GREECE-ROMA CAMP/DEMOLITION Greek authorities demolish houses in Roma camp in Athens

Record ID: 347208

  • Title: GREECE-ROMA CAMP/DEMOLITION Greek authorities demolish houses in Roma camp in Athens
  • Date: 1st October 2014
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (OCTOBER 1, 2014) (REUTERS) MEMBERS OF ROMA COMMUNITY STANDING AROUND A FIRE IN MAKESHIFT CAMP AND TALKING AMONG THEMSELVES ABOUT THE DEMOLITION FIRE BURNING ON GROUND NEXT TO PILE OF RUBBISH VARIOUS OF ROMAS UNFOLDING BANNER READING (Greek): 'HANDS OFF THE ROMAS - STOP SAMARAS RACISM' BULLDOZER AND CRANE DIGGER ENTERING THE MAKESHIFT ROMA CAMP MORE OF BULLD
  • Embargoed: 16th October 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA95UBCRRPNQH2VPVUKUEQH0DP4
  • Story Text: Greek authorities on Tuesday (October 1) proceeded with the partial demolition of houses in a Roma camp in the middle of an Athens suburb without resistance from the camp's occupants.
    The demolition is part of a plan to eventually evacuate and re-locate the Romas, but initially the camp's residents had resisted the demolition.
    Local authorities said only homes that were not currently occupied were being demolished in the camp, located in Halandri, one of Athens's most busiest and populated suburbs near the country's National Mint surrounded by high-rise apartments, and near a main thoroughfare that links the suburb to the city centre.
    On Tuesday riots broke out in the camp when authorities announced the planned demolition, with residents setting garbage on fire and blocking the streets, refusing to evacuate.
    Authorities were planning to move the Romas to an organized settlement near the town of Megara, some 40 kilometers outside Athens, but the camp residents refused, saying the location was too far and isolated.
    "We grew up here, and now they want to kick us out of here and send us to Megara, no one wants to go there, the children go to school here, what will they do there? Who will help us there?" said camp resident Tassos.
    "It is a shame that the government is solving a 45 year old problem in this way. There are 54 children in the camp that go to school. Those children should not be seeing this sort of thing," said Roma leader Stelios Kalamiotis as the bulldozers ripped through the clapboard houses.
    After several hours of negotiation on Tuesday between local and government authorities and Roma representatives, it was agreed the camp would not be evacuated until a more suitable location was found and only uninhabited homes would be torn down.
    "Together with the prefect and the government, we will take on the responsibility to find the best solution for this soon," said Halandri mayor Simos Roussos.
    The Romas have been squatting on the private land in the popular suburb for decades but until now previous governments have neglected to evacuate them from the prime piece of real estate.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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