Czech Republic: Crisis Committee launches petition for Museum of Roma Culture

The Museum of Roma Culture in the Czech Republic is facing the threat of a possible merger with the Moravian Museum as a result of the first phase of savings measures approved by the Czech Government at its 16 January cabinet session. Disagreement with this plan has been expressed by the Czech Government Inter-ministerial Commission for Roma Community Affairs, the Romani Crisis Committee, and many individuals. The Romani Crisis Committee has set up a petition addressed to the Czech Culture Minister and Czech Prime Minister, “For the Museum of Roma Culture” (Za Muzeum romské kultury), expressing disagreement with this merger.

The proposed savings measures in the area of simplifying agendas and getting rid of duplication in the state administration for 2014 specifically mention the merger of these two institutions in order to ensure their thriftier operations. Another such merger is also proposed, that of the Puppetry Museum in Chrudim and the National Museum. These two mergers will supposedly save the state CZK 15 million.

The petition reads as follows:

For the Museum of Roma Culture

We, the undersigned, do not agree with a merger of the Museum of Roma Culture and the Moravian Museum in Brno. The merger of the two museums is one of the measures being proposed for savings measures to simplify agendas and get rid of duplication in the state administration for 2014, as part of the Resolution of the Government of the Czech Republic No. 37 of January 1 2013.

The Museum of Roma Culture has an irreplaceable role in presenting the culture and history of Romani people in international context. Furthermore, the Museum is also considered to be integral to the ethno-emancipation and to the integration of Romani people in the Czech Republic. The possible loss of the legal personality of the Museum of Roma Culture could mean inter alia limiting its educational and social activities. The educational and social activities of the Museum of Roma Culture, which is located in a socially excluded area, serve to enhance the inclusion of socially excluded Romani children into the Czech education system.

We therefore request the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic, as the deputy establisher of the Museum of Roma Culture, to thoroughly rethink and responsibly consider whether it is desirable that economic savings predominate over the moral and social reasons for the existence of the Museum of Roma Culture.

The petition will be open for signature until the end of April at

http://www.petice24.com/za_muzeum_romske_kultury_for_the_museum_of_roma_culture

Please cut and paste the address above into your browser to access the petition.

Please note: The signature page for this petition is in Czech only.

The following is a guide to what is being asked for on that page:

Křestní jméno = First name

Příjmení = Last name

Město = City

Stát = State

Emailová adresa = E-mail address

Zobrazit Váš podpis veřejně? = Would you like your signature made public?

Ano = Yes

Ne = No

Podepsat tuto petici = Sign this petition

After you sign the petition, you will receive an email in Czech asking you to confirm (potvrdit) your signature and a link to click on to confirm it.