An nice article on a young Rrom from Romania who managed to get out of the camps, get a job, a flat, and a nearly normal life.
It shows that in spite of Mr. Valls’ statement that Rroma cannot integrate that they do, given the chance.
Short portrait of a successful Rroma businessman in Britain …
The Stern wrote an article on the usage of the word “Zigeuner” [Gypsy] and the controversy on that topic that arose in the last few weeks. They refer to the discussion the TV discussion panel “Hart aber Fair” [Hard but fair] on the topic burglaries. During that discussion, some of the participants used the terms of “Zigeunertrick” [Gypsy trick] or of “Zigeunerkönig” [Gypsy king] whereby a discussion followed on the use of the word Zigeuner. This is reminiscent of the discussion in the TAZ (see blog post on this topic) on that very same question. Here, the Stern states that the word is used by Rroma in many countries, and cites Rolf Bauerdick on that topic, and adds that the word is also fraught with shame. They also add with a somewhat twisted logic, that the term “Roma and Sinti” is false. Their main claim is that the new arrivals in Germany are certainly not Sinti. But they miss the point that Sinti, like all the other groups are also Rroma …
US President Barack Obama mourned the victims of the Dachau concentration camp on the 70th anniversary of its liberation by Allied troops. He stated that: “Dachau is a lesson in the evolution of darkness, how unchecked intolerance and hatred spiral out of control.” and he cited Rroma and Sinti victims. He vowed that such a thing should never happen again.
The French president François Hollande mourned the victims of the only Nazi concentration camp on the French territory – The Struthof. During his visit, he mentioned the Rroma victims who are too often overlooked and forgotten.
The Swedish municipality of Helsingborg hired Rroma translators instead of Romanian translators in order to communicate with Romanian immigrants. Needless to say that most Romanians did not understand a word, showing that contrary to people’s beliefs, not all Romanian immigrants are Rroma …
The Italian press reports on a campaign in Bologna against discrimination of migrants. Once again (we already reported on this), the campaign focuses on Rroma. The theme has always been immigrants and work, and shows posters of Rroma who work in various jobs.
Well done.
France had to defend itself in the United Nation after having been criticised on its policies towards Rroma, especially in their camp closures as well as for tolerating an increasingly anti Rroma discourse in the country. Noting that the prime minister Valls himself made statements that can only be qualified as very depreciatory if not racist towards Rroma (they cannot integrate etc.), one cannot but agree with this assessment of the UN.
France insisted that its policies were not geared against minorities but rather were done because of the illegal nature of these camps and also to “protect” their inhabitants against insalubrious living condition. The latter argument could be taken as valid if France would respect its own recommendations to find alternative lodging to people in those camps.
A camp was closed and evacuated in Nantes, this case a camp of Manouches, as these were in caravans and cars. In Pringy, Rroma are squatting a disaffected factory.
The mud that was dumped on a Rroma camp in Hautbourdin in the north of France still makes the news, this time on a report of people helping Rroma in the region to integrate; and in Nantes, the press reports that for picking up the Mai lily.
Amnesty wrote a FAQ sheet on Rroma. Not bad, but still perpetuating some stereotypes. Rroma “travelled from place to place”. This is clearly false in many places, in the Balkans but also in Western Europe. Pity that they couldn’t get over their stereotypes.
More than 100 organisations from various countries around the Danube gathered in Ulm, Germany, to discuss the situation of Rroma in Europe. Consensus seems to be that the Rroma are the losers of the changes that followed the fall of communism, and that in spite of the Rroma decase that started in 2004, their situation has gotten worse.
Rroma are petitioning the Pope to prevent evictions from their camps due to the so-called “Year of Mercy” Jubilee in Rome. Authorities in Italy tend to “park” Rroma in makeshift camps that are under NGO and police surveillance. These camps are still provisional, although many of them exist since decades.
The EU Parliament newspaper published an article by Tanja Fajon on Rroma discrimination in Europe and stating that this is no longer acceptable. Rroma are after all Europeans!
Hautbourdin, the commune where the mayor dumped mud on a Rroma camp to force its eviction is still in the French headlines. In some papers such as La Voix du Nord, there is some understanding towards those actions, stating that mayors do no longer know what to do, while in other papers, such as Nord Éclair, one reports on counteractions of people incensed at the actions of the mayor.
Clearly, he was not right. And there should be consequences.
In Lyon, Rroma started squatting an empty building, while close to Paris, the fire brigade was called due to a fire in a Rroma camp (one of the excuses used by the authorities to close them). And clearly, the tour de presse could not be complete without three Rroma being arrested for burglary.
Several critiques were already aimed at the newly created European Roma Institute, especially. Yaron Matras, a renowned linguist and Rroma specialist led the charge: It already questions the “Roma led” side of the initiative; lobs a few well aimed barbs at the “Roma Decade” also initiated in part by the Open Society Foundations and a de facto failure; but mostly fears that such an institute would prevent free academic research, as people who were meant to be part of the ERI, openly criticised the fact that research so far has been devoid of Rroma input and scholars, and is thus biased.
We can side with the concerns of the academics, as such an institute can easily turn into a watchdog for political correctness, on the other hand, we have to side with the ERI, saying that many scholar writing on Rroma wrote fairly idiotic thing too, and in total impunity. This is not to say that all research is bad, but it is often very limited (a small group in a specific country), and perpetuates fake research such as the one from Wlysslocky, a 19th century “scholar” who wrote totally inept facts but is still cited by all scholars…
So let’s hope and see!
The Open Society institute, together with the European Union announced the creation of a European Roma Institute, aimed at celebrating and showcasing the rich Rroma culture.
According to George Soros, “the Institute will celebrate Romani heritage while also recording the Romani experience and acting as a vibrant creative hub. It will be a place for Roma in the arts to work together and connect with the creative community across Europe for the exchange and development of ideas. Through its events, exhibitions, and performances the Institute will seek to educate the wider public on the richness and greatness of Roma culture and achievement. Institutionally, it will also act as a policy advisor to the Council of Europe and member states, seeking to establish partnerships with similar bodies around the world.”
The key element lies in the last point. If it can successfully influence policies in Europe and contribute to diminish the stigma still associated with this minority, then, this is great. Otherwise, critics such as Yaron Matras (see below) may well prove to be right.
The German Paper the TAZ launched a controversy when they published an article entitled “Political Correctness: Me, a Gypsy” (Politische Korrektheit; Ich, Zigeuner). The author, starting with the “Zigeunerschnitzel” argues that in some countries, such as in Hungary, Rroma call themselves Cigany, so – Tsigan / Gypsy. There is thus nothing bad in using the word, it depends on its utilisation, as in any other case.
The article is written by a young intern from Hungary, Tobor Racz who is a Cigan … It prompted some fiery reactions from various quarters, most notably from the page “Sag Nicht Zigeuner.
An article in Daily Sabah, a Turkish based paper, sharply criticised the handling of Rroma in Italy, France, and in Serbia. Especially on the Italian side, their critique is to the point and seldom mentioned in the Press in Europe: Namely that in many cases in that country, Rroma are artificially segregated into camps and prevented from integrating. Police and NGO are working hand in hands on this. And these Rroma in camps are only a minority … Like iN France.
The Daily mail published a lurid article on a Rroma family who trafficked Czech immigrants and who were subsequently forced into effective slavery and mistreatment.
Human trafficking is a criminal offense and we fully condemn the acts of that family. However, the Daily Mail, by stressing the ethnicity of the offenders further the amalgamation in the public of Rroma to criminal migrants. This is totally racist and should not be tolerated.
In Hautbourdin, in France, the Mayor evacuated the local Rroma camp by dumping three truckloads of manure according to international press or mud, according to the French sources. The camp in the North of France was under evacuation order, nevertheless, the actions of the municipality go beyond decency and legality.
Volunteers and people showing solidarity went to the camp and plated crosses in the fresh mud.
Another camp was expulsed in Bron, in the Rhone region and another one in Henin-Beaumont, also in the North, while in the Grenoble region, they report on a large camp with an evangelical preacher.
Finally, in Sevran, a round table and a festival has been organised to explain who the Rroma in France truly are. The round table, held on the 17th, had a minister and several Rroma activists.
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