Bulgaria: Manifestations

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The Bulgarian city of Asenovgrad, in the South central part of the country, saw a huge manifestation by resident against Roma. They are protesting the “illegal” residence of Roma and their “criminal” activities.
Needless to say that the illegal part has to do with the privatisation of the land after communism – Roma have been there since the Byzantine times, and the criminal activities, if any are not related to ethnicity but to poverty.

– Social Tensions in Assenovgrad not Subsiding. In: Novinite. 30.06.2017. http://www.novinite.com/articles/180937/Social+Tensions+in+Assenovgrad+not+Subsiding [link-preview url=”http://www.novinite.com/articles/180937/Social+Tensions+in+Assenovgrad+not+Subsiding”]

Czech Republic and Memorial

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The planned opening of a memorial to the Roma victims of the Holocaust in Hodonin, on the site of a former concentration camp, has been delayed indefinitely. This is the result of a possible transfer of ownership of the memorial and exhibition from the Education Ministry to the Government Council for Roma Minority Affairs.
Well, seems that the Czech prefer not to dwell too much on the fact that they killed nearly all Roma in the country during World War Two.

– Memorial to Czech Roma Holocaust delayed. In: The Prague Monitor. 30.06.2017. http://praguemonitor.com/2017/06/30/memorial-czech-roma-holocaust-delayed [link-preview url=”http://praguemonitor.com/2017/06/30/memorial-czech-roma-holocaust-delayed”]

Czech Republic, the President, and Lety

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Milos Zeeman, the president of the Czech Republic is against the closure of the pig farm situated on the site of the former concentration camp for Roma of Lety. He is reported to be doubting it was even a concentration camp …
No comments, apart from the fact that he should read history, and maybe activate some of his grey matter.

– Kritik an Zeman nach umstrittenen Äußerungen zu KZ Lety. In: Der Kurier. 30.06.2017. https://kurier.at/politik/ausland/tschechien-praesident-milos-zeman-nach-umstrittenen-aeusserungen-zu-kz-lety-in-der-kritik/272.667.724 [link-preview url=”https://kurier.at/politik/ausland/tschechien-praesident-milos-zeman-nach-umstrittenen-aeusserungen-zu-kz-lety-in-der-kritik/272.667.724″]

Aurora

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Only yesterday did we write about the Aurora Café in Budapest, a place for the opposition to Orban’s government and to minorities.
The café was closed yesterday.
SAD!

– Budapest schließt Alternativclub. In: Der Standart. 30.06.2017. http://derstandard.at/2000060552787/Budapest-schliesst-Alternativclub [link-preview url=”http://derstandard.at/2000060552787/Budapest-schliesst-Alternativclub”]

Hungary and Minorities

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The Aurora café in Budapest, a Jewish café originally has turned into a centre of resistance for opposition activists of minorities. It houses the offices of a Roma NGO, of the LGBT community, and of course of various Jewish groups.
Let’s hope it can continue.

– Hungary’s Resistance Has a Hip Jewish Address — But For How Long? In: Forward. 29.06.2017. http://forward.com/news/375774/in-hungary-the-resistance-to-orbans-populist-rule-has-a-hot-jewish-address/ [link-preview url=”http://forward.com/news/375774/in-hungary-the-resistance-to-orbans-populist-rule-has-a-hot-jewish-address/”]

Austria and the Holocaust

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An interesting article from the catholic church about the Roma victims of the Holocaust in the Diocese of Eisenstadt in the Easern part of the country. There, the camp of Lackenbach had more than 4’000 local Roma who were doing forced labour in appalling conditions. Many more were simply sent to death camps.

– Österreich: Ermordeten Roma Würde zurückgeben. In: Radio Vatican. 22.06.2017. http://de.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/06/22/österreich_ermordeten_roma_würde_zurückgeben/1320729 [link-preview url=”http://de.radiovaticana.va/news/2017/06/22/österreich_ermordeten_roma_würde_zurückgeben/1320729″]

Romani Rose

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An interview with Romani Rose, chairman of the German Council of Sinti and Roma. He rightfully states that Sinti and Roma are considered as scapegoats.

– “Unsere Minderheit wird als Sündenbock abgestempelt”. In: Rhein Neckar Zeitung. 27.06.2017. https://www.rnz.de/politik/hintergrund_artikel,-Hintergrund-Politik-Romani-Rose-im-Interview-Unsere-Minderheit-wird-als-Suendenbock-abgestempelt-_arid,285176.html [link-preview url=”https://www.rnz.de/politik/hintergrund_artikel,-Hintergrund-Politik-Romani-Rose-im-Interview-Unsere-Minderheit-wird-als-Suendenbock-abgestempelt-_arid,285176.html”]

Totally Wrong …

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A Slovak article got their history totally wrong: Stating that until the 19th century Roma in the Austro-Hungarian Empire were mostly nomadic.
No, All Carpathian Roma were not. There were the Kale / Sinti in the Czech Republic and, after the abolition of slavery in Romanian lands the Vlax Roma, but by and large, the nomadism is a myth that Maria Theresia took from her German background.
Shame to perpetuate myths

– The Roma competitors. In: The Slovak Spectator. 26.06.2017. https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20568644/the-roma-competitors.html [link-preview url=”https://spectator.sme.sk/c/20568644/the-roma-competitors.html”]

Far Right and Moslems

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Before the Far Right turned anti Moslem, guess what, they were against Roma… This is especially true in Eastern Europe for example Hungary, but also Slovakia, etc.
Bad.

– Before they opposed Muslims, Europe’s far right targeted a different minority. In: Washington Post. 22.06.2017. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/22/before-they-opposed-muslims-europes-far-right-targeted-a-different-minority/?utm_term=.17d136ae1f2c [link-preview url=”https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/06/22/before-they-opposed-muslims-europes-far-right-targeted-a-different-minority/?utm_term=.17d136ae1f2c”]

Orban and World War Two

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Vikotor Orban praised Hungary’s World War Two leader – Horthy – who led a government which oversaw the deportation of almost all of the Jews from Hungary and who was profoundly racists, also against Roma.
Anyhow, praising Nazis is never good for us.

– Orbán wagt den Tabubruch. In: Spiegel Online 26.06.2017. http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/orban-wagt-den-tabubruch-und-wuerdigt-hitler-verbuendeten-miklos-horthy-a-1154518.html [link-preview url=”http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/orban-wagt-den-tabubruch-und-wuerdigt-hitler-verbuendeten-miklos-horthy-a-1154518.html”]

Lety – Still

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The closure of the pig farm in Lety is still not yet secured, in spite of promises by the government to buy the farm back.
This pig farm on the site of a former concentration camp for Roma in the Czech republic hasn’t been resolved in by now nearly 30 years…

– Activists demand removal of pig farm from Roma Holocaust site. In: Times of Israel. 25.06.2017. http://www.timesofisrael.com/activists-demand-removal-of-pig-farm-from-roma-holocaust-site/ [link-preview url=”http://www.timesofisrael.com/activists-demand-removal-of-pig-farm-from-roma-holocaust-site/”]

Italy: Really ?

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It is well known that Italy forces Roma into camps and keeps them there instead of trying to integrate them in society. But in some of these camps, the most basic amenities like water are missing. This is the case of the camp of Castel Romano, which has been without water for 34 days.

– Roma, Dramma al Campo nomadi di Castel Romano, senza acqua da 34 giorni. In: Roma IT. 26.06.2017. http://www.romait.it/articoli/23513/roma-dramma-al-campo-nomadi-di-castel-romano-senza-acqua-da-34-giorni [link-preview url=”http://www.romait.it/articoli/23513/roma-dramma-al-campo-nomadi-di-castel-romano-senza-acqua-da-34-giorni”]

Italy: Criminal???

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The Italian tax police is not known for being soft. They arrested an elderly Bosnian Romni and confiscated 25’000 EUR she had painfully saved – knowing that she lives below the poverty level. She is 71 years old …

La comunità Rom: “False le accuse contro Djula Ahmetovic” In: Go News. 24.06.2017. http://www.gonews.it/2017/06/24/la-comunita-rom-false-le-accuse-contro-djula-ahmetovic/ [link-preview url=”http://www.gonews.it/2017/06/24/la-comunita-rom-false-le-accuse-contro-djula-ahmetovic/”]

Greece – Police Search

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A police search in a Roma neighbourhood near Athens yielded weapons and nearly a Kg. of Heroin. The police arrested at least 35 people. What is bad is the ethnic context presented here.

– Οι αστυνομικοί έκαναν τουλάχιστον έξι κατ’ οίκον έρευνες, για τυχόν κρυμμένα όπλα, ενώ έχουν κατασχεθεί περίπου δύο κιλά ηρωίνης. In: Protothema. 22.06.2017. http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/690936/eikosi-sullipseis-se-epiheirisi-tis-astunomias-se-kataulismo-roma/ [link-preview url=”http://www.protothema.gr/greece/article/690936/eikosi-sullipseis-se-epiheirisi-tis-astunomias-se-kataulismo-roma/”]

French Politics – All Parties

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Three articles which show what, collectively, the French politicians think of Roma. First, not surprising, a Front National member who made some borderline jokes about Roma, then , a Républicain who has been condemned (good, by the way) for his statements about Roma, and finally, a La France en Marche freshly elected parliament member who makes similar blanket statements about Roma.
SHAME TO ALL OF THEM

– “Quotidien” : la blague polémique d’un député FN sur les Roms. In: Closer. 22.06.2017. https://www.closermag.fr/politique/quotidien-la-blague-polemique-d-un-depute-fn-sur-les-roms-728544
– Montpellier : Domergue condamné au civil pour ses propos sur les Roms. In: Midi Libre. 22.06.2017. http://www.midilibre.fr/2017/06/22/montpellier-domergue-condamne-au-civil-pour-ses-propos-sur-les-roms,1525633.php
– Des «roms qui urinent n’importe où» : les propos d’une nouvelle députée LREM choquent la toile. In: Français RT. 21.06.2017. https://francais.rt.com/france/40091-roms-qui-urinent-nimporte-opetit
– Les propos polémiques de Claire O’Petit, nouvelle députée En Marche! et ex-grande gueule de RMC déterrés. In: Huffington Post. 20.06.2017. http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2017/06/20/les-propos-polemiques-de-claire-opetit-nouvelle-deputee-en-mar_a_22491956/ [link-preview url=”https://www.closermag.fr/politique/quotidien-la-blague-polemique-d-un-depute-fn-sur-les-roms-728544 “]

French Chronicle …

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Not many news lately. A good news for a change, with a camp in Aix en Provence, in the South of France where the city was condemned for its expulsion order, meaning the camp can stay for now; a camp in Montpellier where neighbours are complaining; an expulsion in Montreuil, near Paris; garbage on the site of a former camp also near Paris; another camp evacuated near Annecy in the French Alps; and finally a camp in Lille which was also closed.

– Une victoire inédite pour les Roms de Valcros. In: La Marseillaise. 22.06.2017. http://www.lamarseillaise.fr/marseille/faits-divers-justice/61460-une-victoire-inedite-pour-les-roms-de-valcros
– Montpellier : ce camp de roms qui fait fuir le voisinage. In: Midi Libre. 24.06.2017. http://www.midilibre.fr/2017/06/23/montpellier-ce-camp-de-roms-qui-fait-fuir-le-voisinage,1526304.php
– Montreuil: familles roms expulsées et eau en accès limité. In: Mediapart. 20.06.2017. https://blogs.mediapart.fr/juliette-keating/blog/200617/montreuil-familles-roms-expulsees-et-eau-en-acces-limite
– VIDEO. Yvelines : entre Carrières-sous-Poissy et Triel-sur-Seine, la plaine des déchets. In: Le Parisien. 19.06.2017. http://www.leparisien.fr/triel-sur-seine-78510/carrieres-sous-poissy-triel-sur-seine-la-plaine-des-dechets-19-06-2017-7067088.php
– Annecy: un camp de Roms évacué à Vovray. In: L’essor Savoyard. 23.06.2017. http://www.lessorsavoyard.fr/annecy-et-sa-region/annecy-un-camp-de-roms-evacue-a-vovray-ia938b939n183943
– Le camp de Roms derrière le Stadium Lille Métropole évacué. In: La Voix du Nord. 20.06.2017. http://www.lavoixdunord.fr/180799/article/2017-06-20/le-camp-de-roms-derriere-le-stadium-lille-metropole-evacue [link-preview url=”https://blogs.mediapart.fr/juliette-keating/blog/200617/montreuil-familles-roms-expulsees-et-eau-en-acces-limite “]

Slovakia: EU Funds for Roma

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Nearly 450 Mio EUR are earmarked as help for the Roma communities in Slovakia, of which nearly 50 Mio is dedicated to kindergartens. The funds are from the EU.
Let’s hope!

– Z eurofondov smeruje na marginalizovaných Rómov 450 miliónov eur. In: SME Romovia. 23.06.2017. https://romovia.sme.sk/c/20566348/z-eurofondov-smeruje-na-marginalizovanych-romov-450-milionov-eur.html#axzz4ku1rbj6T [link-preview url=”https://romovia.sme.sk/c/20566348/z-eurofondov-smeruje-na-marginalizovanych-romov-450-milionov-eur.html#axzz4ku1rbj6T”]

Slovenia: Celebration

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The Council of the Roma Community, an umbrella organization representing the interests of the Roma in Slovenia celebrated on the 23rd of June its tenth anniversary. The association represents Roma in relation to state authorities and addresses specific issues related to their interests, status and rights.

– Svet romske skupnosti proslavil desetletnico delovanja. In: STA. 24.06.2017. https://www.sta.si/2402182/svet-romske-skupnosti-proslavil-desetletnico-delovanja [link-preview url=”https://www.sta.si/2402182/svet-romske-skupnosti-proslavil-desetletnico-delovanja”]

Germany and Integration

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The Sinti and Roma association of the German State of Hessen will receive money from the state. This follows the signature of a contract between the state and the association to further the integration of Roma.

– Landesverband erhält Geld von Land. In: Frankfurter Rundschau. 21.06.2017. http://www.fr.de/rhein-main/sinti-und-roma-landesverband-erhaelt-geld-von-land-a-1299508 [link-preview url=”http://www.fr.de/rhein-main/sinti-und-roma-landesverband-erhaelt-geld-von-land-a-1299508″]

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