Local Workers Set Fire to Romani Encampment

24 January 2007

Mayor Urged to Undertake Investigation

Budapest, Timisoara, Date

The European Roma Rights Centre and Parudimos Association have sent a letter to the Mayor of Timisoara Gheorghe Ciuhandu, urging him to initiate an investigation into the circumstances of a raid carried out by local workers on a Romani encampment. During the raid, a number of Romani irregular houses were set on fire or otherwise destroyed. Local workers, with the support of the police, also confiscated many of the belongings of the Roma and carried them away in garbage trucks. This raid took place just prior to Christmas and shortly before Romania joined the European Union.

The full text of the letter concerning the Timisoara raid follows:

• In English:
• In Romanian