A talk about Rroma in Switzerland. True – we are a lot here, and most of them integrated. The ones people see make not even a percent of all of us…
– https://www.facebook.com/gesellschaftfuerbedrohtevoelker/videos/1333720893354832/ [link-preview url=”https://www.facebook.com/gesellschaftfuerbedrohtevoelker/videos/1333720893354832/”]
An article on Rroma beggars in Lausanne, their income (very low) and their aspirations. It features the organisation Opre Rom which helps the Rroma to find a decent job. It is good, as this shows that begging is not a choice, and certainly not a criminal entreprise.
– «Ce n’est pas un choix» In: Le Corrier. 08.12.2016. http://www.lecourrier.ch/144922/ce_n_est_pas_un_choix [link-preview url=”http://www.lecourrier.ch/144922/ce_n_est_pas_un_choix”]
Lausanne banned begging a while back. Now they are backing off in saying that “occasional” begging should be allowed, i.e. if you don’t have enough money for your public transportation ticket.
In fact, they are trying to keep the interdiction in place for Rroma only … They could say it, it would be at least transparent.
– «Le concept de mendicité occasionnelle stigmatise les Roms» In: La Tribune de Genève. 30.11.2016. http://www.tdg.ch/suisse/Le-concept-de-mendicite-occasionnelle-stigmatise-les-Roms/story/11362085 [link-preview url=”http://www.tdg.ch/suisse/Le-concept-de-mendicite-occasionnelle-stigmatise-les-Roms/story/11362085″]
The former president of the Radgenossenschaft der Landstrasse, Robert Huber, died last week at the age of 83 after a long illness. He was one of the key Jenische activists in the early days, forcing the Swiss state to admit its racist policies of removing children from Jenische families (until 1972). He will be buried this coming Friday.
May he rest in peace.
– Langjähriger Präsident Huber 83-jährig gestorben. In: NZZ. 28.11.2016. http://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/aktuelle-themen/jenische-in-der-schweiz-langjaehriger-praesident-huber-83-jaehrig-gestorben-ld.131106
– Morto Robert Huber, a lungo presidente degli Jenisch svizzeri. In: Swissinfo. 28.11.2016. http://www.swissinfo.ch/ita/morto-robert-huber–a-lungo-presidente-degli-jenisch-svizzeri/42713244 [link-preview url=”http://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/aktuelle-themen/jenische-in-der-schweiz-langjaehriger-praesident-huber-83-jaehrig-gestorben-ld.131106″]
The parliament of the Canton of Jura in Switzerland has been debating the creation of a camping site for foreign travellers. It is symptomatic of the situation in Switzerland that one parliamentarian suggested not to do anything, as other cantons were not doing anything either …
– Gens du voyage : le Gouvernement persiste et signe. In: RFJ. 23.11.2016. http://www.rfj.ch/rfj/Actualite/Region/20161123-Gens-du-voyage-le-Gouvernement-persiste-et-signe.html [link-preview url=”http://www.rfj.ch/rfj/Actualite/Region/20161123-Gens-du-voyage-le-Gouvernement-persiste-et-signe.html”]
An interesting interview of a Jenishe writer, Simone Schönett. An insight in the culture of this group of travellers who all too often have been lumped together with Rroma.
– Jenische sind Jenische, keine „Korrnr“ In: Salot.bz. 25.11.2016. https://www.salto.bz/de/article/25112016/jenische-sind-jenische-keine-korrnr [link-preview url=”https://www.salto.bz/de/article/25112016/jenische-sind-jenische-keine-korrnr”]
An article about the drive through that was set up for prostitutes in Zurich. Not bad in itself, but the author claims that the prostitutes are “mostly Rroma” which is false. Yes, there are some Rromnja, especially from Hungary, but it is by far not the majority.
– Why Zurich has turned its red-light district into a drive-through, In: The Independent. 23.11.2016. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/why-zurich-is-turning-its-red-light-district-into-a-drive-through-a7429841.html [link-preview url=”http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/why-zurich-is-turning-its-red-light-district-into-a-drive-through-a7429841.html”]
The Canto n of St Gallen imposed further restrictions on travellers. They now have to ask for an official authorisation when the camp on private grounds (and pay the owner – up to several thousands Swiss francs).
This is bad, as Switzerland is currently barring foreign Rroma travellers from using the official camping sites for travellers.
– Neue Hürden für Fahrende in St.Gallen. In: FM1 St. Gallen. 20.11.2016. http://www.fm1today.ch/neue-huerden-fuer-fahrende-in-st-gallen/352023 [link-preview url=”http://www.fm1today.ch/neue-huerden-fuer-fahrende-in-st-gallen/352023″]
More articles on the Swiss Green Liberal politician Nathan Güntensperger who said “Roma do not respect agreements, lie, steal, try to cheat you and are vandals” and who has been exonerated of charges of racism.
Shame on Switzerland.
– «Les Roms mentent et volent»: le député blanchi. In 20 Minutes CH. 16.11.2016. http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/romandie/story/17817717
– Gens du voyage: l’élu biennois ne sera pas poursuivi pour discrimination raciale. In: Arc Info. 16.11.2016. http://www.arcinfo.ch/articles/suisse/gens-du-voyage-l-elu-biennois-ne-sera-pas-poursuivi-pour-discrimination-raciale-602196
– Discriminazione, il deputato Güntensperger non sarà perseguito. In: 20 Minuti CH. 16.11.2016. http://www.tio.ch/News/Svizzera/Politica/1116718/Discriminazione-il-deputato-Guntensperger-non-sara-perseguito
– GLP-Grossrat Güntensperger entgeht Rassismus-Verfahren. In: Der Bund. 16.11.2016. http://www.derbund.ch/bern/kanton/glpgrossrat-guentensperger-entgeht-rassismusverfahren/story/11753856 [link-preview url=”http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/romandie/story/17817717″]
The Swiss politician Nathan Güntensperger who wrote in a newspaper that “Rroma do not respect agreements, steal, and lie” has been exonerated of any charges following a complaint for racism from 4 Rroma organisations and the Geselschaft für Bedrohte Völker.
In addition, these organisations literally learnt it via the press, not having immediately received the full document.
SHAME!
– Kein Rassismus-Verfahren gegen Bieler Grossrat. In: Berner Zeitung. 16.11.2016. http://www.bernerzeitung.ch/region/bern/kein-rassismusverfahren-gegen-bieler-grossrat/story/12340445
– «Les Roms mentent et volent»: le député blanchi. In: 20 Minutes CH. 16.11.2016. http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/romandie/story/17817717
– Wohl kein Rassismus-Verfahren gegen Bieler Grossrat. In: Bluewin.ch. 16.11.2016. https://www.bluewin.ch/de/news/regional/region-bern/2016/11/16/wohl-kein-rassismus-verfahren-gegen-bieler-grossra.html [link-preview url=”https://www.bluewin.ch/de/news/regional/region-bern/2016/11/16/wohl-kein-rassismus-verfahren-gegen-bieler-grossra.html”]
The constitutional court of the canton of Vaud in Switzerland will have to decide on the legality of a ban against begging in that canton. The ban was prompted by the presence of less than hundred (yes!!!) beggars in Lausanne, some of which are Rroma.
There could be a few other possibilities …
– Vaud: recours contre l’interdiction de la mendicité. In: Swissinfo.ch. 09.11.2016. http://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/vaud–recours-contre-l-interdiction-de-la-mendicité/42580662 [link-preview url=”http://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/vaud–recours-contre-l-interdiction-de-la-mendicité/42580662″]
A really bad article from a Swiss paper. The article cites extensively an Austrian “expert” on street children and then goes on to dangerous generalisations such as “girls beg”, “boys steal” and so on.
This reinforces the stereotypes in the minds of the Swiss, as anyhow, they think that all Rroma are beggars and thieves.
– «Mädchen betteln, Buben stehlen» In: Blick. 27.10.2016. http://www.blick.ch/news/ausland/roma-banden-experte-norbert-ceipek-maedchen-betteln-buben-stehlen-id5663255.html [link-preview url=”http://www.blick.ch/news/ausland/roma-banden-experte-norbert-ceipek-maedchen-betteln-buben-stehlen-id5663255.html”]
An article about the need for so-called “Standplätze”, sites where Jenische and Sinti can spend longer periods in Switzerland. The Swiss travellers say that without these, their way of life cannot be upheld.
– Zukunft der Fahrenden liegt vielleicht im zweiten Stock. In: Der Bund. 31.10.2016. http://www.derbund.ch/bern/nachrichten/Zukunft-der-Fahrenden-liegt-vielleicht-im-zweiten-Stock/story/26478178 [link-preview url=”http://www.derbund.ch/bern/nachrichten/Zukunft-der-Fahrenden-liegt-vielleicht-im-zweiten-Stock/story/26478178″]
Lausanne, at the forefront of forbidding begging in Switzerland is confronted with ca. 200 homeless people. And only a fraction of these are Rroma … Which means, there are far less than 100 Rroma beggars in that city. Can’t be a massive problem …
– Migrants, Roms, toxicos, ils sont 200 à dormir à la rue. In: 24 Heures. 29.10.2016. http://www.24heures.ch/vaud-regions/lausanne-region/Migrants-Roms-toxicos-ils-sont-200-a-dormir-a-la-rue/story/31681936 [link-preview url=”http://www.24heures.ch/vaud-regions/lausanne-region/Migrants-Roms-toxicos-ils-sont-200-a-dormir-a-la-rue/story/31681936″]
Another article on local Swiss Travellers – the Jenische – and Rroma. And the views are far appart…
– Fahrende wehren sich: «Die Leute stecken uns in die gleiche Schublade wie die Roma». In: Aargauer Zeitung. 25.10.2016. http://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/schweiz/fahrende-wehren-sich-die-leute-stecken-uns-in-die-gleiche-schublade-wie-die-roma-130667190 [link-preview url=”http://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/schweiz/fahrende-wehren-sich-die-leute-stecken-uns-in-die-gleiche-schublade-wie-die-roma-130667190″]
People are finally moving against the interdiction of begging issued by the city of Lausanne. This interdiction, aimed at the few dozen Rroma beggars (never more than 60 in the whole city) is controversial as it criminalises poverty.
Leftist parties want to weaken it, while a referendum has been launched to scrap it entirely.
– Vaud: lancement d’un référendum contre l’interdiction de mendier. In: Swissinfo. 10.10.2016. http://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/vaud–lancement-d-un-referendum-contre-l-interdiction-de-mendier/42506114
– Le centre-gauche veut assouplir l’interdiction de la mendicité. In: 24 Heures. 12.10.2016. http://www.24heures.ch/vaud-regions/Le-centregauche-veut-assouplir-l-interdiction-de-la-mendicite/story/11316215 [link-preview url=”http://www.24heures.ch/vaud-regions/Le-centregauche-veut-assouplir-l-interdiction-de-la-mendicite/story/11316215″]
Two articles in the aftermath of the ban of begging in Lausanne. One by a photographer, Yves Leresche, who has been taking picture of these beggars in both Switzerland and Romania, and the other, on the actual effects of banning beggars. The bans are actually bad and make matter worse.
– Yves Leresche: «je m’étonne de l’absence de débat sur la mendicité» In: La Côte. 30.09.2016. http://www.lacote.ch/articles/regions/vaud/yves-leresche-je-m-etonne-de-l-absence-de-debat-sur-la-mendicite-1-2-585162
– A Genève, le bilan inquiétant de la loi anti-mendicité. In: Le Courrier. 29.09.2016. http://www.lecourrier.ch/142819/a_geneve_le_bilan_inquietant_de_la_loi_anti_mendicite [link-preview url=”http://www.lacote.ch/articles/regions/vaud/yves-leresche-je-m-etonne-de-l-absence-de-debat-sur-la-mendicite-1-2-585162″]
Another article on Rroma travellers in Switzerland. And the perpetuation of new myths: There are more and more of them coming in Switzerland (FALSE, exactly as before), they need so-called “Transit” camping place, even though they are not in transit through Switzerland but work here, etc. And on top, the segregation of camping sites between Swiss travellers and the others is considered almost as natural.SHAME!- Die Frage der Fahrenden sorgt für Kopfzerbrechen. In: Swissinfo. 19.09.2016. http://www.swissinfo.ch/direktedemokratie/roma-kontra-jenische_die-frage-der-fahrenden-sorgt-fuer-kopfzerbrechen/33534654#commentsdo [link-preview url=”http://www.swissinfo.ch/direktedemokratie/roma-kontra-jenische_die-frage-der-fahrenden-sorgt-fuer-kopfzerbrechen/33534654#commentsdo”]
Lausanne forbade mendacity yesterday. The vote was narrow but passed through. Begging will be fined 100.— CHF and begging with a minor even more. This measure concerns less than a hundred beggars in Lausanne. Yes, less than 100!!!!And by far not of them are Rroma.Speak about lousy populism.- CANTON DE VAUD LE GRAND CONSEIL INTERDIT LA MENDICITÉ. In: Le Matin. 28.09.2016. http://www.lematin.ch/suisse/grand-conseil-interdit-mendicite/story/31918282- La mendicité interdite grâce au vote dispersé des Verts. In: 24 Heures. 28.09.2016. http://www.24heures.ch/vaud-regions/mendicite-interdite-canton-vaud/story/22545846- Il sera interdit de mendier dans le canton de Vaud. In: 20 Minutes (CH). 28.09.2016. http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/vaud/story/Il-sera-interdit-de-mendier-dans-le-canton-de-Vaud-14415436- Trois scénarios face à la mendicité. In: Le Courrier. 26.08.2016. http://www.lecourrier.ch/142744/trois_scenarios_face_a_la_mendicite [link-preview url=”http://www.lematin.ch/suisse/grand-conseil-interdit-mendicite/story/31918282″]
The Bern Government is trying to take measures against abuses and misuses of one of the travellers sites in the canton. Apparently, the list of complaints is long, including not paying rent, destroying or damaging infrastructure, aggressive behaviour, and not sending children to school.
As usual, reality is somewhat less dramatic.
– Stadt Bern nimmt Fahrende in die Pflicht. In: Berner Zeitung. 20.09.2016. http://www.bernerzeitung.ch/region/bern/neue-spielregeln-fuer-standplatz-buech/story/15399016 [link-preview url=”http://www.bernerzeitung.ch/region/bern/neue-spielregeln-fuer-standplatz-buech/story/15399016″]
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