Police Abuse of Romanian Roma
18 May 2007
According to information published by the Romanian Romani organisation Romani CRISS, on 7 September 2006, police attacked thirty-six Roma and one non- Roma during an intervention in the predominantly Romani neighbourhood Apalina in the northern Romanian town of Reghin.
Romani CRISS reported that approximately fifteen police officers entered Apalina on the date in question, claiming to be looking for two suspects in an alleged attack on a police officer. During confrontations involving the police, local Romani residents and Romanian Special Police Forces, thrity-six Roma and one non- Roma were injured. Police used tear gas spray, tear grenades, truncheons, guns and pistols during the incident. Seventeen of the victims were women and five were minors. In total, twentytwo Roma were shot and fifteen were hit or threatened with a gun. One of the victims, a 54-year-old Romani woman, was reportedly sweeping her front yard when she was shot in the back.
A press release by the Reghin Police Department issued just after the incident stated that two police officers were injured during the incident. However, reports issued by the police in the following days reportedly changed somewhat, stating that the officers entered the neighbourhood in order to hand out citations and that six officers had medical certificates attesting to their injuries. The Minister of Administration and Interior, Mr Vasile Blaga, stated publicly that the "Police have done their duty and respected the legal framework and the event, although regrettable, cannot be blamed on the law enforcement officials who had to defend themselves from a violent mob of over 150 people. [The police] defended themselves to avoid being seriously injured or even lynched."
Romani CRISS also reported that some of the injured Roma were denied medical care and/ or were prematurely released from hospital. In addition, some physicians reportedly refused to remove bullets from people's bodies to avoid being connected to the incident.
In February 2007, the General Police Inspectorate announced that following an internal investigation in relation to the incidents in Apalina, all officers involved were cleared of any responsibility.
(Romani CRISS)
