Category Archives: News Switzerland

News Switzerland

Swiss Extreme Right

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The Association of Sinti and Roma Switzerland, together with the Association for the protection of threatened people lodged a legal complaint for racism against the youth wing of the Bern SVP following their publication of a poster which is essentially racist.
Even some of the SVP members seem to agree. Let’s see what the justice will do, as in Switzerland, it is not certain that this will be condemned.

– Junge SVP Bern wegen Plakat angezeigt. In: Der Bund. 23.02.2018. https://www.derbund.ch/schweiz/standard/junge-svp-bern-wird-wegen-plakat-angezeigt/story/22360279
– Die Junge SVP wird wegen Plakat angezeigt. In: 20 Minuten (CH). 23.02.2018. http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/news/story/Junge-SVP-wird-wegen-Plakat-angezeigt-21196778
– Sinti und Roma zeigen Junge SVP an. In: SRF. 23.02.2018. https://www.srf.ch/news/regional/bern-freiburg-wallis/wahlkampf-im-kanton-bern-sinti-und-roma-zeigen-junge-svp-an [link-preview url=”https://www.derbund.ch/schweiz/standard/junge-svp-bern-wird-wegen-plakat-angezeigt/story/22360279 “]

News Switzerland

Swiss Extreme Right Switzerland

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The Bern youth wing of the Swiss rightist party SVP went overboard in the canton Bern. They published a cartoon on the Internet against “Zigeuner” which states:
“Millions for building and maintenance, dirt, faeces, theft, etc. against the will of the population.”
We say NO to the camping sites for foreign Gypsies”
REALLY? This is racist. [link-preview url=””]

News Switzerland

Switzerland: Foreigners not Wanted

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The Swiss canton of Neuchatel is preparing a law on travellers that discriminates against non-Swiss travellers coming to the country (some on a regular basis since the 1970’s).
This is not acceptable.

– ” Une loi qui criminalise des minorités ” In: RTN. 13.02.2018. https://www.rtn.ch/rtn/Actualite/Region/20180213-Une-loi-qui-criminalise-des-minorites.html [link-preview url=”https://www.rtn.ch/rtn/Actualite/Region/20180213-Une-loi-qui-criminalise-des-minorites.html”]

News Switzerland

Switzerland – Not Enough!

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Travellers in Switzerland (Jenische, Sinti, Roma) do not have enough camping sites in Switzerland. The association of the communes is asking for all to work together and for this issue not to be solely left to the communes themselves.

– Plätze für Fahrende: Gemeindeverband fordert Zusammenarbeit. In: Volksblatt. 26.01.2018. https://www.volksblatt.li/Nachricht.aspx?src=sda&id=275386
– Immer weniger Standplätze für Jenische, Sinti und Roma. In: Volksblatt. 26.01.2018. https://www.volksblatt.li/Nachricht.aspx?src=sda&id=275393
– Solution consensuelle pour les gens du voyage. In: 24 Heures. 26.01.2018. https://www.24heures.ch/suisse/solution-consensuelle-gens-voyage/story/26396968
– AIRS DE SÉJOUR EN BAISSE POUR LES GENS DU VOYAGE. In: Le Matin. 26.01.2018. https://www.lematin.ch/news/Airs-de-sejour-en-baisse-pour-les-gens-du-voyage/story/25263295
– Aires de séjour et de transit pour les gens du voyage: une meilleure collaboration entre les cantons, les communes et les personnes directement concernées est obligatoire. In: Presseportal. 26.01.2018. https://www.presseportal.ch/fr/pm/100059928/100811676 [link-preview url=”https://www.volksblatt.li/Nachricht.aspx?src=sda&id=275386 “]

News Switzerland

Switzerland: A First!

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Alain Berset, the current president of the Swiss Confederation, issued a statement for the International Holocaust Remembrance Day in which, for the first time Roma were also mentioned.
Good!

– “Holocaust-Tragödie verpflichtet zum Nachdenken”. In: Kath.ch. 27.01.2018. https://www.kath.ch/newsd/holocaust-tragoedie-verpflichtet-zum-nachdenken/ [link-preview url=”https://www.kath.ch/newsd/holocaust-tragoedie-verpflichtet-zum-nachdenken/”]

News Switzerland

Switzerland: Reactions

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Some reactions against the new law of Canton Bern.

– Le canton de Berne durcit le ton face aux gens du voyages occupant des terrains illégalement. In: RTS. 24.01.2018. https://www.rts.ch/play/radio/forum/audio/le-canton-de-berne-durcit-le-ton-face-aux-gens-du-voyages-occupant-des-terrains-illegalement?id=9254595&station=a9e7621504c6959e35c3ecbe7f6bed0446cdf8da [link-preview url=”https://www.rts.ch/play/radio/forum/audio/le-canton-de-berne-durcit-le-ton-face-aux-gens-du-voyages-occupant-des-terrains-illegalement?id=9254595&station=a9e7621504c6959e35c3ecbe7f6bed0446cdf8da”]

News Switzerland

Switzerland: The Traveller’s Law

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The new law against “illegal” camps for travellers in the Canton Bern is a shame. It caters to racism and prejudices all the while depriving travelling Roma (for it is targeted against them) of their livelihood.

– Die “Lex Fahrende” treibt die Platzsuche an. In: Der Bund. 25.01.2018. https://www.derbund.ch/bern/kanton/die-lex-fahrende-treibt-die-platzsuche-an/story/24204383 [link-preview url=”https://www.derbund.ch/bern/kanton/die-lex-fahrende-treibt-die-platzsuche-an/story/24204383″]

News Switzerland

Switzerland: Harder

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The Canton of Bern has decided to harden its policies towards “foreign” Travellers. They are not allowed to camp in sites reserved for the Swiss Travellers and now, “unauthorised” camping on private grounds (even when the ground’s owner has agreed) is a cause for expulsion.
BAD

– Kantonsparlament beschliesst strengere Regeln für Fahrende. In: Der Bund. 23.01.2018. https://www.derbund.ch/bern/kanton/kantonsparlament-beschliesst-haertere-gangart-gegenueber-fahrenden/story/24339071 [link-preview url=”https://www.derbund.ch/bern/kanton/kantonsparlament-beschliesst-haertere-gangart-gegenueber-fahrenden/story/24339071″]

News Switzerland

Slow Swiss …

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The Swiss are true to their reputation: Everything with ponderation, consideration, and discussion. In this case, the Swiss Federal Government set up a task force to make proposal for bettering the situation of Jenische (Swiss Travellers) Sinti and Roma. In 2014 …
In 2017, no end to the story, as the final report is still outstanding.

– Was wurde eigentlich aus dem Aktionsplan für Fahrende? In: Tages Anzeiger. 29.12.2017. https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/schweiz/standard/was-wurde-eigentlich-aus-dem-aktionsplan-fuer-schweizer-fahrende/story/29830508 [link-preview url=”https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/schweiz/standard/was-wurde-eigentlich-aus-dem-aktionsplan-fuer-schweizer-fahrende/story/29830508″]

News Switzerland

Sofia: No carriages

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Another article on the new interdiction of horse drawn carriages in the centre of Sofia. This deprives many Roma of their only source of income.
Bad.

– Les charrettes ne sont plus le dada de Sofia qui accueille l’UE. In: Swiss Info. 22.12.2017. https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/les-charrettes-ne-sont-plus-le-dada-de-sofia-qui-accueille-l-ue/43776542 [link-preview url=”https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/les-charrettes-ne-sont-plus-le-dada-de-sofia-qui-accueille-l-ue/43776542″]

News Switzerland

International Holocaust Remembrance

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In the context of the Swiss presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 2017, representatives from the IHRA met Roma representatives from Switzerland.

– Meeting with Roma Representatives in Switzerland. In: International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. 05.12.2017. https://holocaustremembrance.com/media-room/news-archive/meeting-roma-representatives-switzerland [link-preview url=”https://holocaustremembrance.com/media-room/news-archive/meeting-roma-representatives-switzerland”]

News Switzerland

Switzerland: New Measures

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The Swiss are introducing new measures against “troublesome” travellers, i.e. against foreign Roma. They can now deny them the permit for work if they have not been condemned in the last two years. This may very well mean that a traffic violation will be sufficient to be denied work.
Bad, and symptomatic of the new attitude of the Swiss against Roma.

– Kantone erhalten Druckmittel gegen störende Fahrende. In: St. Galler Tagblatt. 08.12.2017. http://www.tagblatt.ch/nachrichten/schweiz/neues-druckmittel-gegen-fahrende;art253650,5162621
– Kantone bekommen neues Druckmittel gegen Fahrende. In: Barfi. 08.12.2017. https://barfi.ch/News-Schweiz-die-Welt/Kantone-bekommen-neues-Druckmittel-gegen-Fahrende [link-preview url=”https://barfi.ch/News-Schweiz-die-Welt/Kantone-bekommen-neues-Druckmittel-gegen-Fahrende”]

News Switzerland

More on Bern …

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More articles on the vote of the Bern parliament in favour of the establishment of a camping site for travellers in the canton.

– Am Schluss gabs bei den Fahrenden ein Selfie. In: Berner Zeitung. 22.1..2017. https://www.bernerzeitung.ch/region/bern/am-schluss-gabs-bei-den-fahrenden-ein-selfie/story/23767423
– Statt «Marschhalts» folgt die Planung des Platzes in Wileroltigen. In: Der Bund. 22.11.2017. https://www.derbund.ch/bern/kanton/neuhaus-setzt-sich-mit-seiner-fahrendenpolitik-durch/story/29077277
– Berner BDP will Fahrende vertreiben. In: Nau. 23.11.2017. https://www.nau.ch/news/berner-bdp-macht-gegen-fahrende-stimmung-65269502
– Berner Kantonsparlament gegen Planungsstopp für Transitplätze. In: Swiss Info. 22.11.2017. https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/alle-news-in-kuerze/berner-kantonsparlament-gegen-planungsstopp-fuer-transitplaetze/43697220 [link-preview url=”https://www.bernerzeitung.ch/region/bern/am-schluss-gabs-bei-den-fahrenden-ein-selfie/story/23767423 “]

News Switzerland

Bern Switzerland: Good News

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The Parliament of the Canton Bern in Switzerland voted against a motion that would have resulted in a stop for the search and construction of a suitable camping site for foreign travellers (mostly Roma and Sinti).
The fact that Switzerland segregates its sites for travellers is actually not acceptable but seems not to be noted by anyone in the country.

– Wileroltigen wird konkret. In: SRF. 22.11.2017. https://www.srf.ch/news/regional/bern-freiburg-wallis/transitplaetze-fuer-fahrende-wileroltigen-wird-konkret [link-preview url=”https://www.srf.ch/news/regional/bern-freiburg-wallis/transitplaetze-fuer-fahrende-wileroltigen-wird-konkret”]

News Switzerland

Lausanne: Homeless Manifestation

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Homeless people, Roma, addicts etc. and some militants have spent the night outside in front of a church in the centre of town to protest about the lack of sleeping places in the town. The city is known for its interdiction of begging, something directed at Roma even though the number of beggars in the city was never more than 60.

– Ils passent la nuit dehors avec les sans-abri. Le Courrier. 13.11.2017. https://www.lecourrier.ch/154243/ils_passent_la_nuit_dehors_avec_les_sans_abri [link-preview url=”https://www.lecourrier.ch/154243/ils_passent_la_nuit_dehors_avec_les_sans_abri”]

News Switzerland

Swiss Jenische

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The Jenische Organisation “Radgenossenschaft der Landstrasse” wrote to the Swiss Federal Council, deploring the increase of racism against travellers in the country, the closure of camping sites, and the inaction of the authorities. They deplore the fact that the Jenische are thrown into the same pot as other “foreign” and mostly Roma group and that politics at the same time plays one group against the other.

– Jenische fürchten den “Dammbruch”. In: Der Bund. 17.11.2017. https://www.derbund.ch/bern/kanton/Jenische-fuerchten-den-Dammbruch/story/26684903#overlay [link-preview url=”https://www.derbund.ch/bern/kanton/Jenische-fuerchten-den-Dammbruch/story/26684903#overlay”]

Czech Republic News Eastern Europe News Switzerland

Czech Republic under Pressure

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The Czech republic has been under pressure at the UN in Geneva reading Roma and the persisting racism and discrimination against them in the Czech Republic.
Good!

– INTÉGRATION DES ROMS ET MONTÉE DU RACISME : L’ONU RECOMMANDE À LA TCHÉQUIE D’EN FAIRE PLUS. In: Radio Praha. 07.11.2017. http://www.radio.cz/fr/rubrique/faits/integration-des-roms-et-montee-du-racisme-lonu-recommande-a-la-tchequie-den-faire-plus
– LE PRÉSIDENT ZEMAN CRITIQUÉ PAR LES REPRÉSENTANTS DE LA MINORITÉ ROM. In: Radio Praha. 12.11.2017. http://www.radio.cz/fr/rubrique/infos/le-president-zeman-critique-par-les-representants-de-la-minorite-rom [link-preview url=”http://www.radio.cz/fr/rubrique/faits/integration-des-roms-et-montee-du-racisme-lonu-recommande-a-la-tchequie-den-faire-plus “]

News Switzerland

Is Begging a Right?

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An initiative in the Canton Vaud in Switzerland to forbid begging was approved by the cantonal parliament. It is currently suspended while court proceedings against it are in progress. This raises the question as to whether begging is a right.
Actually, the real question is whether this law was racist as it was aimed solely at Roma begging in the street of Lausanne.

– Mendier est-il un droit fondamental? In: Swiss Info. 08.11.2017. https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/economie/à-la-justice-de-trancher_mendier-est-il-un-droit-fondamental-/43654278 [link-preview url=”https://www.swissinfo.ch/fre/economie/à-la-justice-de-trancher_mendier-est-il-un-droit-fondamental-/43654278″]

News Switzerland

Switzerland: More Camping Sites for Roma

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Another series of articles following the publication of the report of the Society for threatened people (Gesellschaft für bedrohte Völker) on Roma travellers in Switzerland.
This time, the French speaking press…

– Il faut plus de places d’accueil pour les Roms. In: 20 Minutes (CH). 31.10.2017. http://www.20min.ch/ro/news/suisse/story/Il-faut-plus-de-places-d-accueil-pour-les-Roms-23778771
– Plus d’aires d’accueil pour les roms. In: Le Courrier. 01.11.2017. https://www.lecourrier.ch/153932/plus_d_aires_d_accueil_pour_les_roms
– «Les Roms nomades ont besoin de plus de places» In; 24 Heures. 31.10.2017. https://www.24heures.ch/suisse/roms-nomades-besoin-places/story/29219685 [link-preview url=”https://www.lecourrier.ch/153932/plus_d_aires_d_accueil_pour_les_roms”]

News Switzerland

Switzerland: Travelling Roma

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Two more articles about the press conference and report of the Society for Threatened People (Geselschaft für bedrohte Völker) on the situation of travelling Roma in Switzerland. The police is on the Roma’s side this time …

– Polizisten raten: «Schafft Plätze». In: Der Bund. 01.11.2017. https://www.derbund.ch/bern/kanton/polizisten-raten-schafft-plaetze/story/20987035
– «Messerschleifer sind nur noch wenige». In: Tages Anzeiger. 01.11.2017. https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/schweiz/standard/messerschleifer-sind-nur-noch-wenige/story/19294584 [link-preview url=”https://www.derbund.ch/bern/kanton/polizisten-raten-schafft-plaetze/story/20987035 “]

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