France was condemned by the UN for police violence overall, also concerning Rroma …
What will await us there if the FN takes power 🙁
After a pause due to Easter (not in France – on the redaction side), a further French chronicle. Actually very quiet, as this is the season where expulsions are the norm.
In Annet sur Marne, judges ordered the expulsion of the Rroma camp; in Roubaix, the decision of the judges is still reported, and the future of that particular camp is still in the cards; in Lens, a collective supporting Rroma is asking for financial support; a manifestation for supporting Rroma attracted less than 50 people, BAD; a young Rrom was electrocuted while playing in a squat; in Saint Denis, north of Paris, residents protested against illegal vendors and Rroma by organizing a market on the street; and finally, a positive note in the North of France on social lodgins and so-called insertions villages.
A summary of the aggression against the young Rrom in Bulgaria who stated “you are my equal” to an obviously racist and brutal Bulgarian.
Two article on a festival last week end in Western France.
A polemic started in France because of a planned moive by a French humourist – Christian Clavier – called “Sivouplééé” – a play on the French “please” as pronounced by Romanian Rroma beggars. This movie shows a leftist intellectual who has to open his home to a family of Rroma. And of course, all stereotypes are present.
Toni Gatlif, the French Rroma movie maker simply finds this disgusting, and we share his point of view.
SHAME !!!
And the spring comes, and camps are dismantled or at least threatened … The French constant. In Ris Orangis, near Paris, a camp was dismantled; in Annet sur Marne, the tribunal will decide on May 6th about the camp, a camp which has neighbours up in arms; in Lyon, a new camp in the city; in the North, Rroma are being displaced to a new location in Vauban amidst opposition; and near Paris, a commune searches for a solution for sedentarised travellers.
Meanwhile, former residents of a camp in Paris are looking for a new address; and mayors in several cities in France are really increasing their racist rhetoric. Finally, a Bulgarian death in a camp lands in front of the justice – with the usual background of “human trafficking”.
An article about the politic of exclusion that is the norm in France.
The Council of Europe announced the creation of a European Rroma Institute to promote and defend the Rroma cultural heritage.
Let’s hope!
An Exhibition – Rroma on the Way to School – opened its doors in Strasbourg.
This week’s chronicle is dominated by a few places. First and foremost, Cogolin, in the South where a Front National Mayor commented the destruction on a Rroma camp live on TV – watch it, in case you doubt what this party stands for. The statements he made (about the odour etc.) are actually plain racist.
Then, near Paris, in Annet sur Marne, a camp’s fate is in the hand of the judges; in Saint-Ouen, near Paris, the mayor blocks a street to get rid of Rroma; in Lille, Rroma may be forced to leave while in Roubaix, garbage strewn on the street creates anger.
Then an article about a strategy about Rroma … One wonders, So much noise and work for less than 20’000 Rroma – the problem could have been resolved a long while back.
Right after having been condemned for racism, Jean-Maire Le Pen finds nothing better than celebrate with the French magazine “Rivarol” amongst a full set of true extremists making really racist comments.
Unfortunately, this cannot be condemned…
Nice overview of the condemnation and statements of Jean-Marie le Pen in France …
In spite of some positive coverage due to the international Rroma day, this week’s French chronicle is not particularly nice. First, an intervention of the police in a Rroma camp near the prison of Loos in the North of France, an attempt to remove the Rroma from this camp; in the North, two families are expulsed; toilets are awaited in a camp near la Rochelle in the West of France; a new camping spot for travelers is installed near Paris in the bois de Vioncennes; near Paris, the arrival of Rroma is problematic; the Seine’s banks are being cleaned near a former Rroma camp; and news about a gang of thieves who stole tools near Dijon.
On a more positive note, a French Radio broadcasted for a day from a Rroma ghetto in Paris; and a positive action in the North of France!
A few articles and calls for action in France in the context of the International Rroma Day.
The recent surge of rightist extremism in Slovakia is threatening Rroma and their integration in the country.
Bad!
This week, French news are not dominated by the closure of camps or petty criminality … Main news are the fight against discrimination and racism. This is much better!
News on an exhibition in Roubaix, in the North on racism; “living books” aka story tellers in Lille; 200 people manifesting against the expulsions in Lille; and a portrait of an activist in Marseilles.
Expulsions are also in the press: Near Paris where 600 people were expulsed; and in the North where a camp awaits the verdict of the courts on its eviction.
Then, there is crime … With the collaboration of the French and Romanian police (bad, as the latter are really racist); and with arrests for theft among Rroma.
An article on the successful integration of a young Rromni in France. Nice, were it not for the usual stereotypes that are conveyed in the article…
Two years ago, the fate of a young Rromni – Leonarda – from Kosovo who was expulsed from France filled the papers. She was found by a journalist in Kosovo where she works as a waitress. It says a lot about those expulsions.
A festival is taking place right now in the South of France in Marseilles…
Few news again in France this week. Whenever there are hot news, Rroma fall back. Actually they should stay back, as what is reported in the press is no news, just prejudices.
This week, a child died in a Rroma camp in the North of France; a fire raged through a Rroma camp in Paris; the arrival of Rroma travelers near Paris is seen as a threat by some; in Marseilles, a Rroma camp is a hot topic, and near Paris, 10 tons of garbage have been collected near sites where Rroma were. Them, there is crime … A young Rrom sexually aggressed his sister in law in the North, and near Grenoble, Rroma were caught emptying the tank of a truck.
Finally, some solidarity! An association in the South helps refugees and Rroma; in the North, an old priest and activist also does so, and in the North too, youngsters start an action to sensitize the population.
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