Czech Republic: 30 Romani people living without utilities in a restaurant

Lubomír Vilímek of the Čáslav Police told the Czech Press Agency today that the former U Rajských restaurant in Čáslav is now home to 30 Romani people. With one exception, the families, including children, are living there without any electricity, functioning toilets, or hookups to running water. Police officers and patrolmen who are monitoring the situation have drawn it to the attention of the Building Works Authority of the Čáslav town hall and to social workers. Police said it was not clear to them whether the restaurant has also been licensed for use as housing.

Mayor Jaromír Strnad (Czech Social Democratic Party – ČSSD) said the Romani people moved into the building roughly 14 days ago and that the town hall will be calling on the operator of the building to put it in order. The mayor says the part of the restaurant which previously featured a bowling alley has been licensed for occupancy.

Vilímek said the Romani people now in the restaurant moved there from properties on Jana Karafiáta street in Čáslav, on Čáslavská street in the town of Kutná Hora, and from the villages of Neškaredice, Třebešice and Vrdy. They showed their rental contracts for the property to the police officers.