Two years ago, the fate of a young Rromni – Leonarda – from Kosovo who was expulsed from France filled the papers. She was found by a journalist in Kosovo where she works as a waitress. It says a lot about those expulsions.
A festival is taking place right now in the South of France in Marseilles…
Few news again in France this week. Whenever there are hot news, Rroma fall back. Actually they should stay back, as what is reported in the press is no news, just prejudices.
This week, a child died in a Rroma camp in the North of France; a fire raged through a Rroma camp in Paris; the arrival of Rroma travelers near Paris is seen as a threat by some; in Marseilles, a Rroma camp is a hot topic, and near Paris, 10 tons of garbage have been collected near sites where Rroma were. Them, there is crime … A young Rrom sexually aggressed his sister in law in the North, and near Grenoble, Rroma were caught emptying the tank of a truck.
Finally, some solidarity! An association in the South helps refugees and Rroma; in the North, an old priest and activist also does so, and in the North too, youngsters start an action to sensitize the population.
The lack of news on Rroma in France is more than compensated by the number of articles on the Gens du Voyage – Travellerr, who are represented as criminals, undesirable, and generally as not integrated.
First, news about several camps of Travellers, in Saint Laurent de Mure, in Argentan, near Verdun, near Reims, close to Paris and in the West; and several discussions on or about camping spot for travellers in Niort, in Perros, in Indres et Loire, in the North, in Samois, in the park of a castle; and finally two more positive things – an interpellation of a minister in the parliament, and a discussion about the sedentarisation in Limoges.
After the camps, crime … And there the list is long. Police hunted away from a camp in Vernouillet near Paris; arrests in Toulouse and investigation nearby; some stolen goods found in the South West; 22 cars damaged near Toulouse; shots in a camp near Paris; three Romanians condemned in the South East; a Rrom sentenced for having shown a fingers to Valls; Police searching for witnesses in a series of burglaries in the North; and finally, a not so clever thief…
Almost no news on Rroma this week in France besides the story of the Dutch footballers. A book by a teacher in the Paris suburbs; expulsions threatening the education of Rroma children; some news in the north; and finally, in the 16th (and posh) arrondissement of Paris, people complaining about a housing centre for migrants and refugees …
Some more articles on the Dutch Football Fans taunting Rromnja. One commentators said “connards” on French TV – Bravo; a Dutch minister is appalled; and generally, the football fans are presented as what they are: limited bigots!
Breizh-info produced yet another scandalous article with all stereotypes such as criminality, poverty, begging, etc., and full of generalizations. In addition, as the journalists mixes up travelers, Rroma, nomads, he shows his total lack of knowledge and his true intent: Showing Rroma as dirty, poor beggars and thieves.
SHAME!!!
Jean-Marie Le Pen has been finally fined condemned and fined 5’000 Euros for his comments on Rroma where he played on the fact that Fly and steal is said “voler” in French, and that as “naturally as birds fly, Rroma steal”…
Took a while …
Few news this week… A camp dismantled in St. Brice sous Forêt; 20 Rroma expulsed in Argenteuil; a camp being closed in Carquefou; polemic between towns in the Nantes agglomeration on Rroma being pushed from one to the other; 54 Rroma expulsed in Villeurbanne near Lyon; and finally, a denial there is a policy against mendacity in Toulouse.
Close to 2’600 Rroma have already been expulsed from their housing in France in 2016. The Human Right Council is condemning French policy of the Bulldozer.
Bad … But let’s put things in relation : The press speaks about less than 15’000 Rroma. Out of at least half a million in France. Is it representative?
A summary on the evictions in France. They are illegal and inhuman …
A reportage on the Rroma from the camp on the railway tracks of the petite ceinture in Paris…
Lots of expulsions and notices thereof this week… First in Noisiel, near Paris, where 100 Rroma were expulsed; in Wissous, the camps will be soon destroyed; In Saint Brice, the mayor is trying to get rid of the camp that was recently created on this commune; and in Hautbourdin, the expulsion is being discussed; while in Grenoble, the Rroma are getting a reprieve.
The other set of news concerns Rroma pickpockets and beggars, with several articles on that topic …
And finally, a mobilization in favour of Rroma migrants!
Two articles on the Rroma camps in France. In an Interview, Grégoire Cousin, an anthropologist, reflects on the cost of dismantling camps. In another article, the question of what to do with such camps is posed and discussed.
For us, one thing is clear: It would be cheaper to lodge those 15’000 Rroma and find a permanent solution rather than moving them from camp to camp…
A survey published last week in France is shocking the French. It is about racism, and included questions such as “if your daughter married a Muslim” or “have you ever had problems Rroma, etc.” Well, in this latter case, it seems that 27% of the French (Yes) have encountered problems with Rroma. That is more than one in 4 … We would doubt that one in four French has ever seen or met a Rrom … People were also shocked to find out that this survey was initiated by a Jewish organisation.
The Rroma camp on the old tracks of the “Petite Ceinture” railway with close to roughly 400 inhabitants has been cleared yesterday. It was, according to the press the “largest” remaining camp near Paris.
One cannot but wonder that so few people attract so much attention, and that for such a small number of people, a more dignified solution could not be found earlier…
A Canadian Study on racism in France and on the fact that 20’000 Rroma are filling the pages of papers, even though they are an infinitely small minority …
A must read!
Paul-Marie Coûteaux, a candidate of the rightist Front National in Paris, was condemned for having stated that Rroma should be “concentrated” in “camps”. He wants to appeal, but let’s hope this sticks!
This week’s news is dominated by the camp of the petite ceinture in Paris. In this camp right on the outskirt of Paris, 300 Rroma are expected to be expelled. There were 8 reportages on this subject. Other news are: The Foundation Abbé Pierre protests on beha;f of the 140’000 in France who have no permanent housing; avolunteer from the association Barakacity, engaged in helping Rroma is detained in Bangladesh; a manifestation in the north on behalf of migrants; in Loos, Rroma are settling; a proposal for the creation of temporary camps for travellers; travellers squatting in a parking near Montpellier; the long pqath to integration for Rroma; and finally, 3 Rroma who were condemned for squatting will be re-judged.
Lots of news for so few people in France …
And some news about France. First a few on integration, in Marseilles and near Paris; an action in favour of migrants in le Havre; lunch with Rroma in the Loire region; many news on Rroma camps : in Marseilles, a cleanup in Wissous, a fire in the North, rats in Lyon, a project near Paris, and a review of the state of a camp after the departure of the Rroma; counting migrants and homeless people in Toulouse; not enough space of all homeless in Grenoble; then the usual condemnation and Justice with three Rroma condemned for illegal occupation, 15 arrests near Grenoble following the riots in Moirans, and prison for having stolen chocolate; corruption in Marseilles, where the prefect who wanted to clean up Rroma is now being cleaned up; the destruction of a villa in Marseilles who was used by Rroma;
FR 
EN 
DE