Romas seek temporary accommodation

B92 News Society Society
Romas seek temporary accommodation
4 April 2009 | 10:57 | Source: B92, Beta
BELGRADE -- Residents of a Roma shanty town in New Belgrade, whose ramshackle homes were razed yesterday, persist with their demands.

A file photo of the settlement (FoNet)
A file photo of the settlement (FoNet)

The Roma were evicted from the illegal settlement on Friday in order to build an access road to a Student Games 2009 venue.

Some of them spent the night at the shacks owned by their neighbors, which have not been removed yet, while others protested in front of the Belgrade Assembly, asking to be compensated and provided with temporary accommodation.

Mayor Dragan Đilas says he will try to provide the Roma with accommodation but that he will "not succumb to blackmail".

Yesterday, the settlement's residents blocked a major road in New Belgrade before crossing the river to protest in front of the Belgrade Assembly building.

"Several dozen citizens of Belgrade cannot hold hostage the rest of the city. They were settled there illegally, and it is necessary that they move from there in order for a new boulevard to be built that is needed for the development of that part of the city, and for the events will be held there," said Đilas.

"As for their rights, I said they could realize their rights if they really are citizens of Belgrade and have no other housing options, in line with policy that applies to all our citizens."

Dragan Diljas should be arrested, this is the most cynical failure to provide people with the necessities of life after destroying the only homes they had.

He says he does not want to be blackmailed! clearly he is the victim in all of this and he thinks a mayor of a European city should question the residency credentials of the very children he made homeless during great lent.

PLEASE SOMEONE IN BELGRADE HELP THESE PEOPLE. Please B92 remember your history and activism; resist and expose despotism.

I must admit my disgust with this statement from Djilas.

He sounds like some kind of right wing populist mayor that will unite both Belgrade snobs and the intolerant right wing.

Yes the city doesn't have money, but it sure as hell has a lot of influence and access to property. They must meet the Roma half way. And they must not destroy encampments in future without the permission of Roma leaders, following alternative accomodation etc.

WWW.sportinghearts.org
We will try our best to help the kids.....I will nor forget them.
Today 5th April we have a Truck Run event to raise money for these kids www.dungannontruckrun.com

log on, donate, and help us make a better life for the kids.

Thanks

B92 News Society Society
Romas seek temporary accommodation
4 April 2009 | 10:57 | Source: B92, Beta
BELGRADE -- Residents of a Roma shanty town in New Belgrade, whose ramshackle homes were razed yesterday, persist with their demands.

A file photo of the settlement (FoNet)
A file photo of the settlement (FoNet)

The Roma were evicted from the illegal settlement on Friday in order to build an access road to a Student Games 2009 venue.

Some of them spent the night at the shacks owned by their neighbors, which have not been removed yet, while others protested in front of the Belgrade Assembly, asking to be compensated and provided with temporary accommodation.

Mayor Dragan Đilas says he will try to provide the Roma with accommodation but that he will "not succumb to blackmail".

Yesterday, the settlement's residents blocked a major road in New Belgrade before crossing the river to protest in front of the Belgrade Assembly building.

"Several dozen citizens of Belgrade cannot hold hostage the rest of the city. They were settled there illegally, and it is necessary that they move from there in order for a new boulevard to be built that is needed for the development of that part of the city, and for the events will be held there," said Đilas.

"As for their rights, I said they could realize their rights if they really are citizens of Belgrade and have no other housing options, in line with policy that applies to all our citizens."

Dragan Diljas should be arrested, this is the most cynical failure to provide people with the necessities of life after destroying the only homes they had.

He says he does not want to be blackmailed! clearly he is the victim in all of this and he thinks a mayor of a European city should question the residency credentials of the very children he made homeless during great lent.

PLEASE SOMEONE IN BELGRADE HELP THESE PEOPLE. Please B92 remember your history and activism; resist and expose despotism.

I must admit my disgust with this statement from Djilas.

He sounds like some kind of right wing populist mayor that will unite both Belgrade snobs and the intolerant right wing.

Yes the city doesn't have money, but it sure as hell has a lot of influence and access to property. They must meet the Roma half way. And they must not destroy encampments in future without the permission of Roma leaders, following alternative accomodation etc.

WWW.sportinghearts.org
We will try our best to help the kids.....I will nor forget them.
Today 5th April we have a Truck Run event to raise money for these kids www.dungannontruckrun.com

log on, donate, and help us make a better life for the kids.

Thanks