Angry Roma rioted in Stolipinovo and other suburbs in Bulgaria’s second largest city of Plovdiv after their electricity was cut off for non-payment.
The power supply utility disconnected the whole neighbourhood on Monday after unpaid bills, dating back several years, reached the multi-million leva mark.
The riot was one of several triggered by poverty and unemployment among the 35,000 Roma who live in Stolipinovo.
The crowd stoned policemen and beat a bus driver in Plovdiv late Monday, after the power was cut off.
Police authorities responsible for the suburb of Stolipinovo urged Roma leaders to meet with power officials to draw up a compromise payment plan. Police stepped up patrols and the city workers pledged to deliver firewood to brace against the low temperatures.
The Roma say the real problem is unemployment, which is at 70 per cent in their community, compared to the around 18 percent national unemployment rate.
The cuts have caused resentment among those not of Roma descent.
About 300 non-Roma families in Stolipinovo are urging the local government to give them houses elsewhere, arguing that the bill question has led to constant power outages.
“We can’t stand this torture any more,” said Diana Ilieva, quoted by the Associated Press (AP). “We pay our bills regularly but we get no electricity because of the Roma. They brought us back to the 18th century,” Ilieva said.
Trouble began at about 7 p.m. on Monday when the lights failed to go on. Outraged consumers erected roadblocks with garbage cans and started to stone cars passing by. Police sealed off the area, but did not intervene to quell the riot. The crowd broke into stores and smashed the windows of cars and buses before tiring and going home around midnight.
Plovdiv Mayor Ivan Chomakov said the problem with the unpaid electricity bills had existed for years and was unlikely to be solved by force.
Regional governor Gyoka Hadjipetrov said all sides, including the Government, should try reach a reasonable solution but the authorities should by no means give in to the pressure of local people because hardly anyone pays his electricity and water bills while they all get substantial welfare benefits.
Roumen Dimitrov, a spokes-person for the local electricity distribution company, said the company would not bow to pressure and the only solution was for people to start paying their bills.
Unrest in Stolipinovo and the other suburbs continued on Tuesday. Crowds of people blocked streets in Stolipinovo and the road access to the Trakia motorway, and motor traffic from Plovdiv to the international road had to be detoured. Despite the assembled people and the makeshift barricades, local police had the situation in the suburbs under control.
Colonel Ilian Yordanov confirmed that he had talked to Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Boiko Borissov and with the chiefs of the specialised police services which were ready to provide assistance if necessary. He denied that heavy special-purpose vehicles had entered the Roma suburbs and urged the protesters to behave reasonably.
In a special declaration, Mayor Chomakov said he “categorically denies support to the riotous actions which threaten to turn the country into a state of lawlessness” and called on citizens to show reason and composure.
Conferring Tuesday afternoon, the Mayor, the Regional Governor, the police chief, power distribution company executives, and representatives of the protesting Roma reached an agreement by which the power supply debtors in the Roma suburbs should pay 10 per cent of the amount due for January, which is 299,000 leva ($134,000). For the purpose, six temporary bill payment offices were opened in the Roma suburbs.
According to Plovdiv Electricity Distribution Company Executive Director Vassil Kirchev, if the agreement is honoured and the sum agreed is paid, the company is prepared to restore power supply in the suburbs immediately.
Bulgaria has a Gypsy minority of about 300,000. Government efforts to integrate the community into the larger society have failed.
The power supply utility disconnected the whole neighbourhood on Monday after unpaid bills, dating back several years, reached the multi-million leva mark.
The riot was one of several triggered by poverty and unemployment among the 35,000 Roma who live in Stolipinovo.
The crowd stoned policemen and beat a bus driver in Plovdiv late Monday, after the power was cut off.
Police authorities responsible for the suburb of Stolipinovo urged Roma leaders to meet with power officials to draw up a compromise payment plan. Police stepped up patrols and the city workers pledged to deliver firewood to brace against the low temperatures.
The Roma say the real problem is unemployment, which is at 70 per cent in their community, compared to the around 18 percent national unemployment rate.
The cuts have caused resentment among those not of Roma descent.
About 300 non-Roma families in Stolipinovo are urging the local government to give them houses elsewhere, arguing that the bill question has led to constant power outages.
“We can’t stand this torture any more,” said Diana Ilieva, quoted by the Associated Press (AP). “We pay our bills regularly but we get no electricity because of the Roma. They brought us back to the 18th century,” Ilieva said.
Trouble began at about 7 p.m. on Monday when the lights failed to go on. Outraged consumers erected roadblocks with garbage cans and started to stone cars passing by. Police sealed off the area, but did not intervene to quell the riot. The crowd broke into stores and smashed the windows of cars and buses before tiring and going home around midnight.
Plovdiv Mayor Ivan Chomakov said the problem with the unpaid electricity bills had existed for years and was unlikely to be solved by force.
Regional governor Gyoka Hadjipetrov said all sides, including the Government, should try reach a reasonable solution but the authorities should by no means give in to the pressure of local people because hardly anyone pays his electricity and water bills while they all get substantial welfare benefits.
Roumen Dimitrov, a spokes-person for the local electricity distribution company, said the company would not bow to pressure and the only solution was for people to start paying their bills.
Unrest in Stolipinovo and the other suburbs continued on Tuesday. Crowds of people blocked streets in Stolipinovo and the road access to the Trakia motorway, and motor traffic from Plovdiv to the international road had to be detoured. Despite the assembled people and the makeshift barricades, local police had the situation in the suburbs under control.
Colonel Ilian Yordanov confirmed that he had talked to Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Boiko Borissov and with the chiefs of the specialised police services which were ready to provide assistance if necessary. He denied that heavy special-purpose vehicles had entered the Roma suburbs and urged the protesters to behave reasonably.
In a special declaration, Mayor Chomakov said he “categorically denies support to the riotous actions which threaten to turn the country into a state of lawlessness” and called on citizens to show reason and composure.
Conferring Tuesday afternoon, the Mayor, the Regional Governor, the police chief, power distribution company executives, and representatives of the protesting Roma reached an agreement by which the power supply debtors in the Roma suburbs should pay 10 per cent of the amount due for January, which is 299,000 leva ($134,000). For the purpose, six temporary bill payment offices were opened in the Roma suburbs.
According to Plovdiv Electricity Distribution Company Executive Director Vassil Kirchev, if the agreement is honoured and the sum agreed is paid, the company is prepared to restore power supply in the suburbs immediately.
Bulgaria has a Gypsy minority of about 300,000. Government efforts to integrate the community into the larger society have failed.
