Czech Republic

Czech Republic: Protest this Saturday over alleged problems at housing estate in České Budějovice

České Budějovice, 26.6.2013 22:37, (ROMEA) Yet another effort to draw publicity to the tribulations of ordinary coexistence is now underway with the scheduling of a public assembly this coming Saturday in České Budějovice. Those convening the demonstration want to draw attention to alleged problems at the Máj housing estate there, specifically to alleged difficulties in coexistence with members of the community of socially vulnerable people living at the housing estate, most of whom are Romani.  full story

George Soros Welcomes EU Action to Promote Roma Inclusion

Brussels, 26.6.2013 22:32, (ROMEA) Today the European Union announced important measures to promote Roma inclusion across Europe. The Open Society Foundations praised the proposals, which focus on ending widespread disparities in education, employment, health, and housing, and call on member states to devote more money to Roma integration.  full story

AI petition asking EU to halt discrimination of Roma gets almost 100 000 signatures

Brussels/Prague, 26.6.2013 17:42, (ROMEA) Almost 100 000 people from around the world have signed a petition by Amnesty International (AI) supporting the rights of Romani people in the European Union. The AI document calls on the European Commission to halt discrimination against Romani people in Europe and force the Member States to uphold EU anti-discrimination law. The Commission is preparing to publish a report on the integration of Roma today.  full story

Governor of Ústí Region condemns violence, says Czech Government should address social exclusion

Teplice, 25.6.2013 17:29, (ROMEA) Governor of the Ústí Region Oldřich Bubeníček has condemned the violent course of Saturday's demonstration by the Workers' Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti - DSSS) in Duchcov, during which several people were injured. Czech Police successfully prevented any direct clashes between the right-wing extremists and members of the Romani minority there.  full story

Czech Republic: Famous Romani artist Rudolf Dzurko passes away

Prague, 25.6.2013 3:33, (ROMEA) After a long and difficult illness, the famous Romani artist Rudolf Dzurko passed away on Sunday, 23 June shortly before his 72nd birthday. His creations were primarily characterized by his original pictures made from ground glass.  full story

Czech Republic: Police arrest 22 after clash with ultra-right extremists in Duchcov

Duchcov, 25.6.2013 2:54, (ROMEA) In the town of Duchcov (Teplice district) a rally by the Workers' Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti - DSSS) this past weekend deteriorated into street clashes with police officers. Aggressive neo-Nazis assaulted police and threw bottles and rocks. Police used firecrackers, tear gas and water cannon.  full story

Czech Republic: Children's squabble in České Budějovice becomes tussle between adults

České Budějovice, 24.6.2013 22:38, (ROMEA) On Friday, 21 June some children got into a wrestling match at the Máj housing estate in České Budějovice. Adults then joined the skirmish and two people ended up in hospital with abrasions.  full story

Czech Republic: "White" aggressor brutally beats up two Romani women, one of them disabled, in the Šluknov foothills

Mikulášovice u Rumburku, 24.6.2013 17:49, (ROMEA) Sisters Božena and Marcela Demeterová paid a cruel price for going to a restaurant last Friday evening in the town of Mikulášovice not far from Rumburk in the Šluknov foothills. The pair were slowly heading home when they were brutally assaulted outside by a young "white" man. Robert Ferenc of the Čačipen association in Krásná Lípa brought the case to the attention of news server Romea.cz.  full story

Czech President, after Duchcov, says fiercer action needed against any manifestations of neo-Nazism

Lány, 24.6.2013 6:15, (ROMEA) Czech President Miloš Zeman said today that he saw in Saturday's violent spree by neo-Nazis in Duchcov the confirmation of his previous prognosis about a dangerous upswing in neo-Nazism in the Czech Republic. The president warned of the dangers of neo-Nazis both in his inaugural speech and in a speech given last week at the Lidice commemoration.  full story

videoCzech Republic: Injuries after DSSS provokes street warfare in Duchcov, police use tear gas and water cannon

Duchcov, 22.6.2013 19:34, (ROMEA) In the Czech town of Duchcov (Teplice district) the first clashes have taken place between riot police and promoters of the Workers Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti - DSSS). Bottles and rocks were thrown and police used firecrackers, tear gas and water cannon. Police have confirmed two officers injured, but others have sustained bloody cuts. A photographer was struck in the head with a rock and a woman also suffered injuries. The right-wing radical event completely lost any sort of organized progression.  full story

Czech Green Party: Neo-Nazi DSSS wants to stir up ethnic hatred in Duchcov

Prague, 22.6.2013 3:37, (ROMEA) The Czech Green Party supports the upcoming "Čikhatar het / Z bahna ven!," (Out of the Mud!) assembly which aims to reduce passions and tension in the town of Duchcov but warns against efforts by the Workers' Social Justice Party to once again stir up ethnic hatred among local residents, according to a press release. News server Romea.cz publishes that statement below in full translation.  full story

Czech Television: Social networking sites buzzing before neo-Nazi march in Duchcov tomorrow

Prague, 21.6.2013 22:23, (ROMEA) Czech Television reports that right-wing extremists using Facebook in the Czech Republic have sprung to life over the past few days: News has been rapidly spreading about an alleged assault by Romani people at the Krásné Březno housing estate in Ústí nad Labem on a 16-year-old youth. While the case does exist, police are not issuing any information about it for the time being.  full story

Commentary: Absurdly low sentences for murderous hunt for Roma in Czech Republic

Prague, 20.6.2013 18:44, (ROMEA) A new wave of open antigypsyism has recently resurfaced in the Czech Republic, one of several in this country's recent history. Both poverty and unemployment are contributing factors to it.  full story

Czech Republic: Media blow yet another incident of interethnic violence out of proportion

Prague, 20.6.2013 1:06, (ROMEA) According to reports by some Czech media outlets and the responses to them in online discussions, it might seem as if multiple murders had just been committed in the Krásné Březno quarter of Ústí nad Labem. However, according to reporting by TV Nova (which is otherwise normally known for its sensationalism) the incident at issue was actually a blow to the head with some sort of object, causing an injury that was treated with one stitch.  full story

Czech Republic: Neo-Nazi march vs. cultural assembly this weekend in Duchcov

Duchcov/Prague/Ústí nad Labem, 19.6.2013 22:34, (ROMEA) On Saturday 22 June an assembly and cultural program called "Čhikatar het/Z bahna ven" ("Out of the Mud") will take place in the North Bohemian town of Duchcov. The purpose of the assembly is to improve relations between neighbors in the town and to support the local community. The Workers' Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti - DSSS) has announced an anti-Roma gathering and march on that same day in Duchcov.  full story

Analysis: How to produce hate, or, Roma, the Czech floods, and the YMCA

Prague, 19.6.2013 20:43, (ROMEA) Unfortunately, a common thread running through the Czech media scene today is incitement to hatred against Romani people with the aid of "correctly" phrased disinformation, half-truths, and lies. This is no longer just the province of neo-Nazis and other extremists. Growing numbers of ordinary citizens, including some "journalists", are involved in this as well.  full story

Czech Govt to take up bill to establish central misdemeanor registry

Prague, 18.6.2013 17:19, (ROMEA) The Czech state could potentially establish a central registry for some misdemeanors so that recidivist perpetrators of those offenses can be punished more severely. That is the presumption of a draft amendment to the law on misdemeanors and other norms which the Czech Government is scheduled to review tomorrow.  full story

Czech Republic: Teplice residents say police there don't solve crimes with Romani victims

Teplice, 17.6.2013 18:05, (ROMEA) The main complaint being made by the Romani people who gathered in Teplice last Friday relates to the police and the fact that they do not take action in cases where Romani people are victims of crime. The recent murder of Ivan Jarka there was, in the view of the Romani community, a racist one.  full story

Czech President: Behind the slogan "Bohemia for the Czechs" I hear the Nazi cry of "Juden raus"!

Lidice, 15.6.2013 23:00, (ROMEA) Czech President Miloš Zeman warned against Nazism at today's ceremony marking the 71st anniversary of the annihilation of Lidice by Nazi soldiers. In his view, that ideology is still present in society today, albeit in embryonic form.  full story

Czech town's security survey attests long-held stereotypical attitides of mistrust toward Roma

Frýdek-Místek , 15.6.2013 19:29, (ROMEA) The official website of the Czech municipality of Frýdek-Místek reports that the Department of Security Risks and Crime Prevention at the Frýdek-Místek town hall conducted a survey of residents at the start of this year about security in the town. The aim of the survey was to determine what and whom citizens are most concerned about in order to most effectively design and implement crime prevention projects to increase security in the town and make citizens feel safer.  full story