Czech Republic: Doubts as to whether woman's death was caused by Romani attack, DSSS to rally

The Czech town of Varnsdorf is expecting another march by promoters of the Workers’ Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti – DSSS), which wants to hold a rally at the bus station on 29 January, followed by a march. Petr Kotáb, the party’s leader in North Bohemia, announced the event to the Czech Press Agency today.

A similar DSSS event on 10 September 2011 turned into an extensive street battle between right-wing extremists and police. Several hundred party promoters are preliminarily expected to travel to the Šluknov foothills for the event.

The rally has been convened because a woman from Varnsdorf passed away Tuesday. Her family members and police claim she was assaulted on New Year’s by Romani people. However, doubts are surfacing as to whether her death is related to the attack. Behind the scenes there has been discussion of the fact that she had been seriously ill for some time. The autopsy should determine more information, and the Czech Press Agency says it should take place either today or tomorrow.

The DSSS leadership today advised the town leadership that it would be occupying the space at the bus station starting at 9 AM on the 29th. The town has three days to decide what to do about the announcement. The location does not seem a good idea to them. “A demonstration somewhat conflicts with the use of the station, so there will probably be the need to talk about another possible solution with them,” town spokesperson Romana Macová told the Czech Press Agency. The space on neighboring Edvard Beneš Square has already been taken by the “Citizens for the Town, Town for the Citizens” movement (Občané městu, město občanům). Pavel Vaňáč, the local chair of the movement, refused yesterday to let the DSSS use the space instead.

The DSSS intensified its anti-Romani rhetoric after the woman passed away. “This event is primarily motivated by the continual growth in gypsy violence, which has not been addressed despite government promises,” Kotáb told the Czech Press Agency. He said the party plans to march on problematic localities in the town.

Hard-core DSSS supporters numbering between 100 and 200 people have recently traveled from all over the Czech Republic to attend the party’s events. Dissatisfied locals often join them as well.