DECEMBER 1997

(Remarks in italics are made by the Greek Helsinki Monitor)

4/12/97 Eleftherotypia [V. Tsirou].

Roma: the Biggest Minority in Europe.

A nation without a state and a common language, can there be such a thing? The answer to this question is yes, according to all these people who fight for Roma rights. Against the background of all types of “cleansing” which have been used up to now, Roma still exist and fight for the recognition of their rights. George Soros and Ginder Gras are among those who stand by the Roma. The latter face racism on an everyday basis, while still dreaming of a multicultural, an open society, in which they will find the place which they deserve as citizens of the world.

A very positive report presenting the situation of the Roma throughout Europe during the last centuries.

4/12/97 Eleftherotypia [M. Dede].

“We, the Greek Roma”

A Roma does not have to “read his fate.” He knows from the very beginning, ever since his birth, that he will have few opportunities in his life in order to get rid of the poverty, the expulsion, the wandering, the uncertainty and the marginalization. Michael Randis is one of the luckiest. He speaks about 500,000 Roma in Greece and thinks that some people want the Roma to be marginalized in Greek society.

A very positive report, which presents another image of the Roma and fights against all stereotypes.

7/12/97 Avgi [M. Plika].

Roma: A Race Which Seduces Us from a Distance

The willingness of the local authorities to get rid of the Roma camps all over Greece is an undeniable fact. Sometimes the argument is that they endanger public health, because all residents of one area risk to be infected by contagious diseases, due to the presence of the Roma campers. On other occasions the excuses used for these expulsions are more diplomatic. One example can be the case of the campers of the area of Evosmos. The case of Halastra is used as an example of a well-organized camp, which gets the help of the local authorities.

A very positive report, treating the Roma community without making use of any stereotypes.

5/12/97 Nea

(Crete) A Roma Camp: a Drug Dealing Center

The Roma camp of Alikarnassos still functions as a drug dealing site. The police raided over the camp once more, after the recent arrests of 20 young people. They confiscated 24 kilos of hashish which had come from Albania. One person was arrested and accused of drug dealing.

A biased report which labels the whole camp as a drug dealing site, when it is openly stressed that the particular incident is an individual case.

10/12/97 Nea

The Roma Are Being Vaccinated.

Two NGOs - the Greek Helsinki Monitor and the Doctors of the World - are starting a vaccination program for all Roma campers in Athens. Apart from that, the doctors will arrange visits on a regular basis to the various camps in order to help the Roma to deal with their medical problems, most of which are related to their living conditions.

A simple, neutral report of the event, without entering into a more profound discussion over the situation and without taking sides.

11/12/97 Adesmeftos Typos

Roma Are Dying in Greece!

According to Mr. Christos Velissaropoulos and to the Doctors of the World NGO, 60 out of every 1,000 Roma children up to one year of age are dying annually. The percentage concerning the children between two and five years of age is 20 out of every 1,000. If one realizes that in Greece 350,000 Roma out of 500,000 are children, then the numbers mentioned above give a clear idea of the dramatic situation in which the Roma are, due to the unbearable living conditions. According to the same data, 30-35% of the Roma children die due to diseases, related to the complete lack of hygienic living conditions and, 10% - due to various accidents. The doctors’ organization, with the help of the GHM, is launching a vaccination program for all Roma living in the various camps of Athens. The funding is from the Greek Ministry of Health and Social Care and from the Open Society Institute in Budapest.

The report is really positive, giving a clear idea of the dramatic situation of the Roma in Greece, discussing the source of the problems and not just sharing data.

12/12/97 Apogevmatini [K. Mihailides].

Luck Doesn’t Play for All Kids

On the occasion of the International Child’s Day the newspaper presents the results from a research concerning child labor in Greece. In a separate column it is mentioned that Roma children will be vaccinated by the Doctors of the World NGO and that they will be offered medical care and treatment on a regular basis in the future. All this will be done within the framework of a special program, inaugurated by the organization and based on volunteers’ initiatives and on good will.

A neutral report simply mentioning the fact, without any comments.

12/12/97 Eleftheros Typos

The Doctors of the World are Vaccinating the Roma.

Just two years before the year 2,000 the Doctors of the World went there where hygiene, water and electricity do not exist, inaugurating, with much love and compassion, a vaccination program for the Roma population of Athens. Standing by their side are the GHM and Minorities Rights Group - Greece.

A very positive report, using strong words. It is openly in favor of the whole idea and of the initiative.

15/12/97 Eleftheros Typos

Five Underage Hashish Addicts Trapped by the Police

Five underage people, provided with big quantities of drugs by Roma dealers of the Zefiri camp, were arrested by the police. The district police admit that the situation of drug dealing between pupils and the Roma is beyond any control. The Roma dealers can sell without any difficulty because they are provided with Albanian hashish which is the cheapest on the Greek market and is easy to find. Still, the Roma sell it at high prices. In this case, the police arrested three young people with 82 grams of hashish.

The report is biased. It speaks about “big quantities” of drugs, which in fact are 82 grams of hashish. The situation is presented superficially, without any further discussion over the matter, labeling the whole Roma community with the drug dealer stereotype.

19/12/97 Nea

She Bought the Roma Child to Make Her Daughter Happy

In order to make her divorced daughter feel the joy of motherhood, a 60-year-old woman bought a Roma child for Drs 2.5 mill. “I am a victim of the Roma, because they made me buy the kid,” she declared.

The report seems to be neutral and objective. However, the stereotype of the Roma as people who would not hesitate to sell their own kid is reinforced.

22/12/97 Nea

The local administration council of Alikarnassos in Crete refuses the installation of the airport radar in the area

The main argument of the administration council for this refusal is based on the fact that the area is already “burdened with the prison, the airport and the Roma camp.”

The report is neutral. Still, it does not get into any discussion, nor does it comment on the definition of the word “burden” of the members of the council.

22/12/97 Eleftherotypia [S. Balaskas]

Emotion for the Roma.

No one but a local newspaper of Chios reported the damage which the Roma camp of the island suffered from the floods. The Roma, excluded from the whole island, were forced to camp near the Partheni river which flooded the whole area, because of the heavy rains. A few days later, some children of the fifth primary school of Mytilini decided to “adopt” the local school of the Roma. They gave the Roma kids clothes, pencils, notebooks and toys.

A very positive report, in favor of the initiative of the children of Mytilini and openly against the indifference of the state and the media as regards the damage of the Roma possessions because of the floods.

23/12/97 Ethnos

Gang Rape Spreads Horror

In the west urban areas of Thessaloniki a band of three young men attempted to rape young women. According to the police the gang probably consists of Roma.

The report gives the impression of neutrality. Still, the assumption that the rapists are “probably” Roma creates an image, which is not valid, since it is based on guessing.

27/12/97 Nea

The Breaking of the Protocol.

A very good gesture on behalf of the colleagues of the Greek Prime Minister. They broke the protocol by inviting the Roma chorus of the cultural association of Ano Liossia to sing Christmas carols in the Prime Minister’s residence.

A very positive comment. Still, the whole idea is welcomed more for the sake of good public relations and image construction and less for humanitarian reasons.

28/12/97 Eleftherotypia

It’s Time for the Roma in the Prime Minister’s Residence

For the first time Roma visit the Prime Minister’s residence. Mr. Simitis wanted to break the protocol, by inviting Roma children to sing Christmas carols. This gesture did not happen by accident. In this way, Mr. Simitis wanted to send a message against racism, which is directed not only towards the Roma, but generally, towards all people living in the social margin. As he confessed to his colleagues his visit to the camp of Ano Liossia last year had shocked him tremendously.