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”]
Category Archives: Romania
Romania – Really?
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
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”]
Romania Rroma Homeless
An article on the Rroma homeless in Romania.
– Roma Homeless in Romania. In: NewEurope. 23.03.2017. https://www.neweurope.eu/article/roma-homeless-romania/ [link-preview url=”https://www.neweurope.eu/article/roma-homeless-romania/”]
Romania: No Space of Rroma
The rapid modernisation of Romanian cities is also a gentrification and an engine of segregation. Rroma are slowly but surely pushed out of the cities. Rroma are being evicted from the centre of most cities in Romania.
BAD.
– Roma fear there is no place for them as Romania’s cities modernize. In: Reuters. 21.03.2017. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-roma-property-feature-idUSKBN16T043 [link-preview url=”http://www.reuters.com/article/us-romania-roma-property-feature-idUSKBN16T043″]
US State Department Criticises Romania
The US State Department strongly criticised Romania for corruption but also for its treatment of Rroma as well as for its mistreatment of detainees. Discrimination against Rroma is rampant in Romania.
– U.S. Department of State criticizes Romania on mistreatement of detainees, Roma discrimination and corruption. In Actmedia. 08.03.2017. http://actmedia.eu/daily/u.s.-department-of-state-criticizes-romania-on-mistreatement-of-detainees-roma-discrimination-and-corruption/68384 [link-preview url=”http://actmedia.eu/daily/u.s.-department-of-state-criticizes-romania-on-mistreatement-of-detainees-roma-discrimination-and-corruption/68384″]
Romania and Discrimination
Discrimination against Rroma is still prevalent in Romania. Not a surprise, unfortunately.
– Roma discrimination, domestic violence persist in Romania – Amnesty. In: See News. 22.02.2016. https://seenews.com/news/roma-discrimination-domestic-violence-persist-in-romania-amnesty-559159#sthash.buS6J6Nv.dpuf [link-preview url=”https://seenews.com/news/roma-discrimination-domestic-violence-persist-in-romania-amnesty-559159#sthash.buS6J6Nv.dpuf”]
Romania and Slavery
Romania had 5 centuries of Rroma slavery and it was only abolished in 1862. The subject is still nearly taboo and is not taught in schools. It is thus quite impressive to see a theatre play in Bucharest by a Rromni.
– L’esclavage des Roms, la « Grande Honte » de la Roumanie. In: Café Babel. 20.02.2017. http://www.cafebabel.fr/societe/article/lesclavage-des-roms-la-grande-honte-de-la-roumanie.html [link-preview url=”http://www.cafebabel.fr/societe/article/lesclavage-des-roms-la-grande-honte-de-la-roumanie.html”]
Cioaba – Further News
An article about Cioaba’s offer to Donald Trump about the wall. One of the International Romani Union IRU (there are currently two variants thereof) and its president Zoran Dimov strictly condemned this letter and statement and stated that he currently facing a traditional Roma court procedure (called a kris) for allegedly mishandling finances during his work in the leadership of the IRU between 2013 and 2016. He is being labelled one of the “biggest malefactor”.
We fully agree that Mr. Cioaba’s letter was totally wrong. We however would have loved to see such a statement when one of the vice presidents of this IRU – Stevan Balog Radul supported the extrem rightist Hofer in the Austrian elections. That was not smart either …
– International Romani Union says offer to help Trump came from Rom facing traditional community justice procedure in Romania. In: Romea.cz. 08.02.2017. http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/international-romani-union-says-offer-to-help-trump-came-from-rom-facing-traditional-community-justice-procedure-in-romania [link-preview url=”http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/international-romani-union-says-offer-to-help-trump-came-from-rom-facing-traditional-community-justice-procedure-in-romania”]
That is What We Did Not Need
Dorin Cioaba, from the family of the former kalderaša „king“ Cioba said in an int review that Rroma would be willing to work on the Trump Wall, as they have no work in their home countries.
He really missed an opportunity not to say anything.
– Sel-proclaimed Roma King says his people want to build Trump’s wall between the US and Mexico. In: Romania Insider. 31.01.2017. http://www.romania-insider.com/self-proclaimed-roma-king-says-gypsies-want-build-trumps-wall-u-s-mexico/ [link-preview url=”http://www.romania-insider.com/self-proclaimed-roma-king-says-gypsies-want-build-trumps-wall-u-s-mexico/”]
Lausanne: Salvation Army and Homeless
The Salvation Army in Lausanne opened up a shelter for the homeless in Lausanne. Most of the people taking advantage of it in the cold spell in Lausanne are Rroma – mostly from Romania.
– «Ce qui compte, c’est mettre les enfants au chaud» In: 24 Heures. 27.01.2017. http://www.24heures.ch/vaud-regions/lausanne-region/c-mettre-enfants-chaud/story/11029090 [link-preview url=”http://www.24heures.ch/vaud-regions/lausanne-region/c-mettre-enfants-chaud/story/11029090″]
Switzerland: Beggars
An interview of a Romanian Rroma beggar. Unfortunately, with all stereotypes that one can think of: Arranged weddings, early pregnancies, large families, poverty etc. This is the life of this family and quite a few others but is not the entire Rroma reality.
– « Mendier, c’est tout ce qui me reste à faire » In: L’Hebdo. 17.01.2017. http://www.hebdo.ch/les-blogs/pirolt-sabine-rédacteur-lhebdo/«%C2%A0mendier-c’est-tout-ce-qui-me-reste-à-faire%C2%A0»
– Et si l’on commençait par dire bonjour aux mendicants. In: 24 Heures. 18.01.2017. http://www.24heures.ch/signatures/reflexions/commencait-bonjour-mendiants/story/17545650 [link-preview url=”http://www.hebdo.ch/les-blogs/pirolt-sabine-rédacteur-lhebdo/«%C2%A0mendier-c’est-tout-ce-qui-me-reste-à-faire%C2%A0» “]
A Book on Romanian Migrants
A new book gives a series of 10 portraits of Romanian migrants, with of course Rroma among them. The book’s title “Does the Sun Rise in the West” is meant to give a face to the more than 3 Mio Romanians who left their countries in search of a better life.
– BLOG • LE SOLEIL SE LÈVE-T-IL À L’OUEST ? PORTRAITS DE MIGRANTS DE ROUMANIE. In: Le Courrier des Balkans. 14.01.2017. https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/bazar/blogs/l-en-dehors-balkanique-o-le-blog-de-nicolas-trifon/blog-o-le-soleil-se-leve-t-il-a-l-ouest-portraits-de-migrants-de-roumanie [link-preview url=”https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/bazar/blogs/l-en-dehors-balkanique-o-le-blog-de-nicolas-trifon/blog-o-le-soleil-se-leve-t-il-a-l-ouest-portraits-de-migrants-de-roumanie”]
Germany and Social Help
A new proposal for the dispensation of social help in Germany requires that the applicants have worked before in Germany. This in spite of EU law. If EU citizen fail to find work, they will have some help for ca 6 weeks and then nothing.
This is a measure that is aimed at keeping Romanians and Bulgarians (Rroma in most minds) from “abusing” the system – something they anyhow don’t do. Numbers are small.
– Wer nicht arbeitet, soll gehen. In: TAZ. 11.01.2017. http://www.taz.de/!5369195/ [link-preview url=”http://www.taz.de/!5369195/”]
A Documentary on Prostitutes
An article about a documentary on young male Rroma prostitutes in Vienna. This is a rather recent phenomena, and is also seen in Switzwerland. There, the Rroma come from Romania and Slovakia .
Good that one speaks about it, bad that this happens.
– Avec les tapins roms de Vienne dans « Brothers of the night » In: Hétéroclite. 08.01.2017. http://www.heteroclite.org/2017/01/brothers-of-the-night-patric-chiha-38485 [link-preview url=”http://www.heteroclite.org/2017/01/brothers-of-the-night-patric-chiha-38485″]
USA: Warnings form Police
Reading this, one could think there is a huge influx of criminal Rroma… How about all the people who get shot and other various things that happen quite regularly in most US cities. Why this sudden twist on Rroma?
– APD warns of scammers from Romania. In: Abilene Reporter News. 04.01.2017. http://www.reporternews.com/story/news/crime/2017/01/04/apd-warns-romanian-national-scammers/96154778/ [link-preview url=”http://www.reporternews.com/story/news/crime/2017/01/04/apd-warns-romanian-national-scammers/96154778/”]
Rroma – Not a Profession
An interesting article on the Ukrainian Rroma, and most notably on the Servi, a group of Rroma that is thought to have fled present day Romania very early and have a Vlach dialect. Recent research seem to say that they have Carpathian origins. Seems unlikely although there are Carpathian Rroma in the Ukraine, the Plaščuni.
– Цыган — это не профессия. In: Internatioal Society for Romani Culture Studies. 29.12.2016. http://www.kulturom.ru/news/2016/12/29/panchenko [link-preview url=”http://www.kulturom.ru/news/2016/12/29/panchenko”]
French Chronicle …
Not much news this week on the French front. The story of a rich Frenchwomen helping Romanian Rroma, and the involvement (not so good as always) of the social services; a riot that followed a car accident generated by a Romanian Rrom in the North of France; an expulsion in Nice; and the story of a young girl living in the streets in Menton; while in the West, a camp will now be managed by an association and in Cognac, “Tisganes” are guests for Christmas, with all clichés; finally an initiative to encounter travellers in Eastern France.
– Réfugiés : bienvenue à la maison. In: Paris Match. 21.12.2016. http://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Societe/Refugies-bienvenue-a-la-maison-1147100
– «Émeute et déferlement de violences» place Gambetta pour un simple accident. In: La Voix Du Nord. 19.12.2016. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/92337/article/2016-12-19/emeute-et-deferlement-de-violences-place-gambetta-pour-un-simple-accident
– Une famille de Roms expulsée du squat qu’elle occupait illégalement depuis près de 2 ans. In: Nice Matin. 21.12.2016. http://www.nicematin.com/vie-locale/une-famille-de-roms-expulsee-du-squat-quelle-occupait-illegalement-depuis-pres-de-2-ans-103115
– Bianca, 10 ans, dort dans la rue depuis deux mois. In: Nice Matin. 23.12.2016. http://www.nicematin.com/vie-locale/bianca-10-ans-dort-dans-la-rue-depuis-deux-mois-103620
– Le terrain du 86 sera géré par Une famille un toit. In: Ouest France. 20.12.2016. http://www.ouest-france.fr/pays-de-la-loire/sainte-luce-sur-loire-44980/le-terrain-du-86-sera-gere-par-une-famille-un-toit-4693262
– Cognac : la culture pour tenter de mettre fin aux préjugés. In: Sud Ouest. 22.12.2016. http://www.sudouest.fr/2016/12/22/la-culture-pour-tenter-de-mettre-fin-aux-prejuges-3048190-882.php
– A LA RENCONTRE DES « VOYAGEURS » DE LA MALCOMBE. In: L’Est Républicain. 20.12.2016. http://www.estrepublicain.fr/actualite/2016/12/20/a-la-rencontre-des-voyageurs-de-la-malcombe [link-preview url=”http://www.parismatch.com/Actu/Societe/Refugies-bienvenue-a-la-maison-1147100″]
A Friend …
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 [link-preview url=”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”]
Hungary – Xenophobia
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 [link-preview url=”http://bbj.hu/budapest/xenophobia-skyrocketing-in-hungary-surveys-reveal_124920″]
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