site.btaMRF Condemns Clashes in Assenovgrad, Warns against Incitement to Hatred

MRF Condemns Clashes in Assenovgrad, Warns against Incitement to Hatred

Sofia, June 30 (BTA) - The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Friday slammed clashes with Roma people in the southern town of Assenovgrad and warned against incitement to hatred. "We have witnessed a case of brutal violence in Assenovgrad, which MRF strongly condemns," said MRF leader Mustafa Karadayi in Parliament on Friday. In a statement on behalf of the MRF group he said that the ensuing tensions in Assenovgrad are a troubling sign of the state of society.

Some 1,500 people joined a protest outside the Town Hall in the southern town of Assenovgrad on Wednesday evening with calls for removal of Roma people from the town after clashes between residents of the local Roma neighbourhood with youths from a rowing club during practice. The spark was an incident on June 26 when a group of Roma men kicked up a row with youths in the Forty Springs Lake near the town. The conflict escalated and moved in the centre of Assenovgrad later in the day where the Roma reportedly assaulted the young rowers, their coaches and parents. Some rowers sustained unspecified injuries. Nine of the attackers were arrested and charged with hooliganism, of whom two with aggravated battery. Some of the suspects were found to have criminal records.

Hate speech, indictment to hatred and officialization of hatred is about to pose problems for democracy in Bulgaria, said Karadayi. "You can't put out a fire with oil," he warned, referring to inflammatory statements by Deputy Prime Minister Valeri Simeonov. "When the state tolerates people who demonstrate their hatred and behave aggressively, this is a signal to the public," the MRF leader said.

He added there was general neglect towards violence, acts of hatred and ethnic tension.

Plovdiv District Prosecutor Roumen Popov said that tensions in Assenovgrad haven't subsided yet and that police presence remains beefed up. He did not rule out more arrests of participants in the clashes when their identities are established. More charges are pending for issuing death threats.

However, Popov said there was evidence for agitators at both protests. He said that their identities are being established. Plovdiv Police Department chief Atanas Ilkov denied firmly any police violence during Thursday's protest.

A hearing on the restraint measures for the nine Roma detainees was scheduled for Friday but their lawyers asked for time to study the case file.

In a statement on Friday, the United Patriots urged for measures which will ensure public order. On behalf the group Milen Mihov said that the tensions in Assenovgrad were provoked "by the outrageous deeds of an arrogant group of Gypsies who attacked with poles, stones and shovels Bulgarian children". "This blatant act is a consequence of a nearly 30-year long State policy to tolerate the crimes and give limitless rights to this ethnic group without imposing any obligations. Tolerance for any crimes today will explode tomorrow just as we see it in Europe," he warned.