Bulgaria's Garmen Braces for New Protest against Illegal Roma Dwellings

A year after clashes between ethnic Bulgarians and Roma people living in Garmen new protest action has been scheduled for Monday against illegal dwellings built by Roma people in this village in southwestern Bulgaria.

Protest will also target perceived inaction by Garmen municipal authorities who haven't delivered on their pledge to bring down makeshift dwellings built by Roma people on municipal land without site development plans and in violation of construction regulations. 

The protest rally is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. (1500 GMT) in front of Garmen Municipal Council building.

Bulgaria's central government has ordered the demolition of more than 120 makeshift Roma dwellings in Garmen following last year's clashes. However, just nine of those buildings have been torn down so far following intervention by human rights organizations.

Local authorities in Garmen have said that they are unable to provide accommodation to Roma people left without shelter.