Romani Organisation Claims Police Management of Ethnic Conflict Inadequate in Romania

19 June 2007

In its September – December 2006 newsletter, the Romanian Romani organisation Romani CRISS reported that investigation into reports of police abuse during a September clash between Roma and police in the Alpina Romani community indicated that the three police officers involved managed the event "inadequately". During the event, police reportedly shot 22 local Roma with rubber bullets and hit or otherwise injured another 15.

According to Romani CRISS, in December the General Police Inspectorate approved the preliminary investigation of Chief Commissar Ujica Valerica, Commisssar Moldovan Alexandru and Deputy Commissar Gora Petru, the officers responsible for the management of the situation in Reghin in September. The General Police Inspectorate reportedly concluded that the cases of excessive use of force were exceptional and did not characterise the professional conduct of Romanian police officers.

Romani CRISS hired two lawyers to represent the Romani victims in a case currently pending before the Targu Mures High Court of Law.

(Romani CRISS)