GHM REPORT TO ERRC No 52 : 29/3/1999

REPORT ON THE COVERAGE OF THE ROMA IN THE GREEK PRESS

JANUARY 1999

(Comments in italics are made by the GHM)

Contents:

1. The Nights the Roma Dream - A New Album by Roma Singer Kostas Hatzis

2. What Happened to the National Policy on Roma?

3. New Year’s Celebration for the Thessaloniki Roma Children

4. Roma Don’t Care for Their Children’s Education!

5. Street Children Escape from the Agia Varvara Center

6. No Progress in the Resettlement of the Galikos River Roma Yet

7. Roma Marriage in the Center of Athens

8. General News

1. The Nights the Roma Dream - A New Album by Roma Singer Kostas Hatzis

* 1/2/1999: Nea, page 5

Harzis’ Ballads and Social Satire

Keeping in mind that Roma sing out of love and die for love, we should admit that Kostas Hatzis shows once again a great deal of love for them. The title of his new album ‘The Nights the Roma dream’ reveals the source of his beautiful songs and his unique interpretation.

Also:

* 7/1/1999: Nea, page 2

Old Scorpio’s Revival

Temperamental Roma singer Kostas Hatzis gives a high quality performance in ‘Scorpio.’ What is most impressive is the presence in the audience of young people who sing both his old and his new songs.

Also:

* 9/1/1999: Nea, page 20

He Returns to ‘Scorpio’ with New Songs

A tribute to the life and music of Roma singer Kostas Hatzis. The second of the three children of a Roma family, he lived his childhood accompanying his father to folk festivals and ceremonies. His grandfather was a well-known clarinet soloist. In 1955, Hatzis was arrested for singing rebellious communist songs, which were forbidden by the regime at the time. He was forced to move to Halkida, where he started his long journey through the music scene. His Roma life and the struggle against the establishment are interwoven with his artistic and personal identity. A simple and kind man, a temperamental, bursting and true artist, he loves his ethnic group and his family. «They behave like true Roma and also know how to be proper citizens,» he says about his four children. One of the biggest moments in his life is his 45-min-long unofficial meeting with US President James Carter with whom he shared his ideas about human rights and conscientious objectors. President Carter expressed his admiration for Greece and the Roma people.

Very positive reports on Kostas Hatzis’ new album. The singer represents a positive, although stereotypic, image of Roma – they are passionate, fighters, insubordinate, loving and caring.

2. What Happened to the National Policy on Roma?

* 3/1/1999: Avgi, page 27

National Policy on Roma... and Other Greek Fairy Tales

It was in June 1996 when the Minister of Environment, Country Planning and Public Works and the Minister of Health and Social Care announced Framework of a National Policy on Greek Roma. The Framework was a clear admission that the basic needs and problems of Greek Roma had not been solved, despite the age-old presence of Roma in Greece. It was accompanied by a 3-billion-drachma grant for two years and by a program aimed at the abolishment of social exclusion of the Roma. A consultative and coordinating governmental Council for Roma Policy comprised of representatives of public and local authorities, health organizations, Roma and others. The Council’s main responsibility was to implement the Framework. The priorities of the program were: improvement of the housing conditions both of nomads and of Roma living in settlements; access to the Greek educational system; athletics and culture, with the emphasis given to the preservation of the Roma culture; professional education; health care (medical examinations, mobile cabinets); an informative campaign about the acquisition of identity cards. What has been achieved two and a half years later? A thorough examination of the written account of the Minister of Health and Social Care stated that little, if anything, has been done. First, the Council for Roma Policy has not been created yet. This means that there is no central body, so the road is open to improvisations and overlapping. Second, even if the funds for some works on Roma housing have been authorized, have any of these works been implemented? Third, what happened to the booklet of the pupil? Fourth, what is the criterion for the programs on professional education? Fifth, when will Roma have the ‘luxury’ to fall ill? Sixth, are the existing censuses on Roma used or more money will be spent for having new ones? Seventh, were the 3 billion drachmas for the implementation of the program ever given? Finally, there are rumors about squandering in the past. The case with a program for educating Roma on the gathering of citrus fruits in Thessalia -where no citrus crop thrives- is indicative. Twenty four billion drachmas are to be given by the European Union (the Greek State participates with 20%) for social programs for various social groups (two billion are targeted to the Roma, as well as to the linguistic, cultural and religious minorities). There are rumors about past bad use and squandering of this kind of funds. The Secretary of the Directorate for European and Other Funds of the Ministry of Employment admits that there are cases of misuse of the money. However, he asserts that in 1998 specific measures for the proper management of the funds were enacted, so as financial support covers the real needs of the Roma. Mr. Christos Lambrou, President of the recently created Panhellenic Federation of Greek Roma Associations, says that preserving Roma cultural identity is not enough. Roma need to incorporate into society and get access to jobs that are available to all the other citizens. He also asks for ‘an affirmative action’ programs for Roma, in order to fight unemployment which derives from social marginalization.

An excellent report on the lack of a national policy on Greek Roma. Supported by much factual evidence, it treats Roma as ordinary citizens who have to be put within the social system.

3. New Year’s Celebration for the Thessaloniki Roma Children

* 4/1/1999, Eleftherotypia, page 9

Mr. Evagelos Venizelos, Minister of Culture and MP, had a wonderful time with the Roma children of Thessaloniki, who were gathered together on January 2, 1999 for a New Year’s celebration organized by the Diocese of Neapolis. The Roma kids enjoyed the live music, the good food and the presents offered to them. Among them were a 14-year-old pregnant girl and a married couple of the same age. Mr. Venizelos, who takes good care of his Roma constituents, explained to the authorities present there that Roma recognize the rights of their children. The Roma enjoyed the celebration, but they are still waiting for the State to keep its promises and provide them with a place with proper sanitary conditions, water and electricity.

A slightly humorous report, which maintains a positive stereotypic image of the Roma: joyful, with their own family ethics, facing social discrimination.

4. Roma Don’t Care for Their Children’s Education!

* 4/1/1999: Nea, page 5

A Day at the Agioi Apostoloi Primary School: 40, out of 68, Pupils Are Albanians

Forty-four, out of the 68, pupils at the Primary School of Agioi Apostoloi in East Attica are children of immigrants. There is no program against racism on the school’s curriculum. Still, the interaction among pupils is exemplary and the teachers are extremely pleased with the eagerness and aptitudes of the young immigrants. The authorities compare the adaptation of the young immigrants to the Greek schools with the case of other socially excluded groups, such as the Roma, who do not care for the education of their children.

Even if it were true that Roma do not care for the education of their children, one should ask what the reasons and the prerequisites for such an attitude are. It should be pointed out that there are cases of very successful incorporation of Roma children into the educational system. This put aside, the rest of the article stands for the multicultural education and the incorporation of minorities into Greek society.

5. Street Children Escape from the Agia Varvara Center

* 21/1/1999: Eleftherotypia, page 45

They Escaped from the Institution

10, out of 17, street children who have been gathered by the police at the Center of the Ministry of Health and Social Care in Agia Varvara tied some blankets to the window on the first floor of the building and escaped from the Center. Representatives of the Progressive Left Coalition, the Network for Refugee and Immigrant Social Support, the Forum of Albanian Immigrants and lawyer Gianna Kourtovic reviewed the Center. The director, Ms. Kouri, explained that her staff is doing their best, while trying to take care of the children with almost no infrastructure. They try to get in touch with the families of the children. Otherwise the children are deported. That is why the children, who are in the age rage of 7-13 years, are very frightened. Three of them come from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, and the rest are Albanians. They are desperate to go back to their parents.

A very good report on the conditions of the Center for Street Children and the apparent failure of the authorities, dealing with the beggary of children.

6. No Progress in the Resettlement of the Galikos River Roma Yet

* 23/1/1999: Macedonia, page 8

Parliamentary Discussion on Roma

The resettlement of the Gallikos River Roma to the former military barracks of Gonou comes once into the limelight again because of a Parliamentary question by Progressive Left Coalition MP, Stella Alfieri. Ms. Alfieri asked the Minister of Internal Affairs why the infrastructure works at the Gonou barracks had not started yet and how self-management of the settlement would be enacted in the future. Mr. Thanasis Triaridis, representative of the DROM Network for Roma Social Rights, stated that no particular site had been allotted to the Roma and no sufficient explanation had been provided about the delay of the de-mining of the barracks. The representative of the Prefecture of Thessaloniki, Mr. Abraham Kaltaveridis, answered that the barracks was full of missiles and the delay was justifiable.

In 1997 the Prefecture of Thessaloniki decided to resettle the Evosmos Roma to the Gonou barracks. The Roma then found a temporary refuge at the bed of the Gallikos River. However, water supply and garbage collection are insufficient, the possibility of a destructive and fatal overflow is more than clear and the danger of serious diseases is immediate. Human rights NGO Greek Helsinki Monitor states that the situation is shameful not only for Greece but also for the whole of Europe. Doctors of the World characterize the living conditions there as worse than those in the Kurdish settlements during the Gulf War. The Prefecture, on the other hand, declares that it has done whatever possible to ameliorate the living conditions at the riverbed.

Also:

* 26/1/1999: Typos Thessalonikis, page 2

The Aim Is Roma’s Social Awakening

425 million drachmas have been given for the construction of the Roma settlement at the former Gonou military barracks. The capacity of the new settlement will be 300 families. There will also be a health center, a football field, washhouses, etc. The settlement will be run by a Self-Management Council with representatives from the municipal and public authorities, as well as of democratically elected Roma representatives.

Also:

* 28/1/1999: Avriani Macedonias - Thrakis, page 4: Repeated Delays

* 29/1/1999: Avgi, page 5: Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Answers to Ms. Alfieri: The Mines Are to Blame for the Delay in the Resettlement of the Gallikos River Roma

The articles adopt the arguments of the NGOs and of MP Ms. Alfieri and stand for the quick resettlement of the Gallikos River Roma to the former military barracks of Gonou.

7. Roma Marriage in the Center of Athens

* 31/1/1999: Avgi, page 7

Roma Marriage

I am wandering around Athens, in the Kerameikos district. Suddenly, loud sounds from folk instruments stifle the noises of the city. In a pedestrian street Roma are having a wedding celebration. People are speaking loudly and making gestures. Children are laughing and running around. Guests are arriving with presents. This is a moment of joy for these people. Only a moment… Their fate depends on the implementation of the ‘face-lifting’ program, which will turn the area into another nostalgic suburb of Athens. The present residents will find their way to areas, which are still unclaimed, forever exiled from the shop windows of our world.

A very positive article written with a personal touch. It manages to keep the balance between sentimentalism and social criticism.

8. General News

* 7/1/1999: Nea, page 17, B

Killed for a Place in the Open-air Market

Three Roma were killed and one seriously injured in Patras. The reason was a quarrel some time ago for a place in an open-air market in Thessaloniki.

* 9/1/1999: Nea, page 10, C

Roma Blood on TV

Menelaos Karamagiolis’ prize winning documentary ‘Roma’ will be shown on National Television tomorrow. The film tries to describe the particularities and the contradictions of Roma ethnicity in Greece and Europe. It combines contemporary images with the speech of four narrators: a teacher, a photographer, an old Roma woman and a young one.

* 12/1/1999: Nea, page 18

Criminals Hold Up Cars and Terrify Drivers

Incidents of hold ups of cars on the national roads have increased lately. In one case, as reported by the police, the criminals were Roma. They crashed into the car, which was running in front of them and then robbed the driver of her belongings. In another case, the police arrested a gang of Roma who were the perpetrators of a lot of robberies on truck drivers in Katerini.

* 26/1/1999: Eleftherotypia, page 45

They Want Revenge for Marselino