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European Parliament to debate Roma expulsions
Strasbourgh, 7.9.2010, 13:01, (ROMEA) The situation of the Roma people in Europe will be debated by Members of the European Parliament on Tuesday at 1500 (7 September). More than 8000 Roma have been expelled from France to Romania and Bulgaria since January. The issue have stirred debate on the limits of freedom of movement and protection of fundamental rights within the European Union. MEPs will assess whether the return of Roma people this summer from France breached EU rules.
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| Another attack on the Roma in Karviná, this time with an air rifle
Karviná, 1.4.2010, 21:09, (ROMEA) Earlier this week, four assailants shot an air rifle at Roma in the town of Karviná, hitting a nine-year-old girl in the thigh, her mother in the arm, and their neighbor, an ethnic Czech man, in the collarbone. The man was not meant to be a target of the attack but was hit accidentally when the Romani woman managed to evade one of the shots.
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| Czech and German NGOs plan to focus on the victims of violent hate crime
Prague, 6.11.2009, 11:11, (ROMEA) Several Czech and German NGOs involved in the “Hate Crime – Forgotten Victims” project plan to map the situation of victims of violent hate crime in the Czech Republic. Speaking at a press conference yesterday, NGO representatives told journalists there is a lack of statistics on the number of victims and the kinds of violence they encounter. Victims include not only the Roma, but foreigners, homosexuals and those involved in alternative cultures.
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| More than 600 people protest in ĂšstĂ nad Labem against neo-Nazis, children gassed in Lidice also "turn their backs" on them
Usti nad Labem, 16.4.2009, 15:03, (ROMEA) Opponents of the neo-Nazis held a concert today to protest a march being convened on Saturday by the Autonomous Nationalist movement in ĂšstĂ nad Labem. More than 600 people gathered on MĂrovĂ© námÄ›stĂ. The organizers planned the high point of the evening to be a performance by the band PraĹľskĂ˝ vĂ˝bÄ›r, fronted by outgoing Czech Human Rights and Minorities Minister Michael Kocáb.
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| EU criticized at first European Roma summit
Brussels, 17.9.2008, 10:10, (AP) The European Union called Tuesday for a continentwide drive to improve the plight of millions of Gypsies, also called Roma, who face discrimination and poverty.
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CoE Human Rights Commissioner says anti-Roma rhetoric comparable to Nazis’
Strasbourg, 9.9.2010, 10:10, (ROMEA)
AFP reports that Council of Europe Human Rights Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg has compared the current “anti-Roma political rhetoric” to the kinds of statements used in the past by Nazis and Fascists. French diplomats have indicated they will be demanding an explanation from Hammarberg.
full story | Opinion: Czech Agency not interested in employing educated Roma
Prague, 8.9.2010, 11:11, (ROMEA)
The majority society in the Czech Republic often accuses Roma of being unwilling to educate themselves as well as being unwilling to work. Both experts on the Roma issue and politicians perceive education as a determining factor for Roma and the starting point for improving their social position in Czech society, often elevating the significance of education above other aspects of Roma integration such as employment or housing.
full story | Czech Foreign Minister speaks with advisor to Sarkozy about the Roma
Paris, 6.9.2010, 18:06, (ROMEA)
During a meeting today at the Office of the French President, Czech Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg explained his position on the Roma issue and the repatriation of Roma to the Balkans from France, an event he recently said gave him the impression of racism. On a working visit to Paris he met with Sarkozy’s foreign policy advisor Jean-David Levitte. Nuclear energy was also discussed.
full story | French minister defends Roma policy at immigration meeting
Paris, 6.9.2010, 16:04, (Earth Times)
French Immigration Minister Eric Besson again defended his country's much-criticized repatriation of Roma, denying Monday that the ethnic group had suffered mass expulsions.
"There have been no mass expulsions of Roma," Besson said at a seminar on illegal immigration held in Paris with representatives from six European Union countries and Canada.
full story | VĂtkov arson trial enters its final phase, but press can’t hear wiretap evidence
Ostrava, 6.9.2010, 08:08, (ROMEA)
 Now that the summer break is over, the second half of the VĂtkov arson trial has begun. The senate of judges led by Miloslav StudniÄŤka has begun once again to handle the charges of racially motivated attempted murder against four young men from the Opava district: David VaculĂk, JaromĂr Lukeš, Ivo MĂĽller and Václav Cojocaru. They are charged with having thrown three Molotov cocktails into the home of an eight-member Roma family last April, lightly injuring two adults and seriously maiming an infant, Natálie Kudriková. The little girl suffered burns over almost 80 % of her body and will live with the permanent consequences of these injuries for the rest of her life in the form of scars, contracted Achilles’ tendons, and missing fingers.
full story | LitvĂnov Vice-Mayor: Roma from Slovakia are a security risk, send them back
LitvĂnov, 5.9.2010, 08:08, (ROMEA)
Several more Roma families from Slovakia have begun renting private apartments at the Janov housing estate in LitvĂnov. The town hall is alarmed by the situation and intends to address it without delay. “We consider Slovak Roma families a security risk, so we will treat them as one. We are seeking a way to return Slovak Roma back to their homeland,” Vice-Mayor Martin Klika announced in a press release.
full story | France protests against security crackdown
Paris, 5.9.2010, 00:12, (AFP)
 Tens of thousands protested in cities across France Saturday against a government law and order crackdown that has targeted Roma gypsies, as smaller demonstrations took place in European capitals.
full story | Some 100 people participate in Roma rights demonstration outside French embassy in Brussels
Brussels, 4.9.2010, 17:05, (FOCUS)
Some 100 people are participating in the Roma rights demonstration outside the French embassy in Brussels held by the international human rights organization European Network against Racism. The organization has announced more protests in European cities, Bulgarian National Radio reports.
full story | Czech Decade Ambassador Holomek: Impotent democracies and the Roma
Brno, 4.9.2010, 10:10, (Lidové noviny)
The deportations of Roma – most recently, once again, from France – are proof of how fragile the democracies of various societies in Europe actually are, how they founder at the first sign of a more serious problem. Are the Roma, once again, the cause of this? Without their realizing it, the Roma are becoming a touchstone for how these democracies operate - including the traditional ones. The Roma hold a mirror up to these societies, revealing to their members what they really look like. This should be appreciated rather than censured. History will certainly appreciate it!
full story | Protests against Roma expulsions held in France
Paris, 4.9.2010, 16:04, (BBC)
Demonstrators have been gathering in Paris and other French cities to protest against the government's policy of deporting Roma people.
Early turnout in Paris was lower than expected, with riot police appearing to outnumber the mainly African illegal immigrant protesters.
full story | Reding on Roma: The Committed Commissioner
Budapest, 4.9.2010, 12:12, (OSI)
The statement by Viviane Reding, the European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, on the situation of Roma in Europe is to be welcomed for its unequivocal and forthright commitment to Roma inclusion. It is a firm and eloquent rebuttal to criticisms that the Commission has remained silent in the wake of the crisis prompted by the actions taken against Roma by the French government. Her personal expression of regret that some of the rhetoric used in Member States of late has been "openly discriminatory and partly inflammatory" is a reminder of just how pervasive anti-Roma sentiment remains in Europe.
full story | Mass demonstrations against Roma expulsions across France
Paris, 4.9.2010, 12:12, (RFI)
A day of action is planned across France Saturday to protest against the French government's security policy and recent expulsions of Roma gypsies. A collective of 130 organisations, political parties and trade unions are calling for demonstrations against "xenophobia" and "the politics of pillory".
full story | Czech ministers want to speak with Roma about truancy
LitvĂnov, 3.9.2010, 10:10, (ROMEA)
LidovĂ© noviny (LN) reports that Roma families living in North Bohemia will receive an unusual visit on Monday afternoon. Czech Labor and Social Affairs Minister JaromĂr Drábek (TOP 09) and Czech Education Minister Josef Dobeš (VV) will travel to the region together with Czech Human Rights Commissioner Michael Kocáb to explain why welfare benefits depend on children’s school attendance.
full story | European far-right defends Sarkozy’s Roma policy
Paris, 3.9.2010, 11:11, (Euroactiv)
Lawmakers from the far-right were the only ones to defend French President Nicolas Sarkozy's tough policies towards the Roma during a debate in the European Parliament yesterday (2 September).
full story | Killing Spree in Slovakia Taps Into a Troubled Vein
Bratislava, 3.9.2010, 11:11, (New York Times)
As Slovakia held a day of mourning Thursday to honor the victims of Monday’s violent rampage in the Slovak capital, Bratislava, a picture began to emerge of the killer, an unemployed loner who the police said had participated in shooting contests and may have harbored resentment against his Roma victims.
full story | Polish Greens protest French Roma expulsions
Warsaw, 3.9.2010, 11:11, (Polskie Radio)
A dozen or so people staged a picket in front of the French Embassy in Warsaw, Thursday, against the forced expulsions of Roma from France.
full story | Over 30 gypsies from Romania, on the verge of expulsion
Madrid, 3.9.2010, 11:11, (HotNews.ro)
Over 30 gypsies from Romania living in illegal camps in Madrid's outskirts might be expelled if their penal files, opened by the local police, are considered. They are felons with plenty of convictions and live in harsh condition in El Gallinero, transformed into a no man's land. Gypsies come either from Braila or Tandarei, a village dominated by gypsies in Romania.
full story | Gypsies afraid over violent 'gang attacks'
UK, 3.9.2010, 11:11, (BBC)
Reports of violent gang attacks are spreading fear in some of Britain's traveller communities.
They include claims of groups of around 20 Polish and Irish men, all armed, attacking travellers, as well as stories of children being abducted and held hostage in return for money and jewellery.
full story | Holomek may resign as Czech Decade Ambassador over Joch’s appointment
Brno/Prague, 2.9.2010, 18:06, (ROMEA)
 Karel Holomek is considering resigning from his post as Honorary Ambassador for the Czech presidency of the international Decade of Roma Inclusion initiative. Roman Joch, the Czech PM’s choice of human rights advisor, is the reason. Holomek sent a letter to Nečas a few days ago saying “it’s either me or Joch”, Lidové noviny (LN) reports.
full story | Czech Human Rights Commissioner: I will not play the forced resignation game
Prague, 2.9.2010, 17:05, (ROMEA)
Yesterday afternoon I met with Prime Minister Petr Nečas. I expected our meeting would result in at least a basic sketch of the future operations and existence of the Human Rights Section (Sekce pro lidská práva - SLP) at the Office of the Government. At the start of the meeting the Premier thanked me for all the good I have done for the protection of human rights in the Czech Republic and asked me to resign as of either 15 or 30 September. He did not justify his suggestion with reference to any incompetence on my part, nor did he refer to any basic differences in our concepts of human rights protection, but said he had plans to restructure the SLP with which he believed I would probably disagree. However, he also assured me that the post of Human Rights Commissioner would be preserved, as would the government advisory bodies in its portfolio (albeit with minor adjustments), and that he intended to continue with the “Agency” project and with the preparation of a Strategy for the Fight against Social Exclusion.
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