THE UNITED Nations’ High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, does not believe that the police raid in Moldava nad Bodvou was investigated objectively.
The High Commissioner requested the Slovak government’s report about the case in August. The Foreign Ministry delivered the report on October 9, 2013, complete with the cabinet’s stance and a statement of the government’s proxy for Roma communities, the Sme daily reported.
The High Commissioner’s press office confirmed their “serious concerns” about the case.
“We don’t believe that the governmental inspection of the police action in Moldava nad Bodvou was objective, therefore we support the ombudswoman’s report to the case,” Cecile Pouilly from the press office said, as quoted by Sme.
The incident took place on June 19. Eyewitnesses claim that members of SWAT units in approximately 20 cars rode into Moldava nad Bodvou’s Budulovská Roma settlement late in the afternoon and raided homes of Roma, according to a statement issued by ETP Slovensko.
Police detained 15 people. Some 30 people were reportedly injured during the raid, according to the group.
The raid was preceded by a conflict involving some settlement residents with a police patrol after a party on the night of June 16, according to ETP Slovensko. That conflict saw police detain two local Roma men. One was released four days later and the other remains in custody, according to Sme. Both are being prosecuted in connection with the altercation, during which a police patrol car was damaged.
Locals contend that the June 19 raid came as revenge for the earlier incident, according to the testimonies recorded by the Roma Media Centre (MECEM).
Source: Sme
Compiled by Michaela Terenzani from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information
presented in its Flash News postings.
