More on the story of the one third of Rroma among Balkan refuges…
More articles on the August 2nd commemorations of the Rroma Holocaust. In Maribor, Slovenia; in Leipzig; in Vienna; in Ireland; in Slovakia, where the government proxy for Rroma questions gave a message; and in the EU, with a message from the commission.
A recent study on the EU subsidies to Roma communities in the Balkan showed that only 1.5% of the aid was aimed at integration. Apparently, programs had “shortcomings”.
A SCANDAL
Yesterday’s Rroma Holocaust Remembrance Day was observed in several countries and also in Auschwitz.
The Romanian Prime Minister Ponta for the first time ever also noted the Romanian contribution to the murder of Rroma in Transnisrtria and in the Bug. How many died there is still debated, but the Romanians did it by themselves.
On the Rroma and Sinti Holocaust Remembrance Day, Europe’s top human right official emphasised the plight faced by many Rroma in Europe to this day with continuing discrimination. This needs to change!
Serbia has been taken to the European court of Human Rights over its evictions of Rroma who fled the Kosovo War in 1999.
The 2nd of August is the official international day of remembrance of the Holocaust on Rroma and Sinti. Several organisations (here just as a sample) are planning commemorations in Germany and Austria.
In spite of a supreme court ruling and of international criticism, Rroma are still being evicted in Miskolc, Hungary. These are not slums, but actual houses, and Rroma are evicted to make space of a football stadium and parking. They are evicted and not given any alternatives.
A chilling read, and something that has to stop!
Asylum seekers from so-called safe countries are systematically denied asylum in Germany. This, in spite of the fact that in many of these “safe” countries, the situation is far from stable or peaceful, as the example of Macedonia shows. Kosovo is now under discussion, unfortunately.
Are truly all refugees from the Balkan who request asylum in Germany simply in search of a better life? This is not as simple, as TAZ shows. Many of these refugees are Rroma as noted by the Frankfurter Allgemeine which titles that up to a third of the refugees are from this origin.
A survey in the Czech Republic reveals that half of all interviewed business would not hire Rroma. If you ask us, the other half thought so but did not reply. Racism against Rroma is so widespread and ingrained in that country.
SHAME
The largest Rroma festival in Slovakia, Gypsy Fest went to the street in Bratislava.
The Jobbik (far right party) mayor of Ozd, in Hungary is taking a tough stance on Rroma, accusing them of, in their large majority, of being destructive. These populist statements, coupled with de-facto slave labour (Közmunca) where a majority of Rroma are forced to toil in 19th century fashion, are not going to resolve the problem of unemployment in the Hungarian countryside. By the way, everyone is out of a job in the countryside. Not only Rroma. And 3 Mio people live under the poverty level, not all Rroma.
The next consul of Romania in Bonn, Germany (and the former capital) is a Rrom. Should not be a surprise, as they are indeed integrated Rroma, but nevertheless nice.
Romania has signed a legislation making it illegal to deny the Holocaust and forbids the promotion of the fascist legionnaire’s movement. Around 280’000 Jews, and officially 11’000 Rroma (there were more) were killed in Romania during the fascist regime of Antonescu. Recently, as in other neighbouring countries, there have been voices to rewrite this chapter of history.
LET US NEVER FORGET!
13 members of the Czech Philharmonic will play together with Rroma children in Slovakia as part of the actions from Ida Kelarova, a Rromani singer who is engaged in helping children and Rroma integration.
A new head of the Rroma Education Fund (REF) in Budapest was nominated. It is Andrzje Mirga, from Poland. An interview and more about the education fund.
The situation in Garmen is still making the headlines. A reportage and overview of the current situation in that village and of the increasing ethnic tensions.
The European commission scolded Hungary for having segregated schools for Rroma which violate the EU directives on Rroma integration. Hungary has now some time to remedy the situation. Let’s see…
Well done and about time!
FR 
EN 
DE