Attempted ghettoisation of Roma in Romanian town
15 August 2001
The Târgu Mureş-based non-governmental organisation Liga Pro Europa has, in co-operation with the ERRC,documented the harassment and attempted ghettoisation of members of the Romani population in Târgu Mureş. On May 7, 2001, the city mayor, Mr Dorin Florea, issued an order to the public guardians - civilians deputised by the mayor to conduct rudimentary police duties - to take all beggars into custody. Approximately forty Roma were reportedly detained the same day, taken to a castle in Târgu Mureş and held there for identification purposes. Those who were not resident in the town were expelled from the city. On May 8, 2001, the action was repeated and a similar number were reported to have been detained; of the seventy to eighty people stopped over the two days, reportedly only two or three were non-Roma. The apparent justification for this action was to discourage beggars from coming to Târgu Mureş. However, there was no indication that those detained were begging.
In a second serious incident, which would appear to be part of a series of anti-Romani moves by municipal authorities in Târgu Mureş, it was reported in the newspaper 24 ore muresene on May 10, 2001, that the mayor's office had issued an order to evict the Romani residents of Calarasilor Street. The reported official reason is that the street was infested with rats. Authorities have reportedly threatened the Roma of Calarasilor Street that the eviction order may be implemented during the night. As of August 23, 2001, the eviction had not been carried out. The removal of the Romani families from Calarasilor Street would be particularly unfortunate, as it is the last remaining place in Târgu Mures where Romani residents live alongside non-Roma, in non-segregated housing, in any significant numbers. The ERRC sent a letter of concern to the Mayor of Târgu Mures on May 31, 2001, but as of August 24, 2001 had received no response to the letter. The full text of the letter is available at: www.errc.org. The human rights situation of Roma in Romania is the subject of a forthcoming report by the ERRC.
(24 ore muresere, ERRC, Liga Pro Europa)
