More MSM
Another article from Elefteros Tipos about the Roma in Athens (in Greek)
I will be going later in the week with GHM to look for the Roma who were evicted from Votanikos. There are some ideas for action but we are waiting to hear whether anyone with real power will support them.
I will update here as the situation develops…
Violations of Roma Children on January 1st, 2009
Denial of Justice for Roma on September 1st, 2008
Recycling Copper at Votanikos on July 28th, 2008
Roma Discrimination Continues on July 24th, 2008
A Victory for Roma Rights on June 6th, 2008
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Reader Comments
Illegal, racist, inhuman and dastardly Hellenic Police “safari of Roma” - police run off when GHM shows up!
The Albanian Roma already evicted twice called me today around 6 pm to inform me that in the new place some seven families of them settled in, near the old settlements, police once again showed up and told them to leave, again without any due process or papers. I asked them not to leave unless papers are served and that they call me when police is there. 15 minutes later police showed up but they refused to talk to me on the phone and kept pressuring the Roma to leave. So I took off to that new place and asked a couple of activists from the left “Open City” (Synaspismos) faction in the City Hall to join me. I also told the Roma who were pressured and kept calling to tell the police offices that I would be coming to discuss the issue, which they did. Upon my arrival there around 18:50, police had been ordered to flee so as not to be there when we arrived! They knew that if we had caught them operating illegally and in fact trespassing private property without any legal documents we would have triggered an in flagrante complaint against them. Because these Roma families are squatting on another private deserted open area (it has a 2001 building permit but apparently the construction had never started), and no owner has showed up let alone initiate any legal actions. In fact Roma said that police spotted them first last evening but did not say anything: obviously once they reported their presence today (illegal) orders were issued to force them out.
This “hide-and-seek” or “safari Roma” is an unbearable situation for them and to some extent for me who cannot do anything on my own. Especially as the private television channel which covered the “cleaning operation” of 1-3 June has reportedly been “informed” that the remaining 100 Albanian Roma families in the initial Orfeos Street settlement will be evicted with another cleaning operation.
Another police visit to the Roma today - eviction stopped
Today at 12 noon I received a call from the chief of the Aegaleo police station who was at the settlement we had visited last night. He had gone there and saw my card and the Ombudsman text on the Votanikos Roma so apparently he held off and called me. He informed me that this empty lot belongs to Viamax car company which has filed a report (NOT complaint) to the police about the trespassing and squatting of the Roma. He realized that it would be inhuman to send them away but also after we discussed he admitted that he had no authority to do anything unless the owner files a complaint and then police arrests the trespassers. He said that in that case he would arrest a couple and I told him no he should arrest them all and actually involve the prosecutor as well so that the pressure makes the state realize the problem and act. I also informed him that the left and socialist opposition will raise the issue in the Monday City Hall meeting. So he decided to let them stay for now unless there is a formal complaint.
Volunteers sought!
Anyone who is willing to participate in an event we are planning in front of the City Hall on Monday morning and afternoon (they have a city council meeting) may indicate availability through an email to which ever address DD will suggest.
Thanks