News server Romea.cz. Everything about Roma in one place

News server Romea.cz. Everything about Roma in one place

Resettled Czech Romanies still strive for return to Vsetin

22 October 2012
2 minute read

The Romanies who were relocated from the centre of Vsetin, north Moravia, last year to other municipalities in Moravia are still striving for the return to their original hometown, mayors of the villages where the Romanies live now confirmed to CTK today.

They said most of the Vsetin Romanies are not yet registered for permanent residence in their new settlements as they hope they would be able to return.

Several dozens of Romanies, mostly rent-defaulters, were relocated from Vsetin under then mayor Jiri Cunek, current deputy PM, senator and chairman of the junior ruling Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL). Some Romanies were moved from a dilapidated house in the Vsetin centre to a new house made of tin container-like flats on the town’s outskirts, while further families were resettled in dilapidated family houses in the Prostejov vicinity, south Moravia, and in the Jesenik area, north Moravia.

The police shelved the case, concluding that Cunek did not violate law by the Romanies’ resettlement.

However, the Romanies filed a complaint against the police decision so the case will be proceeded again.

A representative of the Roma Vidnava Romany association pointed out that the police procedure was at variance with the ombudsman’s opinion. He said the Vsetin Town Hall had violated the Romanies’ rights to respect for their family and private life.

Senators for the human rights committee supported the stance.

The Romea Romany association has already lodged a complaint against Cunek in connection with the relocation of Romanies from Vsetin, and it is considering further legal steps.

The Tulej Romany family, relocated to Cechy pod Kosirem, south Moravia, faces the worst situation since they are paying instalments for a family house that does not belong to them and the building office has decided to demolish it because of its very bad state. The final decision is to be made in early November.

The Tulejs have already asked the Vsetin Town Hall for a flat, but in vain, though the family has no debts with the town, Cechy pod Kosirem Mayor Zdenek Mader told CTK.

The situation in the Jesenik locality where some 50 Romanies from Vsetin live is similar. They, two, want to return to Vsetin.

They did not agree with the deportation from the town where they have their roots, families and relatives, Vaclav Zastera, Mayor of Vidnava, north Moravia, told CTK today.

"The families have filed an application for a flat in Vsetin. We will wait for the court decision," Zastera added.

At the same time, the Romanies in the Jesenik vicinity have already started reconstructing the family houses where they were resettled.

Help us share the news about Romas
Trending now icon