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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.
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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 Ústí 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 Ústí nad Labem. More than 600 people gathered on Mírové náměstí. The organizers planned the high point of the evening to be a performance by the band Pražský výběr, 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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Czech ministers want to speak with Roma about truancy
Litvínov, 3.9.2010, 10:10, (ROMEA)
Lidové noviny (LN) reports that Roma families living in North Bohemia will receive an unusual visit on Monday afternoon. Czech Labor and Social Affairs Minister Jaromír 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 | 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.
full story | Slovak government urged to end segregation for Romani children
Bratislava, 2.9.2010, 22:10, (ROMEA)
Amnesty International has urged the Slovak government to immediately end the segregation of Romani children in the country's education system.
This practice leaves thousands of Romani pupils in substandard education in schools and classes for pupils with "mild mental disabilities" or ethnically segregated mainstream schools and classes.
full story | ENAR organises EU-wide protest against France’s xenophobic policies
Brussels, 2.9.2010, 22:10, (ROMEA)
Following recent developments in France targeting and stigmatizing migrants and especially the Roma population in the name of ‘security and public order’, the European Network Against Racism (ENAR) is launching a coordinated response to protest against France’s xenophobic policies.
full story | EU presses France on Roma deportations
Brussels, 2.9.2010, 22:10, (BBC)
The European Commission has criticised France over its expulsions of Roma (Gypsies) and has requested more information about the crackdown.
full story | French National Court Rejects Government Order of Roma’s Deportation
Paris, 2.9.2010, 22:10, (French Tribune)
Defying the intentions of the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy, to 'dismantle' the gypsy camps, the national court declared a decision on Tuesday that blocked the deportation of the 7 gypsies to Brazil or Romania. These gypsies have been taken out of their houses, as the Government labeled them 'illegal'.
full story | The European Commissionand Parliament must intervene immediately; Roma cannot be used asscapegoats anymore.
Brussels, 2.9.2010, 22:10, (ROMEA)
Roma are considered as the main reason for insecurity in several European countries. By putting them in the news, the government makes them responsible for economic and social difficulties, for austerity measures happening in these countries and makes them hostages of political higher bids.
full story | Czech PM will not meet with Human Rights Commissioner, wants him to resign
Uherské Hradiště, 2.9.2010, 10:10, (ROMEA)
 Speaking today in Uherské Hradiště, Czech PM Nečas repeated the message that if Czech Human Rights Commissioner Michael Kocáb does not resign, the PM will propose the government dismisses him. Kocáb refused to step down yesterday, but the PM announced his resignation nonetheless. Kocáb then disputed the claim that he had resigned, saying it was a misunderstanding which he wants to clear up with Nečas. Today, however, the PM refused any further meetings with Kocáb.
full story | Bratislava massacre: Allegedly problematic woman said not to be Roma
Bratislava, 2.9.2010, 08:08, (ROMEA)
News server SME.sk reports that the family of the late Ms Slezáková, murdered on Monday by Ľubomír Harman, also now deceased, was not 100 % Roma. The men in the family were Roma, but the women were not. The attacker’s motivation is not yet clear.
full story | Italy: Mayor moves to demolish Roma Gypsy camps
Roma, 1.9.2010, 22:10, (AKI)
Illegal Roma Gypsy camps which have sprung up in the Italian capital will be razed to the ground starting next week, Rome's conservative mayor Gianni Alemanno said on Wednesday.
full story | Czech Human Rights Commissioner rejects government’s claim he has resigned
Prague, 1.9.2010, 16:04, (ROMEA)
Today cabinet spokesperson Martin Kupka informed the Czech Press Agency that Czech PM Petr Nečas (ODS) had accepted the resignation of Czech Human Rights Commissioner Michael Kocáb, who would be leaving office on 15 September. Kocáb was first nominated to the post of Human Rights and Minorities Minister in January 2009 by the Green Party. Kocáb has now rejected reports of his resignation, saying they must be based on a misunderstanding which he must now clear up with Nečas.
full story | Slovakia to hold day of mourning tomorrow for victims of massacre
Bratislava, 1.9.2010, 15:03, (ROMEA)
Tomorrow Slovakia will commemorate the victims of Monday’s massacre in the Devínska Nová Ves quarter of Bratislava with a state day of mourning. The government made the decision at an extraordinary cabinet session today. The cabinet also approved compensation for relatives of the victims of the tragedy and those injured. The 48-year-old attacker shot seven people and injured 15 others, including a Czech citizen, before committing suicide after evidently being fatally shot by a police bullet.
full story | Roma family shot in Bratislava by a neighbor, other building residents shocked
Bratislava, 1.9.2010, 10:10, (ROMEA)
Those who found themselves near the frenzied shooting on Monday in the Devínska Nová Ves quarter of Bratislava are still shaken but willing to talk about their experiences. Six of the dead were members of the Putík family. As soon as the public learned the family was Roma, information about how “problematic” they were began to circulate. However, neighbors of both the murderer and the murdered family have started speaking out against these rumors.
full story | OSCE warns against stigmatizing Roma
Warsaw, 31.8.2010, 22:10, (ROMEA)
Ambassador Janez Lenarcic, the Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) in Warsaw, said today he shared concerns about recent developments in France affecting Roma migrants and Travellers, and warned that such actions risked fueling intolerance and discrimination.
full story | Speak up against Roma expulsion by France, India told
Paris, 29.8.2010, 12:12, (The Economic Times)
India must speak up against France for the en masse expulsion of Indian-origin Roma people, said Ujjal Dosanjh, former Canadian health minister and top Indo-Canadian leader.
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