In the southern Slovenian city of Novo Mesto on Tuesday, thousands of people took to the streets demanding "radical" actions from the government to ensure safety in the region after a man was killed in an attack for which a member of the Roma minority is accused, LETA reports citing AFP.
In the past year, tensions have escalated in Novo Mesto's relationship with the Roma community amid rising crime and violence, for which this minority is often blamed.
Several thousand demonstrators gathered in the city center. Many of them wore black T-shirts with the inscription "We are all Aco" — in memory of 48-year-old Ljubljana resident Aleš Šutara, known as DJ Aco, who died as a result of Saturday's attack.
The demonstration was announced by the mayor of Novo Mesto, Gregor Macioni, and photographs of Aleš Šutara were hung around the city.
Protesters called on liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob to implement "radical measures" to restore security. Such measures were promised after the deadly attack that led to the resignation of Interior Minister Boštjan Poklukar and Justice Minister Andreja Katič on Sunday.
Member of the Council of Roma of Slovenia Darko Rudaš condemned the attack but stated that such measures would "only intensify anti-Roma sentiments."
Rudaš accused local authorities of failing to provide proper living conditions for Roma and added that in other regions where authorities showed more understanding, such incidents occur very rarely.
According to the Council of Roma, there are about 15,000 Roma living in Slovenia. Many of them live in approximately 100 settlements, and only a third have access to basic infrastructure such as water supply and electricity.
Prime Minister Golob announced the deployment of additional police forces, including riot control units, to the city of Novo Mesto and the Dolenjska region. He also condemned the long-standing neglect of the issues facing the Roma minority and promised additional social programs for their integration.
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