JANUARY 1998

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

10/1/98 Eleftheros Typos

Robbers Bump into the Same Person

The branch of the National Bank of Greece in Evosmos (Thessaloniki) was attacked by robbers. A Roma, who could hardly walk, entered the bank begging for money. When some of the employees tried to get rid of him, they realized that he could walk perfectly well. Then, with the help of his accomplice, the Roma went to the counter and asked for the money. The robbers were chased by the police but managed to get away with all the money. At some point they entered the Roma camp of Evosmos and vanished among the shelters. The previous incident of robbery at the same bank had occurred almost a year ago and, according to the police estimations, the robbers were Roma who had again used the camp in order to escape.

The report gives the impression that the robbers were acting as if they were having by their side the whole Roma community of the area. A whole community is presented as an accomplice, as a supporter of criminal acts. A negative report, which uses and reinforces the usual stereotypes for the Roma.

10/1/98 Nea

Twice Victim in the Same Robbery

A report which deals with the same incident of robbery mentioned above. Still, nothing is mentioned about the “disappearance” of the robbers in the camp and all the elements are given with reservation. It is said that “according to the police, the robbers were probably Roma.”

A neutral report, simply presenting the incident.

11/1/98 Eleftherotypia [Georgia Molossis]

A Piece of Bread, a Glass of Milk

In an attempt to attract more Roma pupils, the Roma school of the town of Karditsa is in search of a sponsor who would provide breakfast to all children attending school. Seventeen kilometers away from Karditsa, 2,500 people live in a miserable camp, under unbearable living conditions, in shelters, without electricity and heating. Only half of the 580 kids of the camp go to school. 70% of them stay without any food until noon, 20% just have a cup of tea and only 10% - a glass of milk. Mr Dimitrakopoulos, who carried out a survey, concerning the camp and its inhabitants, is in search of private enterprises or public authorities who would offer full breakfast to all the kids, as a motive to attend school lessons.

A very positive report, openly in favor of the idea and the initiative.

12/1/98 Nea

Educational Apartheid.

The number of Roma children who attend school is not more than 3,000! According to a research, the biggest percentage of rejection in school is related to Roma children (63%). All these sentiments of the young non-Roma children towards their Roma schoolmates are strongly related to the stereotypes of their parents about Roma people in general. This rejection seems to be a mechanism within a vicious circle, with no way out. Still, young children have to be taught that begging in the streets and child labor are not racial features, which are exclusively characteristic of the Roma. They are typical of all these categories of people living in the social margin, who are deprived of food, home and all the necessary conditions for a decent way of living.

A very positive report presenting the serious educational problems of the Roma community, reflecting their deep marginalization in Greek society .

17/1/98 Ethnos [Tonia Maniatea]/ Eleftherotypia [Maria Dede]

The Roma

On the occasion of the publication of (Ms Lydaki’s) book, concerning the Roma communities living in Greece, the report presents some of the problems which the Roma face on an everyday basis. It is mentioned that over 80% of the Roma are illiterate, facing the rejection of the rest of Greek society. A part of the research is dedicated to their culture, mentality and way of living, including the opinion of the Roma for the non-Roma.

Positive reports, trying to give a global idea of the Roma culture and way of thinking, supporting the writer’s initiative to write a book with the intention of bringing the Roma closer to the non-Roma.

23/1/98 Paratiritis

Whispers of Misery

The Roma campers of the Teneke Mahala camp, in the town of Komotini, suffer a lot, especially after the latest rains which drowned the whole area and almost all of the shelters. It is called “The camp of shame.” All the roads are full of water and garbage, a genuine “Third World image” of a “well developing” town like Komotini. A place which the majority of the inhabitants of the town ignore or pretend that it doesn’t exist… The kids were almost drowned, the shelters were destroyed in their abundance. The Roma campers complain about the indifference of the local authorities. They insist that the only way to solve their problems would be the low credit loans, a measure that would enable them to build their homes and pay back everything little by little, without risking their lives any more.

A very positive report, presenting the real problems of the Roma, living in the area. It is not a superficial and symbolic presentation, on the contrary there is much of analysis of the everyday reality of the Roma campers. Photos striking the interest and sentiments of the reader are also used, as additional means of provoking people’s sensitivity.

28/1/98 Kathimerini

The Tragedy of a 12-year-old Roma Child.

(Town of Larissa): A 12-year-old Roma boy of Albanian origin died yesterday in a very tragic way, while sleeping in his bed. The shelter in which the child was sleeping caught fire because of a candle, the only source of light and warmth in the shelter. The boy fell asleep and the forgotten candle burned everything in the shelter. The death of the helpless child was rather instant.

A report which gives a slight idea of the living conditions of the young victim and, of course, of the majority of the Roma campers in Greece. It does not get into further presentation and analysis of the serious problems that Roma are faced with today, neither does it comment on the responsibility of the Greek authorities and their ostrich-like way of dealing with the Roma problems.

28/1/98 Nea

28/1/98 Ethnos

28/1/98 Exousia

All reports concern the incident presented above, avoiding to get into further and more detailed information over the living conditions of the Roma in Greece and the moral responsibility of the Greek authorities regarding the accident of the 12-year-old Roma child.

27/1/98 Exousia

“Whispers of the Heart”

The script writers of the famous serial “Whispers of the Heart” are interviewed about their idea to present the love of a Roma woman with a non-Roma man. One of them, when answering to a question about the behavior of the Greeks towards the Roma and their stereotypes related to the Romani way of living, said: “One would say that deep down, we, the Greeks, are somehow racists … We cannot accept their difference. We only want to change them. (…) I was impressed by a lot of things. Their morality, their family relations…”.

A positive report, transmitting images which are rather different from the common stereotypical ones for the Roma.

29/1/98 Nea

Roma Survivors of the Holocaust Claim Compensation

Fourteen Roma representatives, survivors of the Holocaust claimed compensations similar to those given to all other victims of the Holocaust from the German government. “It is impossible to accept any kind of discrimination against us compared to the other victims of the Holocaust” declared Romani Rose. Over 200 Roma survivors of the Holocaust are estimated to live in Germany nowadays. The German Chancellor’s office declared that no discrimination will take place in any case.