A Swiss commune is up in arms to protest against a newly planned “transit” camp for foreign travellers, aka Rroma in Switzerland. There are few places for Rroma travellers in Switzerland, as other camping spots are increasingly forbidden to Rroma. Effective segregation, even though these camps are often under utilised.
BAD!
Another article on the commemoration of the official excuses of the Swiss Confederation for the actions taken against Travellers in Switzerland.
The saga continues for these travelling Rroma who have been kicked out from one place and are now searching for another opportunity to stay. Important to know is that they actually work in Switzerland. They have regular and scheduled work agreed with factories and businesses in Switzerland…
4 Rroma women who are begging in Geneva went to the police to complain about a person who threatened them repeatedly. The man is under arrest since 10 days.
30 years ago, the Swiss government officially acknowledged its involvement in the so-called Kinder der Landstrasse, a program which saw the state take away children from Jenische, the local travellers and place them in homes.
Lots of articles in Switzerland about ca. 350 Rroma from France travelling through Switzerland. And not all good. Rather bad press. All stereotypes are there.
An article about the “chaos” created by Rroma travellers camping in Western Switzerland for a church meeting. Many of the Rroma travellers here belong to the pentacostal church or to other evangelical churches.
Last week end, there was large program on Rroma in Lausanne, with Movies, Round Table, etc. under the title Kamau te das duma – I want to talk.
A new camping space for travelers in Switzerland raises the age old same questions: Locals vs. Foreign, especially Rroma (in the local Swiss Mythology, they are all foreign).
CRAP. There is NO REASON FOR SEGGREGATION!
In Geneva, two Rroma were condemned to prison for having exploited a mentally handicapped kid, most probably Rrom, whose parents rented him out to the couple in Geneva.
Bad that it happened, WORSE, it strengthen stereotypes that Rroma are trafficking humans, involved in begging clans etc. This is purely a case of few destitute individuals …
Switzerland loves it complicated… They want segregated camping places for local travelers – Yenische – and for Rroma – usually denotes as “Foreign” even though there are Rroma travelers in Switzerland.
In Western Switzerland, the state is expulsing “foreign Gypsies”.
BAD!
Swiss Jenische, interviewed on Swiss TV. Bad. Rroma – called here “transit travelers” – are dirty, leaving camping spots dirty, etc.
The Jenische are right to demand spots to camp in each of the Swiss cantons. It is bad that this hasn’t happened yet.
A week ago, Rroma in Basel opened the first camping place in the city for travellers.
An interesting proposition … Concerts at home. A Dutch musician, together with 4 Rromni is making concerts in people’s homes. A nice way for people to meet Rroma.
The Swiss Jenisch (or travelers) sent a petition to the Swiss government asking for their recognition as a minority. In Switzerland, technically, only travelers are recognized, not Jenische, Sinti, and Rroma.
More than 2’000 school children were sent back to Kosovo from Western Europe. Many of them are Rroma, and Kosovo is not the place to be if you are Rrom.
SHAME.
A reportage from the Swiss television on a Rroma beggar. Nice in itself, i.e. in the portrait of that particular person, bad in that it reinforces the stereotypes – All Rroma are poor and are beggars.
The myth of organized begging – a mafia like organization… Real studies like the one in Lausanne in Switzerland have shown that these are sinly larger families or friends from a single viallage who come in the hope of work and end up begging to make end meet. Average income is so low that organized crime doesn’t pay here.
The newly established camp for travelers in Basle is again being discussed, as there may be some rare plants there that could be threatened by the caravans… Knowing that this is a strip of grass in the middle of the city next to railroad tracks, no comments required …
Swiss travelers don’t want to be thrown into the same pot as foreign Rroma and Sinti (note that Rroma are always foreign here).
Too bad the press plays along.
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