An interview with Erika Godlová. She has been mapping the culture of Roma in Slovakia since 2013, and before that she wrote for the newspaper Romano ľil and interpreted in Roma settlements and is the founder of the Roma memory fund. She says: “It fascinates me that the Roma can communicate with each other as a separate group, even though they have been scattered around the world for centuries.”
Category Archives: News Eastern Europe
Encyclopaedia of the Genocide of the Roma
An article in the Slovak press about the release of the Encyclopaedia.
During the inauguration, the head of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Romani Rose, announced this at the presentation of the encyclopedia in Berlin’s documentation center for Nazi crimes Topography of Terror.
He also pointed out that the genocide of the Roma was neglected by politicians and scientists for a long time. The professional mapping of Nazi atrocities against the Roma has now been changed by the work of Karola Fings from the University of Heidelberg, who leads the internet encyclopaedia project.
- Genocídu Rómov v Európe pod nadvládou nacistov mapuje internetová encyklopédia. In: Pravda. 05.03.2024. https://spravy.pravda.sk/svet/clanok/702038-genocidu-romov-v-europe-pod-nadvladou-nacistov-mapuje-internetova-encyklopedia/
Slovakia, the Elections, and Roma
The dispute between the Union of Roma in Slovakia and the movement of Igor Matovič OĽaNO is escalating. First, on December 14, 2023, members of the union filed a criminal complaint in connection with a 500-euro promises made to Roma for participation in the elections. Matovič’s deputy Peter Pollák Jr. subsequently filed a criminal complaint for slander. On Monday, František Tanko, the chairman of the civic association Union of Roma in Slovakia, testified about this at the police in Galant. According to Tank, Matovič received 30 million euros for the last two election periods thanks to the votes of thousands of Roma, and therefore called on him to pay them the promised 500 euros.
This is not good, as it also plays in the hands of the current populist prime minister Fico.
- Matovičovci a Únia Rómov sú v spore pre 500 eurový príspevok vo voľbách, podávajú na seba vzájomne trestné oznámenia. In: Sita. 04.03.2024. https://sita.sk/matovicovci-a-unia-romov-su-v-spore-pre-500-eurovy-prispevok-vo-volbach-podavaju-na-seba-vzajomne-trestne-oznamenia/
- Únia Rómov ku kauze 500 eur: Matovičovci páchali volebnú korupciu formou organizovanej zločineckej skupiny. In: eReport. 05.03.2024. https://ereport.sk/matovicovci-pachali-volebnu-korupciu-formou-zlocineckej-skupiny/
Poland: Roma and Roma Aid
The ongoing expansion of the sewage system in Koszary, a village in the Limanowa region does not use funds from the so-called Roma program – as claimed by Roma activist Bogdan Trojanek. However, his allegations are not completely groundless, because in the previous term the commune used such financing for similar investments.
- Program romski a budowa kanalizacji. Wójt wyjaśnia. In: Limanowa. 03.03.2024. https://limanowa.in/aktualnosci/program-romski-a-budowa-kanalizacji-wojt-wyjasnia/70448
Bulgaria and Education
An interview with Teodor Asenov, a Romano teacher who wants to be an example to others. He would never have finished his education if there were not people who believed in him without reservation and now wants to help others.
- Romski učitelj koji želi da bude primer drugima. In: Deutsche Welle. 02.03.2024. https://www.dw.com/sr/romski-učitelj-koji-želi-da-bude-primer-drugima/video-68405527
Slovakia, Settlements, and Security
The Minister of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic Richard Raši (Hlas-SD) wants to extend the program of existing community patrols in Roma settlements from 245 municipalities to 424.
The minister stated that “We employ Roma who would otherwise be unemployable, because no municipality would have the money for these patrols. Thanks to this useful project, the Roma and the majority will live in greater symbiosis, in a cleaner and especially safer environment.”
- Raši: Navýšením výzvy o 32 mil. eur bude bezpečnejšie v osadách a obciach. In: Info.sk. 28.02.2024. https://www.info.sk/sprava/246553/rasi-navysenim-vyzvy-o-32-mil-eur-bude-bezpecnejsie-v-osadach-a-obciach/#google_vignette
Slovakia, Volvo, and Roma
Last week, Volvo announced that they would hire Roma workers in their factory in Slovakia. This article is pretty much saying, that this is total hogwash, that Roma are de facto unqualified, and anyhow, they want too much money.
Not really good …
- Švédska automobilka má záujem o Rómov: Akú prácu by mohli robiť? O platoch majú jasnú predstavu! In: Novy Čas. 01.03.2024. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/2902735/svedska-automobilka-ma-zaujem-o-romov-aku-pracu-by-mohli-robit-o-platoch-maju-jasnu-predstavu/
Nicolae Gheorghe
A square in Bucharest, Romania, will be named after the Roma activist Nicolae Gheorghe.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=794295289401259&set=a.456550509842407
Thieves in Poland
The story of thieves who managed to get into a senior citizen house, pretexting to sell them quilts, and while inside stole money. According to the police, these are “most probably” Roma. The fact of saying so even before these people have been arrested is not good.
- Kołdry nie kupili, stracili kilka tysięcy złotych. In: Sucha 24. 27.02.2024. https://sucha24.pl/artykul/koldry-nie-kupili-stracili/1221523
Vodaphone and Roma
Vodafone has joined the scholarship program for Roma students, which is implemented by the ROMEA organization. With this step, Vodafone wants to support equal opportunities and fight against discrimination against Roma in the Czech Republic, which has long been criticized by the Council of Europe. Vodafone contributed one hundred thousand crowns to scholarships for Roma students of secondary, higher vocational and university schools, who face many obstacles in achieving a quality education. The scholarship program offers them not only financial support, but also mentoring, mutual meetings, advice, educational activities and internships in organizations or companies, including Vodafone.
Well done!
- Společnost Vodafone podpořila stipendia pro romské studenty a studentky. V rámci partnerství nabízí i možnost pracovních stáží. In: Romea. 01.03.2024. https://romea.cz/cz/domaci/spolecnost-vodafone-podporila-stipendia-pro-romske-studenty-a-studentky-v-ramci-partnerstvi-nabizi-i-moznost-pracovnich-stazi
Roma King in Slovakia
An interview with the Roma King Robert Botoš I. The article (and Robert I) insist that he is the king of all Roma in Slovakia. There is no such thing among all Roma. These leaders are heading their own group in one country, but definitively not all.
- RÓMSKY KRÁĽ Róbert Botoš: Milióny na Rómov idú ľuďom, ktorí ich rozkradnú. In: Pluska. 02.03.2024. https://www1.pluska.sk/regiony/exkluzivny-rozhovor-romskemu-kralovi-je-vracanie-kam-sla-miliarda-cerpana-romov
Slovakia: 20 Years
Another article about the Roma riots 20 years ago in Eastern Slovakia. The police and the army intervened in the Roma settlement of Trebišov, Eastern Slovakia.
The riots were the result of utter poverty and exclusion.
- Po policajných obuškoch ostali jazvy: sociálna reforma pred 20 rokmi skončila rabovačkami. In: Dennik N. 28.02.2024. https://dennikn.sk/3854975/po-policajnych-obuskoch-ostali-jazvy-socialna-reforma-pred-20-rokmi-skoncila-rabovackami/
Czechia: Exhibition
An exhibition in the 400 ASA gallery showcases pictures taken by young Roma from two Roma settlements.
A must see.
- Romské děti ze Šluknovského výběžku vystavují své fotografie v pražské 400 ASA Gallery, profesionální fotografové mezi nimi objevili i talent. In: Radio Žurnal. 29.02.2024. https://radiozurnal.rozhlas.cz/romske-deti-ze-sluknovskeho-vybezku-vystavuji-sve-fotografie-v-prazske-400-asa-9184648
Bulgaria, Germany, and an Attack
The facts: a 21 year old Bulgarian-German dual citizen attacked two children in Duisburg with a knife and severely wounded them. The motive is totally unclear at this stage.
The Bulgarian press speaks of a “slaughter” and says that the person is of Roma origins… The fact that the article contradicts itself (the title says the attacker is 17 and the article says he is 21) shows how serious this article is.
Bad.
- ИЗВЪНРЕДНО! 17 годишен немец от български (ромски) произход закла две деца в Германия. In: BNews. 28.02.2024. https://bnews.bg/17-godishen-nemecz-ot-balgarski-romski-proizhod-zakla-dve-decza-v-germaniya/#google_vignette
- Messer-Angriff auf Kinder: Polizei nimmt 21-Jährigen fest. In: Stern. 28.02.2024. https://www.stern.de/gesellschaft/regional/nordrhein-westfalen/duisburg–messer-angriff-auf-kinder–polizei-nimmt-21-jaehrigen-fest-34501776.html
Auschwitz Seminar
A program of free seminars for young people devoted to the fate of the Roma and Sinti in the German Auschwitz camp was prepared by the International Centre for Education about Auschwitz and the Holocaust. The institution announced that they would last from April to December.
Paweł Sawicki from the press office of the Auschwitz Museum, of which the Education Centre is a part, announced on Tuesday that the participants will visit the former camp with a guide during their stay and will also take part in the “Extermination of Sinti and Roma” workshop, which will take place in the former camp block 13. “Semminars will take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays from April to December, excluding holidays and holidays. The program can be run in Polish, English and German. The museum does not cover travel costs,” Sawicki said.
- Muzeum Auschwitz: młodzież pozna los Sinti i Romów w obozie. In: TVP 3 Krakow. 27.02.2024. https://krakow.tvp.pl/76151102/muzeum-auschwitz-mlodziez-pozna-los-sinti-i-romow-w-obozie
First Grammar?
An article in the Croatian Press about an author who apparently wrote the “first world grammar of the Romani language”.
Well, the journalists are really clueless…
- Prva svjetska gramatika romskog jezika djelo je Katarine Katavić: “Jezik je prelijep, htjela sam ga prikazati što bolje mogu”. In: Dnevnik. 26.02.2024. https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/katarina-katavic-izradila-je-prvu-svjetsku-gramatiku-romskog-jezika—830732.html
Slovakia, Volvo, and Roma
The Volvo car company is interested in employing Slovak Roma in its factory. This was stated by the Minister of Labour, Social Affairs and Family, Erik Tomáš, on Wednesday after the government meeting in the east of Slovakia. “They put emphasis on it and we will do everything to make it happen,” he added.
They are planning almost five thousand jobs.
- Minister Tomáš o novej automobilke: Volvo má obrovský záujem o Rómov. In: Nový Čas. 29.02.2024. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/2902451/minister-tomas-o-novej-automobilke-volvo-ma-obrovsky-zaujem-o-romov/
- Volvo má veľký záujem zamestnávať vo svojej fabrike slovenských Rómov. In: Sita. 28.09.2024. https://sita.sk/vpriemysle/volvo-ma-velky-zaujem-zamestnavat-vo-svojej-fabrike-slovenskych-romov/
Pilsen, Czechia
The Pilsen Roma Council is a project financed by Norwegian funds. Its aim is to get Roma involved in the events in the region thanks. “The idea of how to ensure the participation of Roma at the city level led me to establish the Pilsen Roma Council. How to bring together a group of people that represents the majority. Pilsen is a city founded on great families,” David Tišer explains the motives behind the founding of the Council.
- Rada Romů města Plzeň chce podpořit participaci Romů v kraji. In: Radio Žurnal. 27.02.2024. https://radiozurnal.rozhlas.cz/rada-romu-mesta-plzen-chce-podporit-participaci-romu-v-kraji-9183241
Prague, a School, and Minorities
The story of a school in a district of Prague that has a high percentage of Roma and Ukrainians. The city council considers the school to be segregated (as it has a large number of Roma), and wants to transform the school into a Waldorf system.
The parents disagree…
- Umíme pracovat s žáky s horším sociálním zázemím, říkají učitelky. Radnice přesto školu mění na ‚waldorf‘. In: iRozhlas. 24.02.2024. https://www.irozhlas.cz/zpravy-domov/praha-3-zs-cimburkova-segregace-romove-ucitele-rodice-protest_2402241102_epo
Auschwitz: Commemoration
The 81st anniversary of the first transport to the Roma camp in Auschwitz was commemorated.
- W rocznicę pierwszego transportu Romów do niemieckiego nazistowskiego obozu Auschwitz-Birkenau. Oddali hołd pomordowanym. In: Gazeta Krakowska. 27.02.2024. https://gazetakrakowska.pl/w-rocznice-pierwszego-transportu-romow-do-niemieckiego-nazistowskiego-obozu-auschwitzbirkenau-oddali-hold-pomordowanym/ar/c1-18342809