BackOn 23/03/2016, a meeting was held with representatives of the Office of the OSCE Presence in Albania in the premises of the People’s Advocate Institution. During this meeting PA's experts presented issues regarding the complaints submitted to the Ombudsman Institution by the representatives of Roma community settled in Sharra waste disposal site in the outskirts of Tirana.
The complaints filed by the Roma community representatives have to do with a verbal warning issued to the families of the complainants, as well as to all other Roma families residing closer to Sharra dump site area, urging them to leave that territory and announcing the demolition of the makeshift shanties they live in. This warning, according to the complainants, was issues by some employees of the Tirana Municipal Police, as well as by employees of Tirana Municipality.
The Roma community representatives expressed concerns related to what will eventually happen to them in the aftermath, in terms of their living conditions and access to housing, at least to a hut as a shelter. Moreover, their biggest concern was related to the fact that, according to the warning done, they should leave the area where they reside, otherwise their shanties would be destroyed by the Inspectorate of the Territorial Protection of Tirana Municipality.
The meeting highlighted the fact that the People’s Advocate Institution has already initiated an administrative investigation to review these complaints, by seeking explanations and copies of official documentation from the Tirana Municipality. Likewise, through an official letter it was requested from Tirana mayor to organize a meeting with representatives of the Ombudsman Institution, which would discuss about this issue, given it represents an emergency.
Furthermore, it was stressed that if there would be no response expected by the Municipality of Tirana, then from our side would be prepared and sent a recommendation drawing attention to the legal treatment of the issue, by evoking once again the principles and international standards in the cases of forceful (potential) displacements. It was also noted that Ombudsman, as in all matters pertaining to Roma and Egyptian communities, will follow up closely and attentively all this development.
Source: Republic of Romania People’s Advocate
