Petition against declaration by Czech mayors' group distributed through internet

In response to Monday’s declaration by a group of mayors meeting in Nový Bydžov, a petition is now being distributed through the internet calling on the Government of the Czech Republic not to support the declaration’s segregationist proposals. According to one of the initiators of the petition, Miroslav Kováč, implementing the proposals would push part of the population into even greater social isolation.

“If these proposals were to be anchored into legislation, many people would find themselves in even greater social isolation. This could then lead to a rise in crime and then to other unrest,” Kováč told news server Romea.cz.

“We, the Roma and citizens living in the Czech Republic are offended by the idea of the decision-making power of the state being transferred to towns and municipalities. The rights of the Constitution must be guaranteed to all citizens of this country regardless of our differences,” the petition says.

The initiators of the petition are opposed to “the legislative anchoring of the option to subject the benefit ofaid to those in material distress to attachment as if it were income (preserving minimum support). People should not be subjected to further social isolation.” The next point stresses that they are against introducing the sanction of banning residency, as freedom of movement has been established as a principle throughout the EU.

In the petition, Iveta Bílková, Ladislav Bílý, Ondřej Giňa and Miroslav Kováč also protest against the anchoring into legislation of the option of canceling welfare benefits. “We, the Roma and citizens, are fundamentally opposed to the government’s tolerance of the segregationist proposals made by some heads of cities and municipalities, such as the policy of pushing members of minority groups out of municipalities or to their peripheries. We demand that the laws, rights and freedoms be upheld for all citizens regardless of their gender, race, skin color, language, creed or religion, political or other beliefs, national or social background, ethnic or minority status, wealth, ancestry or any other status. Municipal governments cannot be the guarantors of what the state by its very nature is meant to guarantee,” the petition concludes.