News

Czech activist: Threats to institutionalize ghetto children were made illegally

Ústí nad Labem, 9.3.2013 19:05, (ROMEA) According to the Konexe civic association, the situation in the Předlice quarter of Ústí nad Labem is deteriorating and the town is not doing anything about it. Miroslav Brož of Konexe harshly criticized the town leadership at a recent session of the town council, as well as the nonprofit organizations collaborating with the town. News server Romea.cz is publishing the speech he gave there on 7 March in full translation.  full story

Czech President Miloš Zeman wants to fight the mafia, neo-Nazis, and some media

Prague, 8.3.2013 23:52, (ROMEA) Miloš Zeman wants to fight against the mafia, neo-Nazis, and a large part of the media whom he believes are focused on "brainwashing" during his term as president. In his inaugural speech at Prague Castle he also offered his office as a neutral space for dialogue between organizations and political parties.  full story

New Czech film claims Romani youths did not assault man who shot them

Prague, 8.3.2013 17:55, (ROMEA) On Sunday 10 March at 20:00 CET, Czech Television will be broadcasting a documentary film by Vít Klusák and Filip Remunda, "Life and Death in Tanvald" (Život a smrt v Tanvaldu) on its ČT2 channel. Against the background of seeking to learn the truth about the scandalous killing of a young Romani man in the early morning hours of New Year's Day 2012, the documentary filmmakers show us a town riddled with intolerance and unemployment.  full story

Czech Republic: Trafficking in poverty on the rise, landlords cashing in

Most, Ostrava, 8.3.2013 0:24, (ROMEA) The number of people living in residential hotels in the Czech town of Ostrava is rising sharply. News server iDNES.cz reports that the owners of these facilities are making such good money that CZK 172 million in housing supplements flowed to Ostrava last year alone, double the amount previously allocated  full story

Czech town files suit against activist for allegedly spreading false information

Ústí nad Labem, 6.3.2013 22:02, (ROMEA) The town of Ústí nad Labem has published a list of the most seriously damaged buildings in the municipal departments of Krásné Březno and Předlice. According to the findings of the town hall's experts, no people are physically living in any of them.  full story

Demonstration in Bratislava: Roma reject welfare, want work

Bratislava, Slovakia, 6.3.2013 17:50, (ROMEA) The TASR press agency reports that about 70 Romani people gathered today in Bratislava in front of the headquarters of the Labor Ministry for a protest march organized by the extra-parliamentary Romani Union Party in Slovakia (Strana romské unie na Slovensku - SRÚS). Protesters demanded the government ensure them a dignified life and jobs.  full story

Czech teachers' lobby wins fight to keep "practical primary schools" open

Prague, 6.3.2013 16:52, (ROMEA) News server iDNES.cz reports that an influential teachers' lobbying group has pushed through amendments to the Government's "Strategy for the Fight against Social Exclusion", which originally proposed closing the "practical primary schools" in the Czech Republic by 2015. The Czech Education Ministry is not counting on closing these facilities in the immediate future, as it says mainstream primary schools are not prepared for children with special needs.  full story

German legislator: Balkan Romani "tramps" are coming to fill their bellies

Bremen, 5.3.2013 22:33, (ROMEA) The Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Bremen, Germany has a serious problem. Party member Martin Korol, who has been a member of the state legislature for less than a month (since 12 February) has published an attack against Romani people on his website, describing them as "tramps" from the Balkans whom he believes are coming to Bremen for the sole purpose of "filling their bellies".  full story

Lech Walesa wants sexual minorities back in the closet

Warsaw, 5.3.2013 17:16, (ROMEA) Former Polish President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Lech Walesa has taken a stand against sexual minorities. Same-sex marriage is being debated in Poland, and on a television program last Friday evening Walesa let it be known, among other things, that he is bothered by members of sexual minorities being represented among Polish MPs.  full story

Der Spiegel: Germany doesn't want Romani people in Schengen

Berlin, 5.3.2013 16:21, (ROMEA) The latest issue of Der Spiegel magazine reports that while no one in the German government has ever officially stated the policy (and probably never will), it is completely evident whom it targets: Germany has been rattled by the immigration of Romani people from Bulgaria and Romania, which is why it doesn't want to open its doors to citizens from the two poorest states on Europe's border.  full story

Czech Republic: A day in the Předlice ghetto

Ústí nad Labem, 5.3.2013 15:19, (ROMEA) The following article, presented here by Romea.cz in full translation, was first published by Penize.cz with photographs at http://www.penize.cz/socialni-davky/250849-reportaz-z-okraje-predlice-bida-zita-az-na-dren  full story

Greece: Neo-Nazi agitators focusing on six-year-olds

Greece, 4.3.2013 23:53, (ROMEA) Czech news server Týden.cz reports that the ultra-right Golden Dawn Party in Greece is now targeting children between six and 10 years of age. The party's main aim is to provide the children with a "spiritual awakening".  full story

Slovak PM rejects response to his criticism of national minorities

Bratislava, Slovakia, 4.3.2013 23:10, (ROMEA) Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico defended himself today against criticisms prompted by his recent statement about "extortion" of the state by national minorities. In an interview for the newspaper Új Szó, he said his words had not been understood correctly .  full story

Czech NGO: Information on next wave of evictions in Ústí being suppressed

Ústí nad Labem, 2.3.2013 0:45, (ROMEA) The Konexe civic association has issued a press release warning of the alleged existence of a list of five buildings in the Předlice quarter of Ústí nad Labem whose occupants are to be evacuated just as others recently were from a building on Beneše Lounského street there. "The working group that managed the eviction of building no. 106 continues to meet on this problem and is discussing further evictions at its sessions as well as the fate of the Předlice ghetto in general. Neither the Romani people being discussed nor the public as a whole are being informed as to the content of these discussions or that they are even taking place," reads the press release, which is below in full translation.  full story

ROMEA joins declaration of solidarity with Syrian civilians

Prague, 1.3.2013 23:25, (ROMEA) The ROMEA association has joined an initiative expressing solidarity with civilians in Syria afflicted by the armed conflict that has been ongoing there for some time. Through its declarations (an open letter and a petition) the initiative is calling on Czech politicians, the European Union and the United Nations to open cross-border corridors for humanitarian aid, mainly from Turkey. Today aid is primarily not reaching the people living in northern Syria on territory in the hands of the opposition. Below please find the full translation of the declaration:  full story

Slovakia: Police raid extremists

Bratislava, Slovakia, 1.3.2013 22:35, (ROMEA) News server Aktuálně.sk reports that the Slovak Police have performed several house searches around the country during which they confiscated electronic equipment and extremist-themed clothing. Ten people have now been charged.


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Nine families still at risk of eviction and homelessness in Ostrava

Ostrava, 1.3.2013 17:21, (ROMEA) News server iDNES.cz reports that people living in the residential hotel on Božkova street in Ostrava now have only three months in which to find new homes. The municipal department of Moravská Ostrava a Přívoz will be closing it at the end of May and will not be offering the tenants substitute accommodation, but the nine families have nowhere to go. As news server Romea.cz reported 14 days ago, they have no money and are at risk of ending up on the street.  full story

Valeriu Nicolae: Incentives to stimulate NGOs and governments to effectively address social inclusion

Sofia, 1.3.2013 16:47, (ROMEA) Before we can even start to look at incentives, we need to consider the people responsible for setting up incentives. While the most effective incentives differ from case to case, many of the basic requirements for those in charge of finding incentives are the same: hands-on and academic experience, a high level of trust within the targeted communities, empathy, and great communication skills. Other essential skills are the ability to adapt and respond quickly to rising challenges, critical thinking, and the ability to accept and learn from inherent failures.  full story

Slovak PM heavily criticized for his comments about minorities

Bratislava, Slovakia, 28.2.2013 23:48, (ROMEA) Representatives of the European People's Party and the socialist faction at the EP, as well as representatives of national minorities in Slovakia, are criticizing Slovak PM Robert Fico for saying that minorities in his country are trying to extort the state through minority rights. Fico said yesterday that ethnic minorities, minority opinion-holders and national minorities are looking for handouts while refusing to meet their obligations to the state. He insisted that these practices must change and that Slovaks did not establish an independent state in order to privilege minorities.  full story

Commentary: Hate is just around the corner in Europe

Uppsala, Sweden, 28.2.2013 22:15, (ROMEA) They say 2013 is the year when the euro crisis will resolve after hitting rock bottom and everything will start to get better. We hope so, but we can only say this about some parts of Europe. In Spain we have six million unemployed and in Greece there is no light at the end of the tunnel.  full story