Civil society, US Embassy react to Roma evictions in Baia Mare

Newsroom 07/06/2012 | 13:03

The situation of the Roma in Baia Mare has raised public concern from many NGOs, alongside the US Embassy in Bucharest.

The Baia Mare City Hall is currently relocating the Roma population from the Craica district of the city to a commercial building previously occupied by Cuprom, the leading copper company in Romania and one of the largest in Eastern Europe. Cuprom operates secondary smelting, refining, casting, drawing, bunching and enameling facilities.

According to numerous reports in Romanian and international media, within hours of the move to the Cuprom building many of the relocated families, and particularly their children, became ill and required emergency medical attention. According to these reports, the building apparently was never inspected or made safe for human habitation. Toxic chemicals were left unsecured and no provision for proper sleeping quarters, sanitary facilities or food preparation was made.

The Embassy of the United States has expressed its concerned with the most recent actions by the authorities in Baia Mare with regard to Roma residents of the city. They stated that “The current situation constitutes a failure by the city authorities to provide basic protections to its citizens. It also contributes to the strong perception of willful discrimination towards the Roma community.”

The National Council against Discrimination (CNCD) is also analyzing this situation and they expect a report of whether it is a situation of discrimination or a criminal action that put people’s lives at risk. In fact, CNCD is trying to establish if this institution has jurisdiction or not on this subject.