Eviction of Roma families in Paks and antigypsy protests from residents of neighbouring villages

Following a storm in September 2002, the local government of Paks demolished the homes of the Roma community living in Bedő-tanya, claiming life-threatening conditions. The approximately 40 people who were left homeless lived in disaster relief tents for weeks, then used the compensation they received to look for property in the surrounding villages. This provoked strong resistance among the residents of the surrounding villages, who organized a protest in Paks because they felt that the wealthy town had shifted its social problems onto them without consultation. In one village, angry locals physically damaged a purchased house to prevent the family from moving in. In addition, according to the Ombudsman's report, this is an inhumane "model", in which authorities exploit building regulations as a mechanism for the forced removal of marginalized communities.