Czech Human Rights Minister: Ethnic generalizations about crime are dangerous
Commenting on recent incidents in the village of Strýčkovice, Czech Minister for Equal Opportunities, Human Rights and Legislation Jiří Dienstbier said he believes the situation is one of crimes or misdemeanors that have been committed by specific individuals. "This has nothing to do with a whole entire group as one might understand from the newspaper headlines. Generalizing is always dangerous and irritates sentiments in a direction that does not lead to improvement – on the contrary, it just exacerbates the situation," the minister told the daily Domažlický deník.
"My press spokesperson contacted the spokesperson of the Domažlice department of the Police of the Czech Republic last week. She ascertained not only the actual state of affairs, but also offered assistance and help should they be interested, they are in contact," Dienstbier told the daily.
A staffer with the Czech Government Agency for Social Inclusion, which falls under Minister Dienstbier’s responsibility, has also been sent to the village. "[The staffer] will perform an investigation on the spot and meet with the mayor of Srbice, which has jurisdiction over Strýčkovice. He will evaluate the situation and whether the Agency can offer the municipality any of the support tools it has available for resolving similar cases of deteriorating civil coexistence," the minister said.
"We have also turned to journalists, including Romani journalists, who filmed a reportage at the scene. In short, we are trying to do something concrete to prevent hysteria, which ultimately just plays to extremists and populists. Otherwise the citizens, the municipality, and the police will have to defend themselves against any eventual [extremist] activities, and that isn’t the cheapest thing in the world to do," Dienstbier warned in the daily.
The minister believes that the police primarily can contribute toward calming the situation at this moment. Two members of the family who threw rocks through their neighbor’s windows and allegedly threatened them have already been arrested and charged.
In addition to a rapid investigation of the case, the situation could be calmed by clear, timely assurances from the mayor that she will commit as soon as possible, in collaboration with the police, to ensuring the security of all residents of Strýčkovice. "I would like to point out that this is about crimes or misdemeanors committed by specific individuals. This has nothing to do with a whole entire group as one might understand from the newspaper headlines. Generalizing is always dangerous and irritates sentiments in a direction that does not lead to improvement – on the contrary, it just exacerbates the situation. We can offer advice, aid, and coordination, but we do not want to interfere with the competencies and powers of municipalities and the Police of the Czech Republic, who have said they have the situation under control and who decidedly do not see it in such a dramatic light as it has been presented recently by the media. I have no reason not to believe them, and I am willing to help at any time," Dienstbier told the daily.
