The state wants to evict Roma residents from Halandri for illegal occupation of land despite Greek law that grants ownership rights to anyone who possesses the land for longer than 20 years. The Roma community at the settlement was told that they would be relocated to Megara, near Corinth, however members of the community complain that they would be far from schools and medical aid. Efforts to demolish the compound were met with resistance on Tuesday, however the demolition of 12 vacant buildings has been postponed for Wednesday morning.
General Secretary of Decentralised Administration Manolis Angelakas negotiated with representatives of Halandri’s Roma settlement and, after many hours of discussion, agreed for a six-month postponement for their relocation and is looking for a new settlement in collaboration with the Municipality of Halandri.
On Tuesday, they had barricaded themselves behind road blocks to protect their camp, a slum compound, from being demolished.
They blocked off Mesogeion Avenue and set dumpsters on fire in the area outside their settlement, that is located near the Nomismatokopeio, the Greek National Mint. As a result of the protest, major traffic arteries were closed causing delays in the area.
After 12 hours of road-blocking the police were kept away and they managed to save their settlement for the time being.
