Category Archives: News Eastern Europe

French Chronicle …

Published by:

Less news on expulsions, more news, and more reports on the associations fighting for Roma. First, an serious scientific article about the 15 to 20’000 Roma in France (there are more, but as usual, one counts only the ones in the camps). In that context, an exhibition by a Romanian artist in a festival in Western France attempts a dialogue. Then an association in Grenoble that will close down for lack of funds.
This is to be contrasted with potential expulsions in Poissy, in Melun, and one effective camp closure in Créteil, all around Paris. In western France, in Angers, a house is being squatted by Roma and the city’s mayor has been contested for his expulsion policies. Finally, in the North a baby died in a camp.

– Qui sont vraiment les Roms de France ? In: CNRS. 18.09.2017. https://lejournal.cnrs.fr/articles/qui-sont-vraiment-les-roms-de-france
– «Dialogues n°3» d’Aurelia Ivan sur les Roms et les bidonvilles. In: RFI. 22.09.2017. http://www.rfi.fr/culture/20170922-dialogues-3-aurelia-ivan-roms-bidonvilles-francophonies-limousin-jeremy-gravayat
– ROMS ACTION EN PÉRIL SUITE À UN DÉSENGAGEMENT DES COLLECTIVITÉS LOCALES. In: Place Grenet. 24.09.2017. https://www.placegrenet.fr/2017/09/24/roms-action-peril-suite-a-desengagement-collectivites-locales/152928
– Roms action va “mettre la clef sous la porte”. In: Le Dauphiné. 18.09.2017. http://www.ledauphine.com/isere-sud/2017/09/18/roms-action-va-mettre-la-clef-sous-la-porte
– A Grenoble, l’association Roms Action risque de fermer faute de subventions. In: France Info FR3. 18.09.2017. http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/auvergne-rhone-alpes/isere/grenoble/grenoble-association-roms-action-risque-fermer-faute-subventions-1330393.html
– Poissy : l’affaire des Roms tranchée la semaine prochaine par le tribunal. In: Le Parisien. 21.09.2017. http://www.leparisien.fr/poissy-78300/poissy-l-affaire-des-roms-tranchee-la-semaine-prochaine-par-le-tribunal-21-09-2017-7276776.php
– Melun. Une procédure d’expulsion en cours pour les Roms installés dans un bâtiment désaffecté de l’hôpital. In: Actu.fr. 20.09.2017. https://actu.fr/ile-de-france/melun_77288/melun-une-procedure-dexpulsion-cours-roms-installes-dans-batiment-desaffecte-lhopital_11944945.html
– Les Roms installés à l’hôpital Marc Jacquet de Melun risquent l’expulsion. In: Evasion. 21.09.2017. https://www.evasionfm.com/actualite-28134-les-roms-installes-a-l-hopital-marc-jacquet-de-melun-risquent-l-expulsion.html
– Créteil : le camp du carrefour Pompadour évacué. In: Le Parisien. 19.08.2017. http://www.leparisien.fr/creteil-94000/creteil-le-camp-du-carrefour-pompadour-evacue-19-09-2017-7271700.php
– Angers : un pavillon abandonné est devenu un refuge pour des familles roms. In: FR3 Info. 19.09.2017. http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/pays-de-la-loire/maine-et-loire/angers/angers-pavillon-abandonne-est-devenu-refuge-familles-roms-1331321.html
– Angers. Expulsions : le maire interpellé par des militants. In: Ouest France. 20.09.2017. https://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/angers-49000/angers-expulsions-le-maire-interpelle-par-des-militants-5259606
– Un nourrisson retrouvé mort dans un squat à Roubaix. In: FR3 France Info. 22.09.2017. http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/hauts-de-france/nord-0/nourrisson-retrouve-mort-squat-roubaix-1332999.html [link-preview url=”https://lejournal.cnrs.fr/articles/qui-sont-vraiment-les-roms-de-france”]

Slovakia: The Uglier Side

Published by:

This is the uglier side of Slovakia. One village doesn’t want Roma from the neighbouring village to visit the paediatrician. The rest of the article is worse, big time.
Not good.

– Zvada v obci: U detskej lekárky nechceme Rómov z vedľajšej dediny! In: Pluska. 17.09.2017. http://www.pluska.sk/regiony/vychodne-slovensko/zvada-najrazovitejsej-obci-pri-detskej-lekarke-nechcu-romov-z-vedlajsej-dediny.html [link-preview url=”http://www.pluska.sk/regiony/vychodne-slovensko/zvada-najrazovitejsej-obci-pri-detskej-lekarke-nechcu-romov-z-vedlajsej-dediny.html”]

Spissky Hrhov, Slovakia

Published by:

This village never ceases to pop up. It is a really good example of what can be done. Second article in the NYT.

– Shattering Ugly Roma Stereotypes. In: The New York Times. 22.09.2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/opinion/roma-stereotypes.html [link-preview url=”https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/22/opinion/roma-stereotypes.html”]

Exhibition on the Czech Roma Holocaust

Published by:

An exhibition of the vanished world of the Czech Roma and Sinti who were killed almst to the last one during World War Two.

– Exhibition “A Vanished World” about indigenous Czech Roma and Sinti again on display in Prague. In: Romea.cz. 17.09.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/exhibition-a-vanished-world-about-indigenous-czech-roma-and-sinti-again-on-display-in-prague [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/czech/exhibition-a-vanished-world-about-indigenous-czech-roma-and-sinti-again-on-display-in-prague”]

Hodonin

Published by:

The Roma museum will be in charge of the new memorial museum in the Hodonin Roma concentration camp.
The memorial was to be opened last August but the opening was deferred due to a controversy on who would be running it going forward.

– Roma Museum to operate new memorial in Hodonín near Kunštát. In: The Prague Monitor. 19.09.2017. http://praguemonitor.com/2017/09/19/roma-museum-operate-new-memorial-hodon%C3%ADn-near-kunštát [link-preview url=”http://praguemonitor.com/2017/09/19/roma-museum-operate-new-memorial-hodon%C3%ADn-near-kunštát”]

Amnesty on Moldova nad Bodvou

Published by:

Amnesty International is calling for justice for the victims of police brutality in the Slovak city of Moldova nad Bodvou. The police was acquitted and the victims are being currently sued for defamation …

– Amnesty International: We demand justice for the victims of the Slovak Police raid on the Roma settlement of Moldava nad Bodvou. In: Romea.cz. 19.09.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/amnesty-international-we-demand-justice-for-the-victims-of-the-slovak-police-raid-on-the-roma-settlement-of-moldava-nad [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/amnesty-international-we-demand-justice-for-the-victims-of-the-slovak-police-raid-on-the-roma-settlement-of-moldava-nad”]

Slovenia, Water, and Roma

Published by:

Many Roma still have no access to drinking water, despite numerous recommendations, the ECRI commission, has now issued conclusions on the situation in Slovenia which highlight the precarious living conditions of Roma in the country. Access to water is one of the key points in the report.

– Nova graja, ker Romi še nimajo dostopa do vode. In: Delo. 18.09.2017. http://www.delo.si/novice/slovenija/nova-graja-ker-romi-se-nimajo-dostopa-do-vode.html [link-preview url=”http://www.delo.si/novice/slovenija/nova-graja-ker-romi-se-nimajo-dostopa-do-vode.html”]

Roma King?

Published by:

An interview with a Roma King in Slovakia. This showcases stereotypes and present kings as part of the Roma culture – which they definitively are not.

– Stretol som sa s rómskym kráľom. In: Tyždeň. 16.09.2017. https://www.tyzden.sk/spolocnost/42506/stretnutie-s-romskym-kralom/ [link-preview url=”https://www.tyzden.sk/spolocnost/42506/stretnutie-s-romskym-kralom/”]

Slovakia: Model Village

Published by:

An article about the successful integration of Roma in the village of Spišský Hrhove. The village had been the subject of a long article in the New York Times (we cited it a while back).

– Láska v Spišskom Hrhove, ktorú si všimli v The New York Times. In: Dennik. 17.09.2017. https://dennikn.sk/882677/laska-v-spisskom-hrhove-ktoru-si-vsimli-v-the-new-york-times/ [link-preview url=”https://dennikn.sk/882677/laska-v-spisskom-hrhove-ktoru-si-vsimli-v-the-new-york-times/”]

Prague: Disciplined …

Published by:

The deputy minister Karel Novotny was disciplined for having stated that Roma are like jellyfish, being “a nuisance, good for nothing”.
Should he not have been condemned for racism?

– Deputy minister disciplined for calling Roma jellyfish. In: Prague Monitor. 18.09.2017. http://www.praguemonitor.com/2017/09/18/deputy-minister-disciplined-calling-roma-jellyfish [link-preview url=”http://www.praguemonitor.com/2017/09/18/deputy-minister-disciplined-calling-roma-jellyfish”]

Bulgaria, the US, and Schools

Published by:

The US ambassador attended a ceremony at a school for Roma children. It is a special school for ca. 80 pupils, aiming at a 0 dropout rate.
But it is a segregated school – this is really bad.

– Bulgaria: U.S. Ambassador Rubin attends ceremony at school for Roma children. In: The Sofia Globe. 16.09.2017. http://sofiaglobe.com/2017/09/16/bulgaria-u-s-ambassador-rubin-attends-ceremony-at-school-for-roma-children/ [link-preview url=”http://sofiaglobe.com/2017/09/16/bulgaria-u-s-ambassador-rubin-attends-ceremony-at-school-for-roma-children/”]

Slovakia: Plan for Integration

Published by:

The government has earmarked 51 millions of euros to help to combat discrimination against Roma. Two new Action Plans, focusing on the area of ​​non-discrimination and access to the majority society, are part of the Strategy of the Slovak Republic for Roma Inclusion by 2020. The material, was presented by the interior Robert Kaliňák in co-operation with Ábel Ravasz and was approved on Wednesday by members of the government.
Let’s see …

– Vláda vyčlenila desiatky miliónov eur. Pomôžu v boji proti diskriminácii Rómov. In: Aktualne. 13.09.2017. https://aktualne.atlas.sk/slovensko/politika/vlada-vyclenila-desiatky-milionov-eur-pomozu-boji-proti-diskriminacii-romov.html [link-preview url=”https://aktualne.atlas.sk/slovensko/politika/vlada-vyclenila-desiatky-milionov-eur-pomozu-boji-proti-diskriminacii-romov.html”]

What to do in Bucharest

Published by:

Well, turns out you can take a tour of the Roma settlements and visit a Roma museum of crafts.

– What to see and do when you’re in Bucharest, Romania. In: Born to Invest. 14.09.2017. https://born2invest.com/articles/see-do-bucharest-romania/ [link-preview url=”https://born2invest.com/articles/see-do-bucharest-romania/”]

Czech Minister …

Published by:

Czech Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Karel Novotny has written on Facebook that the Roma are like jellyfish because they are “a nuisance, good for nothing.”
He should be fired immediately.

– Deputy trade minister: Roma are like jellyfish, nuisance. In: The Prague Monitor. 15.09.2017. http://www.praguemonitor.com/2017/09/15/deputy-trade-minister-roma-are-jellyfish-nuisance
– DEPUTY TRADE MINISTER APOLOGIZES FOR HATE SPEECH ON FACEBOOK. In: Radio Praha. 15.09.2017. http://www.radio.cz/en/section/news/deputy-trade-minister-apologizes-for-hate-speech-on-facebook
– DEPUTY TRADE MINISTER PUTS HATE SPEECH ON FACEBOOK. In: Radio Praha. 14.09.2017. http://www.radio.cz/en/section/news/deputy-trade-minister-puts-hate-speech-on-facebook
– Czech deputy minister compares Roma to jellyfish in Facebook post. In: The Visegrad Group. 14.09.2017. http://www.visegradgroup.eu/news/czech-deputy-minister
– Deputy trade minister: Roma are like jellyfish, nuisance. In: European News. 15.09.2017. http://www.europe.easybranches.com/czech-republic/Deputy-trade-minister–Roma-are-like-jellyfish–nuisance-35018 [link-preview url=”http://www.praguemonitor.com/2017/09/15/deputy-trade-minister-roma-are-jellyfish-nuisance “]

Cioaba …

Published by:

The latest in the Cioaba saga, and not good publicity.

– Romania’s self-proclaimed Roma king detained in EUR 5 mln tax evasion case. In: Romania Insider. 14.09.2017. https://www.romania-insider.com/roma-king-tax-evasion/ [link-preview url=”https://www.romania-insider.com/roma-king-tax-evasion/”]

Hungarian Roma Pilgrimage

Published by:

A Hungarian Catholic Roma pilgrimage West of Budapest.

– Roma seek luck and love at Catholic shrine in Hungary. In: Reuters. 11.09.2017. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hungary-religion-roma/roma-seek-luck-and-love-at-catholic-shrine-in-hungary-idUSKCN1BM1GR [link-preview url=”https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hungary-religion-roma/roma-seek-luck-and-love-at-catholic-shrine-in-hungary-idUSKCN1BM1GR”]

Croatia: Commemorative Plaque for Nazis

Published by:

A commemorative plaque was unveiled in Eastern Croatia, not far from the former concentration camp of Jasenovac… This plaque uses the Ustaša slogan “Za dom spremni” [Ready for the Country] and is definitively not OK.
Bad.

– Croatie : une plaque commémorative pro-nazie réinstallée plus loin d’un ancien camp. In: Times of Israel. 08.09.2017. http://fr.timesofisrael.com/croatie-une-plaque-commemorative-pro-nazie-reinstallee-plus-loin-dun-ancien-camp/ [link-preview url=”http://fr.timesofisrael.com/croatie-une-plaque-commemorative-pro-nazie-reinstallee-plus-loin-dun-ancien-camp/”]

Kosovo Poisoning

Published by:

Still no progress – the UN refuses to acknowledge its guilt and much less pay any compensation to the Roma who were settled “as refugees” in a toxic dump that was a UN run “refugee” camp.
About time to pay for it?

– ONU : Dédommager les victimes d’intoxication au plomb du Kosovo. In: Human Rights Watch. 07.09.2017. https://www.hrw.org/fr/news/2017/09/07/onu-dedommager-les-victimes-dintoxication-au-plomb-du-kosovo [link-preview url=”https://www.hrw.org/fr/news/2017/09/07/onu-dedommager-les-victimes-dintoxication-au-plomb-du-kosovo”]

Positive Example

Published by:

It works in Slovakia too … The story of a village in Eastern Slovakia which integrated its Roma population, and thrived as a result.

– Slovak Village Prospers in Partnership With Roma Residents It Once Shunned. In: The New York Times. 09.09.2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/09/world/europe/slovakia-roma-spissky-hrhov-integration.html [link-preview url=”https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/09/world/europe/slovakia-roma-spissky-hrhov-integration.html”]

rroma.org
fr_FRFR