IDPs continue to resist eviction threat

IDPs from around 25 compact settlements in Tbilisi opposed their possible eviction on January 15. Encouraged by political and non-Government organizations, the IDPs shared their problems in front of the Parliament. They stressed that they have not received any additional warnings from the Government except from the unsigned and unstamped papers in December informing that they should leave their buildings in ten days. IDPs suggested that the Government is trying to hide the process of eviction from the opposition, media and NGOs.

Facing eviction in the New Year, IDPs had launched protest rallies against the possible eviction which forced the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees of Georgia (MRA) to prolong the deadline until January 15. Giving examples of similar “secret” processes, Lasha Chkhartishvili from the Conservative Party doubted that the Government would probably “use the effect of suddenness” based on a document with no legal power. “Rallies in front of the Parliament will become permanent if the Government acts in an improper way,” Chkhartishili stated.

IDPs consolidated around their problems as they worried they might remain homeless. Promising to protect their rights, opposition MP Dimitri Lortkipanidze stood with IDPs on Saturday. Leader of People’s Party Koba Davitashvili encouraged the Georgian society to consolidate and care about others’ problems “because indifference towards one another’s problems is the main fault of the Georgian statehood.” As Davitashvili told The Messenger on January 16, the rallies in front of the Parliament have halted the MRA from starting the eviction but the IDPs and their supporters “won’t stop opposing” the possible process and will continue permanent rallies.

Opposing the illegal eviction from the MRA, Gia Burjanadze member of the Representative Public Assembly (RPA) worried that 10 000 people would become double refugees in their homeland. “It has been the cynical start of 2011 when the Government had illegally attacked the veteran militaries and now continues that policy with the IDPs,” Burjanadze said encouraging the IDPs and promised to resist the eviction with them.

“We have started meeting with the diplomatic corps and international organizations to stop possible evictions in summer. People are still in need of the state’s support and I just wonder what the Georgian Government is offering them?” one of the leaders of Our Georgia –Free Democrats Viktor Dolidze said worrying of the IDPs future. “It is also very important to solve the issue of financial compensation for these people as millions of Laris have been spent on the New Year activities but nothing has been done for IDPs,” he added.

After the Government Session on January 13, the Minister of MRA Koba Subeliani refused to comment on the issue to the media, while the Press Speaker of the Ministry was also unavailable on the phone.