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Violence against Roma in Greece

REPORT ON COVERAGE OF THE ROMA IN THE GREEK PRESS

(The comments in italics are made by the GHM.)

2/7/97 Adesmeftos Typos

If the huts of the Evosmos Roma are destroyed, the Roma will declare war and there will be blood. "We hope that the authorities will understand how serious the situation is."

The report is supportive to the Roma, and it urges the authorities to react to the latter’s requests.

5/7/97 Exoussia [George Karaivaz]

The Roma Panayotis Lederis escaped from a police car in front of the eyes of the policeman Ioannis Kouras. "Mr. Lederis had been arrested during an operation of the police which was aimed at Roma cars." When the policeman stopped the car in order to buy a bottle of water for the arrested Roma, the latter found a chance to run away.

5/7/97 Ethnos [K. Tomaras]

"The escape of the 24-year-old Roma Panayotis Lederis is a funny parody which ridicules the police." The escape infuriated the leadership of the Ministry of Public Order. When the policeman went to buy some water for the Roma, the latter managed to drive the car and leave away despite the handcuffs.

The report gives emphasis to the ethnocultural identity of the arrested Roma, and relates it with the ridiculing of the police.

5/7/97 Eleftheros Typos [Aris Skiadopoulos]

In Yannouli of Larissa the land has been undervalued in the areas where the Roma live. The non-Roma residents are convinced that if the Roma go away, the situation will be bettered. The Roma denounced the fact that the non-Roma shoot at the Roma and burn the latter’s cars in order to make them leave the area. The President of the community of Yannouli said that the presence of the Roma had influenced the dealings of land in a negative way. "The Roma regard the behavior of some residents as insulting." There have been conflicts between young persons of the two groups concerning issues such as football or relationships with girls. "There are some residents who are well-known for their racist beliefs." They accuse the Roma of various things, but without specific proofs. It is characteristic that some non-Roma people used to steal motorbikes and accused the Roma of this.

The report describes very well the racist atmosphere which reigns in Yannouli, and highlights the fact that the various accusations are not well-founded.

7/7/97 Eleftherotypia

"An old Roma woman was the mastermind of a small gang which used to sell drugs to young high school pupils." The police arrested the 75-year-old Efthimia Sandikoglou with her son and her daughter-in-law, and they discovered 7 kilos of hashish in the Roma hut. The police managed to arrest them after information from pupils. The old woman showed violent resistance during the process of arrest.

The fact that the Romani identity of the woman is mentioned many times is very negative.

7/7/97 Adesmeftos Typos

A business of dealing with hashish had been started in the Roma settlement in Evosmos by a 75-year-old Roma woman. After some arrests of pupils, the police concluded that hashish was provided by Roma who lived in the area. With the help of a specially trained dog, the police found 7 kilos of hashish buried in the earth, and 340,000 drs from the illegal drug dealings.

The report promotes the existing stereotypes, by referring to the Roma identity.

7/7/97 Exoussia [T. Tassioulas]

A gang of Roma has started a family business of drug dealing. "A 75-year-old Roma woman, Mrs. Efthimia Sandikoglou, participated in this gang." Hashish was being sold to 15-year-old children of the area of Kordelio in Thessaloniki. The old woman, her son and her daughter-in-law were taken to the District Attorney of Thessaloniki.

The report does not contribute to the elimination of stereotypes, since it refers to the Roma identity of the arrested persons.

7/7/97 Apogevmatini

A Roma family used to sell drugs to high school pupils in Kordelio of Thessaloniki. "The Roma used to stand in the middle of the street pretending that there was something wrong with their car." The prospective clients also stopped, pretending to help the Roma, and the whole dealing was taking place. Mrs. Efthimia Sandikoglou, 75-years-old, her son and her daughter-in-law were the members of the gang.

The report is hostile towards the Roma, because it emphasizes the fact that pupils were the ones who used to buy the drugs.

9/7/97 Exoussia [Yannis Tsiros]

The Prefectorial Council of Thessaloniki tries to find solution to the problem of a possible transfer of the Roma. The Municipality of Evosmos is very hostile towards the Roma, and it made a petition asking from the court to expel the 91 Roma families who live in this area. The Prefector of Thessaloniki explained that the Prefecture was willing to transfer the Roma to old military camps, where there already exists the necessary infrastructure.

The report describes the situation in Evosmos in an objective way, since it provides full information about what is happening there.

11/7/97 Apogevmatini

"The problem of 100 Roma families of Evosmos is about to be solved." The Prefector, Mr. Papadopoulos, announced that the Ministry of Defense granted an area of 200 acres in a former military camp. He also promised that the Prefecture would find a better final solution to the problem of housing in the near future. The Prefectorial Council, despite the objection of some Mayors from the area, approved of the Prefector’s proposal.

The report is neutral towards the Roma, since it just provides information.

13/7/97 Epohi [Nikos Kapralos]

Several Roma have been murdered in the Czech Republic under the regime of the right-wing government of OLS. During the period of communism, the treatment which the Roma got from the state was much better. In 1993, 70 assaults against Roma were reported. According to the racist declarations of Senator Klausner, "the Roma should leave Prague."

The report denounces the racist attitude of the government of the Czech Republic.

16/7/97 Adesmeftos Typos

The residents of the villages of Ionia, Kordelio and Kalohori react to the Roma settlement in the old military camp of Gonou, because of its closeness to their area. They are afraid that this temporary stop of the Roma is possible to turn into a permanent one. The Mayor of Ionia, Mr. Selvidis, suggested that the Roma be dispersed all over the district of Thessaloniki.

The report is negative, because it does not criticize the racist reactions of the neighboring municipal authorities.

18/7/97 Ta Nea

A taxi driver was robbed near the area of Aspropyrgos. "The robbers are probably Roma." They ordered him to drive towards a quiet place, stole his 150,000 drs., left him out of the car, and ran away in it.

The report makes an unacceptable speculation about the possible identity of the robbers.

18/7/97 Kathimerini

Twelve meningitis cases were registered in a Roma settlement in the area of Makriyanni in Patras. The sanitary authorities believe that there is no major health hazard for the population, because the disease is due to a virus and not to microbes. "The Roma children who became sick because of meningitis are in the hands of the doctors at the Hospital of Rion and undergo medical examinations." Furthermore, a group of doctors visited the settlement and provided the Roma with preventive medicines.

The report describes the facts without making any comments.

18/7/97 Eleftheros Typos

As a result of the living conditions of the Roma, 10 of their children are suffering from meningitis. "These children are victims of the unacceptable situation which reigns in the Roma settlement in Patras." The Sanitary Department of the District of Ahaia sent a special group of doctors and other employees to this area. They did preventive vaccination to the people there and disinfected the place.

The report is positive, because it emphasizes that the fundamental needs of the Roma in the settlement are not met.

18/7/97 Eleftherotypia

There is some anxiety in Patras, after the eleven cases of meningitis in a Roma settlement. The doctors are not sure whether the disease was caused by a virus or by microbes. According to the doctors, the infrastructure of the settlement does not conform to the rules of hygiene. Thanks to an initiative of the Prefecture, disinfection took place in the settlement.

18/7/97 Apogevmatini

The Roma of a settlement in the area of Makriyanni are horrified, because eleven children have been struck by meningitis. A group of the Sanitary Service visited the settlement in order to find out the causes of the disease.

18/7/97 Ta Nea

The Prefectory of Eastern Attiki ordered the destruction of a Roma settlement in the area of Agia Paraskevi. The bulldozers destroyed 30 huts where Roma families used to live. The operation was carried out at 7 o’clock in the morning, when most of the Roma were sleeping. During the operation, three platoons from the Special Forces (MAT) were present. Despite the destruction of the settlement, the Roma are determined to rebuilt their huts.

The report informs in detail about what happened in the settlement of Agia Paraskevi.

19/7/97 Ta Nea

There is no danger for the ten Roma children who are suffering from meningitis and are taken care of at the Karamandanio Hospital in Patras. In spite of the fact that the Sanitary Services disinfected the settlement, the residents of the area are still worried. In particular, the non-Roma resident, Mr. Fotopoulos, said that this situation was due to the miserable living conditions of the Roma as a result to the lack of elementary infrastructure in their settlement.

The report highlights the reasons why meningitis has appeared in the settlement.

22/7/97 Exoussia [George Sahinis]

Every second Roma in the settlement of Nea Alikarnassos of Kriti suffers from hepatitis A and B, according to the doctors and to the Secretary of the local association of the Roma. The members of this association, which is called "Helpis" (meaning "Hope") blame the government, the prefectorial and the municipal authorities for the unacceptable situation. The doctors said that the Roma had to buy their vaccines on their own, if they wanted to be vaccinated. The Mayor of Nea Alikarnassos Mr. Kalamiotis urged the government to improve the infrastructure of the settlement, since an eventual isolation of the sick Roma would not be the proper policy for a modern state.

The report is positive, because it seems to adopt the point of view of the Roma.

22/7/97 Adesmeftos Typos

The outbreak of meningitis cases in the Roma settlement in Makriyanni of Patras is very disturbing. During the last two months, fifteen Roma children have been brought to hospital. However, the doctors do not worry, because this particular kind of meningitis is not contagious.

The report is neutral, since it does not take a specific position on the whole issue.

24/7/97 Exoussia

The committee which was responsible for the finding of a place for the transfer of the Roma who live in the settlement of Dio Aorakia of Iraklion resigned, because its proposal about the old military camp of Karteros had been rejected. The President of the committee, Mr. Pyryannakis, who is Prefectorial Counselor of Iraklion, revealed that in the last two years, the committee had been confronted by the non-Roma residents of every area. Therefore, no solution was found for the problem of housing of the Roma.

The report is very positive, because it emphasizes the reasons that made the committee resign.

24/7/97 Eleftherotypia

A Roma man and two Roma women were wounded in a fight which took place in the settlement of Drossero of Xanthi. These three Roma were attacked by five other Roma. According to the investigation, the fight was due to a "vendetta" which has existed between the two families for many years.

There is an unjustified reference to the cultural identity of the involved persons.

24/7/97 Exoussia

The Greek Helsinki Monitor denounced the racist behavior of the Municipality of Agia Paraskevi against 20 Roma families, because the Municipality had sent bulldozers to pull down the Roma huts. Finally, the operation was canceled because of the strong reaction of the employees of the Municipality, who refused to obey to the order of the Mayor. According to the Mayor, Mr. Stavros Kostis, the area belongs to the Municipality which needs the place.

The fact that the report refers to the denunciation of an antiracist organization such as the GHM is very positive.

24/7/97 Apogevmatini

Three Roma were wounded in a fight among them which took place in the settlement of Drossero of Xanthi. Their guns were illegal, and the police are trying to find out which were exactly the "family differences" which caused the dispute and the shooting.

The report gives emphasis to the cultural identity of the people who were involved in the fight, although this is irrelevant to the case.

26/7/97 Ta Nea [I. Papadopoulos, professor at the University of Athens]

One-way solidarity is not the right attitude towards the problems of the Roma. They also have to show their solidarity to the non-Roma. In particular, they have to drive more carefully and to check the state of their cars. On the other hand, there is no doubt that the government does not make sufficient efforts to solve the problems of unemployment and lack of education, and, in general, to incorporate this minority within Greek society. The fact that most of the Roma candidate drivers are not examined by usual committees of their place of residence, but by a specific committee, is impressive and suspicious. Therefore, they are not informed about great dangers, such as driving under the influence of alcohol. This does not mean that the non-Roma citizens obtain their driving license in an honest way.

The report gives emphasis to the behavior of some Roma citizens by making generalizations.

27/7/97 Eleftherotypia of Sunday

When the athletes from "Athens ’97" participate in the 6^th International Athletic Championship, the life of the Roma in a settlement near the Olympic Stadium will still be miserable. Moreover, if Greece gets the Olympic Games of 2004, 25,000 beds in hotels will be needed for the athletes. Consequently, the indifference for the Roma is obvious.

The report is excellent, because it shows the sharp contrast between the way in which the government treats the athletes and the way it deals with the problem of Roma housing.

27/7/97 Epohi

Twenty eight Roma families have lived in the area of Pefkakia of Agia Paraskevi for 35 years. On 17/7/97, the Prefecture ordered the destruction of many huts of the Roma, because, according to the municipal authorities, this land belongs to 13 non-Roma families. There is also a unanimous approval of this act on behalf of the Municipal Council of Agia Paraskevi. Moreover, the municipal authorities refused to send a doctor to vaccinate the Roma children. The situation is tragic. Very few pieces of furniture have been saved. The Roma believe that there is a specific plan aiming at their social exclusion. The Prefecture wants to transfer them to Marathonas, but the Roma ask for more guarantees. Furthermore, some teachers from the area behave in a discriminative way against the Roma children. On 23/7/97, the Roma visited the Prefecture of Eastern Attiki, but the Prefector was not there. At the same time, bulldozers of the Municipality tried to destroy the rest of the settlement, but the return of the Roma and the refusal of the employees prevented this from happening. The Mayor of Agia Paraskevi said that the non-Roma owners of the land are also poor. Nevertheless, he seems to ignore the fact that the combating of illegal constructions must start from the luxurious villas of the rich, and not from the huts of the Roma. The GHM denounced the actions of municipal authorities all over Greece which proceed with massive persecutions of the Roma during the European Year Against Racism.

The report is excellent, because it shares the views of the Roma of Agia Paraskevi, as far as housing is concerned.

28/7/97 Eleftheros Typos

The members of the Helpis Romani Association ask the government to provide the Roma settlement in Alikarnassos of Iraklion with the necessary infrastructure. As the President of the organization, Mr. Kalamiotis said, the Association demands that the settlement becomes permanent, so that the life of the Roma could be improved. At least 150 Roma are suffering from hepatitis A and B, since they are forced to live with rats. Mr. Kalamiotis criticized the sanitary services, because they ask each Roma to pay the cost of vaccines. He also mentioned that the percentage of Roma who are constantly moving does not exceed 5%.

The report emphasizes the positions of the Roma on the causes of their problems.

30/7/97 Eleftherotypia [Ioanna Sotirhou]

The Municipal Council of Agia Paraskevi sent the police to destroy the Roma settlement, where 28 families live. There is no water supply, and the situation is miserable. The Roma protest, because they have lived in this area for 35 years, and no one has asked for the place. They feel that their civil rights are violated. The Prefector of Athens, Mr. Efstratiadis, said that the Roma huts are illegal and, therefore, they should be destroyed. Twelve antiracist organizations, including the GHM, expressed their support to the Roma and they demanded that a place be found for the latter’s transfer.

The report aims clearly at promoting the rights of the Roma.

30/7/97 Athinaiki

Twelve antiracist organizations, including the GHM, criticized the Municipal Council of Agia Paraskevi, which had started the expulsion of 28 Roma families from their settlement and which was indifferent to proposals for their transfer. They also denounced the actions of the Prefector of Eastern Attiki, who ordered the bulldozers to destroy the settlement. Moreover, they also denounced the actions of the Mayor of Agia Paraskevi, who called the police to be present during this operation. Finally, they denounced the government which allows the municipal and prefectorial authorities to act in a racist way by persecuting the Roma all over Greece.

The report publishes the whole pro-Roma announcement of the twelve NGOs.

31/7/97 Athinaiki

The Helpis Romani Association, which supports the rights of the Roma, asks for the improvement of the infrastructure of the Roma settlement in Alikarnassos of Iraklion. The most urgent problem comes from the fact that at least 150 Roma are suffering from hepatitis A and B.