Czech state may not be able to buy Lety pig farm - minister

The Czech state will probably not be able to buy out the pig farm in Lety, south Bohemia, built on the premises of the wartime internment camp for Czech Romanies, since it is overpriced multiple times, but a foundation might finance the purchase, Minister Dzamila Stehlikova (Greens), in charge of minorities and human rights, told CTK today.

Stehlikova added that the government cannot spend tax-payers’ money on the farm since its price is exorbitant. But she at the same time added that the farm’s owner had the right to set a high price on his property.

Stehlikova stressed that a mistake had been made in this case in 1992 already when the originally state pig farm had been privatised.

The state negotiated with the AGPI company, owning the pig farm complex, in the past, most recently in 2005, but in vain.

According to estimates, the price demanded for the premises could amount to one billion crowns, which is inadequately high, but no concrete sum has been released yet.

According to historical documents, some 1,308 Romanies were deported to Lety during WW2, while 326 people perished there and more than 500 of its inmates ended up in the extermination camp in Oswiecim (Auschwitz).

Romany activists have in the long run demanded that the pig farm in Lety be removed. They point out that it defames the victims’ memory. At the end of January, the activists asked the U.N. for support in this case.

The EP called on the Czech Republic to remove the pig farm two years ago.

Stehlikova said that the case must be first discussed in a working group including representatives of particular ministries and its proposal would be submitted to the Government Council for Romany Issues. The council will then present its stance to the cabinet.