We reported in an earlier article, Is the House Demolitions Virus Spreading Abroad? on house demolitions in Libya and Mexico being imposed on minority groups. In the article below, Amnesty International reports on threatened evictions and house demolitions of Roma in Belgrade, capital of Serbia.
Again, this seems to be reflecting Jeff Halper’s consistent warning that the strategies developed by Israel for the oppression and control of the Palestinians are becoming a marketable intelligence and population subversion model to be exported abroad to other regimes with “undesirable” minorities.
Below is the Amnesty International report:
VICIOUS CIRCLE OF FORCED EVICTIONS IN SERBIA
YUGOSLAVIA
The authorities in Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, are preparing to carry out the latest in a series of forced evictions of Roma communities living in informal settlements. At least 70 homes in an area known as Vidikovac will be demolished. The families who live there could be left homeless as a result of
the evictions.
In mid-June, Romani families living in Vidikovac, an area in the Belgrade municipality of Cukarica, received eviction notices, stating that their houses would be demolished in early July. While the evictions did not take place in early July, Amnesty International understands that they may take place within the next few days. The families are worried they could be forced out of their homes at any time without warning. They have not been consulted by the city authorities; they have not been offered any compensation or alternative accommodation.
A number of Roma families living in Vidikovac were forcibly returned to Serbia from several European Union (EU) states between 2006 and 2008. Many of them originate from southern Serbia, which they had left in the1990s to seek better economic opportunities. In their home towns they do not have access to adequate housing or employment opportunities and, on return to Serbia, they therefore joined other Roma living
in informal settlements across Belgrade. The Belgrade
authorities plan to remove all the city’s informal Roma settlements. However, they have failed to come up with a sustainable solution that ensures the human rights of the inhabitants of these settlements. As a result, those in the settlements live in constant fear of forced eviction.
Under international law, evictions may be carried out only as a last resort, once other alternatives have been explored in genuine consultation with the affected communities. The authorities then have a duty to provide them with adequate notice; and must ensure that no families are made homeless or vulnerable to the violation of other human rights as a consequence of eviction. This includes providing them with legal remedies, including provision of adequatecompensation.
The Serbian government has a duty to ensure that the
authorities in Belgrade abide by international law.
PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in English or your own language:
* Urging the city authorities not to forcibly evict the Romani families living in Vidikovac;
* Calling on them to develop a comprehensive and sustainable resettlement and compensation plan for the Vidikovac community and all affected communities in Belgrade.
* Urging them to ensure that any such resettlement plans are developed in genuine consultation with the Vidikovac community, and fully respect their human rights, including the right to adequate housing.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS TO: (Time difference = GMT + 1 hrs / BST as UK)
Mayor of Belgrade
Dragan Djilas
Dragoslava Jovanovica 2,
Belgrade 11000, Serbia
Email: gradonacelnik@beogradsg.org.rs
Alternative email: natasa.golubovic@beogradsg.org.rs
Salutation: Dear Mr Djilas
Minister for Human and Minority Rights
Svetozar Ciplic
Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 2
11000 Beograd, Serbia
Email: kabinet@ljudskaprava.gov.rs
Fax: +00381 11 311 39 29
Also send copies to:
President of the Republic of Serbia
Boris Tadic
Predsednik Republike Srbije
Andricev Venac 1
11000 Beograd, Serbia
Email: kontakt.predsednik@predsednik.rs
PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEAL TO:
Minister for Labour and Social Policy
Rasim Ljajic,
Bulevar Mihaila Pupina 2,
Belgrade 11000,
Serbia
Fax: 00381 11 3114-650
Email: ministar@minrzs.gov.rs
PLEASE CHECK WITH THE UK SECTION IF SENDING APPEALS AFTER 10
SEPTEMBER 2010.
Individuals At Risk Programme
* including Urgent Actions
Tel: 020 7033 1572
Fax: 020 7033 1503
Email: iar@amnesty.org.uk
Web: www.amnesty.org.uk/cases
Amnesty International UK
Human Rights Action Centre
17-25 New Inn Yard
London
EC2A 3EA
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