July 13, 2016 - rroma.org

French Chronicle …

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

With Football, and with France in the final, there are very few news about Rroma in the Press. Nevertheless, a few items warrant some attention…

Near Paris, children from an illegal camp celebrate the end of the school year; a camp is closed near Paris in St. Denis; Rroma left a camp by themselves in the North; in the Marne region, displaced Rroma are squatting a construction site, hindering work; in Nancy, in the East, tensions are increasing between Rroma and their neighbours; in Lens, in the North, Rroma associations are protesting the inaction of the state; an article about Rroma in Marseilles and their future between two expulsions; and finally, the Council of Europe denounces the human cost of expulsions.

Champs-sur-Marne : les enfants Roms fêtent la fin de l’école dans leur bidonville. In: Le Parisien. 04.07.2016. http://www.leparisien.fr/champs-sur-marne-77420/champs-sur-marne-les-enfants-roms-fetent-la-fin-de-l-ecole-dans-leur-bidonville-04-07-2016-5939343.php
Un campement de Roms évacué à Saint-Denis. In: Ouest France. 06.07.2016. http://www.ouest-france.fr/ile-de-france/seine-saint-denis/un-campement-de-roms-evacue-saint-denis-4350436
Hénin-Beaumont – Montigny: les Roms de la friche Biderman ont quitté les lieux. In: La Voix du Nord. 04.07.2016. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/region/henin-beaumont-montigny-les-roms-de-la-friche-biderman-ia34b54040n3613578
Des travaux gelés par un campement rom. In: Le Parisien. 09.07.2016. http://www.leparisien.fr/espace-premium/essonne-91/des-travaux-geles-par-un-campement-rom-09-07-2016-5953653.php
NANCY : TENSIONS RUE CHARLES-III ENTRE ROMS ET RIVERAINS. In: L’Est Républicain. 10.07.2016. http://www.estrepublicain.fr/edition-de-nancy-ville/2016/07/10/nancy-tensions-rue-charles-iii-entre-roms-et-riverains
Lens – Hénin: les associations d’aide aux Roms pointent l’inaction des pouvoirs publics. In: La Voix du Nord. 07.07.2016. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/region/lens-henin-les-associations-d-aide-aux-roms-ia34b54038n3617385
Roms, entre deux expulsions, quelle insertion ? In: Marsactu. 04.07.2016. https://marsactu.fr/roms-entre-deux-expulsions-quelle-insertion/
Le Conseil de l’Europe dénonce le coût humain des expulsions de Roms. In: L’Avenir. 29.06.2016. http://www.lavenir.net/cnt/DMF20160629_00847726

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe

Czech Republic: Hate Posts on Facebook

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

A complaint has been filed by Rroma activists against a page in Facebook and against the person who posted the comments for requesting that “gypsies be set on fire”…

Czech Republic: Roma report racism to Facebook after calls for “gypsies” to be set on fire are posted. In: Romea.cz. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/czech-republic-roma-report-racism-to-facebook-after-calls-for-gypsies-to-be-set-on-fire-are-posted

Hungary News Eastern Europe

Hungary: Situation Improved

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

What a joke … According to Mr. Zoltan Balog, the Hungarian minister for Human Resources, the situation of Rroma improved over the last two years in Hungary. Specifically, 50’000 Rroma have found new jobs. What he forgets to say is that these jobs are in the so-called Közmunka – or mandatory work scheme that replaced social care.

This is total BS…

HUMAN RESOURCES MINISTER EVALUATES NATIONAL ROMA INTEGRATION PROGRAMMES. In: Daily News Hungary. 09.07.2016. http://dailynewshungary.com/human-resources-minister-evaluates-national-roma-integration-programmes/

News Switzerland

Zurich: Fahrendes Kultur Zentrum

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

As every year, the so-called Travelling Culture Centre of Jenische, Sinti and Rroma stopped in Zurich. With a moving exhibition, a few caravans and some music, the centre aims to present the culture of travellers in Switzerland, mostly the Jenische, but to a lesser extent some of the Sinti and Rroma in that country.

Hürlimann, Brigitte. Fahrende: Mehr Platz! In: Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 08.07.2016. http://www.nzz.ch/zuerich/aktuell/fahrende-mehr-platz-ld.104685
Zigeunerkulturtage in Zürich letztmals auf dem Schütze-Areal. In: Bluewin.ch. 04.07.2016. https://www.bluewin.ch/de/news/regional/region-zurich/2016/7/4/zigeunerkulturtage-in-zuerich-letztmals-auf-dem-sch.html

News Western Europe

Documentary of the last Travellers

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

An Austrian documentary on the last travellers. Lots of clichés, and it as usual gives a wrong impression on Rroma overall…

Die letzten Fahrenden. In: Am Schauplatz. ORF. 07.07.2016. http://tvthek.orf.at/program/Am-Schauplatz/1239/Am-Schauplatz-Die-letzten-Fahrenden/13192809/Am-Schauplatz-Die-letzten-Fahrenden/13192811
„Die letzten Fahrenden“: „Am Schauplatz“ begleitet zwei Roma- und Sinti-Familien auf ihrer Reise durch Österreich. In: APA. 07.07.2016. http://www.ots.at/presseaussendung/OTS_20160706_OTS0103/die-letzten-fahrenden-am-schauplatz-begleitet-zwei-roma-und-sinti-familien-auf-ihrer-reise-durch-oesterreich

News Western Europe

Munich: Invisible Rroma and SInti

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

Interesting article on identity and on the issue of clichés with which one is immediately confronted when on says one is Rrom. This time in Munich…

Unter uns. In: Süddeutsche Zeitung. 04.07.2016. http://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/kampf-gegen-klischees-unter-uns-1.3063015

News Western Europe

Hitler’s Olympics

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

A new documentary on Hitler’s Olympics and on the fact that prior to them, in early July, all Sinti from Berlin were deported the a camp in Marzahn, a prelude to what would happen next…

Hitler’s Olympic charade: New documentary tells how the Nazi dictator turned the 1936 Berlin Games into a weapon for war. In: Daily Mail. 08.07.2016. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3680682/Hitler-s-Olympic-charade-New-documentary-tells-Nazi-dictator-turned-1936-Berlin-Games-weapon-war.html

Italy News Western Europe

Italy: More on Corruption and Rroma Camps

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

Policemen sharing bribes with the Rroma head of a camp in charge of allocating housing units is yet another example of the blatant corruption that keeps the camps in Italy going. Better close them once and for all.

Roma, tangenti sui rom, vigile indagato: spartiva mazzeette con il capo clan di un campo. In: Il Messaggero. 03.07.2016. http://www.ilmessaggero.it/roma/cronaca/tangenti_rom_vigile_indagato-1834330.html

News Switzerland

More on Racism in Switzerland

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

The statement of the Swiss politician Jürg Michel from the rightist SVP whereby one can “recognise Gypsies with one’s nose” is earning him a few complaints. The Jenische organisations, the young socialists, the Gesselschaft für bedrohte Völker, and the Rroma Foundation have all deposited complaints with the police for blatant racism. The politician is defending himself saying he is defending minorities …

No further comments.

«Zigeuner erkennt man mit der Nase» – jetzt hagelt’s Rassismus-Anzeigen gegen SVP-Gemeinderat. In: Watson. 01.07.2016. http://www.watson.ch/Schweiz/Bern/578698804-«Zigeuner-erkennt-man-mit-der-Nase»-–-jetzt-hagelt’s-Rassismus-Anzeigen-gegen-SVP-Gemeinderat
«Zigeuner erkennt man mit der Nase» Rassismus-Anzeigen gegen SVP-Gemeinderat. In: Blick. 30.06.2016. http://www.blick.ch/news/schweiz/bern/zigeuner-erkennt-man-mit-der-nase-rassismus-anzeigen-gegen-svp-gemeinderat-id5213626.html
Anzeige gegen Lysser Gemeinderat wegen Äusserung zu Fahrenden. In: Bluewin. 30.06.2016. https://www.bluewin.ch/de/news/regional/region-bern/2016/6/30/anzeige-gegen-lysser-gemeinderat-wegen-aeusserung-z.html
Juso zeigt SVP-ler wegen «Zigeuner»-Aussage an. In: 20 Minuten CH. 30.06.2016. http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/bern/story/Juso-zeigt-SVP-ler-wegen–Zigeuner–Aussage-an-29218902
Tirade über Fahrende zieht Strafanzeige nach sich. In: Der Bund. 01.07.2016. http://www.derbund.ch/bern/region/tirade-ueber-fahrende-zieht-strafanzeige-nach-sich/story/15389697

News Western Europe

Photos on Rroma

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

An interesting essay on pictures of Rroma in general… A good read.

Romstorie : La monnaie de singe des clichés orphelins. In: Médiapart., 01.07.2016. https://blogs.mediapart.fr/jacques-debot/blog/010716/romstorie-la-monnaie-de-singe-des-cliches-orphelins

Italy News Western Europe

Italy: Masseria del Pozzo

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

The Italian camp of Masseria del Pozzo was evacuated by the police and 75 Rroma families are in need of lodgings, as nothing was prepared for them following the eviction. Amnesty appeals for Help!

DES FAMILLES ROMS EN DANGER APRÈS LEUR EXPULSION FORCÉE. In: Amnesty International. 04.07.2016. http://www.amnesty.be/je-veux-agir/agir-en-ligne/ecrire-des-lettres/article/des-familles-roms-en-danger-apres-leur-expulsion-forcee?lang=fr

Germany News Western Europe

Regensburg: Rroma Occupy Cathedral

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

Around 40 Rroma are currently occupying the cathedral of Regensburgas a protest against Germany’s declaration of all Balkan countries as being safe, which of course, in many case they are not for Rroma. They are fighting a wave of depurations. One article is neutral, but the article of Breitbart is totally extreme rightist. Bad.

The Church has asked the police not to intervene. GOOD!

Roma occupy Regensburg Cathedral to win right to stay. In: The Local DE. 06.07.2016. http://www.thelocal.de/20160706/refugees-regensburg-church-occupation-asylum
40 Roma Migrants Occupy German Cathedral. In: Breitbart. 06.07.2016. http://www.breitbart.com/london/2016/07/06/40-roma-migrants-occupy-german-cathedral/

News Switzerland

Travelling Rroma in Switzerland

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

Yet another article about a possible camping site for travelling Rroma in Switzerland. Note that Switzerland actually segregates in many places and only allows local travellers on many sites. The rest of the article, oh, well, no comments…

Wenn die ordentliche Schweiz an ihre Grenzen stösst. In: Der Bund. 04.07.2016. http://www.derbund.ch/bern/wenn-die-ordentliche-schweiz-an-ihre-grenzen-stoesst/story/30957228

News Switzerland

Racism in Switzerland

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

A Jenische organisation, Schäft Qwant, issued a formal complaint against a politician from the right wing SVP party for racism. The politician from Lyss stated for example “if one doesn’t recognise by sight, then one does with one’s nose” …

No comments, and let’s hope this doesn’t fall under “freedom of expression” as it often does in Switzerland.

Tirade über Fahrende zieht Strafanzeige nach sich. In: Der Bund. 01.07.2016. http://www.derbund.ch/bern/region/tirade-ueber-fahrende-zieht-strafanzeige-nach-sich/story/15389697

Hungary News Eastern Europe

School Segregation in Hungary

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

Hungary is fast approaching the deadline of its response to the European Commission letter on the segregation of Rroma in schools. The government is procrastinating… Janos Lazar, a prominent member of the government went as far as saying he has “no idea how the European Commission knows who is and isn’t a gypsy”. Well, if he ever set his foot in a village, and went to a school, he’d know.

Two months to act. In: The Budapest Times. 02.07.2016. http://budapesttimes.hu/2016/07/02/two-months-to-act/

News Eastern Europe Romania

Elie Wiesel on Romania

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

Elie Wiesel, who just died, urged his native Romania to confront its past and acknowledge the deportation of Jews and Rroma from Romania. What this article misses, ist that most Rroma were not deported to camps but displaced to Transnistria n the North East where an unknown number died of hunger and illnesses.

Wiesel urged Romania to take responsibility for Holocaust. In: The Washington Times. 03.07.2016. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jul/3/wiesel-urged-romania-to-take-responsibility-for-ho/

Italy News Western Europe

Italy’s Infamous Rroma Camps

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

An article about life inside one of these Rroma camps in Italy. One thing is somewhat missed here: Rroma are still being kept in those camps by an alliance between the State administration, the police and NGOs who are all present there. And the latest arrests in Rome have shown that the mafia hugely profited from these camps too. The comparison to Auschwitz is very much not the right one here.

Inside the squalor of Italy’s Roma camps. In: Herald Scotland. 04.07.2016. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/world_news/14594904.__39_Just_like_Auschwitz__39___the_squalor_of_Italy__39_s_Roma_camps/

News Western Europe

Olympics 1936

July 13, 2016 Published by: Roma Foundation

Very shortly before the Berlin Olympics in 1936, on July 16^th, 1936, the first Sinti from Berlin were arrested by the police and led to the Berlin Marzahn camp. An exhibition now remembers these victims on the very spot where they were first interned.

Olympia 1936 Als Sinti und Roma ins Zwangslager Marzahn mussten. In: Berliner Zeitung. 04.07.2016. http://www.berliner-zeitung.de/berlin/olympia-1936-als-sinti-und-roma-ins-zwangslager-marzahn-mussten-24335782