Last month, The Khronicles ran the first part of an in-depth interview with N. Alikarnassos Mayor Vangelis Sisamakis in which he discussed the multitude of problems in connection with the illegal Gypsy ghetto in his township. In part two of the interview, the mayor discusses possible solutions to the problem.  Following the mayor's remarks is the response from the president of the Pancretan Association of Gypsies.

(Khronicles): What is the first step towards solving these problems?

(Mayor) We truly believed – because of all the discussions we have had with the gypsies and of all the assurances they gave us – that the housing loans were the way to go to solve the problem. It didn't turn out that way, and as a municipality we can't come up with any other solutions on our own. We must have the support of the State.

(The Khronicles): The gypsies claim that as the last nomadic race they have the right to live in a settlement and that the State has the obligation to provide the settlement with electricity and running water. They say they must live in a settlement, clearly so they may carry on their traditions.

(Mayor): The state knows it has an obligation to find a solution, but it renounces its responsibilities. For over 25 years the Alikarnassos municipality has extended its hospitality. But since the State owns its own real estate they must provide them with land for their settlement.

The settlement where the gypsies now live is jointly owned by the municipality and the Cultural and Technological Foundation ETVA, and neither the foundation nor the municipality ever conceded to gift the land to the District. The District had a verbal agreement with ETVA to grant them some real estate in Thraki and in turn the District would build some fundamental systems and render it a liveable and functioning settlement. The public land in Thraki was never given to the foundation although the District began to initiate works on the land here which like I said belongs neither to the District nor the State. That's why the works could not continue.

Personally, we as the municipal government have a different view about the solution. The solution is not to move the gypsies to another ghetto – even if that move improves the conditions of stay – because again in five months and certainly within the year the conditions will be the same as now. The problem is the ghetto conditions of the settlement and that you simply transport the problem from place to place. That's why we have tried to have them integrate into the society but to no avail.  

(Khronicles): Why is the State shuffling its feet on this situation . . . do the Gypsies have a strong voting block?

(Mayor) Out of a current population in this ghetto of about 500 people, only about one hundred are registered to vote, so I don't think it's a fear of being voted out of office.  I must repeat that the first step towards a permanent solution begins with the police and the justice department. At the municipal meeting with all the involved agencies, I presented them with all the evidence that proves that henceforth the gypsies' stay is illegal. Now, the State bears the responsibility to apply the law.

POLICE ACTION IMMINENT

Following the interview with Mayor Sisamakis, this reporter contacted the head of the Iraklion police force, who said he was aware of the situation but couldn't comment at the moment because it was now in the hands of the district attorney's office. A spokesperson for the district attorney's office told The Khronicles that the DA's office has now stepped into the fray and has given the gypsies who have taken the loan to purchase property until the end of last month to move out of the illegal ghetto. Following the deadline, the spokesperson said they would then move on to "the next phase" as ordered by the courts.

THE ROMA RESPONSE

While the mayor and other officials claim the gypsies are living illegally on township land, Thanasis Katsaris, president of the Pancretan Association of Gypsies, during an exclusive interview with The Khronicles, claimed it is not so.

"In 1983 the settlement was pronounced legal by a unanimous decision from the prefecture," he stated. "It is legally ours and we have the papers to prove it. Suddenly, PASOK is trying to eliminate the settlement, with the Prefect ordering the public prosecutor to record the so called 'illegally-raised shacks' with the purpose of taking them down. It's nothing but sensationalism for the upcoming elections!"  

You tap into electric poles and steal electricity while every other Greek citizen has to pay.

When asked about the theft of electric power, Mr. Katsaris admitted gypsies do take electricity illegally, but only because the electric company refuses to install meters in the settlement.

"If we had the meters, we would pay our electricity bills regularly," he said.

When reminded that the gypsies in fact have water meters, and are still obtaining the water illegally since they owe hundreds of thousands of euros to the water company, he stated: "They have only given us 10 water meters and almost 100 people take water from each of the 10 so the water bills each time are huge, and we can't pay because we don't know who has used what."

Mr. Katsaris was then asked why so many gypsies accepted housing loans but still live in the ghetto.

"Demos employees blackmailed my people to sign papers stating that they will leave," he claimed. "Some families already have left from the settlement; while many others have decided to abandon and/or give back the houses they bought with the loan, and/or return the money to the bank. The aim of the Nea Alikarnassos Municipality is the social exclusion of all gypsies. We pay taxes regularly – no one just gives us things. "

Mr. Katsaris stressed that they will take all legal venues, resorting even to the European Union to be vindicated.

"We are on the brink of a social explosion" he said. "We will not be thrown out from our homes here in the settlement."