Ex-PM of Slovakia: "Fico is the murderer of Romani children in the settlements!" Romani politicians hold protest over tragic fire
Calls for change, sharp criticism of inactivity by governing politicians, and strong emotions were heard on Friday, 28 March at a demonstration in Prešov, Slovakia held under the slogan "For how much longer will innocent children die?" The protest was organized by Romani lawmakers from the Slovakia (Slovensko) movement in response to the tragic fire in Veľký Šariš on 19 March during which four young children and their great-grandmother died.
Hundreds of people, primarily Roma, assembled outside the Jonáš Záborský Theater in Prešov. They called for changes to the system, dignified living conditions for families of Romani origin and, for governing politicians to be held accountable.
The main speakers were former MEP Peter Pollák; his son, domestic lawmaker Peter Pollák, Jr., Dušan Bílý of Veľký Šariš; domestic lawmaker Lukáš Bužo; and former PM Igor Matovič. “Our children have dreams. Children from the settlements deserve their dreams to come true,” former MEP Pollák told the crowd.
FULL VIDEO RECORDING OF THE DEMONSTRATION
Pollák called for a dignified protest and for unity. He said that the inhabitants of the settlements are the victims of a failing system and recalled that the state has already had enough resources and time with which to resolve the situation.
Dušan Bílý, from Veľký Šariš, sharply criticized the local self-administration and called on the mayor and the head of the local department of social services to resign. According to him, the tragedy was the result of authorities ignoring the locality’s problems and neglecting their obligations for too long.
“Temporary housing units should never have been installed there. The town knew about the problem and did nothing about it,” Bílý told the crowd.
Lawmaker Lukáš Bužo also used strong words to appeal to the public not to tar all Romani people with the same brush. “Among us there are many people who work, study, and do our best. We do not want anything for free – we want opportunity,” he said.
Bužo also criticized Slovak Government Plenipotentiary for Romani Communities Alexander Daško for his passivity and silence towards remarks by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who in Bužo’s view has been mocking the Roma. Demonstrators carried signs reading “Enough of Fico!”, “Where’s the billion euros from the EU?”, and “For how much longer will innocent children die?”.
Many speakers said that they no longer trust the political process, demanding that the funds intended to aid the most impoverished communities in the country be clearly used and that the process be subjected to monitoring. “We encounter discrimination on a daily basis. The tragedy in Veľký Šariš has shown how far this can go. Where are those billions of euros which were meant to aid our children?” asked Frederik Kaleja, a young activist.
Ex-PM Igor Matovič called Fico a “murderer of Romani children” in his remarks and compared his political style to that of Adolf Hitler. “Fico is the murderer of those children in the settlements, those children died as a result of him ignoring their problems. Fico made it possible to steal the money which was meant to be targeted to make sure these children don’t have to live in mud, so they aren’t being de facto raised by the mud in the street. Fico killed those children,” he told the crowd.
At the close of the demonstration, those participating sang the Slovak national anthem. Organizers called on those present to remain calm and dignified.
“We do not want hatred. We want justice and a future for our children,” one of the organizers said from the podium.
During the fire, which broke out on the evening of Wednesday, 19 March in the Romani settlement in Veľký Šariš in eastern Slovakia, five people died – four young children and their great-grandmother. The fire destroyed eight temporary residential units and deprived approximately 30 people of the roofs over their heads.
The tragedy has deeply impacted the Romani public and the wider society in Slovakia.
What you need to know
In Prešov, Slovakia a demonstration called “For how much longer will innocent children die?” was held in response to the fire in Veľký Šariš.
Romani lawmakers from the opposition Slovakia (Slovensko) movement organized the demonstration, which was attended by hundreds of people.
Speakers criticized the embezzlement of funds, local and national government, and the passivity of the state towards Romani people and their problems.
Ex-PM Igor Matovič called Fico a “murderer of Romani children” in his remarks to the crowd.
Demonstrators demanded justice, dignified housing, and protection for Romani children’s lives.
