Demolition of Romani tents: Heavy human drama

2020-06-21 15:30:54


	 

	İZMİR - In the report that the İzmir Bar Association has 

	 

	In the report prepared by the Izmir Bar Association on the demolition of the tents of the Romani people, it was underlined that a heavy human drama was experienced and the children have been suffering from hunger.

	 

	İzmir Bar Association prepared a report on the how the tents of Romani citizens living in Alaçatı were demolished by the scoops on June 16. The delegation consisting of Deman Güler and Gamze Karaoğlu, members of the Board of Directors of İzmir Bar and Gizem Metindağ, a member of the Human Rights Center of the bar shared the report they prepared at the scene of incident on June 18 with the public.

	 

	'THE HEAVIEST HUMAN DRAMA'

	 

	In the report, by which the interviews with the citizens and observations in the field were gathered under 31 articles, it was stated that the region has become unusable and the citizens were forced to migrate due to the excavations by the construction machines in three residental areas. "The scenery we witness reflects one of the heaviest human drama encountered in our city in recent years. Procedures regarding the evacuation of Romani people in the region have been operated contrary to national and universal principles. Considering the decisions of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the European Committee of Social Rights and United Nations's International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, it is clear that the intervention of Çeşme Municipality on the residental ares of the Romani citizens do not comply with the principle that the 

	'needs and different lifestyles of the Romani citizens should be taken into consideration especially in terms of administrative arrangements and concrete practices' to the obligation to consult the parties on an alternative solutions to the evacuation and to the principle that evacuations shall not result in leaving people exposed to the risk of homelessness or the risk of any violations of human rights," stated the report.

	 

	NO OTHER SOLUTION ALTERNATIVES WERE PROPOSED

	 

	In the report, which stated that rightS OF respect for private life, family life and residence right of the Romani citizens living in the region was violated, it was expressed that such actions have been committed, which are against the prohibition of discrimination as the violation of the degrading treatment was broken and physical and verbal violence against Romani citizens were deployed. "It is understood that civil society cannot participate in the process and the basic approach is built on the removal of Romani citizens from the region," stated the report drawing attention to the fact that the local government proposed no other solution alternatives to the Romani citizens.

	 

	'CHILDREN ARE HUNGRY'

	 

	"Babies living in the area in subject have to live away from all kinds of basic hygiene conditions, their clothes are old and dirty, they are half-naked and the need for food, feeding bottles and diapers for the babies are in the extreme amount," stated the report as it was repeatedly emphasized, "One of the Romani citizens, whom the delegation spoke to, told that their baby had only one feeding bottle, which was lost during the destruction. After Çeşme Municipality destroyed settlements, it poses a great health risk for children in the region to play on the broken pieces of glass and rusty metal scraps. It was observed that the children in the area had rushed to the food vehicle sent by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, and it was learned that the children were hungry since the morning during the meeting with their families."