Letter to the Military Prosecutor of Tirgu-Mures, Romania
16 March 2000
On March 16, 2000, the European Roma Rights Center (ERRC), an international public interest law organisation monitoring the human rights situation of Roma throughout Europe and providing legal defence in cases of abuse, sent a letter to Mr Viorel Ciobota, head of the Military Prosecutor's Office of Tirgu-Mures, Romania, to express concern at instances of police brutality occurring on March 2 in the Valea Rece neighbourhood on the outskirts of Tirgu-Mures. Officers reportedly physically abused one Romani man and five Romani women in public, in addition to using tear-gas. Officers also reportedly used racist language while detaining Romani individuals. The ERRC urged Officer Ciobota to ensure that a prompt and thorough investigation into the allegations of police brutality against the Roma in Valea Rece be carried out, and that those responsible be brought to justice. The ERRC also requested to be informed of the results of inquiries.
The text of the ERRC letter follows:
Dear Mr. Ciobota,
The European Roma Rights Center (ERRC), an international public interest law organisation monitoring the human rights situation of Roma throughout Europe and providing legal defence in cases of abuse, writes to express concern about a recent incident of alleged police violence against several Roma, including women and minors, in the neighbourhood of Valea Rece on the outskirts of Tirgu-Mures in north-western Romania.
According to information received by ERRC, at approximately 3 p.m. on March 2, 2000, two police officers and two gendarmes were patrolling the neighbourhood when attacked by S.B., a Romani man who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time. The four law enforcement officers allegedly punched Mr. B., caused him to fall to the ground, and then kicked him repeatedly. Romani residents witnessing the beating intervened, asking the four not to beat Mr. B. to death but instead to arrest him and bring him to the police station. Shortly thereafter, a group of approximately 25 police officers and gendarmes arrived at the scene. The officers chased the Romani inhabitants, forced them into cars and said they had to go to the police station and testify. E.V., a woman, was reportedly hit with a stick. Another three women, I.B., M.G. and E.L., also report being beaten by the police. One police officer allegedly pulled a woman named R.P. by the hair. During the operation, police allegedly used teargas to disperse a group of children who had gathered in the street. According to eye-witnesses, the police used racial epithets, such as, "take it, Gypsy!" when chasing the Roma and hitting them with their sticks.
Ultimately the police brought two men, C.V. and A.C., to the Tirgu-Mures police station. They were ordered to testify about S.B.'s behaviour and were released without charges at approximately 7 p.m. Mr. B., meanwhile, was arrested and is currently under pre-trial detention.
According to ERRC's information, on March 7, 2000, several Romani victims and witnesses filed a complaint against the police, alleging ill-treatment as defined according to Articles 180 and 246 and 247 of the Romanian Penal Code.
The above described incident is only the latest in a long row of reported cases of police violence targeting Roma in Romania brought to the attention of ERRC. Last July, on the occasion of the United Nations Human Rights Committee's review of Romania's compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ERRC submitted a list of 19 cases of police abuse of Roma that had been reported in Romania in the period 1996-1998 (the full text of which is available on the internet at: www.errc.org.
Mr. Ciobota, ERRC urges you to ensure that a prompt and thorough investigation into the allegations of police brutality against the Roma in Valea Rece be carried out and that those responsible be brought to justice. We also respectfully request to be informed of the results of your findings.
Yours sincerely,
Dimitrina Petrova
Executive Director
Persons wishing to express similar concerns are urged to contact the Tirgu-Mures Military Prosecutor's Office at the fax number: (40-65) 164 512
