Albania Police Criticised After Attack On Roma Camp

Albanian police are being accused of racism by local media, after a Roma camp on the outskirts of Tirana was burned down three days ago by perpetrators that have not yet been found.

Besar Likmeta

Tirana

Roma family in Laprake | Photo by : UNHCR

Some dwellers in the camp, which was home to roughly 40 families, told local media the attackers arrived at night and beat them with sticks while setting fire to their barracks over several days, pressuring them to relocate.

The residents of the camps say the police failed to prevent the attacks and provide protection for the families, who now have moved to live in settlements in Tirana and other cities.

It remains unclear if the attack was the result of racism or instigated by the financial interests of real estate developers looking to build in the area.

Police denied on Friday that they had disregarded the laws against discrimination of minorities and the protection of children while dealing with the case.

According to the police statement, the Roma “initiated the conflict” with their neighbors that then escalated.

“We have questioned the Roma about the fire that swept their dwelling but they have refused to testify,” read the statement.

According to the Union for Albanian Roma, a Tirana-based NGO, up to 150,000 Roma people live in Albania, part of a community that struggles with discrimination, poor literacy rates and massive unemployment.