VILNIUS - The Roma community in Vilnius expressed outrage at the municipality's decision to establish a police post in the Kirtimai district's Roma quarter and said it intends to complain to President Valdas Adamkus, and possibly the European Court of Human Rights.
By establishing a police post in the Roma quarter, which is one of the biggest drug production and distribution areas of Vilnius, the state expects to stop the flow of narcotics in the area.
On Sept. 30 work on the new police station had to be postponed when the enraged local Roma community verbally lashed out at municipality officials and workers involved with the project.
The situation has calmed since then and further project development has not been hindered.
Vilnius Mayor Arturas Zuokas met with members of the Roma community at the Roma Culture Center on Oct. 4 to discuss the issue. Roma who failed to attend the meeting gathered outside the center, venting about the police post to local journalists.
"Give us jobs, and we won't sell drugs," an elderly Roma woman said.
Most of the protesters said they were offended by the Vilnius authorities' failure to discuss the issue with representatives.
"The mayor had no right to do this without [talking to] us," said Stepas Visockis, chairman of the Lithuanian Roma Community. He said that since there was a fear of police among Roma the post would trouble many residents.
Visockis did, however, express happiness over the mayor's pledge to improve Roma living conditions, although it did not change his opinion on the new station.
"As to the police post, we will collect signatures and address Strasbourg," he said, adding that before taking such measures he would complain to the president's office.
After meeting with the Roma community, Zuokas told journalists that the post would be open and functioning within a few days.
"It will ensure security and public order, as well as providing other services, since Roma often have document registration problems," the mayor said.
Officers stationed at the police post, who will be working all-day shifts, will receive higher salaries.
In addition to the actual station, video cameras have been installed around the area. Both developments are aimed at more efficiently maintaining public order and combating the trafficking of drugs.
According to the Vilnius municipality, a total of 354 Roma live within the quarter. Census data shows that in 2001, 2,571 Roma lived in Lithuania - 0.07 percent of the state's population.
The majority of Lithuanian Roma live below the poverty line, and many children do not attend school.
