t so racist and sad)
Most of the people over there are banned from this blog. Please be warned: It is disturbing reading.
“Rebuttal” means “from the extreme right and racist point of view”. That is his view of the Roma:
“the social organization of the gypsies or of their favorite pastimes, including drug trafficking, gun running, petty and grand theft, systematic petty fraud, trespassing, and a propensity to violate their natural surroundings as few other groups can do even in a country with the consumptive approach to the environment as Greece.”
Maybe DD should delete this referral to such disgusting views.
Let me paraphrase:
“As for the Greeks, there is nothing to stop them from becoming normal and productive members of legitimate Greek society – many, particularly in the all walks of life both in Greece and in the rest of the world, have done so. That the rest choose to live in squalor and ignorance, intolerance and racist hatred, reliant on crime to make ends meet, or reproducing neo-Nazi propaganda to satisfy their sick egos, is a shame – for them – and says nothing about Greek society, except, perhaps, that it is too tolerant of illegality and parasitical behaviour, racism, hatred and intolerance.”
That sounds better, wont you agere DD?
Hi Panayote,
I deliberately left the referral and commented on it because many people have asked me for an opportunity to argue against their views. I delete between 5 and 10 comments a week here and I think people need to know what we are up against.
I will carry on deleting away but I sometimes feel the need to share the “burden” a bit. If you know what I mean. I often sit here alone reading through these comments and feel very isolated. I have chosen to do this so I am not complaining (well, a bit maybe) but I really appreciate it when friends of “This is not my country” stand up to these racists and haters.
Yes, replace the word “gypsies” with blacks, albanians, muslims or any other group of people and you get the fascist idea.
I fully agree
i think it is quite good that you do share these comments, dd. (at least some of them) i don’t see it as a way of supporting or agreeing with them, but by not censuring them, you can show to which extent racism exists here- something most greeks (including politicians) refuse to admit. maybe by addressing such comments there can be a more openminded discussion on these issues aswell…
Thank you Panayote and Georgia. I put a new post up asking what people think about this whole issue.
Honestly, the only way to have these types of discussions is to allow people to see “other side” – because that is the type of thing we are fighting against.
you know petros ,
some of us greeks
ARE VERY RICH
come to think of it
why not ,,,,!
I’LL BUY A HOUSE
…….
RIGHT NEXT DOOR
TO YOURS IN KIFISIA
and house all the evicted
ROMAS THERE,,
and then well see
what your kind of greek
politismos (culture)
you really have .
……………………………….=Z=
AYTH ΘΑΝΑΙ Η ΠΡΑΓΜΑΤΙΚΗ
ΕΚΔΙΚΗΣΗ ΤΗΣ ΓΥΦΤΙΑΣ
και δεν εννοω των rom
εννοω τη δικια σου γυφτια.