The rapid modernisation of Romanian cities is also a gentrification and an engine of segregation. Rroma are slowly but surely pushed out of the cities. Rroma are being evicted from the centre of most cities in Romania.
BAD.
– Roma fear there is no place for them as Romania’s cities modernize. In: Reuters. 21.03.2017. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-roma-property-feature-idUSKBN16T043 [link-preview url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-roma-property-feature-idUSKBN16T043″]
The US State Department strongly criticised Romania for corruption but also for its treatment of Rroma as well as for its mistreatment of detainees. Discrimination against Rroma is rampant in Romania.
– U.S. Department of State criticizes Romania on mistreatement of detainees, Roma discrimination and corruption. In Actmedia. 08.03.2017. http://actmedia.eu/daily/u.s.-department-of-state-criticizes-romania-on-mistreatement-of-detainees-roma-discrimination-and-corruption/68384 [link-preview url=”http://actmedia.eu/daily/u.s.-department-of-state-criticizes-romania-on-mistreatement-of-detainees-roma-discrimination-and-corruption/68384″]
Discrimination against Rroma is still prevalent in Romania. Not a surprise, unfortunately.
– Roma discrimination, domestic violence persist in Romania – Amnesty. In: See News. 22.02.2016. https://seenews.com/news/roma-discrimination-domestic-violence-persist-in-romania-amnesty-559159#sthash.buS6J6Nv.dpuf [link-preview url=”https://seenews.com/news/roma-discrimination-domestic-violence-persist-in-romania-amnesty-559159#sthash.buS6J6Nv.dpuf”]
Romania had 5 centuries of Rroma slavery and it was only abolished in 1862. The subject is still nearly taboo and is not taught in schools. It is thus quite impressive to see a theatre play in Bucharest by a Rromni.
– L’esclavage des Roms, la « Grande Honte » de la Roumanie. In: Café Babel. 20.02.2017. http://www.cafebabel.fr/societe/article/lesclavage-des-roms-la-grande-honte-de-la-roumanie.html [link-preview url=”http://www.cafebabel.fr/societe/article/lesclavage-des-roms-la-grande-honte-de-la-roumanie.html”]
An article about Cioaba’s offer to Donald Trump about the wall. One of the International Romani Union IRU (there are currently two variants thereof) and its president Zoran Dimov strictly condemned this letter and statement and stated that he currently facing a traditional Roma court procedure (called a kris) for allegedly mishandling finances during his work in the leadership of the IRU between 2013 and 2016. He is being labelled one of the “biggest malefactor”.
We fully agree that Mr. Cioaba’s letter was totally wrong. We however would have loved to see such a statement when one of the vice presidents of this IRU – Stevan Balog Radul supported the extrem rightist Hofer in the Austrian elections. That was not smart either …
– International Romani Union says offer to help Trump came from Rom facing traditional community justice procedure in Romania. In: Romea.cz. 08.02.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/international-romani-union-says-offer-to-help-trump-came-from-rom-facing-traditional-community-justice-procedure-in-romania [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/international-romani-union-says-offer-to-help-trump-came-from-rom-facing-traditional-community-justice-procedure-in-romania”]
Dorin Cioaba, from the family of the former kalderaša „king“ Cioba said in an int review that Rroma would be willing to work on the Trump Wall, as they have no work in their home countries.
He really missed an opportunity not to say anything.
– Sel-proclaimed Roma King says his people want to build Trump’s wall between the US and Mexico. In: Romania Insider. 31.01.2017. http://www.romania-insider.com/self-proclaimed-roma-king-says-gypsies-want-build-trumps-wall-u-s-mexico/ [link-preview url=”http://www.romania-insider.com/self-proclaimed-roma-king-says-gypsies-want-build-trumps-wall-u-s-mexico/”]
The Salvation Army in Lausanne opened up a shelter for the homeless in Lausanne. Most of the people taking advantage of it in the cold spell in Lausanne are Rroma – mostly from Romania.
– «Ce qui compte, c’est mettre les enfants au chaud» In: 24 Heures. 27.01.2017. http://www.24heures.ch/vaud-regions/lausanne-region/c-mettre-enfants-chaud/story/11029090 [link-preview url=”http://www.24heures.ch/vaud-regions/lausanne-region/c-mettre-enfants-chaud/story/11029090″]
An interview of a Romanian Rroma beggar. Unfortunately, with all stereotypes that one can think of: Arranged weddings, early pregnancies, large families, poverty etc. This is the life of this family and quite a few others but is not the entire Rroma reality.
– « Mendier, c’est tout ce qui me reste à faire » In: L’Hebdo. 17.01.2017. http://www.hebdo.ch/les-blogs/pirolt-sabine-rédacteur-lhebdo/«%C2%A0mendier-c’est-tout-ce-qui-me-reste-à-faire%C2%A0»
– Et si l’on commençait par dire bonjour aux mendicants. In: 24 Heures. 18.01.2017. http://www.24heures.ch/signatures/reflexions/commencait-bonjour-mendiants/story/17545650 [link-preview url=”http://www.hebdo.ch/les-blogs/pirolt-sabine-rédacteur-lhebdo/«%C2%A0mendier-c’est-tout-ce-qui-me-reste-à-faire%C2%A0» “]
A new book gives a series of 10 portraits of Romanian migrants, with of course Rroma among them. The book’s title “Does the Sun Rise in the West” is meant to give a face to the more than 3 Mio Romanians who left their countries in search of a better life.
– BLOG • LE SOLEIL SE LÈVE-T-IL À L’OUEST ? PORTRAITS DE MIGRANTS DE ROUMANIE. In: Le Courrier des Balkans. 14.01.2017. https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/bazar/blogs/l-en-dehors-balkanique-o-le-blog-de-nicolas-trifon/blog-o-le-soleil-se-leve-t-il-a-l-ouest-portraits-de-migrants-de-roumanie [link-preview url=”https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/bazar/blogs/l-en-dehors-balkanique-o-le-blog-de-nicolas-trifon/blog-o-le-soleil-se-leve-t-il-a-l-ouest-portraits-de-migrants-de-roumanie”]
A new proposal for the dispensation of social help in Germany requires that the applicants have worked before in Germany. This in spite of EU law. If EU citizen fail to find work, they will have some help for ca 6 weeks and then nothing.
This is a measure that is aimed at keeping Romanians and Bulgarians (Rroma in most minds) from “abusing” the system – something they anyhow don’t do. Numbers are small.
– Wer nicht arbeitet, soll gehen. In: TAZ. 11.01.2017. http://www.taz.de/!5369195/ [link-preview url=”http://www.taz.de/!5369195/”]
An article about a documentary on young male Rroma prostitutes in Vienna. This is a rather recent phenomena, and is also seen in Switzwerland. There, the Rroma come from Romania and Slovakia .
Good that one speaks about it, bad that this happens.
– Avec les tapins roms de Vienne dans « Brothers of the night » In: Hétéroclite. 08.01.2017. http://www.heteroclite.org/2017/01/brothers-of-the-night-patric-chiha-38485 [link-preview url=”http://www.heteroclite.org/2017/01/brothers-of-the-night-patric-chiha-38485″]
Reading this, one could think there is a huge influx of criminal Rroma… How about all the people who get shot and other various things that happen quite regularly in most US cities. Why this sudden twist on Rroma?
– APD warns of scammers from Romania. In: Abilene Reporter News. 04.01.2017. http://www.reporternews.com/story/news/crime/2017/01/04/apd-warns-romanian-national-scammers/96154778/ [link-preview url=”http://www.reporternews.com/story/news/crime/2017/01/04/apd-warns-romanian-national-scammers/96154778/”]
An interesting article on the Ukrainian Rroma, and most notably on the Servi, a group of Rroma that is thought to have fled present day Romania very early and have a Vlach dialect. Recent research seem to say that they have Carpathian origins. Seems unlikely although there are Carpathian Rroma in the Ukraine, the Plaščuni.
– Цыган — это не профессия. In: Internatioal Society for Romani Culture Studies. 29.12.2016. http://www.kulturom.ru/news/2016/12/29/panchenko [link-preview url=”http://www.kulturom.ru/news/2016/12/29/panchenko”]
Not much news this week on the French front. The story of a rich Frenchwomen helping Romanian Rroma, and the involvement (not so good as always) of the social services; a riot that followed a car accident generated by a Romanian Rrom in the North of France; an expulsion in Nice; and the story of a young girl living in the streets in Menton; while in the West, a camp will now be managed by an association and in Cognac, “Tisganes” are guests for Christmas, with all clichés; finally an initiative to encounter travellers in Eastern France.
– Réfugiés : bienvenue à la maison. In: Paris Match. 21.12.2016. http://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Societe/Refugies-bienvenue-a-la-maison-1147100
– «Émeute et déferlement de violences» place Gambetta pour un simple accident. In: La Voix Du Nord. 19.12.2016. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/92337/article/2016-12-19/emeute-et-deferlement-de-violences-place-gambetta-pour-un-simple-accident
– Une famille de Roms expulsée du squat qu’elle occupait illégalement depuis près de 2 ans. In: Nice Matin. 21.12.2016. http://www.nicematin.com/vie-locale/une-famille-de-roms-expulsee-du-squat-quelle-occupait-illegalement-depuis-pres-de-2-ans-103115
– Bianca, 10 ans, dort dans la rue depuis deux mois. In: Nice Matin. 23.12.2016. http://www.nicematin.com/vie-locale/bianca-10-ans-dort-dans-la-rue-depuis-deux-mois-103620
– Le terrain du 86 sera géré par Une famille un toit. In: Ouest France. 20.12.2016. http://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/sainte-luce-sur-loire-44980/le-terrain-du-86-sera-gere-par-une-famille-un-toit-4693262
– Cognac : la culture pour tenter de mettre fin aux préjugés. In: Sud Ouest. 22.12.2016. http://www.sudouest.fr/2016/12/22/la-culture-pour-tenter-de-mettre-fin-aux-prejuges-3048190-882.php
– A LA RENCONTRE DES « VOYAGEURS » DE LA MALCOMBE. In: L’Est Républicain. 20.12.2016. http://www.estrepublicain.fr/actualite/2016/12/20/a-la-rencontre-des-voyageurs-de-la-malcombe [link-preview url=”http://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Societe/Refugies-bienvenue-a-la-maison-1147100″]
Last week, a friend died. A friend not only on a personal way – we did tours together, kept in contact through the year – but a friend of Rroma music. Stephane Karo did soo much for it, it was his passion, it was his life. He discovered and managed the Taraf de Haïdouk, the Kočani Orchestar, and more recently the Romanian Mahala Rai Banda.
He was buried in Brussels, Belgium last week end.
As we say: Te ovel o drom angla leste phuterdo. Ame na bistras tut!
– HOMMAGE À STÉPHANE KARO : LES MUSIQUES DES BALKANS PERDENT L’UN DE LEURS PREMIERS AMBASSADEURS. In: Le Courrier des Balkans. 19.11.2016. https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/le-fil-de-l-info/hommage-a-stephane-karo-les-musiques-des-balkans-perdent-l-un-de-leurs-premiers-ambassadeurs.html [link-preview url=”https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/le-fil-de-l-info/hommage-a-stephane-karo-les-musiques-des-balkans-perdent-l-un-de-leurs-premiers-ambassadeurs.html”]
Latest numbers on Xenophobia in Hungary. They almost make it sound positive. TO quote: “Only 21% of respondents said they would accept Arabs as their neighbors, while 32% would accept Roma, 35% Christian refugees from Syria, 45% homosexuals, 47% Chinese, 50% Americans, 51% African university students, 57% Jews, 60% rock musicians, and 76% ethnic Hungarian immigrants from Transylvania in Romania, index.hu reported”
This is more positive than saying that 79% of Hungarians would not accept Arabs as their neighbours, 68% would not accept Rroma, etc… The level of xenophobia is indeed high.
– Xenophobia skyrocketing in Hungary, surveys reveal. In: Budapest Journal. 17.11.2016. http://bbj.hu/budapest/xenophobia-skyrocketing-in-hungary-surveys-reveal_124920 [link-preview url=”http://bbj.hu/budapest/xenophobia-skyrocketing-in-hungary-surveys-reveal_124920″]
The Gatestone institute wrote a piece on “no go zones” in Germany, and managed to pack a bunch of nasty and totally inacceptable stereotypes in the process… Totally beyonf the point. For example: “thousands of Bulgarians and Romanians (including Sinti and Roma “gypsies”) have flocked to Duisburg”, Sinti are locals, and the thousands are not there; “New migrants from Bulgaria and Romania are adding to the problems”, what problems, if not the ones of the journalist; this mixed with factual reporting such as “At night, Romanian residents dance on the streets, the sound system in the car supplies loud music” taken from the German Press.
Well, this article is full of stereotypes and is BAD!!!
– Inside Germany’s No-Go Zones: Part I – North Rhine-Westphalia. In: Gatestone Institute. 07.11.2016. https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9279/germany-no-go-zones-nrw [link-preview url=”https://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/9279/germany-no-go-zones-nrw”]
Canada will be lifting its visa requirements for Romanians and Bulgarians. This is spite of the fears of some that many Rroma from these countries would come.
Good!
– Canada to lift Romania, Bulgaria visa requirement. In: Yahooh News. 01.11.2016. https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/33062016/canada-to-lift-romania-bulgaria-visa-requirement/#page1 [link-preview url=”https://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/33062016/canada-to-lift-romania-bulgaria-visa-requirement/#page1″]
An article about the plight of very visible Rroma who have no papers, birth certificates or other documents demonstrating their identities. There are unfortunately quite a number of such cases in the country.
– Romania’s ‘invisible’ Roma battle for identity. In: Digital Journal. 27.10.2016. http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/romania-s-invisible-roma-battle-for-identity/article/478184 [link-preview url=”http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/romania-s-invisible-roma-battle-for-identity/article/478184″]
The Human Right directorate of the European Commission organised a conference in Bratislava with roughly 200 young Rroma from 30 countries on the theme of Roma Youth Empowerment. These young Rroma got the opportunity to meet and speak with members of the commission and other EU representatives as well as to exchange views and experience. The organisers awarded prices, among which for best Rroma NGO, the Romanian Impreuna; best media, Slovenian Radio Romic; and best personality, which went to Sampicha Souleiman from Greece for his work against stereotypes.
– Bratislava združila 200 mladih Romov iz vse Evrope. In: RTVSL. 14.10.2016. https://www.rtvslo.si/evropska-unija/bratislava-zdruzila-200-mladih-romov-iz-vse-evrope/405171 [link-preview url=”https://www.rtvslo.si/evropska-unija/bratislava-zdruzila-200-mladih-romov-iz-vse-evrope/405171″]
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