Romania: Stop new forced eviction of Roma in Baia Mare

Romani families in the Craica settlement in the town of Baia Mare, Romania, are at imminent risk of a new forced eviction.

On 2 August, approximately 30 families reportedly received orders asking them to leave their houses by 5 August.  Around 15 houses were demolished on 5 August, and the remaining families could be forcibly evicted at any time.

The spring and summer 2012 witnessed a campaign of forced eviction perpetrated by the local authorities, which culminated in the eviction of about half of the residents of the informal settlement of Craica.  The evictees were relocated to inadequate housing conditions in buildings of a former chemical factory, and after the 2012 evictions approximately 500 people continued to live in Craica.

However on 2 August, an estimated 30 families received demolition orders issued by the local police, informing them that their properties lacked the necessary authorisation and had to be demolished by 5 August.   It further threatened that failure to comply would result in forced demolitions carried out by the local authority.

The residents were apparently told that if they demolish their houses, they would be allowed to build new ones in a different part of Craica. In good fate,three families complied with the order and demolished their homes, but unfortunately the residents of these houses have not yet been provided with any alternative housing.

For a number years the residents of Craica have been living in fear of new forced evictions that may result in them being rendered homeless.  The local authorities have so far showed little or no respect for their right to adequate housing and their right to be protected from forced evictions, and the national authorities have done little to ensure that those responsible for these human rights violations are held accountable.

TAKE ACTION

Please write immediately in English, Romanian or your own language:

* Urging the local authorities of Baia Mare to immediately halt the evictions, and demolitions of homes, of all the Craica residents, and to provide all those already evicted with adequate alternative housing;

* Reminding the Baia Mare authorities that any evictions of the communities currently living in Craica may be carried out only as a last resort and in full compliance with international human rights standards;

* Calling on the authorities in Baia Mare to refrain from any eviction until genuine consultation with the affected communities has been conducted in order to identify all feasible alternatives to evictions and resettlement options, and until adequate alternative housing, compliant with requirements under human rights law, is provided to all persons affected.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 16 SEPTEMBER 2013 TO:  (Time difference = GMT + 2 hrs / BST + 1 hrs)

Mayor of Baia Mare
Catalin Chereches
Primaria Municipiului Baia Mare
Str. Gh. Sincai nr. 37, etaj 1, cam. 9
Baia Mare, Romania
Fax: 0040 262 212 332
Email: primar@baiamarecity.ro
Salutation: Dear Mayor

Prime Minister
Victor Ponta
Guvernul Romaniei
Piata Victoriei nr. 1
Sector 1, Bucuresti, Romania
Fax: 0040 213 13 98 46
Email: drp@gov.ro
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister

And copies to:
Prefect of Maramures
Anton Rohian
Institutia Prefectului-Judetul Maramures
Str. Gheorghe Sincai nr. 46
430311, Baia Mare, Romania
Fax: 0040 262 213241
Email: prefect@prefecturamaramures.ro

PLEASE SEND COPIES OF YOUR APPEAL TO

His Excellency Dr Ion Jinga, Embassy of Romania, Arundel House, 4 Palace Green, London W8 4QD

Fax: 020 7937 8069        Email: londra@mae.ro