Category Archives: Slovakia

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia Elections

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A reportage Cakov, a village in Eastern Slovakia. The current Slovak president Zuzana Čaputová won almost 98 percent of the votes in Cakov last time. Who the residents will support this year will depend on how the candidates approach the problems of the Roma and Hungarian minorities.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Child Abuse Case

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Canadian anthropology professor David Scheffel had been conducting research on child prostitution in Roma settlements in Slovakia since the revolution and was accused of sexual crimes. He spent 6 years in prison for a validly convicted act of sexual abuse and endangering moral education. And he is free with an electronic bracelet waiting for the next verdict in another case.

Now some of the witnesses are recanting.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia: Role Model

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Mechanical engineer and influencer Tomáš Csicsó, followed by more than 160’000 people, proves with his stories on social networks that Roma don’t have to end up in factories, but can have big dreams and ambitions, just like he had. He achieved success even though he grew up in poverty and encountered those who told him he would not make it.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia: Blank Racism

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Children on a train were verbally assaulted by older women from the majority. For example, the said: “Smelly Roma, they should look for a job and not go on trips.” The only one who stood up for them was the conductor, who warned the passengers not to make derogatory comments.

As part of the ZEBRA project, the “Cesta von” NGO organize activities and trips for teenage children from excluded environments. They want them to meet peers from the majority and broaden their horizons. These were children from this program.

Bad.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia: Interview

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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.”

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Encyclopaedia of the Genocide of the Roma

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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.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia, the Elections, and Roma

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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.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia, Settlements, and Security

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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.”

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia, Volvo, and Roma

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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 …

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Roma King in Slovakia

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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.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia: 20 Years

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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.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia, Volvo, and Roma

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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.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia: Exhibition on Roma

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In the castle of Modrý Kameň, Slovakia, they are preparing a rerun of the exhibition called “The Story of the Children of the Wind”. The exhibition retraces the story of Roma in Slovakia from the 13th century to 1990. The exhibition will open on March 1st and stay until May 15th.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

20 Years …

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Twenty years ago, Roma rioted in Trebišov, and the police intervened in the Roma settlement. The view of the article is very much tilted towards the police and maintaining order, and insists on the looting that took place in the eastern part of the country.

On the background of this riot, no words … A missed opportunity.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

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The Slovak President Zuzana Čaputová was in Dubnica nad Váhom, Slovakia to commemorate the victims of the mass murder of Roma in the Dubnica detention camp in 1945.

May they rest in peace, and congratulation to the president for this participation.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia, Schools, and Racism

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The case of a teacher in a high school in Seneca, Slovakia, who has been making racist statements, especially against Roma. He also ranted against homosexuals and made facist statemens. Students are protesting now.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovak Plenipotentiary

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A meeting of representatives and workers of the local government and employees of the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Roma communities took place in the Partizanske city hall.

The reason for this meeting was the demolition of an apartment building where many Roma lived and was called by Roma residents of the town.

Nouvelles d'Europe de l'est Slovaquie

Slovakia: Violinist

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An interview with Barbora Botošová. She comes from a well-known Roma musician family. Her grandfather was the violinist Ján Berky Mrenica the elder. She has been playing the violin since she was six years old, but she had to build her career on her own. Although many think that talent was in her blood, she points out that Roma people also have to exercise and train a lot.

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