RIGHT TO HOUSING!

by aleks on 28 May 2009 — Posted in BLOG

Forced eviction of the Romani community in Belgrade that started on 3 April 2009 is going on despite protests and attempts of mediation by UNHCR, OSCE and WHO.
(please scroll down for further information)

We call you to join the anti-racist, anti-fascist meeting on Wednesday, 27.05.2009 at 19.00, to express solidarity with the Romani families living in Blok 67, New Belgrade, Serbia, to adress the violence against Roma in East- and West European countries and to stand up against anticiganist actions spreading all over Europe.

video about the evictions and the protests at
http://www.archive.org/details/BELLEVILLE (english version)
and
http://www.youtube.com/pravonanaseljetv

RIGHT TO HOUSING!


On Wednesday, 27.05.2009 at 19.00
will be held an artistic-activist
solidarity meeting at Block 67 (in the settlement on the field near to
the newly built street and Jurija Gagarina), in which will take part
the residents of the Roma settlement, representatives of
non-governmental organizations and interested citizens.

A platform of solidarity will be formed with speeches and
a video screening to support our neighbors that undergo dramatic
events these days. Because of the irresponsible decisions of
individual city officials and local businessmen their homes are being
destroyed and their existence is in danger.

We call all non-governmental organizations, the broad
cultural-artistic public and all people of good will to join this
solidarity action and to show their willingness to state that the
human rights of all people are equally important and that the defense
of these rights is our responsibility as citizens
.

What we have in common is that we do care about each other - it is our human,
cultural and political choice
- in contrast to the government of Belgrade and
Serbia that takes care exclusively about themselves, their interests
and the interests of the big capital.

We promote a positive image of Serbia showing the anti-racist, anti-fascist and intercultural face of Serbia.

In the talks will participate:
Sonja Prodanović, Zoran Vasić, Nena Kostić, Staša Zajović, Snežana Tabački, Svenka Savić, Adam Šljivo and Rena Raedle and Vladan Jeremić will show their video documentation about the recent events connected to the demolishing of the houses at Block 67 in New Belgrade.
Kontekst will show and hand out posters of the campaign “III Land of
Human Rights”.

The event is organized by: Žene u crnom, Demokratsko Udruženje Roma,
Udruženje Roma “Oaza”, Biro Beograd and KONTEKST.

______________________________

__________

FOR YOUR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Letter issued on Apr 10 2009 by European Roma Rights Centre and Human Rights Watch and adressed to the Serbian authorities:

TO:

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic
Mr Rasim Ljajić, Minister of Labour and Social Policy
Mr Svetozar Čiplić, Minister for Human and Minority Rights
Mr Dragan Đilas, Mayor of Belgrade

Re: Forced Evictions of Romani community in Belgrade

Honourable Sirs:

The European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC)[1] and Human Rights Watch (HRW) are writing to express concern about failure of Serbian authorities to respect the rights of 47 Romani families forcibly evicted from their informal homes in Novi Beograd on 3 April 2009, and to urge you to ensure that in the future similar actions are undertaken in a manner which protects the rights of occupants laid out in international law.

According to media reports and ERRC documentation, on the day in question, police forcibly evicted 128 Romani individuals, including women and children, living in Novi Beograd’s Block 67 and destroyed much of their personal property. Some are displaced persons from Kosovo. The day before the eviction was conducted, residents were officially notified that in 15 days they would be removed from the property; less than 24 hours after the notification was delivered, police arrived with bulldozers to carry out the eviction and destroy their makeshift homes.

Although the evicted persons were told that alternative accommodation in containers was available in the Boljevci settlement in the Municipality of Surčin, residents in Boljevci forcibly prevented the evicted individuals from accessing it. As a result, the evicted Roma, including children, were forced to sleep outside without any shelter on the night of the eviction. Some are now staying with neighbours but at least 12 families remain on the streets. We understand that the Mayor of Belgrade has indicated that the Roma who are not registered residents of Belgrade may not seek assistance from the Centre for Social Assistance and the majority of the affected individuals are therefore not able to access alternative accommodation.

The failure of the authorities to ensure adequate protections to the forcibly evicted community is all the more worrying in light of the fact that several other sizable Romani communities face similar actions in the near future.

As the current President of the Decade for Roma Inclusion, the Serbian government committed to addressing housing as a priority area of action. Your government publicly declared commitments to the “legalization and improvement of Roma settlements, relocation, [provision of] low cost housing and [action] combating discrimination.”[2] In addition, only one week prior to the forced eviction of the concerned Roma, your government enacted a comprehensive new anti-discrimination law, banning discrimination in the area of housing.

Absent provision of adequate alternative housing for all affected individuals, including some form of security of tenure and social assistance for the affected families, the eviction constitutes a gross violation of Serbia’s obligations under international human rights law.

As a State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Serbia is legally obligated to respect, protect and fulfil the right to adequate housing, including the prohibition on forced evictions.[3] The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has defined, in paragraphs 15 and 16 of its General Comment 7, appropriate protections from forced evictions as including the following:

  • (a) an opportunity for genuine consultation with those affected;
  • (b) adequate and reasonable notice for all affected persons prior to the scheduled date of eviction;
  • (c) information on the proposed evictions, and, where applicable, on the alternative purpose for which the land or housing is to be used, to be made available in reasonable time to all those affected;
  • (d) especially where groups of people are involved, government officials or their representatives to be present during an eviction;
  • (e) all persons carrying out the eviction to be properly identified;
  • (f) evictions not to take place in particularly bad weather or at night unless the affected persons consent otherwise;
  • (g) provision of legal remedies; and
  • (h) provision, where possible, of legal aid to persons who are in need of it to seek redress from the courts.

In addition, the Serbian government has a positive obligation to ensure that individuals are not rendered homeless as a result of eviction and, where those affected are unable to provide for themselves, to “take all appropriate measures, to the maximum of its available resources, to ensure that adequate alternative housing, resettlement or access to productive land, as the case may be, is available.”

Since some of the former residents of the Block 67 community are internally displaced persons, they enjoy additional protections enumerated in the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. According to these guidelines, which restate and compile human rights and humanitarian law relevant to internally displaced persons, the state has a positive obligation to ensure access to basic shelter and housing (Principle 18, 2b) and no individual covered by the guidelines shall be deprived of property and possessions (Principle 21).[4]

The eviction conducted on 3 April clearly violates Serbian government’s obligations under international human rights law. On the occasion of International Roma Day, the ERRC and HRW call on your respective offices, in close consultation with Romani organisations, to take immediate and decisive action to ensure an adequate and sustained alternative accommodation to all Roma forcibly evicted by authorities in Novi Beograd on 3 April. In addition, the individuals concerned should be given compensation for lost property and other damage associated with the forced eviction and destruction of property. We also call on you to ensure that other Roma families are protected from forced eviction and that any future actions in relation to evictions are carried out in accordance with Serbia’s international obligations.

We respectfully request you to inform us of the measures undertaken in the matter as a matter of urgency.

Sincerely,

Robert Kushen
ERRC Managing Director

Benjamin Ward
Associate Director
Europe and Central Asia division
Human Rights Watch

TO:

Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic

Mr Rasim Ljajić, Minister of Labour and Social Policy

Mr Svetozar Čiplić, Minister for Human and Minority Rights

Mr Dragan Đilas, Mayor of Belgrade

CC:

Mr Thomas Hammarberg, Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner

Ms Raquel Rolnik, UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing

Ms Polonca Koncar, President of the European Committee of Social Rights

Ambassador Hans Ola Urstad, Head of OSCE Mission to Serbia

Mr Lenart Kotsalainen, Chief of the UNHCR mission to Serbia

Ms Judita Reichenberg, Representative, UNICEF Belgrade

[1] The ERRC is an international public interest law organisation engaging in a range of activities aimed at combating anti-Romani racism and human rights abuse of Roma. The approach of the ERRC involves, in particular, strategic litigation, international advocacy, research and policy development, and training of Romani activists.

[2] Decade of Roma Inclusion 2005-2015″ Serbian Presidency July 1, 2008-June 30, 2009 http://www.romadecade.org/portal/downloads/Decade%20Documents/Serbia%20D…

[3] Article 17(1)(2) of the ICCPR and Article 11(1) of the ICESCR, supported by General Comments 4 (right to adequate housing) and 7 (protection against forced evictions) of the Committee on Economic Social and Cultural Rights.

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1st of May, Labour Day, Freundschaft

by aleks on 1 May 2009 — Posted in fake reality

Few hours ago, it was beautiful weather, now it rains. Let’s hope that for our tonites symposia the weather in Krems will be fine.

An image from today’s action: FREUNDSCHAFT

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Don’t come to Afrika, send money!

by aleks on 28 April 2009 — Posted in fake reality

Hi, this is a quote of my friends blog, the black campaign which I borrow for this call.

As you might know, inside the Slum at the Migingo Island, there is the famous African Maximalism Expo Space, where currently an show by the Massai Mbili Art Collective and the Girlmonsters is on display. My friends Gomba and Ashif from the Massai Mbili Collective asked me if we could find old useful Laptops for them. So if you have any spare ones, pass by these days and make sure your old laptop, won’t end up as waste within the Slums of the world, instead will help these amazing guys to spread their messages even more far.

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First Impressions from the Donaufestival!

by aleks on 28 April 2009 — Posted in fake reality

As expected, the whole thing went off like a bomb, everybody tired and exhausted. Good that uploading images is not really heavy pyshical work!

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2nite opening @ Donaufestival FAKE REALITY & LIVE STREAM

by aleks on 22 April 2009 — Posted in fake reality

shack

Tonight, will be the opening of our permanent installation, on our festival blog df.slum-tv.org you’ll be able to follow the opening and see the first shot’s we’ve done the last days and hours. It was a huge effort to bring so many friends from Nairobi and all over the planet to Krems, but we managed with the help and hard labor of all old friends and new friends, to build our slum here. Migingo Island is the name. Find out what it means! The first right answer I may treat here with a nice piece of goat.

On that image above, you can see the AFRO MAX EXPO SPACE in a very raw version. Find out today on the days later, how it will look like. Tonight is also the Opening of the EXPO SPACE, but the names of the artists are still a big secret.

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Calling Vienna!

by aleks on 10 April 2009 — Posted in BLOG

Hey, we found some TV’s, Computer’s, Goat’s etc.

What we still need is Matrasses!

Ok, we still need also TV’s! So if you are in Vienna, that’s Austria and you have some leftover,

get in touch with me. We’ll reimbourse you with Nyama Choma!

BTW: soon the special Blog for the Festival will be published.

matratze

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Solidarity with Roma in Belgrade!

by aleks on 4 April 2009 — Posted in BLOG

On 3rd of April in New Belgrade, one settlement mainly inhabitated by roma’s, was destroyed. Its 50 houses were home for many people. The workers came early in the morning and the action was performed immediate with no time to react or oppose the legal decision, which was handed in one day earlier. That decision had also an 15 day time frame to legally oppose that decision, but the workers accompanied by the riot police didn’t care much.

The people living there, started to organise themselves and uploaded few videos on the net. Here’s their video.

The channel where you can watch more videos is: Solidarity Appeal: Support Roma Housing
Struggle in Belgrade, Serbia
http://www.youtube.com/user/pravonanaseljetv

Today, Roma organizations and allies in Belgrade, Serbia are organizing a demonstration in response to the demolition of the Roma community’s housing units in Block 67 situated in the New Belgrade. The violent and surprising move to destroy people’s homes and an entire community was organized by the City of Belgrade authorities with the support of Belgrade City Major Dragan Djilas. Your solidarity is needed!

On Friday morning (April 3rd), the forcible and violent eviction of Roma families living in the Block 67 neighborhood began. The residents of this community say that the demolitions began during a surprise invasion beginning at six in the morning led by heavy police presence and special forces. Police brutality resulted in an emergency evacuation of two women from the community. Peoples’ entire belongings were left behind in the ruins. A part of the community is now spending the night in front of the City Council. They are without warm clothes, blankets, food, and medicine (many people had to leave them behind). Residents say that during the day unidentified youth on motorcycles were provoking and instilling fear in the community.

In the meantime, no alternative housing has been secured by the city government, nor is anyone taking care of these needs. Belgrade’s Major Djilas announced that it is “necessary that they be removed from that area so that we can build a new boulevard necessary for the development of the city, and holding of events being planned in the future.” He also threatened to deploy police forces to remove any protesters attempting to bloc the streets. These actions were preceded by a media campaign that justified the expulsion of Roma living in New Belgrade under “security” and “city image” considerations in the lead up to the Universiad 2009. Through his statements, Major Dragan Djilas has contributed to the fascist relationship towards Roma citizens and justified the destruction of their homes. as An “alternative” the city officials are suggesting to remove the building of a fence around the community so that “the city’s deformities won’t be seen during the Universiade.”

Does this mean that the Universiade will be paid for with human lives if necessary?

Our fellow citizens who have been left without home are determined to fight for their rights, their right to life, freedom, housing and work.

Today (Saturday) at 1pm a protest is being organized against the brutal behavior through which the Belgrade government prefers to solve the city’s problems. Support people that have been thrown onto the streets in this violent way. We must stand in solidarity with the Roma of Belgrade, we must not allow that people’s houses are destroyed, that fascist walls are built and that people are fenced into ghettoes!

We call on international solidarity in conjunction with these actions:

PLEASE CONTACT THE FOLLOWING: (1) Mayor’s office of the City of Belgrade; (2) President’s Office of the Republic of Serbia; (3) Head Office of the International University Sports Federation (organizing the Universiade in Belgrade); (4) Your nearest Serbian embassy or consulate.

(1) Mayor’s Office:

E-mail: natasa.golubovic@beogradsg.org.yu
Head of Office, tel: 3246-764, 3229-787
tel: 3247-424, tel/fax: 3344-675
Natasa Golubović
independent expert associate in international affairs

Dear Mayor Dragan Djilas:

I am writing to express my outrage at the recent racist expulsion of 50 families from the Roma community of Block 67, near Belvil in New Belgrade.

I demand that your government take all necessary measures to provide restitution to the residents of the community and prevent any further expulsion of Roma families or their further social exclusion.

Belgrade can not expect to rebrand itself in the eyes of the world by hosting Universiades or Eurovision contests while it continues to deny fundamental rights to housing, employment, life and security to its residents, particularly the most vulnerable and socially excluded.

I demand that your government respond and meet its obligations under a number of international conventions and work towards securing the rights of Roma residents instead of deploying police forces to suppress them and engaging in “social cleansing.”

Kind regards,

____________

(2) President of the Republic of Serbia:

GENERAL SECRETARIAT OF THE
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SERBIA
Andricev venac 1, 11000 Beograd, Serbia
tel: +381 (0)11 3632-007, 3632-136
e-mail: kontakt.predsednik@predsednik.rs
www.predsednik.rs

Dear President Boris Tadic:

I am writing to express my outrage at the recent racist expulsion of 50 families from the Roma community of Block 67, near Belvil in New Belgrade.

I implore your government take all necessary measures to sanction the Belgrade City Authorities and ensure they provide restitution to the residents of this Roma community and work towards preventing any further expulsion of Roma families or their further social exclusion in Serbia.

Belgrade can not expect to rebrand itself in the eyes of the world by hosting Universiades or Eurovision contests while it continues to deny fundamental rights to housing, employment, life and security to its residents, particularly the most vulnerable and socially excluded.

I demand that your government respond and meet its obligations under a number of international conventions and work towards securing the rights of Roma residents instead of deploying police forces to suppress them and engaging in “social cleansing.”

Kind regards,
——————-

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WE NEED TV!

by aleks on 2 April 2009 — Posted in BLOG

tv-set

Hi Everybody in Vienna, Austria. I have to make an announcement. Our Project ‘SLUM-TV’ is invited to perform at the donaufestival in Krems. It will be an very intensive cultural encounter, between members from SLUM-TV who will come from Mathare, and the local people in Krems. Few details are already online on the homepage of the festival, more Information will follow, at our new webpage, which will be released soon, in the next days. Due to that and other activities, it has been impossible to blog, more recently these days, but that will change soon.

One of our goals in Krems is also to involve as much as possible the local people there, there will be also options to sleep over inside our ‘fake’ slum, during the festival. African food, drinks as well. Now we also need your help, if you have any old but working TV’s at home, please give them to us, so we can build a huge kind of TV Set’s installation, which we’ll use as a kind of video wall, during our Kremsgig.  Since few days I have a bus (streetpiratestyle) and i can come and pick up your TV’s, matrasses, old chairs, tables, stuff you guess they would serve us well do decorate our Slum in Krems. Get in contact with me, either via the comments, or you know where to find me.

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Post-presentation

by aleks on 14 March 2009 — Posted in BLOG

Hi everybody, thanks that so many of you attended the presentation, and for the discussion. At some time, when I get the video documentation from the screen and the labfactory i’ll post it in my live section. As many of you asked if there will be soon another presentation, I’m considering to do another one, quite soon, at an alternative space, as there are some exil Kenyans who expressed interest.

A bit more of backround information, the new Wajibu Journal might provide, you can visit my friends blog, where more informtion about Kenya, one year with powersharing Goverment is located.

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Darkwood Dub new Video released

by aleks on 8 March 2009 — Posted in BLOG, SERIOUS POP

Few years ago, together with Andreas Leo Findeisen I did, a research project called ’serious pop’. Our research was around the topic of aehstetical appropriation and started in 2002. Main area of research was former Yugoslavia, but it was always intended to research the role of Art and Culture and what position Artists and Musicians have or choose, when a society faces violent conflicts.

One of the most famous Band, and probably the first eastern European band, which was aired on MTV, was Laibach. A band, using fascists aehstetics to provocate the Yugoslavian Society, was formed also by fine artists, and one of their goal was also to perform the closeness of totaritarian aehstetics, regardless if its from the left or right political wing. To be honest, I think if you never change your way of provocating, and you always stick to promote fascist aehstetics, than it doesn’t matter if you aim to explain that as subversive.

As we understood, serious pop culture also, as the an cultural opposition, an ideological subjectivation, which provides identity, where high culture is not successful, we focused in our Festival, the serious pop summit (Year: 2004) on bands and groups which manage to intrude the main stream without quoting fascists aehstetics, and still with an certain political message. As an now famous example, Eugene Hütz from Gogol Bordello, performed in our festival together with DJ Derbastler from Kiev and the Artist Mike Hentz. Immigrant Punk and Beats like eastern european Wedding Bands on LSD.

From Belgrade, we had Darkwood Dub, a band which lyrics weren’t explicit political, more they described how for a whole generation the years of war were wasting their best years. Their first release after the fall of Slobodan Milosevic, was Zivot pocinje u 30-oj, Life starts with 30th, another masterpiece in their long career.

And in my eyes, the new Video, continues where Zivot pocinje u 30-oj, started. Experimental as usual, high quality production and one of the most interesting bands in the region. Beside huge musical creativity, one of their members, Vladimir Vlidi Jeric, is also a known activist and pubished his opinon on SLUM-TV, in our newspaper (free download).

For more information on serious pop, visit the serious pop category or click in the related posts, where you can find TV reports on the Summit, Video from the Eugene Hütz, DJ Derbastler and Mike Hentz Performance…

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