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

9/5/97 Apogevmatini

"The area of Ano Liosia has suffered from a gang of five Roma who have stolen 14 cars which eventually were found, however without their stereo systems." Two 16-year-old men were arrested, while two 22-year-old and another 16-year-old men avoided the arrest and now they are wanted by the police.

This is quite a negative report, since it emphasizes the racial origin of the alleged robbers.

9/5/97 Eleftherotypia

Two 16-year-old men were arrested by the police and accused of having stolen 10 cars from the areas of Ano Liosia and Nafplion. The group of young men used to abandon the stolen cars after having taken out the stereo system.

This report is an excellent example of good journalism, because there is no special reference to the ethnic identity of the arrested people. Neither the title, nor the content of the report mention the word "Roma."

14/5/97 Ethnos

"In Greece the Roma are considered to be the main representatives of traditional popular music." On 19/5/97, the Athenians will have the chance to attend a concert of Romani music. Groups from the Greek city of Kozani, from the Romanian city of Marsha and from the Spanish area of Andaloussia will participate in the concert.

The report refers to the Roma in a very positive and friendly way. It also presents the concert as an important cultural event for everybody.

15/5/97 Adesmeftos Typos

"The cultural life of the Roma is full of music, dancing and freedom." The Greek and the Spanish musical traditions owe a lot to the Romani influence. All these sounds, especially those of the "flamenco," will reign over the concert which will take place in the Music Hall of Athens on 19/5/97.

The report is very positive, since it promotes the concert which is dedicated exclusively to Romani music.

15/5/97 Kathimerini

The Educational Commission of the Sismanoglion Hospital made some announcements related to the distribution of hepatitis B in Greece. According to the study, the highest percentage of sick people is found among the Roma community of the Limnos island, and among the immigrants from Eastern countries who live in Crete.

Although the report does not refer to the reasons why the Roma suffer from "hepatitis B" in such high numbers, the whole content can be regarded as neutral towards the Roma community.

20/5/97 Eleftherotypia [Maria Dede]

The notorious camping of Ano Liosia does not exist anymore. In early April 1997 the municipal authorities decided to transfer 25 Roma families to a new place promising them water, electricity and food. "Some families were not allowed to move to the new settlement, and the bulldozers destroyed their household belongings," as the Greek Helsinki Monitor claims in a letter to Prime Minister Simitis. "The new place is surrounded by wire and the guards control the entrance. The new camping seems to be better compared to the previous one, since there are at least four garbage bins, four toilettes and electricity." Access to the place is inadequate, since there is room only for one car, which means that the Roma have to leave their trucks at least 150m away from the makeshift houses of the camping. "The guards did not let our relatives come inside to visit us, although they showed their identity cards," said one Roma who lives there with his wife and his 11 children. There is no water inside the houses. "We feel isolated," said Thanassis. "The Deputy Mayors promised to bring us clothes, but nobody came," he added. If someone is sick and needs help, they have to carry him/her for quite some time in order to reach a car. There is no kid attending school lessons. The GHM sent a letter to the Prime Minister denouncing the fact that the new camping is surrounded by wire and that the government did not fulfill its promises to the Roma. The GHM refers to the camping as "the ghetto of Mr. Simitis." The Mayor of the town of Evosmos, near Thessaloniki, issued a petition of judicial measures against 91 Roma, who had been installed on a municipal piece of land, under the pretext of use of the place for construction of parks. The Mayor asks the court to impose a fine of 500,000 drs. to every Roma.

This excellent report, which is the result of a common visit of the GHM and the journalist, refers to the situation of the new camping in detail, and describes the situation in a satisfactory way, since it makes the readers familiar with the various problems of the Roma.

20/5/97 Adesmeftos Typos

The conflict between the Municipality of Evosmos and the Roma of this area reached the Judiciary. It concerns the piece of land which has been "alienated" by the Roma. At this time, there is a petition against the Roma, on behalf of the Municipality, asking for the expulsion of the Roma from this place, which belongs to the Municipality. "The President of the Roma Association, Mr. Savas Georgiadis, expressed his fear that there is a great possibility of bloody conflicts, since the government is incapable of finding a solution to the problem."

The report points out the gravity of the problem and, therefore, is regarded as positive. It is also important that it mentions the declarations of the representatives of the Roma.

21/5/97 Eleftherotypia

A very different kind of wedding took place in the village of Kato Ahayia on 15/5/97. "The couple arrived from Athens by helicopter." "There were many carriages, plenty of flowers, 5,000 guests and a lot of violins for the celebration after the ceremony." The cost of the wedding amounted to 28 mill drachmas. The event was covered by the TV.

The report presents a cultural custom of the Roma in a descriptive way without taking a specific position in favor or against.

23/5/97 Ta Nea

Shots were fired during a row at a Roma festival in the village of Yannouli, near Larissa. "The Roma representatives got angry when the municipal authorities decided to organize the festival without the participation of any Roma." During the night some young people fought with a group of Roma. "After that, 25 Roma swarmed into the streets insulting the other residents of the area." In the meantime, the Roma had already started shooting in the air. When the police came, the Roma left. It is estimated that 2,000 Roma live in this area. Many of them have built their own houses, and others have bought land.

It must be mentioned that the report emphasizes the ethnic identity of the Roma who shot in the air, although this is not necessary for the information of the readers.

29/5/97 Adesmeftos Typos

We have to warn about an avoidable bloody revolt. "The authorities are about to put in exile the 3,000 Roma from the area of Evosmos." The Roma made an official declaration saying that "a bloody revolt will take place...." Every one of them has a gun. We wonder what happened to the 1,000 makeshift houses which the PASOK political party promised the Roma before the elections.

The report is positive, since it warns the government and the citizens about the real problem which exists in Evosmos. It also criticizes the government for not having fulfilled its promises.

31/5/97 Kathimerini

At the beginning of the Roma concert at the Music Hall of Athens, there was a group of Romanians from the village of Mirsha. The problem is that nobody can enjoy this kind of music sitting in a chair, because the music itself calls for dancing! The "flamengo" was fascinating. Everybody was staring at the dancers. "The whole spectacle was unique!"