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.”
Netherland: New Museum
The new Holocaust Museum in Amsterdam retraces the lives and fate of the 102’000 Jews and 220 Roma and Sinti who were deported from that country during World War Two.
- With a new Holocaust museum, the Netherlands faces its past. In: Ekathimerini. 07.03.2024. https://www.ekathimerini.com/nytimes/1233388/with-a-new-holocaust-museum-the-netherlands-faces-its-past/
Encyclopaedia of the Genocide of the Roma
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.
- Genocídu Rómov v Európe pod nadvládou nacistov mapuje internetová encyklopédia. In: Pravda. 05.03.2024. https://spravy.pravda.sk/svet/clanok/702038-genocidu-romov-v-europe-pod-nadvladou-nacistov-mapuje-internetova-encyklopedia/
Encyclopaedia Online
The site of encyclopaedia of the Genocide of the Roma is now online.
Encyclopaedia of the Genocide of the Roma
The encyclopaedia of the Genocide of the Roma was launched yesterday. This press article is an interview of the project leader, Dr. Karola Fings.
- Enzyklopädie zum Genozid an Sinti und Roma geht online. In: Deutschlandfunk. 04.03.2024. https://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/der-andere-holocaust-enzyklopaedie-zum-genozid-an-sinti-und-roma-geht-online-dlf-kultur-3a64dfbb-100.html
Slovakia, the Elections, and Roma
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.
- Matovičovci a Únia Rómov sú v spore pre 500 eurový príspevok vo voľbách, podávajú na seba vzájomne trestné oznámenia. In: Sita. 04.03.2024. https://sita.sk/matovicovci-a-unia-romov-su-v-spore-pre-500-eurovy-prispevok-vo-volbach-podavaju-na-seba-vzajomne-trestne-oznamenia/
- Únia Rómov ku kauze 500 eur: Matovičovci páchali volebnú korupciu formou organizovanej zločineckej skupiny. In: eReport. 05.03.2024. https://ereport.sk/matovicovci-pachali-volebnu-korupciu-formou-zlocineckej-skupiny/
Sinti and Roma have had their home in Germany for centuries – and yet they are still subjected to severe discrimination today.
In addition to six million Jews, 500,000 Sinti and Roma were murdered in Nazi-occupied Europe during the Holocaust.
It took four decades until the then German Chancellor Helmut Schmidt recognized the genocide against Sinti and Roma under international law in 1982. In 2022, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier described antigypsyism and the continued injustice against Sinti and Roma after 1945 as a “second persecution” and asked Sinti and Roma for forgiveness.
- Sinti und Roma in Deutschland und der Antiziganismus. In: ARD Mediathek. 04.03.2024. https://www.ardmediathek.de/video/puzzle/sinti-und-roma-in-deutschland-und-der-antiziganismus/br-fernsehen/Y3JpZDovL2JyLmRlL3ZpZGVvLzY2MmZjMDE2LTQzNzgtNDM4MS1iOTEyLTU2NzA2MzMzNjExNg
Encyclopaedia on the Genocide of Roma
Another article on the Encyclopaedia of the Genocide of the Roma which will be formally inaugurated today.
- Neues Onlineportal will Daten zur Ermordung von Sinti und Roma bündeln. In: Deutschlandfunk. 04.03.2024. https://www.deutschlandfunk.de/neues-onlineportal-will-daten-zur-ermordung-von-sinti-und-roma-buendeln-104.html
Poland: Roma and Roma Aid
The ongoing expansion of the sewage system in Koszary, a village in the Limanowa region does not use funds from the so-called Roma program – as claimed by Roma activist Bogdan Trojanek. However, his allegations are not completely groundless, because in the previous term the commune used such financing for similar investments.
- Program romski a budowa kanalizacji. Wójt wyjaśnia. In: Limanowa. 03.03.2024. https://limanowa.in/aktualnosci/program-romski-a-budowa-kanalizacji-wojt-wyjasnia/70448
Encyclopaedia on the Genocide of Roma
An article about the forthcoming inauguration of the Encylopaedia of the Roma Genocide that will be released online on March 5th.
- Sinti i Romowie: portal o ofiarach narodowego socjalizmu. In: Deutsche Welle. 03.03.2024. https://www.dw.com/pl/sinti-i-romowie-powstał-portal-o-ofiarach-narodowego-socjalizmu/a-68428017
Bulgaria and Education
An interview with Teodor Asenov, a Romano teacher who wants to be an example to others. He would never have finished his education if there were not people who believed in him without reservation and now wants to help others.
- Romski učitelj koji želi da bude primer drugima. In: Deutsche Welle. 02.03.2024. https://www.dw.com/sr/romski-učitelj-koji-želi-da-bude-primer-drugima/video-68405527
Slovakia, Settlements, and Security
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.”
- Raši: Navýšením výzvy o 32 mil. eur bude bezpečnejšie v osadách a obciach. In: Info.sk. 28.02.2024. https://www.info.sk/sprava/246553/rasi-navysenim-vyzvy-o-32-mil-eur-bude-bezpecnejsie-v-osadach-a-obciach/#google_vignette
Slovakia, Volvo, and Roma
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 …
- Švédska automobilka má záujem o Rómov: Akú prácu by mohli robiť? O platoch majú jasnú predstavu! In: Novy Čas. 01.03.2024. https://www.cas.sk/clanok/2902735/svedska-automobilka-ma-zaujem-o-romov-aku-pracu-by-mohli-robit-o-platoch-maju-jasnu-predstavu/
Lausanne and Roma
Roma who currently live in a house that has been deemed insalubrious will have to leave by the end of the month. There are no real alternatives to their current lodging.
- Des familles roms doivent quitter l’hébergement lausannois de la Borde, jugé insalubre. In: RTS. 29.02.2024. https://www.rts.ch/info/regions/vaud/2024/article/des-familles-roms-doivent-quitter-l-hebergement-lausannois-de-la-borde-juge-insalubre-28420640.html
- Évacuer la Borde? Les Roms n’y songent pas vraiment. In: 24 Heures. 29.02.2024. https://www.24heures.ch/lausanne-les-roms-ne-songent-pas-a-evacuer-la-borde-981219080164
- À Lausanne, des familles de sans-abri, en majorité des Roms, doivent quitter un immeuble insalubre d’ici la fin mars. In: RTS. 28.02.2024.https://www.rts.ch/play/tv/19h30/video/a-lausanne-des-familles-de-sans-abri-en-majorite-des-roms-doivent-quitter-un-immeuble-insalubre-dici-la-fin-mars?urn=urn:rts:video:14734319
French Chronicle …
The French television channel TF1 showed the movide “A bras Ouvert”, a movie that came out in 2017 and immediately created a controversy as it displayed many racist clichés about Roma. Bad Idea, and bad movie.
Other news in France are more of the usual ones: A camp was closed near Fréjus in the south of France; another one in Angers in Western France; In Angers, they opened up a temporary insertion site; and finally a reportage in Western France on a site opened for Roma.
- À bras ouverts : pourquoi le film a-t-il fait scandale à sa sortie ? In: Seriously. 01.03.2024. https://www.serieously.com/a-bras-ouverts-pourquoi-film-fait-scandale/
- « A-T-ON LE DROIT DE RIRE DE TOUT ? » LE FILM « À BRAS OUVERTS » EST ACCUSÉ D’ÊTRE RACISTE. In: Les Crieurs du Web. 01.03.2024. https://lescrieursduweb.com/societe/a-t-on-le-droit-de-rire-de-tout-le-film-a-bras-ouverts-est-accuse-detre-raciste/
- 1 million d’entrées et polémique pour cette comédie de Christian Clavier. Les Nouvelles du Joiur. 01.03.2024. https://nouvelles-dujour.com/1-million-dentrees-et-polemique-pour-cette-comedie-de-christian-clavier/#google_vignette
- Le campement de Roms à Puget-sur-Argens évacué sans heurts. In: Var matin. 29.02.2024. https://www.varmatin.com/vie-locale/le-campement-de-roms-a-puget-sur-argens-evacue-sans-heurts-906372
- Un bidonville de Roms fermé à Monplaisir à Angers : un site plus digne ouvert. In: Ouest France. 27.02.2024. https://angers.maville.com/actu/actudet_-un-bidonville-de-roms-ferme-a-monplaisir-a-angers-un-site-plus-digne-ouvert-_-6177730_actu.Htm
- Bidonville de Monplaisir à Angers : les familles installées ont quitté le site. In: Ouest France. 27.02.2024. https://angers.maville.com/actu/actudet_-bidonville-de-monplaisir-a-angers-les-familles-installees-ont-quitte-le-site-_9-6177665_actu.Htm#google_vignette
- Ouverture d’un site temporaire d’insertion pour lutter contre les bidovilles. In: Actu.fr. 28.02.2024. https://actu.fr/pays-de-la-loire/angers_49007/angers-ouverture-d-un-site-temporaire-d-insertion-pour-lutter-contre-les-bidovilles_60756967.html
- Du bidonville au bungalow, un premier site d’accueil des Roms a ouvert en Maine-et-Loire. In: Ouest France. 02.03.2024. https://angers.maville.com/actu/actudet_-reportage.-du-bidonville-au-bungalow-un-premier-site-d-accueil-des-roms-a-ouvert-en-maine-et-loire-_54135-6183225_actu.Htm
Nicolae Gheorghe
A square in Bucharest, Romania, will be named after the Roma activist Nicolae Gheorghe.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=794295289401259&set=a.456550509842407
Thieves in Poland
The story of thieves who managed to get into a senior citizen house, pretexting to sell them quilts, and while inside stole money. According to the police, these are “most probably” Roma. The fact of saying so even before these people have been arrested is not good.
- Kołdry nie kupili, stracili kilka tysięcy złotych. In: Sucha 24. 27.02.2024. https://sucha24.pl/artykul/koldry-nie-kupili-stracili/1221523
Vodaphone and Roma
Vodafone has joined the scholarship program for Roma students, which is implemented by the ROMEA organization. With this step, Vodafone wants to support equal opportunities and fight against discrimination against Roma in the Czech Republic, which has long been criticized by the Council of Europe. Vodafone contributed one hundred thousand crowns to scholarships for Roma students of secondary, higher vocational and university schools, who face many obstacles in achieving a quality education. The scholarship program offers them not only financial support, but also mentoring, mutual meetings, advice, educational activities and internships in organizations or companies, including Vodafone.
Well done!
- Společnost Vodafone podpořila stipendia pro romské studenty a studentky. V rámci partnerství nabízí i možnost pracovních stáží. In: Romea. 01.03.2024. https://romea.cz/cz/domaci/spolecnost-vodafone-podporila-stipendia-pro-romske-studenty-a-studentky-v-ramci-partnerstvi-nabizi-i-moznost-pracovnich-stazi
Roma King in Slovakia
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.
- RÓMSKY KRÁĽ Róbert Botoš: Milióny na Rómov idú ľuďom, ktorí ich rozkradnú. In: Pluska. 02.03.2024. https://www1.pluska.sk/regiony/exkluzivny-rozhovor-romskemu-kralovi-je-vracanie-kam-sla-miliarda-cerpana-romov
Slovakia: 20 Years
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.
- Po policajných obuškoch ostali jazvy: sociálna reforma pred 20 rokmi skončila rabovačkami. In: Dennik N. 28.02.2024. https://dennikn.sk/3854975/po-policajnych-obuskoch-ostali-jazvy-socialna-reforma-pred-20-rokmi-skoncila-rabovackami/
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