October 2001. The situation of Rroma in Western and Northern Macedonia is quite worrying. This report represents a fist hand account of the actual situation in those regions as well as what happened during the conflict.
A FIRST HAND REPORT OF THE SITUATION OF RROMA IN MACEDONIA
Rroma Foundation, October 2001
BACKGROUND
In a preceding report, issued by the Rroma Foundation in August 2001 (see www.rroma.org ), based on the information that was available to us through our contacts, we were concerned that the situation in Macedonia, in spite of the involvement of the NATO and the official disarmament of the Albanian rebels, the very same pattern that we already observed in Kosovo would be repeated in Macedonia. This pattern, whereby Rroma are first asked to declare themselves as “Albanians”, this under extreme pressure from Albanians, and then are evicted, are accused of collaboration with the other side by all parties involved etc. is well known. In Kosovo has resulted in a flood of Rroma refugees and in very little of the original Rroma population still being in the country.
In view of this, as well as responding to the dire situation of the refugees, the Foundation has sent one of its representatives to the region, this for a period of 15 days in late September. We had also distributed some financial help, mostly to families with small school-age children so that these could continue to attend school.
Unfortunately, the situation was even worse that we expected. Our representative, although well known in the region, was arrested by the Albanians flying the UCK flag and part of the material he had collected (video tapes, addresses etc.) was confiscated, besides money and mobile phone being stolen. In addition, our representative was beaten up by these Albanians and told he should better not come back.
Nevertheless, we obtained filmed material from several places. What is scary for the people who took the risk of filming there is that almost immediately after starting, Albanians seem to appear “out of nowhere” and start asking questions as to why they are filming. Under these conditions of fear and intimidation, work has been extremely difficult and does not bode well for the future of the Rroma minority in the region.
TETOVO
As already noted in our previous report, many if not most of the destroyed houses are Rroma houses. In fact, the UCK used many Rroma houses on the front line during the fights as sniper’s nests or as headquarters, drawing the fire of the Macedonia army towards these specific houses. Luckily, with the exception of one Rrom who burnt to death in his house, most Rroma were able to flee before it was too late.
The Rroma houses that were not destroyed were pillaged, with UCK written in red in the rooms, a measure of intimidation. All that could be taken away was, the rest was utterly destroyed, couches were ripped open, cupboards axed, dirt, old food, even excrements are all overt the place. This seems to have been a thoroughly organised action. Fact is that all the families are now totally destitute.
Other unfortunately “standard” practices already seen in Kosovo are also being implemented in Macedonia against Rroma. While our representative was there, a young Rroma girl, 16 years old, said she was abducted by Albanians and repeatedly raped by as many as 14 Albanians.
There have been absolutely no reactions or help from the local administration or police. In fact, the police and the Slav Macedonian population seem to consider Rroma as pro-Albanians, as Rroma are mostly Moslems with Albanian names and since almost all Rroma of the region also speak Albanian. This sentiment is underscored by the fact that Macedonian nationalists, at night and usually drunk, drive through the remaining Rroma neighbourhoods with ultra-nationalist music blaring.
From Albanians, especially from the rebels, Rroma are repeatedly asked to take the Albanian side. In view of what happened, this amounts to threats. In another town, in Negotin, the market, were many Rroma worked before the rebellion, is controlled by Albanian militias. These are intimidating Rroma, as one of hem certified us and are asking them to join the rebellion, to help etc. although all know that this will not prevent their homes to be looted or burnt. To give but a hint of the current situation, our representative was halted by Albanian militias on the road to Gostivar. They were extremely friendly as long as everybody spoke Albanian. As soon as they realised they had to do with Rroma, the situation deteriorated rapidly. Our representative could escape as one of the Albanians knew his family well and intervened.
REFUGEES
In view of the current and past situation, it is not surprising that Rroma have fled. They still have not gone back, especially in the zone of Tetovo where most of them lived and that now constitutes a kind of no man’s land in that city. They fled with only what they could carry, without clothes or anything.
Many of those Rroma used to work on the market. This source of income has now vanished, not least because they cannot go to the places they usually worked, as these are under Albanian control. In the case of state employees or pensioners, these are paid in coupons, coupons that can only be redeemed in special shops, where, needless to say, the prices are curiously much higher than elsewhere. Pensioners get ca. 80.- DM per months, less than is required to survive.
Clothes for the winter are lacking, and even if these refugees could return to their homes, there would be nothing there to be used, as these have been looted. In the case of the ca. 130 families who have fled to Dojran, a lakeside resort, a bit of help has arrived (from the Red Cross). Unfortunately, Macedonian seem not to want to distribute it to Rroma, always saying that the distribution will take place “later”.
While in the beginning, that is, as long as these Rroma could pay for their rooms, they were rather well received, the situation has by now deteriorated. In many cases, families had to find other lodgings, in barracks or more families in one room.
The situation of families with little children is even worse. For those children to attend school, they need to pay for books, for school fees and the like. So many of these children are de-facto pushed out of the educational system, a pattern of marginalisation in a country where Rroma are usually rather well integrated, at least in the North Eastern part.
Should no help for these Rroma arrive soon, most of them have indicated that they will try to leave the country, become refugees. This is exactly what we feared and indicated could happen in our firt report of the situation of Rroma in Macedonia. We hope that yet another exodus can and will be prevented.