Czech Romanies considering steps against deputy PM Cunek

The Romea Romany group is considering taking further legal steps against Deputy Prime Minister Jiri Cunek (junior coalition Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL), former mayor of Vsetin, south Moravia, Romea executive director Zdenek Rysavy told CTK today.

Romea lodged a criminal complaint against Cunek for having had some Romany families evicted last October, when he was Vsetin mayor.
However, the police have recently halted investigation into the case saying Cunek did not violate any law.

The Vsetin Town Hall evicted some Romany families from a ramshackle house to container-like flats in the suburb of the town and to dilapidated houses in other municipalities last October.

This was criticised by Romany organisations as well as human rights advocates.

Romea now wants to hold talks with the other organisations and individuals that filed the criminal complaint against Cunek together and decide on taking further legal steps against Cunek.

"We have only received a three-line statement saying that the investigation into the case was halted. We have not received the text of the decision and we are asking for it. Then we will decide on what further steps we will take," Rysavy said.

The case was also dealt with by Ombudsman Otakar Motejl. He concluded that the Cunek-led Vsetin Town Hall made a mistake and breached the Romanies’ rights to family and private life.

Cunek was also under investigation over suspicion of having accepted half-a-million-crown bribe as Vsetin mayor. The state attorney halted the investigation in August.