Category Archives: News Eastern Europe

Bosnia, Dodik and Djokovic

Published by:

The president of the Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik started insulting the family of the tennis player Djokovic. He said: “Though, I can tell you, these Djokovics are a bit hard on the motherfucker, ugh… Our people experience it emotionally, and when you get into work aww.. Quite a gypsy, I can tell you… Those associates of his, lose more…”

This provoked protests from Roma organisations.

Slovakia and Roma

Published by:

Slovakia and Roma

600 years ago, the King Sigismund of Luxembourg, King of Hungary, issued a protection document for the Roma in Spiš Castle (Slovakia). This event was commemorated on Wednesday at an event in the European Parliament (EP) by Slovak MEP Peter Pollák (OĽANO), who handed over a copy of this document to the House of European History in Brussels during a ceremony.

Poland: Controversy

Published by:

The Polish stand up performer recently made jokes about Roma of Limanowa. They told him he would not be welcome, but he nevertheless went, leading to protests.

Again, as usual, racist statements and jokes about Roma do not receive the same treatment as for other minorities.

Prague: Catholic Congress

Published by:

The Congress of the International Catholic Committee for Roma was held in the capital of the Czech Republic, Prague, in which more than 130 participants from 20 European countries took part, who discussed the topic: “Crisis and wounds as a source of change.” In his message to the Polish news agency KAI, Cardinal Michael Czerny, Prefect of the Dicastery for Service to Integral Human Development, cited the words of St. Pope Paul VI addressed to the Roma in 1965: “You are not on the side-lines, but in the very heart of the Church”.

Well, these are just words …

Slovakia: Relocation

Published by:

Roma from Svrčinovac have to be moved. The settlement will fall victim to the construction of a viaduct for the D3 highway. Construction should have already started, the Roma should have been moved, the houses were bought, but they are said to be inadequate. So today no one knows where they will actually go. And not even how many there actually are. According to information from the village, there are 35 of them. In reality, however, there are up to 70 of them. Three houses will not be enough for them.

Czech Republic: Role Models

Published by:

Three Roma recently won prizes in the Czech Republic. Patrick Banga, a Romano journalist won the prestigious Magnesia Litera literary prize in the new authors category; Renata Berkyová, a historian who works on the Holocaust of Roma won a 4 month months scholarship at the Washington Holocaust Museum; and finally, the actor Marsell Bendig won the Czech Lion for supporting actor for his role in the film Banger.

Well done!

Slovakia: Relocation

Published by:

A Roma settlement of Svrčinovec stands in the way of an ecoduct (a wildlife overpass) above the D3 highway. The Roma were to be relocated, but it turns out, there are twice as many of them as initially assessed (70 instead of 35), so that the replacement housing is not sufficient …

Slovakia and Roma Segregation

Published by:

The temporarily appointed Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger (Democrats) and Peter Pellegrini (Hlas-SD). Answered questions from the Audience. Some questions also touched on the lawsuit that Slovakia is currently facing for the segregation of Roma children. While Heger claimed that it is not a problem that could be solved overnight with money, ex-prime minister Peter Pellegrini has a completely different opinion. Eduard Heger says that the segregation of Roma children must be solved by their integration, but he did not present concrete steps to achieve this. Peter Pellegrini, on the other hand, is against interfering with the composition of classes. i.e. introducing quotas.

In fact, the issue is not that complex: Segregation occurs when schools are located in Roma settlements, and moving the children to other schools would solve the issue. The US knows about it.

Bulgaria: After the Fight

Published by:

A few weeks ago, tow Roma families clashed in Kazanlak, Bulgaria, leaving 2 victims and several wounded. The police and the involved municipalities decided to re-settle these families to avoid other clashes.

Remains to be seen if that works.

Slovakia and Roma

Published by:

The Slovak historian and member of the Science Adademy Ondrej Ficeri debated Roma issues:

High unemployment, poor hygiene, low literacy, crime and, most recently, an epidemic of infectious diseases.

He specialised in the Study of the Roma and claims that the situation will not change easily. In the discussion, however, things went really bad. In the debate, they discussed “whether and how to change the mindset of some Roma, who do want sewage and drinking water, but do not want to pay for it.”

According to Ficeri, “No, that cannot be changed in my opinion. But even so, it is the responsibility of the municipality to ensure adequate housing and re-educate residents to pay at least for unavoidable services such as rent, water, electricity. Hopefully it will be beneficial at least in the long run, even though it may seem like throwing peas against a wall at the moment. We cannot do nothing.”

So basically, Roma are incapable to adapt and change … Nice statements.

Łódź and Roma

Published by:

The Provincial Vojevode office of Lodz organized a conference devoted to the situation of Roma children in schools. In its course, cultural and historical issues were often referred to. There was also a presentation of the achievements of the most talented Roma.

Erwin Brzeziński, is a Roma painter who started early at the age of 6.. His work is at a border between imagination and reality. Each of the works focuses on a man and each shows a fragment of Roma culture to the viewer.

Serbia, Roma, and Rap

Published by:

The Gypsy Roma Urban Balcan Beat (GRUBB) is a show in Serbia created by young Roma artists. Here, in the article, a young Rom participated for two years and wants to continue. A reportage on Serbian television that will be shown on April 26th.

European Commission, Slovakia, and Segregation

Published by:

The European Commission is suing Slovakia for not doing enough in ending segregation of Roma in the school system. Although Slovakia has carried out several legislative reforms and is trying to integrate Roma, progress is insufficient, the EC said in a statement. According to Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger, the practical solution to the problem goes beyond one election period.

Viki Gabor

Published by:

Viki Gabor appeared with her parents in the weekend studio “Questions for Breakfast”, where she promoted the documentary “Viki Gabor: My World”. The 8-episode documentary series tells the story of an ordinary, though extraordinary, 15-year-old girl who, thanks to her passion and talent, has developed from a shy, introverted girl into a successful idol of the young generation. The camera accompanies Viki during concerts, foreign trips, but also in everyday life.

Patrik Banga

Published by:

The Romano Journalist and writer recently published his first book called “The Real Way Out”, which won the prestigious Czech Magnesia Litera Award in the Debut category on Monday.

As a Kid, an educational counsellor predicted to him in elementary school that he would become a parasite, and the police already assigned him the role of a criminal at the age of five.

Well, wrong predictions …

Budapest Restaurant

Published by:

A review (very enthusiastic) of a restaurant and club in Donany ut 78 in Budapest 7th district. It is called “Like the Gypsies”. The club and restaurant caters unfortunately to all clichés including fortune telling, caravans and the like.

Romano Suno

Published by:

On the occasion of International Roma Day, the 26th edition of the Romano suno / Roma Dream competition was launched a week ago, in which Roma speakers can express themselves creatively and publicly in their mother tongue. Moreover, thanks to the competition texts, the general public can also take a closer look at the world of the Roma. Since 1996, the competition has been organized by the non-profit company Nová škola.

Vojvodina TV

Published by:

“Paleta” is a program of the Radio-television Vojvodina.It is a selection from the content prepared by the television editorial offices in the languages of the national communities, thus also in Romanes. In order to get closer to each other, “Paleta” is broadcast in the languages of the national communities, with a Serbian translation.

rroma.org
en_GBEN