Czech Government Human Rights Commissioner: I condemn the activities of the DSSS and welcome the Nový Bydžov is not alone! Initiative

Czech Government Human Rights Commissioner Monika Šimůnková has expressed her support for the Nový Bydžov is not alone! Initiative and welcomes its activities opposing the DSSS directly in Nový Bydžov. In a press release published in full below by news server Romea.cz, she condemns the DSSS activities.

Press release of M. Šimůnková: I condemn the activity of the Workers’ Social Justice Party placing itself in the role of problem-solver in Nový Bydžov

The Workers’ Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti – DSSS) has announced a meeting for Saturday, 12 March in the town of Nový Bydžov to be following by a march “against rising crime”. The radical National Resistance (Národní odpor – NO) and Autonomous Nationalists (Autonomní nacionalisté – AN) have advised their members to participate in this meeting through their web pages. The organizers have announced that the “gathering is organized on the basis of numerous requests from the citizens of Nový Bydžov who are in a desperate situation and out of concern for their own security are afraid to walk through the streets of the town.”

I condemn this activity by the Workers’ Social Justice Party and the participation of the above-mentioned extremist organizations in it. These groups publicly call for resistance “against Gypsy terror” and openly incite a hateful attitude toward Roma people in the Czech Republic.

The existing heightened tensions among some members of the majority population with respect to the Roma minority in the town, which it has been noted are based on the regrettable incidents of recent months, can under no circumstances be considered solvable these or any similar actions, whether organized by the DSSS or any other extremist initiatives. The DSSS will not resolve this situation with its meeting and march, but will only exacerbate it further with their nationalistic statements. In a democratic state it is impermissible for the resolution of such situations to be usurped or undertaken by anyone other than the authorities or institutions permitted to do so by law.

In this context I welcome and support the civic activities led by the Nový Bydžov is not alone! Initiative calling for the expression of disagreement with these DSSS activities directly on the scene. This initiative is based on respect for human rights, their protection, and the condemnation of any and all violence.

I firmly believe that the mayor of Nový Bydžov will thoroughly ensure the necessary preventive measures in the town before, during and after the DSSS meeting in cooperation with police units who will fulfill their legal role on the scene. I believe the protection of the health and property of all residents will be ensured.

At the same time I call on all interested parties to calmly, non-violently and patiently address the situation of the long-term problems in mutual coexistence between the Roma and the majority sections of the local population. These solutions should be based on respecting the principle of the equal protection of the rights and freedoms of all citizens.

As the executive director of the Human Rights Section of the Office of the Czech Government, I am entrusting the director of the Agency for Social Inclusion of the Roma Minority, Martin Šimáček, with negotiating on my behalf with the representatives of the meeting organizers and of the town, with monitoring the events there, and with reporting to me on developments as they unfold.