Czech Romanies want senator to leave post over her statements
Most regional Romany coordinators demand that Senator Liana Janackova (for Independents) leave her post of deputy chairwoman of the Senate human rights committee over her statements about Romanies, central Bohemian coordinator for Romany issues and foreigner integration Cyril Koky says in a letter sent to committee chairman Karel Bartak.
The letter is published on the Romanywww.romea.cz server.
Janackova, mayor of Ostrava’s Marianske Hory and Hulvaky neighbourhood, allegedly said last August: "Unfortunately, I am a racist, I disagree with the integration of Gypsies so that they would live across the area. Unfortunately, we have chosen the Bedriska (colony) and so they will stay there, with a high fence and with electricity."
The words appeared on the recording of a local housing committee meeting.
Janackova told CTK today that she saw no reason why she should yield to the pressure from Romany groups.
"I should naturally have not reacted in such a way, it is careless and it is silly. If I insulted or harmed any Romany from Marianske Hory I will personally apologise to him," she said.
Previously, Janackova questioned the authenticity of the recording and said that it was a political attack on her.
Later, she said on the Aktualne.cz server that another woman with the voice similar to hers pronounced the words.
Janackova conceded, however, that she did say that she had no place to move Romanies so she would rather take dynamite and blow them away.
Koky said that most Romany coordinators have been indignant at Janackova’s statements.
"To hear such awful words from a legislator is absolutely unacceptable to us," Koky said.
He described Janackova’s remaining in the post of the deputy chairwoman of the Senate committee that also deals with human rights issues as a "ridicule of the entire work of the committee."
The Romany coordinators have called on Bartak to investigate the matter thoroughly.
Bartak said Janackova should apologise to Romanies.
The SNK senators’ group of which Janackova is a member is to discuss the matter next Tuesday.
Romany activists, representatives of Romany organisations and human rights activists recently demanded the resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Jiri Cunek (Christian Democrats, KDU-CSL) over his statements about Romanies.
Cunek described Romanies as sun-tanned people who set up fires and make messes on the squares.
Cunek also said that Romanies were unwilling to work.