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In view of reports of indiscriminate police actions against the Roma community in Vitòria da Conquista (Brazil) [editar]

Statement by the Fundación Secretariado Gitano

20/07/2021
Fundación Secretariado Gitano

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In view of reports of indiscriminate police actions against the Roma community in Vitòria da Conquista (Brazil)

According to local media reports, as well as entities such as the Instituto Cigano do Brasil, on 13 July 2021, in the district of Zé Gonçalves (municipality of Vitòria da Conquista), an altercation took place between two police officers and a Roma family that lives in the neighbourhood. As a result of this confrontation, two Roma people and the two policemen involved in the conflict were killed.

Following this regrettable event, the local media and witnesses reported a series of violent acts of reprisal against Roma in the same neighbourhood by military police officers. Several people were shot, and six of them died. There have also been reports about attacks on vehicles and homes of Roma people in the neighbourhood. All these acts of reprisal have created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity among the Roma community in the municipality.

In view of these events, the Fundación Secretariado Gitano wishes to state the following:

  1. The Roma community as a whole cannot suffer reprisals for the incident that has provoked this wave of indiscriminate attacks by the military police, for which only those who are considered responsible for the events, within the framework of an impartial investigation and a fair procedure, should be held accountable.
  1. It is urgent that the local (Vitòria da Conquista), regional (Bahia) and national authorities take action to stop the widespread harassment and attacks on the Roma community in the city.
  1. The authorities should also ensure a prompt, timely and effective investigation of the facts, i.e. the police abuses, including the shootings resulting in death, as well as into the possible racist and antigypsyism hate motives of the military police.
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