Czech Romanies file complaint against deputy prime minister

Fourteen Romany organisations and 100 individuals have filed a criminal complaint against Czech Deputy Prime Minister Jiri Cunek (Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL) for his statements that Romanies believe defame them, chairwoman of the Athinganoi group Monika Mihalickova told CTK today.

By his statement that if a person in the Czech Republic wants to receive state support he or she "should get sunburnt, make a mess with their family and put up fires on the squares," Cunek could have instigated hatred towards the Romany minority and limit their rights and freedoms, she said.

Previously Cunek said that he meant his words to address politicians and not Romanies.

"We firmly believe that someone will seriously deal with the case. A criminal complaint is one of a few opportunities that we, as citizens of this country, have to demand justice," Mihalickova, who is also deputy chairwoman of the government’s council for Romany issues, said.

Cunek told CTK today that Romany organisations and individuals had a right to file a criminal complaint.

"Everyone can file a complaint if he believes that a crime was committed," Cunek said without elaborating.

Romany lawyer Martin Conka who filed the complaint pointed out that extremists hailed Cunek for his statements and said that Cunek was the only politician who is not afraid to express his views on Romanies and accompany them with deeds.

For months, Cunek has faced criticism for his decision, in his former capacity as mayor of Vsetin, north Moravia, to evict dozens of Romany families from a dilapidating house to container-like flats on the town outskirts and some even to other Moravian regions.

According to the complaint, by his statements Cunek could have committed a crime of the defamation of a nation, an ethnic group, a race and a faith and endanger one of the fundamental human rights – equality irrespective of ethnic origin, and the ban on discrimination.

Police suspect Cunek, who is also Local Development Minister and senator, of having accepted a 500,000-crown bribe in 2002 when he was mayor of Vsetin.

Although Romany activists, the opposition and the junior governing Green Party want him to leave the government he has pleaded not guilty and refused to step down from the government posts.

Two months ago the Senate stripped Cunek of parliamentary immunity to allow his criminal prosecution.