The government proxy for Rroma affairs, Peter Pollak resigned from his pots on April 4th. Pollak was very much engaged in improving the situation for Rroma in Slovakia, he himself running a school in Jarovnice.
A successor will be nominated by the Most-Hid coalition.
A few French journalists from the Bourgogne region went to Romania to try to understand a bit more about Rroma… If only they would open up on the fact that Romanian Rroma are not necessarily representative of the entire community …
A report of a project and school in Cologne – Amaro Kher [Our House]. This school prepares young Rroma and Sinti to the regular school where, unfortunately they are often victims of prejudices and stereotypes.
An article about the shanty towns and camps near and around Rome where where one estimates that 8’000 people live, a large majority of them Rroma from former Yugoslavia and from Romania but also Italians and South Americans.
An article in the Canadian Press is mixing some historical facts (Indian origin, since at least 900 years in the Balkan, etc.) with some gross mistakes – Rom comes from Romania. But then, there are totally racist statements. Judge by yourself:
Please protest!
The newly established camp for travelers in Basle is again being discussed, as there may be some rare plants there that could be threatened by the caravans… Knowing that this is a strip of grass in the middle of the city next to railroad tracks, no comments required …
This week, French news are not dominated by the closure of camps or petty criminality … Main news are the fight against discrimination and racism. This is much better!
News on an exhibition in Roubaix, in the North on racism; “living books” aka story tellers in Lille; 200 people manifesting against the expulsions in Lille; and a portrait of an activist in Marseilles.
Expulsions are also in the press: Near Paris where 600 people were expulsed; and in the North where a camp awaits the verdict of the courts on its eviction.
Then, there is crime … With the collaboration of the French and Romanian police (bad, as the latter are really racist); and with arrests for theft among Rroma.
The former president of Romania, Traian Basescu, was condemned to a fine of 135 Euro for discriminatory comments about Rroma.
GOOD!
A Dutchman is helping ostracized Rroma in Romania.
A review of the movie on Papusza, the Polish Rromni poetess whose life ended tragically.
The Slovak Interior Ministry investigation cleared the police of any wrongdoings during the police raids in the Rroma settlement in Moldava nad Bodvou. As a reminder, several Rroma were beaten up, some even in the police station …
SHAME!
The European Human Rights Court is asking Romania to stop the eviction of Rroma in the Southern city of Eforie. These Rroma currently live in containers on the edge of the town and have been threatened with eviction due to unpaid utility bills. There have been other expulsions recently in Romania.
Bad …
Interesting … News in Romanian about a series of cultural events on European Roma art. The whole thing taking place in Vienna, Austria. There will be film screenings, exhibitions, concerts, theatrical performances which will show the public a picture of what it means to be Roma and specifically a Rromni. It also mentions – a first – invisible Rroma, i.e. integrated Rroma. There is progress J
An article on the successful integration of a young Rromni in France. Nice, were it not for the usual stereotypes that are conveyed in the article…
The city of Marburg in Germany remembered deported Sinti. The city’s mayor also expressed regrets at the current discrimination levels against Sinti and Rroma in Germany.
Two years ago, the fate of a young Rromni – Leonarda – from Kosovo who was expulsed from France filled the papers. She was found by a journalist in Kosovo where she works as a waitress. It says a lot about those expulsions.
An outrageous article in the British Sun tabloid (and also in the Express). Shows the low level of journalism, all the prejudices and stereotypes. It is also clearly serving a political purpose, namely EU exit… So by depicting Rroma as thieves and raiding social security one drives people towards Brexit …
SHAME and BAD!
The French magazine, L’Obs, published a blog which, to say the least leaves one thinking what went trough the mind of the writer, and what the Newspaper tolerates in its pages.
Dreadful!
A Rroma organisation, the association of the 21st of July, is challenging the Italian government to close all remaining camps within 5 years and integrate the Rroma who are currently living there. Knowing that the police, the state, and NGOs all benefited from these camps in Italy, this will be a challenge.
Good Luck!
Swiss travelers don’t want to be thrown into the same pot as foreign Rroma and Sinti (note that Rroma are always foreign here).
Too bad the press plays along.
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