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Cunek wants Czech Romanies to be divided into three groups

22 October 2012
2 minute read

The Czech Local Development Ministry of Jiri Cunek has worked out a plan that reckons with Romany families in the country being divided into three groups according to their social level, each approached in a different way, writes the latest issue of the weekly Tyden to be out on Monday.

The first group will comprise the families that live almost independent of the social allowance system.

The second group is to comprise those abusing social allowances.

The third group will be the Romanies who have to be supervised always and everywhere, Tyden writes.

Romanies in the last mentioned group should be moved to hostels with a strict regime and under social workers’ supervision.

"It is necessary to set conditions for them that would force them to overcome their indolence" Tyden cites the ministerial document.

Cunek, chairman of the junior ruling Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL), has reportedly presented his plan to the government council for the Romany community.

Only those working for their municipality would be eligible for social allowances.

Rent-defaulters will be able to work to cover their debts.

If members of a family find a job and if they send their kids to school, they will get a chance to be allotted a flat in a better part of the town.

The Local Development Ministry estimates the plan’s costs at about a billion crowns.

According to its document, it is important to weaken the ties within Romany family clans. That is why two families of relatives should be allowed to live in the same house at the most.

Most of those who have already read the document have told Tyden that it is too vague and can hardly be called "a plan."

"This is all a sci-fi," Ivan Vesely from the government council for the Romany community is quoted as saying.

In the past, human rights activists as well as political partners criticised Cunek for having had, in his capacity as a mayor of Vsetin, north Moravia, moved several Romany families out from the town.

Cunek’s previous plan for Romany integration raised reservations as well.

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