Category Archives: Slovakia

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Opinion

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Vladimír Ledecký the independent mayor of Spišský Hrhov writes about how Roma issues can be solved. He says that the current “schizophrenia” does not help, and that “convincing all people to pull the car in the same direction” is the way to go. He advocates work, education, and measures to help with accumulated debts. His village is actually one the of the model of integration in the country.

– Ako riešiť problémy Rómov a rodín v núdzi (názor). In: Aktuality. 05.02.2018. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/561439/ako-riesit-problemy-romov-a-rodin-v-nudzi-nazor/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/561439/ako-riesit-problemy-romov-a-rodin-v-nudzi-nazor/”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Dire Situation

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There are roughly 5’500 who live in the Roma settlement of Trebišov, in Eastern Slovakia. The settlement is seeing an epidemic of syphilis, fuelled by the rampant prostitution that is one of the few means of existence for the people there.
Prostitution starts as young as 14 or 15. Police is not doing much.
This is bad.

– Trebišov skryl prostitútky, deti vraj medzi nimi nie sú a syfilis sa týka iba Rómov. In: SME. 02.02.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20750735/trebisov-skryl-prostitutky-deti-vraj-medzi-nimi-nie-su-a-syfilis-sa-tyka-iba-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20750735/trebisov-skryl-prostitutky-deti-vraj-medzi-nimi-nie-su-a-syfilis-sa-tyka-iba-romov.html”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Boarding Schools

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There is a real media frenzy lately in Slovakia regarding the so-called “Roma Crime” and many suggestions of populists “solutions” to this “problem”. One of them is again the idea of setting up boarding schools. They are presented as a mean to help Roma get a better education and at reducing crime (yes). Arguments against these schools are presented here by Abel Ravasz, the Roma plenipotentiary in Slovakia.
Unfortunately, this has already been tried under communism. And, as these boarding schools were 100% Roma, the level of education provided was really low. This will happen again here. It is simply an attempt at assimilation.

– Namiesto zombi riešení pre Rómov urobme to, čo funguje. In: Dennik. 02.02.2018. https://dennikn.sk/1017448/namiesto-zombi-rieseni-pre-romov-urobme-to-co-funguje/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/1017448/namiesto-zombi-rieseni-pre-romov-urobme-to-co-funguje/”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Interior Minister Robert Kalinak

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The Slovak Interior Minister Robert Kalinak is currently whipping up the frenzy on “Roma crime” and on how to combat it. He is asking for special new statistics to assess the size of the problem, but seems to be somewhat confused, as he acknowledges that quite a few already exist. He also wants new measures against crime in the Roma settlements.
Anyhow: The solutions to the problems are well known and do not need these new measures for it. Inclusion would suffice.

– Kaliňák hovoril o Rómoch. V odpovediach sa zamotal. In: Aktuality. 01.02.2018. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/558701/kalinak-hovoril-o-romoch-v-odpovediach-sa-zamotal/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/558701/kalinak-hovoril-o-romoch-v-odpovediach-sa-zamotal/”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: An Alliance

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The Church and the Prešov Region are joining forces to help Roma. In an informal meeting chaired by theArchbishop of Prešov, metropolitan Ján Babjak and by Prešov’s region president Milan Majerský, the latter said: “Many foreigners are coming to work in Slovakia and we do not want to give the opportunity to the Roma. But when they have a job, they will create communities that will be enriching for this country.”
Let’s hope this is heard.

– Cirkev a Prešovský kraj spájajú sily na pomoc Rómom. In: SME. 30.01.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20749455/savore-romovia-jan-babjak-milan-majersky-romska-problematika.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20749455/savore-romovia-jan-babjak-milan-majersky-romska-problematika.html”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Osada and Roma Criminality

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A discussion with the cultural anthropologist Alexander Mušinka. He is the author of a study on all the Osada (Roma settlements) in Slovakia, lived in one during his research, and is highly critical of the measures proposed by the Slovak Government on “Roma Criminality”.
He says there is no such thing, and we agree!
Look at the map of the settlements and read his book.

– Počítal ľudí v osadách: Zákon o kriminalite Rómov nebude. In: Aktuality. 29.01.2018. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/557547/pocital-ludi-v-osadach-zakon-o-kriminalite-romov-nebude/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/557547/pocital-ludi-v-osadach-zakon-o-kriminalite-romov-nebude/”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Talk with the President

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During discussions about the Roma inclusion in society in Prešov, the Slovak President Andrej Kiska stated that the Roma inclusion is a shame for Slovakia and that this is one of the country greatest challenge and most pressing problem.
Let’s hope something is done.

– Kiska označil osud Rómov za jednu z kapitol hanby Slovenska. In: SME. 25.01.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20746476/andrej-kiska-romovia-romska-problematika-hanba-slovenska.html
– Kiska má recept pre lepší život Rómov: Treba im dať vzdelanie, prácu a bývanie. In: Aktualne. 25.01.2018. https://aktualne.centrum.sk/slovensko/politika/kiska-ma-recept-lepsi-zivot-romov-treba-im-dat-vzdelanie-pracu-byvanie.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20746476/andrej-kiska-romovia-romska-problematika-hanba-slovenska.html “]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Boarding Schools?

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Some people in Slovakia suggest boarding schools as a solution to Roma education and crime (yes). A school head of a school attended by nearly 700 Roma is against this.
Good for him!

– Problémy Rómov môžu riešiť internátne školy, riaditeľka je proti. In: TA3. 22.01.2018. https://www.ta3.com/clanok/1120532/problemy-romov-mozu-riesit-internatne-skoly-riaditelka-je-proti.html [link-preview url=”https://www.ta3.com/clanok/1120532/problemy-romov-mozu-riesit-internatne-skoly-riaditelka-je-proti.html”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovak Minister Sued

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The European Roma Right Centre (ERRC) is suing the Slovak Interior Ministry for discrimination and the Interior Minsiter Kalinak. The ERRC is arguing that the police is specifically targeting Roma. This comes on the background of the new plan by Kalinak on reducing the Roma criminality.

– Centre for Roma Rights sues Slovak interior minister over discrimination. In: The Slovak Spectator. 17.01.2018. https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20739861/centre-for-roma-rights-sues-slovak-interior-minister-over-discrimination.html [link-preview url=”https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20739861/centre-for-roma-rights-sues-slovak-interior-minister-over-discrimination.html”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Abel Ravasz

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The Slovak Plenipotnetiary for Roma affairs, Abel Ravasz from the party “Mošt – Hid” gave an interview to the press on his first two years in office.
While he certainly did good things, this latest interview is somewhat puzzling, especially regarding what he says about racism and discrimination of Roma in Slovakia. He says there is no such thing as a racist country and that there is “some discrimination” for Roma in education and work.
We don’t agree here.

– Rómsky splnomocnenec: Rasistické krajiny neexistujú. In: Aktuality. 11.01.2018. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/551872/romsky-splnomocnenec-rasisticke-krajiny-neexistuju/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/551872/romsky-splnomocnenec-rasisticke-krajiny-neexistuju/”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Police Intervention

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The story of the police intervention in a Roma settlement in Moldavia nad Bodvou which occurred in June 2013 has taken a new twist. Originally, several police officers were indicted based on testimonies from the residents. The policemen were recently cleared of all charges and now four Roma who testified against them are facing criminal charges.
The article tells the whole story – and it is bad.

– Razie v osadách: Najprv preverovali policajtov, teraz obvinili Moldavčanov. In: Korzar. 16.01.2018. https://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20738397/razie-v-osadach-najprv-preverovali-policajtov-teraz-obvinili-moldavcanov.html [link-preview url=”https://kosice.korzar.sme.sk/c/20738397/razie-v-osadach-najprv-preverovali-policajtov-teraz-obvinili-moldavcanov.html”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia: Critique

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Yet another critique at the government measures on Roma in Slovakia. This time by Peter Pollak who was the previous Government Roma plenipotentiary in Slovakia. According to Pollak, the solution has to be based on education, starting in the nursery, and on crime prevention. It emphasizes the need to find solutions, but says the government does not do it. “In his statement, the Minister of the Interior, Robert Kaliňák, increases the tensions between the Roma and the majority, instead of striving to a rational resolution of conflicts, the elimination of crime and the support of decent people, he creates fear, tension and aggression,” Pollak said.

– P. Pollák: Kaliňákove opatrenia nevyriešia rómsku kriminalitu. In: Dobre Noviny. 12.01.2018. https://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/121652/p-pollak-kalinakove-opatrenia-nevyriesia-romsku-kriminalitu [link-preview url=”https://www.dobrenoviny.sk/c/121652/p-pollak-kalinakove-opatrenia-nevyriesia-romsku-kriminalitu”]

Germany News Eastern Europe News Western Europe Slovakia

German, Slovaks, and Roma: Background

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The incident with the German, Slovaks, and Roma actually occurred in a house that was partially burnt down on December 29th. There were 19 wounded in the attack that was pretty much directed against Roma.
BAD.

– PLAUEN: BRANDANSCHLAG MIT RASSISTISCHER UND ANTIZIGANISTISCHER KOMMENTIERUNG. In: Bell Tower. 10.01.2018. http://www.belltower.news/artikel/plauen-brandanschlag-mit-rassistischer-und-antiziganistischer-kommentierung-13149 [link-preview url=”http://www.belltower.news/artikel/plauen-brandanschlag-mit-rassistischer-und-antiziganistischer-kommentierung-13149″]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

SaS Reforms

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The Slovak liberal and libertarian Freedom and Solidarity party (known by its Slovak abbreviation as SaS), made new proposals regarding Roma policies. These were sharply criticised by Abel Ravasz, the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma Communities as not reflecting the current reality and not taking into account that many of these proposals were already put in place.

– Rómska reforma SaS je neaktuálna, myslí si splnomocnenec Ravasz. In: SME Domov. 10.01.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20733695/romska-reforma-sas-je-neaktualna-mysli-si-splnomocnenec-ravasz.html [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20733695/romska-reforma-sas-je-neaktualna-mysli-si-splnomocnenec-ravasz.html”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Germans, Slovaks, and Roma

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Difficult to say what and who, but a fight between a German, some Slovaks and Roma about a flat screen TV – together with accusations of theft – required a police intervention.
Who did what is truly unclear, but in the mind of the readers, there will be little doubts …

– Brandhaus in Plauen. Slwaken rufen Polizei zur Hilfe. In: Vogtlang Anzeiger. 08.01.2018. http://vogtland-anzeiger.de/Vogtland_Anzeiger/cms-nachrichten/plauen/brandhaus-in-plauen-slowaken-rufen-polizei.html [link-preview url=”http://vogtland-anzeiger.de/Vogtland_Anzeiger/cms-nachrichten/plauen/brandhaus-in-plauen-slowaken-rufen-polizei.html”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Neo Nazis

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An analysis of the rise of the Neo Nazi movement in Slovakia. Long ignored, even when its propaganda led to murder of Roma as in Žilina in 2000, they now sit in the Slovak Parliament.
Bad.

– Rok 2013: Ľudia dali prednosť fašizmu pred Smerom. In: SME. 08.01.2018. https://domov.sme.sk/c/20722118/rok-2013-ludia-dali-prednost-fasizmu-pred-smerom.html#ixzz53fKtqp9X [link-preview url=”https://domov.sme.sk/c/20722118/rok-2013-ludia-dali-prednost-fasizmu-pred-smerom.html#ixzz53fKtqp9X”]

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe Slovakia

First and Second Diaspora

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A portrait of an Indian physicist who studied in Moscow, married in Czechoslovakia and has since lived in the Ostrava region. He founded an association called Mutual Collaboration, which implemented a number of successful programs for Roma in the Ostrava region and in the Moravian-Silesian Region in an effort to bring them closer together to the majority population. He has received several awards and general respect from all sides: from politicians, Roma, police of the Czech Republic, foundations and embassies. He has no problem to stand in the middle of a crowd and calm them down. With his conduct, patience and grace, he has also received grudging respect from some of the extremists.

– Mohol žiť ako boháč v Indii, vyštudoval fyziku v Moskve, radšej však pracuje s Rómami v Česku. In: Dennik. 31.12.2017. https://dennikn.sk/961326/mohol-zit-ako-bohac-v-indii-ale-vystudoval-fyziku-v-moskve-a-pracuje-s-romami-v-cesku/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/961326/mohol-zit-ako-bohac-v-indii-ale-vystudoval-fyziku-v-moskve-a-pracuje-s-romami-v-cesku/”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

At Last …

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Milan Mazurek of Kotleba LSNS party is facing not only a high fine, but also a premature departure from the national parliament. And all because of his derogatory statements on Roma, immigrants, or Muslims that he made on Radio Frontinus on October last year.
Slow progress but progress nevertheless.

– Poslancovi ĽSNS Mazurekovi hrozí, že v parlamente skončí. In: Atkuality. 22.12.2017. https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/549933/poslancovi-lsns-mazurekovi-hrozi-ze-v-parlamente-skonci/ [link-preview url=”https://www.aktuality.sk/clanok/549933/poslancovi-lsns-mazurekovi-hrozi-ze-v-parlamente-skonci/”]

News Eastern Europe Slovakia

Slovakia – No Surprise

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62% of the Slovaks would not want Roma neighbours… They are worse off than Moslems (54%), migrants (43%) and homosexuals (37%).
No surprise, unfortunately.

– Slováci to dali najavo jasne: Za susedov najčastejšie nechceme Rómov, moslimov či homosexuálov. In: Novy Čas. 18.12.2017. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/634463/slovaci-to-dali-najavo-jasne-za-susedov-najcastejsie-nechceme-romov-moslimov-ci-homosexualov/ [link-preview url=”https://www.cas.sk/clanok/634463/slovaci-to-dali-najavo-jasne-za-susedov-najcastejsie-nechceme-romov-moslimov-ci-homosexualov/”]

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