Czech Republic: Equal Opportunities Party calls for return to "romipen" on 8 April

The Equal Opportunities Party (Strana rovných příležitostí – SRP) of the
Czech Republic is calling on Romani people to come together to formulate their
demands and see them through. News server Romea.cz publishes the party’s
declaration in full below:

Romani people, International Romani Day is an important part of your lives

8 April is traditionally considered International Romani Day. On this
occasion, we would like to recall what a significant event in Romani history
this day was and why Romani people worldwide consider this day to have been a
breakthrough.

After centuries of the Romani nation’s persecution and at a time when Romani
people were settled in many countries, they began to feel the need for self-identification,
the need to clearly and distinctly declare to the world the presence and the
unity of the Romani nation. That declaration took place at the first World
Romani Congress, which was held from 8 – 12 April 1971 in the English town of
Orpington.

Congress delegates decided on the final form of the Romani nation’s symbols (the
anthem and flag) and unambiguously identified themselves as members of the
Romani nation. An ancient Romanian song formed the basis of the anthem.

This was the time when the Romani people first publicly stated how the world
should refer to them and condemned the defamatory term “Gypsy” (in Czech,
“Cikán”). The meaning of this important self-identification event for Romani
people was confirmed by the United Nations at its assembly in 1977, eventually
resulting in the official registration of the International Romani Union with
the NGO section at the United Nations in March 1979.

Since that time, the dynamics of Romani emancipation have taken on a more
intensive dimension. This is why we should now perceive International Romani Day
as an important event, that of “Romani National Unification Day”.

The Equal Opportunities Party is aware that since 8 April 1971, the idea and
the message of that first congress has become seriously deformed. We are
therefore turning to the Romani people with the following challenge: Romani
people, let’s unite under the Romani flag!

Let’s formulate our demands and see them through as one man! Let’s return to
romipen!

We must realize that the time for hesitation is over. Today politicians are
busy shaping decrees, edicts and laws that have but a single aim: To disqualify
us from our rightful position in society.