“I feel humiliated – as a man and as mayor”

At the end of the week, during the celebration of the 140th anniversary of PGD Ribnica under the tent of the Roma young man from Kočevje insistatively attacked the mayor of Ribnica Herself herself.

He got injuries to his face and head, and with fever and poor well -being he was still facing today. The mayor’s co -dancer Tamara, who was not at work, was also attacked. A little later, an 18-year-old high school was attacked in front of the house near the scene.

“It is the most painful silence of the highest representatives of the authorities. Some are cycling, the other is in the hills. I feel humiliated – as a man and as mayor, « Pogorelc said today. He recalled last year’s violence against police officers in Kočevje and asked, « Who will be next? »

He was overwhelmed by the work of prosecutors, the Minister of Justice, « who do not act in a coordinated » and sharply criticized the Minister of the Interior Boštjan Poklukar: « A single bunch of vocabulary, but no law! » According to him, the working groups for addressing the Roma problem, in which he is involved himself, should also be abolished, as they are « a single waste of time. »

“I feel threatened – it’s not just for me, even for my family and my sister’s family, they don’t care. Parents of schoolchildren and citizens warn me that they are afraid of revenge, so they do not want to expose themselves. People are ready for the street to happen: village guards or getting up in a general, ”the mayor of Ribnica warned.

In August last year, after a rally in Ribnica, he received a threat to resolve the Roma problem. The Ljubljana District Attorney’s Office filed an indictment with the Kočevje District Court. “Everything is standing. Nothing is moving. What else can I say? But violence against citizens is escalating, « Pogorel concluded.

Supports changes of legislation

Today, some representatives of the authorities have just answered. President Nataša Pirc Musar expressed regret for Sunday’s event in Ribnica. At the same time, she urged the Roma community to refrain from violence, as this will not lead anywhere. If they want to achieve something, they will have to cultivate a dialogue culture.

She also said that, since the President of the Republic, she repeatedly met with the mayors of the municipalities where the Roma community resides, and also met Roma. Even when the mayors proposed changes to the legislation, they supported them, especially in the direction of compulsory education of Roma children.

“I strongly condemn the attack on the mayor and other persons. This is inadmissible, « said Interior Minister Poklukar, from which the burner expects resignation, said in a press release. “I called the mayor, but he did not want to talk to me, which I wonder a bit, as we have cooperated constructively so far. I want him to recover as soon as possible, « said the minister, who does not intend to resign, as police officers have done their job correctly.

« The offenders were arrested the same evening, and the investigation is still ongoing, and the prosecution and the police will have more information after the investigation, » he said. According to him, the situation in safety more burdened areas is better than last year because more police officers are present in these areas.