Slovak Romanies plan demonstration against govt social policy

Romanies in southeast Slovakia prepare a demonstration this month to point to their bad social situation, Mikulas Horvath, one of the organisers, told reporters today, adding they expect up to 1500 people to take part in the protest.

"A total of 15,000 Romanies live in southeast Slovakia, 80 percent of whom are jobless," said Horvath, chairman of the United Romany Political Parties.

The social situation of Slovak Romanies has worsened since the current government of Robert Fico assumed office in the summer 2006, Horvath added.

Tens of thousands of Romanies in east Slovakia are living in miserable conditions. The worst situation is in dilapidated Romany settlements without electricity, pipeline and sewerage systems.

Low education of the Romanies from these localities prevents them from finding jobs.

Horvath said he did not expect the demonstration to turn into more extensive unrest, similar to that in east Slovakia in 2004 in reaction to considerable changes in the welfare system launched by the previous right-wing government.

Romanies then looted shops and staged public protests.

Horvath has not yet specified the exact place and time of the demonstration in which Romanies from a number of towns and villages should take part. He said he feared the protest might be marred.