Monthly Archives: November 2016

Slovakia: Education and Rroma

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Education for the Rroma minority is failing. Rroma, who are often put into special schools are de-facto barred from higher education, be it secondary or higher. This even though it is proven, that education is the best way to prevent unemployment.
BAD

– Vzdelávanie Rómov je nastavené tak, aby neuspeli. In: SME. 23.11.2016. http://komentare.sme.sk/c/20384073/vzdelavanie-romov-je-nastavene-tak-aby-neuspeli.html

Zurich and Prostitution

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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

Rome: The New Rroma Camp in Court

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The case of the new Roma camp in the North of Rome, a camp that is being pushed by the new Mayor from the five Star movement in spite of earlier promises, landed in court. Several organisations are claiming there is corruption behind it, and that the Italian state violated the master agreement with the EU concerning Rroma integration.
We hope they succeed!

– Nuovo campo rom a Roma Nord: il bando approda in Procura. In: VignaClaraBlog. 22.11.2016. http://www.vignaclarablog.it/2016112265889/nuovo-campo-rom-roma-nord-bando-in-procura/

Switzerland: Restrictions on Travellers

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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

A Rroma Group Supports Hofer

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Stevan Balog Radul, president of the parliament of the new IRU stood officially behind the right extreme candidate for the Austrian Presidency Norbert Hofer.
He and his party (FPÖ) have consistently taken extremist views on minorities and on LGTB and other social issues.
THIS IS A SHAME that a Rroma organisation supports them
The IRU in question is a new International Romani Union and not the original one. The original one has a different president and president of the parliament. These do not support Hofer.

– Roma Organisationen | Keine Unterstützung für Hofer. In: ORF Volksgruppen. 21.11.2016. http://volksgruppen.orf.at/roma/stories/2810332/
– Roma-Initiative wirbt für Hofer. In: Österreich 24. 21.11.2016. http://www.oe24.at/oesterreich/politik/Roma-Initiative-wirbt-fuer-Hofer/259406935
– Roma-Verein wirbt für Hofer: “Ein anständiger Mensch” In: Wiener Zeitung. 21.11.2016. http://www.wienerzeitung.at/themen_channel/integration/gesellschaft/857582_Roma-Verein-wirbt-fuer-Hofer-Ein-anstaendiger-Mensch.html
– Roma-Initiativen distanzieren sich von IRU-Chef – und Hofer. In: Die Presse. 21.11.2016. http://diepresse.com/home/politik/bpwahl/5121742/RomaInitiativen-distanzieren-sich-von-IRUChef-und-Hofer

A Friend …

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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

Switzerland: More on Gütensperger

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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

Slovakia: A Town and Rroma Lodgings

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The town of Žilina in the North of Slovakia had to re-lodge Rroma who had to leave their flats due to a fire in the building. They chose to relocate them into containers, but with a caveat: Each family wanting to be re-located has to pay 200 EUR in advance (a lot of money there) and signed a rental contract. For those who had arrears, nothing will be done.

– Žilina chce presťahovať Rómov, mesto im ponúklo kontajnery. In: Webnoviny.sk. 14.11.2016. http://www.webnoviny.sk/slovensko/clanok/1117856-zilina-chce-prestahovat-romov-mesto-im-ponuklo-kontajnery

UK: More and More Travellers in the Pentecostal Church

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An article about the huge impact of the Pentecostal church among Rroma and Travellers in the UK. This reflects the success of this church in France, Switzerland and to a lesser extend in Germany, but which definitively has a negative impact on Rroma tradition and customs, as these are superseded by church views. And this is not about fortune telling …

– How Gypsies have moved from fortune-telling to fervent Christianity. In: BBC News. 20.11.2016. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-38016090

France and Prostitution …

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The case of Bulgarian Rroma who prostituted their children is making the headlines. Worse, it makes Rroma really look bad in a country where the press has a tendency to generalise.
They came off lightly, actually, way too lightly.

– GIRONDE: 2 À 6 ANS DE PRISON POUR DES PARENTS BULGARES QUI PROSTITUAIENT LEURS ENFANT. In: Charentes Libre. 18.11.2016. http://www.charentelibre.fr/2016/11/18/gironde-2-a-6-ans-de-prison-pour-des-parents-bulgares-qui-prostituaient-leurs-enfants,3068890.php
– Bordeaux : Peines légères pour des Roms qui prostituaient leurs propres enfants ! In: Infos Bordeaux. 19.11.2016. http://www.infos-bordeaux.fr/2016/actualites/bordeaux-peines-legeres-pour-des-roms-qui-prostituaient-leurs-propres-enfants-8518
– Procès des parents proxénètes à Bordeaux : l’expertise dérangeante de l’éthnopsychologue. In: Sud Ouest. 14.11.2016. http://www.sudouest.fr/2016/11/14/faire-du-sexe-c-est-comme-faire-la-manche-2567416-4697.php
– Bordeaux : de lourdes peines requises contre les parents jugés pour proxénétisme. In: Sud Ouest. 17.11.2016. http://www.sudouest.fr/2016/11/17/bordeaux-de-lourdes-peines-requises-contre-les-parents-juges-pour-proxenetisme-2571806-2780.php

Slovakia: Award for Teacher

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A Slovak Teacher from the village of Muránska Dlhá Lúka, in the centre of the country, Ms. Monika Podolinská, received an award fro her work with Rroma children in her village helping them overcome the initial hurdle in school and thus resulting in more Rroma going to secondary school.
Good!

– Ocenená učiteľka Rómov: Sme niekedy radikálni, rodičom to vyhovuje. In SME Domov. 20.11.2016. http://domov.sme.sk/c/20386010/ocenena-ucitelka-romov-sme-niekedy-radikalni-rodicom-to-vyhovuje.html#ixzz4QXNMqfEU

Austria: Commemoration for the Burgenland Rroma

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In the Austrian Burgenland, an event was organised on the 19th of November to commemorate the deportation of the Burgenland Rroma during the Nazi era. These Carpathian Rroma, established in the region since the 14th century, were alm,ost annihilated during World War Two.

– Gedenken an in NS-Zeit getötete Roma und Sinti. In: Der Kurier. 19.11.2016. https://kurier.at/chronik/burgenland/gedenken-an-in-ns-zeit-getoetete-roma-und-sinti/231.585.209
– Gedenkveranstaltung für Roma und Sinti im Burgenland. In: Salzburger Nachrichten. 19.11.2016. http://www.salzburg.com/nachrichten/oesterreich/politik/sn/artikel/gedenkveranstaltung-fuer-roma-und-sinti-im-burgenland-222835/

France and Schools …

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A series of articles in France followed the publication of a report on school enrolment and the difficulties that minorities have in finding a school who takes them. This is especially true of Rroma migrants with several mayors simply refusing to entoll them (see post from yesterday).
SHAME for France

– Roms, isolés, mal logés: qui sont ces enfants non scolarisés en France? In: L’Express. 18.11.2016. http://www.lexpress.fr/education/roms-isoles-mal-loges-qui-sont-ces-enfants-non-scolarises-en-france_1851763.html
– Trop d’enfants se voient refuser l’accès à l’école. In: La Croix. 18.11.2016. http://www.la-croix.com/Famille/Education/Trop-denfants-voient-refuser-lacces-lecole-2016-11-18-1200804005
– Le rapport annuel sur les droits de l’enfant en France dénonce des inégalités d’accès à l’école. In: France Infos. 18.11.2016. http://www.francetvinfo.fr/societe/education/le-rapport-annuel-sur-les-droits-de-l-enfant-en-france-denonce-des-inegalites-d-acces-a-l-ecole_1925689.html
– Le droit à l’éducation bafoué par certaines mairies. In: Le Monde. 18.11.2016. https://fr.news.yahoo.com/droit-à-l-éducation-bafoué-certaines-mairies-062018052.html
– L’accès à l’école, un droit en théorie mais parfois bafoué dans la réalité. In: Europe 1. 18.11.2016. http://www.europe1.fr/societe/lacces-a-lecole-un-droit-en-theorie-mais-parfois-bafoue-dans-la-realite-2903735
– Un rapport du Défenseur des droits dénonce l’accès difficile à la scolarisation pour les enfants “vulnérables”. In: The Huffington Post. 18.11.2016. http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2016/11/18/rapport-du-defenseur-des-droits-acces-difficile-education-enfants-vulnerables/

French Chronicle …

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Interesting week in France: Instead of just camps and their removal, we have a series of themes – schools and prostitution which made the headlines. But first, the usual camp chronicle …
First a movie comparing the integration of Portuguese and Rroma in Ivry, near Paris; then the story of a pro-Rroma militant who was getting paid to expulse them (YES!!!); the dreation of a collective for helping Rroma in the North; the story of Rroma squatting a school and the story of Rroma finally finding a place to stay in the North; a fire in a camp in Marseilles; and the usual story about the Rroma from Montreuil who still have no abode.

– Ivry : un film compare l’intégration des immigrés Portugais et Roms. In: Le Parisien. 14.11.2016. http://www.leparisien.fr/ivry-sur-seine-94200/ivry-un-film-compare-l-integration-des-immigres-portugais-et-roms-14-11-2016-6327099.php
– Ce militant pour le droit des Roms se faisait en fait payer pour aider à les expulser. In: L’Atlantico. 13.11.2016. http://www.atlantico.fr/decryptage/militant-pour-droit-roms-se-faisait-en-fait-payer-pour-aider-expulser-tour-france-corruption-jacques-duplessy-guillaume-morant-2876053.html#kkcCI8Gtpyx0XEQV.99
– Création d’un collectif de soutien aux Roms. In: La Voix du Nord. 17.11.2016. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/75872/article/2016-11-17/creation-d-un-collectif-de-soutien-aux-roms
– L’aventure des Roms s’achève à l’école Sainte-Thérèse. In: La Voix du Nord. 15.11.2016. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/74824/article/2016-11-15/l-aventure-des-roms-s-acheve-l-ecole-sainte-therese
– Un logement pour les Roms, mais de très longues années de démarches en coulisse. In: La Voix du Nord. 15.11.2016. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/74814/article/2016-11-15/un-logement-pour-les-roms-mais-de-tres-longues-annees-de-demarches-en-coulisse
– Marseille : incendie dans un camps de roms quartier d’Arenc. In: FR3 Infos. 20.11.2016. http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/provence-alpes/marseille-incendie-camps-roms-quartier-arenc-1135307.html
– Montreuil : les familles roms de nouveau expulsées. In: Le Parisien. 14.11.2016. http://www.leparisien.fr/seine-saint-denis-93/montreuil-les-familles-roms-de-nouveau-expulsees-14-11-2016-6328152.php
– Familles Roms à Montreuil: mise à l’abri jamais, harcèlement toujours? In: Mediapart. 17.11.2016. https://blogs.mediapart.fr/juliette-keating/blog/171116/familles-roms-montreuil-mise-labri-jamais-harcelement-toujours

UK: 48’000 Pounds Paid

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An Irish pub chain was condemned to pay 48’000 pounds to a group of travellers who was denied access to one of their pubs.
Good!

– Wetherspoon pub chain apologise to Irish Travellers and pay over £48,000 in landmark David vs Goliath discrimination case. In: The Irish Post. 17.11.2016. http://irishpost.co.uk/wetherspoon-pub-chain-apologise-irish-travellers-pay-48000-landmark-david-vs-goliath-discrimination-case/

Hungary – Xenophobia

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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

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