JULY 1998 ACTIVITY REPORT OF THE GHM ROMA OFFICE

July 1. On Wednesday July 1, the teacher Thanasis Nikolaidis contacted us from Tarsina of Velos, Korinthia, where he is teaching. He told us that in Tarsina, in a space of 1/4 acre, 60 Gypsies live on their own land but with no water supply. M. Nikolaidis denounced to us that the president of the Community Hristos Liaskos, refuses to supply these people with water, because his aim is to force them out of the area. Let us note that 250 inhabitants of the village own 1.000 acres of fruit-producing land and the area has plenty of water for their watering. Yet, this one 1/4 acre of the Roma has no water! We tried many times to contact the president of the Community but nobody answered the phone.

July 1. On Wednesday July 1, at 8.30 a.m. the members of Greek Helsinki Monitor Sofia Nikolaidou and Vasilis Sakellariou witnessed the arrest of 3 children from Albania, at the traffic lights of the crossroads of Thivon avenue with Iera odos. The «traffic lights children» were cleaning the windows of the cars stopping at the lights. But according to Greek Law this is considered to be beggary. We protested to the policemen for the arrest, and asked what the fate of these children will be. The policemen told us that they will be deported and proposed to us to go with them to the police station in the police car and discuss the issue there. When we went in the car, the little girl - 11,5 years old - fainted. We took the child out and gave her water to help her regain consciousness.

Then something indescribable happened. About 80 people assembled around us, many of them were the owners of nearby shops. We thought they came to offer the child assistance, but we were wrong. They wanted to lynch us, because, as they said, «we did not let the police do their job», i.e. arrest the children and deport them.

The children were transported to the police station of Aegaleo, the area where the little girl repeatedly said she was living with her sister. She also claimed she had a visa, while the other two children said they had nobody here in Greece. Then the children were transferred to the minors’ department of the General Security. We contacted the department and asked them not to deport the children. They replied that two of them will be sent back next morning to Albania and the little girl will be kept there, in case her sister will show up to take her. In the opposite case the little girl will be deported as well. We contacted the Albanian Migrants Forum and asked for an interpreter to come with us to the General Security and help us talk to the child.

July 1. The legal counselor of GHM, Nasos Theodoridis, went to Messolongi to file a complaint on behalf of two minor Gypsies, Lazaros Bekos and Lefteris Koutropoulos, who were maltreated on May 8 and 9 at the police station of Messolongi. The Gypsies themselves informed him that the policemen who played the leading part in their whacking continued to threaten them on a daily basis.

July 2. On Thursday Sofia Nikolaidou and Nasos Theodoridis from the GHM, the representative of the Albanian Migrants Forum, Mrs. Vila, and the representative of the organization «The Child’s Smile», Mrs. Hristopoulou, visited the little girl who had been arrested at the traffic lights and was kept at the minors’ department of the General Security. Her sister did show up, but she did not bring with her any papers proving that she and the child were relatives, so they did not give her the child for fear that she might belong to the Albanian mob exploiting little children. We spoke to the responsible, Mrs. Tzoumerka, who said that the child will be kept there until they find a hostel to send her.

July 3. In a contact we had with the representative of the Gypsies’ Federation M. Vasilis Paiteris, we learned that a meeting took place in the Ministry of Interior on the issue of the Aspropyrgos settlement. The meeting was attended by V. Paiteris himself, Mrs. Zerdeva, representative of the Minister of Interior, M. Stamou from the Prime Minister’s office, M. Katsibardis from the Ministry of Environment Urban Planning and Public Works (YPEHODE) and by the vice mayor of Aspropyrgos M. Albantis. Once more the mayor of Aspropyrgos had not kept his promise to carry out the works which are necessary for the settlement, i.e. clear the place with bulldozers and supply the settlement with water, although the financial resources do exist and are waiting and despite the fact that he had explicitly undertaken in many occasions in the past the obligation to do so. This concrete meeting whose aim was to put pressure to the mayor so that the work may advance, was not attended by him personally; he sent the vice mayor instead. Mr Albantis promised that the Municipality will proceed to the clearing of the area and that they will supply the toilets with water, yet these are promises which have been given before. We are waiting for their implementation.

July 3. On Friday July 3 we contacted the minors’ department of the General Security and spoke to M. Yannopoulos to find out what happened with the little Albanian girl. He told us that on Thursday July 9 she will be transferred to the National Welfare Organization.

July 9. In a contact of the legal counsel of the GHM, Nasos Theodoridis, with the policeman M. Karaboutis (of the Athens General Security) on the issue of Messolongi, the latter assured us that the demand of the GHM for the temporary transfer of the policemen considered responsible for the whacking of the two Gypsies to another area will be met. Our demand aimed at preventing them from influencing the course of the official inquiry by threatening the victims.

July 9. On Thursday July 9 we contacted M. Yannopoulos of the minors’ department of the General Security to find out what happened to Jilda, the little Albanian girl arrested last Wednesday at the traffic lights. He told us that she was transferred to the children’s center of the National Welfare Organization in Yannina. We contacted the lady responsible and she told us that the child will stay there until her parents are located through the Albanian embassy.

July 10. I contacted Mrs. Zerdeva and the vice mayor of Aspropyrgos M. Albantis to find out what happened on the issue of the Aspropyrgos settlement. Mrs. Zerdeva told me that the mayor has the intention to provide a piece of land to the Gypsies, but as this area is at the borders of his Municipality with the Municipalities of Ano Liosia and Fyli he must discuss the matter with the other two mayors. Yet, as the main water pipe crosses an area belonging to the Municipality of Ano Liosia, the well known racist mayor Papadimas - as was to be expected - stated that he will do his best to prevent water supply from reaching the settlement. The representatives of the Roma Federation, of the Aspropyrgos Municipality and of the Ministry of Interior will try to arrange a meeting with him in order to persuade him to change his position.

July 13, Argostoli, Kefalonia. On Monday July 13 the members of GHM Panagiotis Dimitras and Nafsika Papanikolatou, visited the settlement of the Roma who, two years ago, were kicked out of the seafront area where they were camping, with the excuse that it was a developing area. The Municipality provided them instead with a space of 1/4 to 1/2 acres nearby the slaughterhouses. The smell is unbearable, and the tin-shacks given to them are very hot in summer. The ground is covered with fine sand, and the result is more heat when the temperature rises during the summer months. Eleven (11) families live there, 100 persons in all, in 8 tin houses. There are toilets in each house, electricity and two central water taps. Two families number many disabled individuals, because of marriages between relatives.

The Roma coming temporarily to Kefalonia in summer, do not have a place to settle and so they raise their tents in various land fields. The Roma who are permanent residents do not welcome them, as too many of them live already here, packed in a very small area. Meanwhile the Kefalonia police, every now and then, raids the various places where the Roma are camping and chases them. The social worker told us that only 25 people live there in winter.

There are about ten children of primary school age who attend afternoon classes, specially organized for the Roma, for three hours a day in one of the public schools of the island. The teachers Vangelis and Dina have shown a great interest for them. There are one or two older children from the same settlement who regularly attend the classes of one of the public schools together with non-gypsy children.

Our members when interviewed by a local radio station on the issue of human rights and on the aims of our organization also referred to the problems of the local Roma. The interview was broadcasted on Thursday July 17.

July 14-15. On Tuesday July 14 and Wednesday July 15, the representative of the GHM Sofia Nikolaidou participated at a two-day meeting on: «The Society of Western Attica and the Gypsies» that took place in the amphitheater of the «Thriasion» Hospital in Magoula, Attica. The two-day meeting was organized by the Prefecture of Western Attica in collaboration with the Non Governmental Organization «Hellenic Institute of Solidarity and Co-operation» (EL.IN.AS) and with the support of the Ministry of Interior and the European Commission. The aim of the two-day meeting was to sensitize the wider Greek public on the problems of the Roma and to design an integrated framework of activities to combat these problems.

The meeting was attended by a representative of the Prefect of Western Attica, by the president of the Thriassion Hospital, the president of the Panhellenic Federation of Greek Gypsies, the mayor of Zefyri, the vice mayor of Aspropyrgos M. Albantis, by representatives of the police department of Western Attica, by social workers and administrative personnel of the National Welfare Organization and the Prefectural and Municipal Authorities. Representatives of the Ministry of Interior, of the Prime Minister’s Office and a counsel of the special secretary of the Ministry of Education also attended the meeting and presented reports. Representatives of Non Governmental Organizations, of the Citizen’s Movement Against Racism and of the GHM, intervened in the discussion.

We must point out that all four mayors of the Municipalities with a dense Roma population were invited, i.e. the mayor of Ano Liosia, of Aspropyrgos, of Zefyri and of Megara. But with the exception of the mayor of Zefyri M. Lapas who only attended the meeting the first day and of the vice-mayor of Aspropyrgos M. Albantis who represented the mayor, the other two did not show up. They were absent despite the fact that for the implementation of various projects addressed to the problems of the Roma, the local authorities are supposed to play the major role. Another absence noticed by all participants was that of the teachers, and mainly of those responsible for the particular areas. As the chairman of the meeting said, those responsible for primary education, not only did not show up themselves (giving priority to their personal feelings) but also prevented other teachers from coming, warning them that if they came they would pay a price. Thus the issue of the education of the little gypsies was discussed in their absence. To the questions and the concerns arising from the discussion, the representative of the ministry of Education Mrs Paizanou, who was one of the speakers, replied.

July 20. On Monday July 20 we spoke to M. L. Drandaki, representative of Amnesty International in Crete, to see whether there are problems in the local Roma settlement. M. Drandankis informed us that the Gypsy Cultural Association of the Heraklion Prefecture named «Elpida (Hope)» is organizing events, from September 19 to October 24, under the general heading «Youth bridge (The child sitting at the desk next to us)» with the collaboration and the participation of the pupils of the gypsy children school functioning as a branch of the 34^th Primary School of the area. The events are also supported by the Heraklion group of Amnesty International, by the Prefectural Authorities of Heraklion, the Social Work Department of the Technical College, the Prefectural Committee of Popular Education (NELE), the Human Rights and Constitutional Liberties Committee of the Lawyers’ Association of Heraklion, by the Heraklion initiative group against Racism and Xenophobia and by the people collaborating with the project «Education of Gypsy Children» of the Ministry of Education for the Heraklion area. The expenses, close to 2.800.000 drachmae, will be covered by all associations and organizations participating in the preparation of the events.

Of central importance will be the exhibition of «Basketry and Gypsy Art» provided by the Museum of Roma Basketry of Komotini. Also popular art jewelry made by the young girls of the settlement in the framework of last year’s project of NELE will be exhibited. The exhibition will be hosted in a shanty which will constructed by the association.

After visiting the exhibition, the visitors will be able to walk through the settlement until they reach a shanty recently provided to the Social Work Department of the Technical College, which will be transformed into a place of work and amusement for gypsy children. A social work group of the Technical College will organize games there for the children; the promotion of antiracist material is also in their plans.

The events will include: a round table on the issue «Education a transcultural bridge», a football game between the local «Haravgi» team and a team of lawyers, the opening of the Basketry exhibition, a musical program, a popular festival, a presentation of audiovisual material on human rights specially prepared for children by Amnesty International, a visit of the 1^st Lyceum of Heraklion to the settlement, a visit of the Lyceum and Gymnasium of Kasteli which will also stage a theater show inside the settlement, tree planting in the settlement and an event organized by the students of the Technical College. Finally the gypsy children school will present a special program to celebrate the national day of October 28.

All primary and secondary schools of the area will be informed on the above events. A special letter will be sent to the elected councils of the secondary schools as well as to the representatives of University students.

We should point out here that the Cultural Association «Elpida» which is very active was founded in June 1997 and was one of the founding members of the Panhellenic Federation of Greek Roma. Up to now the Association has intervened and acted on several issues such as:

The systematic carrying away of rubbish by the Municipality of N. Alikarnasos and the cleaning of the area from debris (partially achieved). A demand addressed to the Crete Region asking for participation in projects specially designed for «socially excluded groups» in collaboration with the Development Organization of Eastern Crete. A demand addressed to the Post Office of N. Alikarnasos asking for mail distribution to the settlement (positive answer without practical results). A demand addressed to the Water Service of the Heraklion Prefecture asking for water supply (no reply). The Association participated in the events organized by the Lyceum of Kasteli against racism and xenophobia. It also made an effort (presently in progress) to plant trees in the settlement. For all the above activities the members of the Association and the residents of the settlement offered their personal work and they plan to offer much more for the preparation of the events.

July 22 Veria. The members of GHM Panayiotis Dimitras and Nafsika Papanikolatou, met in Veria the counselor Dimitris Vlahopoulos, who is in charge of the case of Angelos Jelal. He informed them on the conditions under which the Roma of Veria live, on the case of Vasilis Asimakis, maltreated by the Police Department of Thessaloniki, and on the record of the assassination of A. Jelal. He was murdered by policemen, who shot him with the excuse that Jelal, together with two other young Roma, after stealing a car attacked the policemen and opened fire against them. The 29 year old Jelal was hit by two bullets one at the back of his head and another at his spinal cord, from a distance of 5-8 meters. His father Panayiotis Jelal has already filed a complaint against the police department and all those responsible of his son’s death on April 6, 1998. The father of Jelal claims that the car was not stolen but belonged to the brother-in-law of his son. He is also wondering why the policemen let the other two young Roma leave, while they were supposed to run after all three of them.

According to M. Vlahopoulos the Roma population in Veria numbers about 700 persons. They are of various ethnic origins: Romanian, Spanish, Jewish and some of them Egyptian. The latter are the poorest of all. Most of them live in good conditions, in flats scattered around the town. Some of them, as he showed us, are well-off: they have luxurious houses and their occupation is cattle-raising. Most of them do not face special problems. Their children go to Greek schools and only 5-6 persons create, every now and then, some problems, petty-thefts etc. He asked us not to use his name publicly and told us that the lawyer of Thessaloniki M. Tsiakalos is following the case closely. The Public Prosecutor M. Evangelos Zaharis has shown special interest for the case. He also said that the lawyer M. Sotiris Papadopoulos has dealt with many cases of Roma who have been maltreated and he will collaborate with us.

July 27. On Monday July 27 we contacted Mrs. H. Zerdeva, working at the office of the vice minister of Interior to ask her on the issue of the water supply of the Aspropyrgos Gypsy settlement. The mayor of Ano Liosia Papadimas raises obstacles, because the water pipes pass through his municipality and he wants to force all the Gypsies out of the area by not supplying the settlement with water. Mrs. Zerdeva told us that they have asked the Minister of YPEHODE M. Laliotis to speak to the mayor, but she does not yet know what happened.

July 28, Ano Liosia: On Tuesday July 28, the representative of the organization «Citizens in Solidarity», M. Nikos Karoutsos, phoned us from Ano Liosia and informed us that the Municipality had sent workers with bulldozers to the Gypsy settlement to bring down the shanties. They were accompanied by the municipal police and by policemen from the police department of Aharnon, all sent out by the mayor Papadimas, who, as well known, has attempted to do the same thing many times in the past. Especially now, in the pre-electoral period for the election of the new local authorities, the mayor is engaged in a power play. Everybody knows that in the previous elections he was asking the people to vote for him using the slogan «vote for me to kick the Gypsies out». In the next elections according to some residents of the area he will get 70% of the vote and will be re-elected.

We should remind here that the Gypsies have raised their shanties on their own land and the mayor tried to bring them down using «illegal construction» as a pretext. We contacted the Prime Minister’s office, informed them and asked them to intervene and prevent the bringing down of the shanties. Finally, and after the intervention of the Mass Media the operation was stopped.

July 1998

Sofia Nikolaidou