TIME TO PUT A CHECK TO CZECH RACISM AGAINST ROMANI

Remember all the blubbering about the wonderful democracy flourishing in the Czech Republic after them nasty commies were driven out.  Tell it to the Romani.  Racist attacks against them continue to escalate and the government takes a pretty much hands off attitude.  Sure, an arrest is made every now and then.  Sometimes someone goes to jail, often charges are dismissed or lessened.  Human rights organizations, to their credit, have been complaining for years.  Complaining, however, is a far cry from doing something.  Hell, even when the local "tries" to write something about the racism, it just recommits some more.  For example, The author of an article last year  in Mlada fronta Dnes, commenting on some poll results saying that 83 percent of Czechs consider Roma unadaptable wrote, "To be sure, one cannot deny that one "wild" Romani family is able to make the life of all those living next to it intolerable."   Do I hear a little of Gen. Custer in there somewhere.  


Anyway, I ran into this today at Romea cz.

Romani Association Forum is disturbed by rise in racially motivated attacks against Romani people

Responding to yesterday's arson attack against Romani people in Býchory, Kolín district, the Romani Association Forum (Romské sdružení Forum - RSF) is seriously disturbed by the rise in racially motivated attacks. The association is concerned that increased emigration of Romani people from the Czech Republic could be a result of this event.

"The current critical situation in which Romani people find themselves with respect to racism, security, segregation, social issues, and unemployment could, in our opinion, launch a completely uncontrollable movement by Romani citizens of the Czech Republic into the European area. These people will be seeking safe refuge simply because they are unable to successfully demand that their fundamental rights be respected. Those rights are guaranteed to them by the Constitution of this country and by international documents on the protection and fulfillment of the human rights of members of national minorities," reads the association's declaration. News server Romea.cz publishes it in full below.


DECLARATION "on the security situation of Romani people in the Czech Republic"


The Romani Association Forum (Romské sdružení Forum -RSF) is seriously disturbed by the rise in racially motivated attacks to which Romani people in the Czech Republic are being constantly subjected. The racial intolerance of "extremist organizations" and some in the majority population endangers the health and lives of Romani people not only in public, but also in their homes! This is confirmed by the attack committed by "Czech racists", who threw a flaming torch into a Romani home in Býchory, Kolín district, in the early morning hours of 11.7.2011. The tragic results of such sprees by "Czech racists" in this country have included more than 30 dead Romani people who have become the victims of racially motivated murders. Many Romani people have also been maimed by racially motivated attacks, often with permanent results to their health. Another victim of such an arson attack by "Czech racists" was Natálka in Vítkov, who is four years old now. While she was rescued from the flames, her health and her life will be forever marked by the burns she suffered.


These tragic events confirm our opinion that the Czech Republic is not a safe country for Romani people as members of the Romani national minority! Romani people, as members of the Romani national minority, are losing one of the fundamental rights in this country, a right that is a pillar of democracy and freedom: The right to individual security! We do not feel safe either in our homes or on the streets.


The Romani Association Forum (Romské sdružení Forum - RSF) considers the security situation of Romani people in the Czech Republic to be critical. We are forced to claim that this state is not managing to ensure protection for Romani people, as citizens of this country, of their health, lives or property. Romani people do not trust the work of either the courts or the police. Cases which often bear completely evident signs of racial motivation are minimized. For this reason, we have serious concerns that the guilty parties who threw the flaming torch into this Romani home may go unpunished.


We are very disturbed by the current situation, in particular by the inertia of state authorities who do not devote sufficient attention to the issues of anti-Gypsyism, racial discrimination, racially motivated violence, racism, and upholding the human rights of Romani people. The inconsistent and indifferent official stance has previously led to mass emigration of Romani people to Canada and Great Britain. The current critical situation in which Romani people find themselves with respect to racism, security, segregation, social issues, and unemployment could, in our opinion, launch a completely uncontrollable movement by Romani citizens of the Czech Republic into the European area. These people will be seeking safe refuge simply because they are unable to successfully demand that their fundamental rights be respected. Those rights are guaranteed to them by the Constitution of this country and by international documents on the protection and fulfillment of the human rights of members of national minorities.

ROMSKÉ SDRUŽENÍ FORUM /RSF/ - Romani Association Forum - RSF, translated by Gwendolyn Albert
ROMEA