The curators of the Barvalo exhibition held a discussion Saturday with the Romanian Romani actress Alina Serban.
Roma Refugees from the Ukraine
An article and video on Roma refugees from the Ukraine. According to the article, there could be as many as 100’000 of them. This number is probably too high an estimate. The article focuses on Roma from Transcarpathian Ukraine in the Czech Republic, a problematic issue.
- Flucht ist für ukrainische Roma meistens kein Ausweg. In: SRF. 10.05.2023. https://www.srf.ch/news/gesellschaft/probleme-im-ausland-flucht-ist-fuer-ukrainische-roma-meistens-kein-ausweg
Roma in Lesbos
An article on the Roma camp in Lesbos, Greece and its horrid conditions.
Sad.
- GRÈCE : LE CAMP ROM DE LESBOS, OU COMMENT SURVIVRE EN ENFER. In: Le Courrier des Balkans. 09.05.2023. https://www.courrierdesbalkans.fr/Grece-le-camp-rom-de-Lesbos-ou-comment-survivre-en-enfer
French Chronicle …
Little news this week in France on Roma. The Barvalo exhibition in Marseilles, a camp closed near Fos also in the Marseilles region. Finally, the story of a Romni whose child was forcibly removed based on the testimony of a man who turned out to be a racist. Bad.
- «Barvalo», ou les cultures romanies en exposition à Marseille. In: RFI. 13.05.2023. https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/reportage-culture/20230512-barvalo-ou-les-cultures-romanies-en-exposition-à-marseille
- Marseille : Une exposition lutte contre les préjugés sur les Roms. In: France Live. 11.05.2023. https://www.francelive.fr/teaser/20-minutes/marseille-une-exposition-lutte-contre-les-prejuges-sur-les-roms-8011212/
- La préfecture fait évacuer deux campements de familles roms à Fos. In: La Provence. 12.05.2023. https://www.laprovence.com/actu/en-direct/33981457322625/la-prefecture-fait-evacuer-deux-campements-de-familles-roms-a-fos
- VIDEO. Une mère rom séparée de son enfant sur une simple présomption. In: FR3. 11.05.2023. https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/paris-ile-de-france/paris/video-une-mere-rom-separee-de-son-enfant-sur-une-simple-presomption-2771150.html
Czech Republic: Paroled
In 2009, Václav Cojocara and Ivo Müller participated in an arson attack Roma on a home in Vítkov in the Opava region. They were caught and condemned to a prison sentence. Now, they have been conditionally released as they purged part of their sentence and showed good behaviour.
Whether this is a good idea remains to be seen…
- Kauza žháři: proč soud žádosti vyhověl a co čeká další dva odsouzené. In: IDnes. 12.05.2023. https://www.idnes.cz/ostrava/zpravy/zhari-vitkov-natalka-soud-podminka-cojocaru-muller.A230512_164537_ostrava-zpravy_jog
Slovakia: Judgement
The staff of a cafe in Lučenec, Slovakia, made a mistake when they refused to serve a guest because he was Rom. After almost six years of litigation, the Bratislava I District Court issued a judgement condemning the café to pay 1,500 euros and apologise.
In August 2017, a refused to serve Ladislav Rácz and his friend. He said it was because he did not have a club card which costs 300 euros. Ladislaw said “When I asked him if it was by chance because we are Roma, gypsies and we are darker, he said that it is not for such a reason and that we should leave the area immediately.”
Ladislaw friend, non-Roma, went to the cafe. They served her without any problems. “She asked the waiter that she saw on the door that entry was only possible with a club card. The gentleman clearly told the camera that it is only for Roma, that they cannot serve Roma.”
- Odmietli obslúžiť hosťa, pretože je Róm. Teraz musia zaplatiť pokutu. In: RTVS. 12.05.2023. https://spravy.rtvs.sk/2023/05/odmietli-obsluzit-hosta-pretoze-je-rom-teraz-musia-zaplatit-pokutu/
Romno Kher
Romno Kher (Roma House) sees itself as a place of learning, commemoration and encounter. Here, education not only means supporting children on their educational path, but also providing materials on the history and situation of the Sinti and Roma for schools and for the majority society. For example, based on the exhibition on the entire 600-year history since the Sinti were first documented in Germany in the 15th century: A history of discrimination that culminated in the Nazi genocide. But the exhibition also tells of survival strategies, of jobs, music, storytelling, right up to current topics such as the State Treaty and the Berlin Monument.
- Kultur und Widerstand. In: Kontext. 10.05.2023. https://www.kontextwochenzeitung.de/kultur/632/kultur-und-widerstand-8855.html
Germany Greens and “Secure States”
The German Greens are against the proposal to qualify Moldova and Georgia as “secure states”, a measure that would allow Germany a speedy dispatching of refugees from those countries back in their homeland.
- Grünen gegen Ausweitung „sicherer Herkunftsstaaten“. In: Digital Daily. 11.05.2023. https://digitaldaily.de/2023/05/11/grunen-gegen-ausweitung-sicherer-herkunftsstaaten/
- Grünen-Politikerin gegen Ausweitung sicherer Herkunftsländer. In: Handelsblatt. 12.05.2023. https://www.handelsblatt.com/dpa/gruenen-politikerin-gegen-ausweitung-sicherer-herkunftslaender/29148014.html
Housing and Roma in Germany
Two cases of houses in Berlin which are mostly rented by Roma, where the residents have been expelled and need to go, making space for newer constructions.
- Erst verdrängt, dann abgezockt. In: Taz. 11.05.2023. https://taz.de/Diskriminierung-auf-dem-Wohnungsmarkt/!5930580/
- Verdrängung in Berlin: Neue Wohnung, neue Räumungsdrohung. In: ND. 11.05.2023. https://www.nd-aktuell.de/artikel/1173172.roma-familien-verdraengung-in-berlin-neue-wohnung-neue-raeumungsdrohung.html
Slovakia and Integration
907 Mio EUR have been secured from the next period of the integration of Roma in Slovakia. The money will contribute to improving the situation of marginalized Roma communities (MRK). The changes also strengthened the position of the plenipotentiary office, as well as the centralization of the entire agenda, which should lead to a more efficient use of funds. Slovak Government Plenipotentiary for Roma communities, Ján Hero, stated this in response to Wednesday’s (May 10) press conference of the member of the Slovak National Council for SaS Vladimír Ledecký, who criticized the state’s current actions in the area of MRK inclusion.
- Hero: Zlepšiť situáciu Rómov pomôže historicky najvyššia alokácia. In: Teraz. 11.05.2023. https://www.teraz.sk/slovensko/hero-zlepsit-situaciu-romov-pomoz/713476-clanok.html
Slovakia and Discrimination
The District Court of Bratislava ruled in the case of discrimination against a Rom, Ladislav Rácz, who was refused service in a cafe in Lučenec in 2017. The defendant must apologize to him for the discrimination and compensate him financially, the court’s decision is not final, as the defendant can still appeal.
- Súd rozhodol v kauze Róma, ktorého odmietli obslúžiť v kaviarni. in: Teraz. 10.05.2023. https://www.teraz.sk/spravy/sud-rozhodol-v-kauze-roma-ktoreho-od/713280-clanok.html
Barvalo
Several articles are devoted to the new exhibition in Marseilles in the museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisation entitled “Barvalo”
- Exposition “Barvalo” au Mucem à Marseille : un autre regard sur les Roms, Manouches et Gitans, ces populations romani d’Europe. In: France Info. 10.05.2023. https://www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/arts-expos/exposition-barvalo-au-mucem-a-marseille-un-autre-regard-sur-les-roms-manouches-et-gitans-ces-populations-romani-d-europe_5817056.html
- Exposition Barvalo au Mucem : la fierté romani. In: Politis. 10.05.2023. https://www.politis.fr/articles/2023/05/barvalo-la-fierte-rom-mucem/
- En France, exposition inédite sur l’art et la culture rom en Europe. In: Arab News. 10.05.2023. https://www.arabnews.fr/node/379466/culture
Brandenburg and Roma
The chairman of the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma, Romani, praised Brandenburg as exemplary with regard to its minority policy. “By making the fight against antiziganism a state goal, the state government is showing its responsibility to history and outlawing antiziganism as well as antisemitism,” said Rose on Tuesday after a conversation with Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke (SPD). “It sets an exemplary signal for our democratic constitutional state.”
- Romani Rose: Brandenburg vorbildlich für Minderheitenpolitik. In: Stern. 09.05.2023. https://www.stern.de/gesellschaft/regional/berlin-brandenburg/antidiskriminierung–romani-rose–brandenburg-vorbildlich-fuer-minderheitenpolitik-33453034.html
Barvalo
The new exhibition in the museum of European and Mediterranean Civilisation in Marseilles.
Ivan Korniyovych Bilashchenko
On May 6th, 2023, Ivan Korniyovych Bilashchenko passed away at the age of 97. He was born in the village of Dmytrivka, Zolotoni district, Cherkasy region.
He was a lieutenant colonel and a veteran of the Second World War. He survived the famine when he was 7. When the Second World War began, he was 14 years old, and was sent to a concentration camp. He escaped, he was caught again and sent to forced labour – to build a railway in the Zolotonsky District.
In 1943, when he was already 17 years old, Zolotonishchyna was liberated by the Red Army, and Ivan Korniyovich joined it. He was sent to the front in Vitebsk, where he began his military service, and finished the War in the Baltics States as a commander of a platoon.
May he rest in peace!
- ПІШОВ ІЗ ЖИТТЯ НАЙСТАРШИЙ РОМ В УКРАЇНІ. In: Ame Roma. 09.05.2023.https://roma.ck.ua/novyny/3347-pishov-iz-zhyttia-najstarshyj-rom-v-ukraini/?fbclid=IwAR0n5nTv-cFF7b88uCMU6tW5rhEV-8pHnLw_ajogaZGqtN5tzcSAYPz1zIQ
Poland: Exhibition
The District Museum in Nowy Sącz, Poland, is presenting an exhibition consisting of exhibits collected by Paweł Lechowski, an ethnographer who has been continuously interested in Roma culture since the 1960s. Thanks to his collection showcases the life of travelling Roma for those who know travels only from the stories of the older generation.
- Wystawa “Jadą wozy kolorowe. Tabor w pamięci i w twórczości artystycznej Cyganów/Romów”. In: Sądeckie. 08.05.2023. https://sądeckie.pl/artykul/wystawa-jada-wozy-kolorowe-tabor-w-pamieci-i-w-tworczosci-artystycznej-cyganowromow
Spin the Wheel
Ri Rock Association in partnership with the Roma Youth Organization of Croatia organised the second cultural and artistic event dedicated to Roma culture and art. The event, called “Spin the Inclusive Wheel” aims to promote Roma culture and identity through music and art.
Radio Roža is an internet radio program that is conducted as part of the Gyroscope culture project.
- Manifestacija “Zavrti inkluzivni kotač” promovira romsku kulturu. In: Vijesti. 09.05.2023. https://vijesti.hrt.hr/manjine/manifestacija-zavrti-inkluzivni-kotac-promovira-romsku-kulturu-10763266
Ljiljjana Petrović Butler
The story of a Serbian Romani singer, Ljiljjana Petrović Butler, born in 2944 in Belgrade, who died in 2010 in the Netherlands, having fled the wars in Yugoslavia.
Unfortunately, this story also reinforces many stereotypes: early marriage and children, no education, dirty, and so on. Sad, as it could have been told differently.
- TRAGIČAN ŽIVOT NAŠE PEVAČICE TERA JEZU U KOSTI Sa samo 14 godina je rodila prvo dete, pretužno šta je nakon toga morala da radi. In: Alo. 07.05.2023. https://www.alo.rs/vip/estrada/756696/tragican-zivot-nase-pevacice-tera-jezu-u-kosti-sa-samo-14-godina-je-rodila-prvo-dete-pretuzno-sta-je-nakon-toga-morala-da-radi/vest
Patrick Banga
Another article in the press about the Romano journalist Patrick Banga whose first book won the prestigious Czech Magnesia Litera award in the new author category.
It does not please certain people. According to the article, Patrik Banga now reads almost every day that he bribed the entire jury of the Magnesia Litera award. Many people cannot accept the fact that the book award went to Rom.
Bad
- Havel byl první politik, který se ke mně choval jako k člověku, říká oceněný Rom. In: Forbes. 07.05.2023. https://forbes.cz/havel-byl-prvni-politik-ktery-se-ke-mne-choval-jako-k-cloveku-rika-oceneny-rom/
Zdeněk Godla: Interview
An interview with the popular Czech Roma actor Zdeněk Godla, in which he states “Why should I call myself Roma when I’ve been a Gypsy all my life?” A touchy question.
- Zdeněk Godla: Proč si mám říkat Rom, když jsem celý život Cikán? In: Noviny. 07.05.2023. https://www.novinky.cz/clanek/zena-styl-zdenek-godla-proc-si-mam-rikat-rom-kdyz-jsem-cely-zivot-cikan-40429748