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Belgium: Roma caught in deportation trap

01 September 1999

Fifty Roma have been caught in a deportation trap. Using techniques chillingly reminiscent of thirties Germany, Gent police invited 150 Roma to come to their local police station to "round off their files". Over 50 people turned up, only to find themselves detained and sent to the notorious 127bis asylum centre in Steenokkerziel. They were deported to Slovakia. The trap also extended to children whose parents had been detained. In what has been described as a well prepared plan by the Belgian home office children were hauled out of school by police following the arrest of their parents. Gent police have also begun arresting people in their homes. Anti-deportation campaigners are now warning asylum seekers and migrant communities to expect widescale round-ups. The Belgian government has denied setting traps, claiming that the Roma were free to go home if that was what they wanted to do. However, a lawyer for the Roma has described the government claim as "rubbish". He stated:

"...people turned up at police stations suspecting nothing. They were offered a stark choice; agree to deportation or go home and be arrested by the police. The thirties are back."

Although they are described as economic migrants, recent reports have suggested that Roma living in Eastern Europe have genuine reasons to fear for their lives. They allege that Slovakian police have been cooperating with far-right groups in attacking Roma ghettoes. In one recent raid police beat a one-year old child on the sole if his feet, whilst in the Czech Republic 27 roma have been killed by racists in the last ten years. The deportations have not gone unopposed. A demonstration against deportations held outside Steenokkerziel was broken up by police using water cannons, injuring one demonstrator in the process.

Solidair 6.10.99.