Category Archives: News Eastern Europe

Poland and Rroma

Published by:

The case of the resettlement of the Rroma from Limanowa is now in front of the courts. The municipality of Limanowa tried to move the Rroma living in a building that is close to collapse in the centre of the town to another house in another village … The resident of this other village tried to stop the move too.
In brief, they were simply trying to get rid of Rroma …

– Sądy głowią się nad sprawą przeprowadzki Romów z Limanowej. In: Wyborcza. 15.04.2017. http://krakow.wyborcza.pl/krakow/7,44425,21641309,sady-glowia-sie-nad-sprawa-przeprowadzki-romow-z-limanowej.html?disableRedirects=true [link-preview url=”http://krakow.wyborcza.pl/krakow/7,44425,21641309,sady-glowia-sie-nad-sprawa-przeprowadzki-romow-z-limanowej.html?disableRedirects=true”]

Slovakia and Rroma

Published by:

The Slovak politician Matovič wants to solve Roma problems in his country. His OĽANO Movement therefore submitted a bill for the next parliamentary meeting so that Roma children are required to attend pre-school for three years. He added, that if parents did not comply, they would commit a criminal offense. This latter point is maybe not the best idea…
In addition, he said: “80 years ago, Adolf Hitler showed his finger first to the Jews, the Disabled and the Roma stating that they were lowering our standard of living. Today we have two people, Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and Marián Kotleb (LSNS) who use this rhetoric. They say it’s our problem that we’re sick of it. In fact, Prime Minister Robert Fico has had ten years of government and caused 50,000 other Romani children to grow without adequate education”.

– Matovič chce riešiť problémy Rómov: Ak by sa rodičia zmenám bránili, bol by to trestný čin! In: Pluska. 19.04.2017. http://www.pluska.sk/spravy/z-domova/romovia-povinne-do-skoly-ujme-matovicov-navrh.html [link-preview url=”http://www.pluska.sk/spravy/z-domova/romovia-povinne-do-skoly-ujme-matovicov-navrh.html”]

Ukraine – Kiev and Settlements

Published by:

The situation is not getting better in Kiev. After the eviction of one settlement on April 5th, and then the burning and closure of an informal settlement on April 13th, Rroma have asked for police protection and the ombudsman was called in.
The situation in Ukraine is getting worse for Rroma.

– Як органи влади реагують на виселення ромів у Києві? In: Hromanske Radio. 17.04.2017. https://hromadskeradio.org/programs/chiriklo/yak-organy-vlady-reaguyut-na-vyselennya-romiv-u-kyyevi [link-preview url=”https://hromadskeradio.org/programs/chiriklo/yak-organy-vlady-reaguyut-na-vyselennya-romiv-u-kyyevi”]

Portugal – Photo Reportage

Published by:

A major photo project has started in Portugal, documenting the lives of the Portuguese Rroma. The German photographer, Florian Schwarz will take portraits of the Rroma as part of a project on migrations in Europe that will lead him to Romania and to Lapland.

– Ciganos: Portuguese Roma in major German photo project – by Len Port. In: Portuguese American Journal. 19.04.2017. http://portuguese-american-journal.com/ciganos-portuguese-roma-in-major-german-photo-project-by-len-port/ [link-preview url=”http://portuguese-american-journal.com/ciganos-portuguese-roma-in-major-german-photo-project-by-len-port/”]

Kosovo: Poisoned Rroma

Published by:

The Rroma who were forced to resettle is a UN camp and were poisoned by lead that contaminated the site are still awaiting an apology and a compensation. It looks increasingly possible they will get neither.
SHAME!

– Roma Sickened in U.N. Camps Are Still Waiting for Redress. In: The New York Times. 18.04.2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/world/europe/roma-gypsies-lead-poisoning-un.html?_r=0 [link-preview url=”https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/world/europe/roma-gypsies-lead-poisoning-un.html?_r=0″]

Slovenia – Better?

Published by:

Things are apparently getting better for Rroma in Slovenia. Really? There are still numerous problems, mostly related to the Rroma settlements whose existence is threatened by the lack of property titles, and who are seldom hooked up to municipal services. Fact is, Slovenia, with its tiny Rroma population, could do better.

– Življenje Romov se izboljšuje, a ponekod primanjkuje volje. In: MMC. 08.04.2017. https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/zivljenje-romov-se-izboljsuje-a-ponekod-primanjkuje-volje/419340 [link-preview url=”https://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/zivljenje-romov-se-izboljsuje-a-ponekod-primanjkuje-volje/419340″]

Slovakia: Interview of a Mayor

Published by:

The interview of the mayor of the town of Spišský Hrhov. This mayor is special, as he has been employing Rroma for nearly two decades in his company. And guess what, it works!

– Celý systém je nastavený na majoritu, preto nefunguje na Rómov. In: ETrend.sk. 12.04.2017. https://www.etrend.sk/trend-archiv/rok-2017/cislo-15/cely-system-je-nastaveny-na-majoritu-preto-nefunguje-na-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://www.etrend.sk/trend-archiv/rok-2017/cislo-15/cely-system-je-nastaveny-na-majoritu-preto-nefunguje-na-romov.html”]

Romania, Rroma, and the Holocaust

Published by:

Romania is being pressed to acknowledge and compensate Rroma victims of the mass deportations which occurred during World War Two. A law from 2000 actually guarantees a pension of 55 Euros per month for each year of detention in a camp during the war, but this is not currently extended to the Rroma.
SHAME.

– La Roumanie doit “rendre justice” aux Roms déportés par les pro-nazis. In: La Libre. 08.04.2017. http://www.lalibre.be/actu/international/la-roumanie-doit-rendre-justice-aux-roms-deportes-par-les-pro-nazis-58e8c77fcd70812a654df7d0 [link-preview url=”http://www.lalibre.be/actu/international/la-roumanie-doit-rendre-justice-aux-roms-deportes-par-les-pro-nazis-58e8c77fcd70812a654df7d0″]

National States and Rroma

Published by:

Three authors reflect on Rroma slave labour was used to build Europe’s prosperity. Interesting views, especially on the national states but not fully convincing, especially since the phenomena they are describing are only relevant in the Romanian states and to a less extent in the K&K
More
– ‘The best Roma in the village is the Roma who works as a servant’. In: Open Democracy. 07.04.2017. https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/szilvia-r-zm-ves-isak-skenderi-violeta-vajda/best-roma-in-village-is-roma-who-wor [link-preview url=”https://www.opendemocracy.net/can-europe-make-it/szilvia-r-zm-ves-isak-skenderi-violeta-vajda/best-roma-in-village-is-roma-who-wor”]

The Šutka …

Published by:

All Jazeera published a long article on the Šutka in Skopje, one of the largest Mahala in the Balkans.

– Shutka: Inside Macedonia’s only Roma-run municipality. In: Al Jazeera. 08.04.2017. http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/04/shutka-life-world-roma-run-municipality-170406133010977.html [link-preview url=”http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/04/shutka-life-world-roma-run-municipality-170406133010977.html”]

US Envoy on Rroma in Slovakia

Published by:

The US Envoy in Slovakia is writing about Rroma in Slovakia on the International Roma Day. He seems optimistic. Let’s hope.

– There are efforts for positive changes in Roma community. In: The Slovak Spectator. 08.04.2017. https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20503104/there-are-efforts-for-positive-changes-in-roma-community.html [link-preview url=”https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20503104/there-are-efforts-for-positive-changes-in-roma-community.html”]

Slovakia – International Rroma Day

Published by:

A bit of background for Slovakia’s citizen who don’t necessarily know much about Rroma. Not fully accurate, but a start…

– V Európskej únii žije 6 miliónov Rómov, v celej Európe až 12 miliónov. In: Spravy Pozri. 07.04.2017. http://spravy.pozri.sk/clanok/V-Europskej-unii-zije-6-milionov-Romov,-v-celej-Europe-az-12-milionov/1143775 [link-preview url=”http://spravy.pozri.sk/clanok/V-Europskej-unii-zije-6-milionov-Romov,-v-celej-Europe-az-12-milionov/1143775″]

USA, Trump, and Racists

Published by:

A White House aide, Sebastian Gorka, endorsed the Magyar Garda, a paramilitary group related to the extreme rightist Hungarian party, Jobbik. The Garda has been involved in racist acts against Rroma, but also against Jews and the LGBT community.
Thanks Mr. Trump.

– Trump Aide Endorsed Group That Harasses Roma And Gays, Pushes Anti-Semitism. In: Right Wing Watch. 04.04.2017. http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/trump-aide-endorsed-group-that-harasses-roma-and-gays-pushes-anti-semitism/ [link-preview url=”http://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/trump-aide-endorsed-group-that-harasses-roma-and-gays-pushes-anti-semitism/”]

Poland: Pogrom Against Rroma

Published by:

On Friday evening, a gang of about 40 men attacked Rroma in the city of Katowice in Silesia.
Several of the men were arrested by the police. Several Rroma were beaten up with baseball bats.
SHAME

– Odśpiewali “Sto lat” przed aresztem i ruszyli na Romów. Padł strzał. In TVN24. 03.04.2017. http://www.tvn24.pl/katowice,51/odspiewali-sto-lat-pod-aresztem-i-ruszyli-na-romow-padl-strzal,728900.html
– Rasistowski atak na Romów w Zabrzu. Padły strzały. In:Fakt.pl. 03.04.2017. http://www.fakt.pl/wydarzenia/polska/slask/rasistowski-atak-na-romow-w-zabrzu-policja-oddala-strzaly/w40vzhd [link-preview url=”http://www.tvn24.pl/katowice,51/odspiewali-sto-lat-pod-aresztem-i-ruszyli-na-romow-padl-strzal,728900.html”]

Romania – Really?

Published by:

An article is a perfect illustration of implied racism against Rroma… This time, be cause – surprise – a Rrom returned a wallet with 1’300 EUR to the police in Arad. Implied thought here is that “normally” Rroma would have stolen it, hence the newsworthiness.
When you think about the corruption of the country, it seems that Rroma are small fishes at most if (and not when) they ever steal.

– Roma man finds wallet with money on a street in Arad, gives it to the police. In: Romania Insider. 04.04.2017. http://www.romania-insider.com/roma-man-finds-wallet-money-street-arad-gives-police/ [link-preview url=”http://www.romania-insider.com/roma-man-finds-wallet-money-street-arad-gives-police/”]

Pogrom in Transylvania

Published by:

The small city of Gheorgheni (in Hungarian Gyergyószentmiklós) is a town mostly inhabited by ethnic Hungarians (Székler) in Transylvania.
On Friday, there was a massive pogrom against the Rroma of that city. At least five families were taken out of their houses, beaten up and the houses were burnt to the ground. The police is looking for 20 to 30 people…
Shame!

– Selbstjustiz, Rassismus oder Bandenkrieg? “Ungarn” verüben Pogrom an Roma in Rumänien. In” Pester Lloyd. 03.04.2017. http://www.pesterlloyd.net/html/1714pgromromarum.html [link-preview url=”http://www.pesterlloyd.net/html/1714pgromromarum.html”]

Rroma Housing in Slovakia

Published by:

A project – DOM.ov – in Slovakia is trying to help Rroma get better housing and build houses rather than continue living in shacks in settlements. The issue is always land ownership and authorisations to built, which are often not given on the site of the settlements.
These two issues prevent many Rroma from building better houses, and leaves them in precatory. The project aims to break up this by legalising the land, and obtaining permits and grants via microcredit.

– Rómovia nedostanú všetko zadarmo, musia sporiť a dom si kúpiť z pôžičky. In: Dennik. 02.04.2017. https://dennikn.sk/720838/o-30-rokov-budu-dnesne-deti-z-chatrci-stavat-pekne-domy-aj-vo-vasom-susedstve/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/720838/o-30-rokov-budu-dnesne-deti-z-chatrci-stavat-pekne-domy-aj-vo-vasom-susedstve/”]

Poland: Opposition to Settlement

Published by:

The Limanowa Municipality voted against the extension of a Rroma housing project in a Rroma settlement. This project is sponsored by the governor of the region and was suppose to lodge several families in a new housing block.
Bad …

– Sesja z rezolucją przeciwko zapowiedzi wojewody ws. Romów. In: Limanowa. 02.04.2017. https://limanowa.in/wydarzenia;sesja-z-rezolucja-przeciwko-zapowiedzi-wojewody-ws-romow,36156.html [link-preview url=”https://limanowa.in/wydarzenia;sesja-z-rezolucja-przeciwko-zapowiedzi-wojewody-ws-romow,36156.html”]

Slovakia: No Rroma in School

Published by:

Protests erupted when it became known that some Rroma children would be allocated to various elementary schools. Non Rroma parents strongly objected and theretened to take their children away.
It illustrates what still needs to be done in that country.

– VIDEO Rómov v našej škole nechceme! Sexu rozumejú lepšie ako my, kričali rodičia. In: Pluska. 01.04.2017. http://www.pluska.sk/regiony/stredne-slovensko/video-romov-nasej-skole-nechceme-rozumeju-sexe-lepsie-ako-my-dospeli-kricali-rodicia.html [link-preview url=”http://www.pluska.sk/regiony/stredne-slovensko/video-romov-nasej-skole-nechceme-rozumeju-sexe-lepsie-ako-my-dospeli-kricali-rodicia.html”]

rroma.org
de_DEDE