Czech town hall against Romany activists in Litvinov

Litvinov does not want to resolve the problems in the housing estate Janov, with a large Romany population, with the help of Czech Romany activists, Deputy Mayor Martin Klika (Social Democrats, CSSD) told CTK today.

In order to increase security in the area, the town hall wants to hire five municipal police and ten field workers to be selected in a search, Klika said, adding that they should fulfil all prerequisites including education.

"It is impossible for Janov to have any vigilante patrols from the local Romanies that would be paid by the state through the job office or the town hall," Klika said.

"A similar model exists at the Chanov housing estate [also largely inhabited by Romanies], but I disagree with this. Public security is an affair of the state or municipal police. If a Romany fulfils the recruitment conditions, it is no problem to hire him. We have Romanies among the police and we are satisfied with them," Klika said.

Klika said there were Romany women among the applicants for field social work in Janov.

"They have the required qualification and experiences," he added.

Demonstrations organised by far-right radicals provoked unrest in Litvinov, North Bohemia. The extremists marched towards the Janov housing estate on October 4 and 18 and on November 17. The latest march developed into sharp clashes with the police during which 16 people were injured.

However, some locals voiced solidarity with the marchers as they resent what they call "unadaptable" behaviour of the local Romanies.

Last week, Minorities and Human Rights Minister Dzamila Stehlikova (Greens) promised financial support for the recruitment of new police and field social workers.

She also proposed that the government place the Janov housing estate among the excluded localities. This should allow easier access to state funds for projects for field social work and prevention of crime.