BRATISLAVA, September 12, (WEBNOVINY) – Slovakia’s Ombudsman Pavol Kandrac opines that the construction of a controversial concrete wall in the town of Michalovce, eastern Slovakia, did not violate any basic human rights and freedoms. “This is where my scope of operation as Public Defender of Rights ends. It does not, however mean that the problem with nonconformist citizens not only of Roma origin, ceases to exist. I would be happier if people built bridges that connect instead of walls that separate,” Kandrac told SITA news agency on Sunday.
The ombudsman studied the information published by the media this week about the construction of the wall in Michalovce which separates a residential area of the town from the local Roma settlement. He spoke to representatives of the town, as well as residents of the apartment building on Leningradska Street, who built the wall at their own costs. The ombudsman was interested in opinions of the Roma citizens from the settlement, too, as well as local field social workers.
Kandrac stated that the practice of building walls in Slovak towns and villages is a serious warning to the government and parliament that this problem cannot be put aside for later any more. He will present his findings and suggestions to Deputy Prime Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Rudolf Chmel. He will also turn to the Parliamentary Committee for Human Rights and Ethnic Minorities.
SITA