Questions Are Raised About Two Roma Deaths Outside Of Naples

Did two young Roma girls drown after venturing into the waters outside of Naples or did something more sinister cause their deaths?

Yesterday the attitudes of Italians were questions as sunbathers ignored the bodies of two Gypsy girls laid out on the sand. The two children, aged 14 and 16 were part of an Roma encampment that had been evacuated earlier this year. After the Romas had left the encampment it was burnt to the ground. A civil liberties group, EveryOne is asking for authorities to investigate how the girls died. The two girls were part of a group of four who had spent Saturday morning selling trinkets to those on the beach. Another version of the story has the girls begging patrons at the beach at Torregaveta. At about 1 p.m. it is claimed that the girls entered the water on their own accord. None of the four girls knew how to swim. Strong currents carried the girls off. Two of the girls were rescued by life guards from a nearby private beach. The older two were unable to be rescued in time. Their bodies were dragged on shore and covered by beach towels.

"But the knot of curious onlookers that formed around the girls' bodies dissolved as [swiftly] as it had formed," the newspaper Corriere della Sera reported. "Few left the beach or abandoned their sunbathing. When the police from the mortuary arrived an hour later with coffins, the two girls were carried away on the shoulders [of the officers] between bathers stretched out in the sun."

There are questions brewing as to why the girls entered the water. They left their wares when they went into the waves which is not a normal practice. Also the fact that they went into the water in full view of others goes against their culture. Gypsies are often discriminated in Italy. The new government of Silvio Berlusconi has appointed three special commissioners to deal with the Roma since taking office in May. A mass fingerprinting of the country's Roma population, including minors has been ordered. There are an estimated 150,000 Roma in Italy. Commission president, José Manuel Barroso has stated that the information collected was to ensure that the Roma children were going to school after the European commission questioned the government on the census. The European parliament has a motion ongoing to condemn the practice as an act of discrimination.

A statement from the group said: "Two young Roma would never have left their scant merchandise for 'a refreshing dip' in the waves. Two Gypsy girls would never have gone bathing in full view of everyone because of the modesty that is one of their distinguishing characteristics."

The group said it had asked for a meeting with the authorities, adding: "We await their response."