3-December-2004
The Vilnius administration has sent bulldozers to demolish Rroma houses that have been deemed to be built illegally.
All TV stations, in their evening news, stated that all Rroma houses (in this seggregated district) should be destroyed as a measure "against the spread of drug dealing" as per a recent resolution of the Vilnius Municipality. Other media informed previously that only uninhabited shacks would be be destroyed.
Three of the four houses that were destroyed yesterday were inhabited and their owners are now without a roof, this in the middle of the winter. The action is continuing today. Most of these houses have been standing since several decades, and some of these settlements have been standing for more than fifty years.
While the Vilnius municipality has the right to remove illegal housing, there are laws stating that this should be done only at least one day after the tenants have moved to other housing but there are few opportunities for social housing in this city.
Two activists are currently following this action and will continue to inform. One of them was beaten up yesterday by the police while filming the destruction.
Ms. Ausra Simoniukstyte, lecturer at the Vilnius University
Mobile +370 611 55142 sima11@takas.lt
Mr. Saulius Berzinis, documentalist
Mobile: +370 698 06788 berkopa@hotmail.com