Jekhetane Roma (UK) calls on Czech PM Fischer to address the situation of
Roma in the Czech Republic
23-06-2009
European and Canadian NGOs have joined the UK-based organization Jekhetane
Roma in calling on Czech PM Fischer to prioritize measures addressing Roma
inclusion in the Czech Republic. The organizations point out that the Czech
government's own Concept on Roma Inclusion, which includes fighting
anti-Roma racism and dates from 2002, has never been properly implemented in
the country.
The full text of the letter is below:
18 June 2009
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
We have been watching with great concern the recent events in the Czech
Republic which impact on the Roma's everyday lives.
Increasing activities of neo-Nazi and fascist parties and movements, which
comprise intimidation, terrorisation of and assaults on minorities, are
unacceptable in countries the legal basis of which is established on
democratic principles and the political representation should intervene
promptly and adequately against these violations. Unfortunately, we have
witnessed that even members of the Czech government themselves openly
advocate racist doctrines and do not refrain from publicly describing ways
in which they would get rid of Roma (i.e. Senator and Vice Chair of the
Senate Committee on National Economy, Agriculture and Transport Liana
Janáčková) . Also, for their own populist purposes, they make use of
problems arising from the coexistence of the majority population and the
Roma which stem from the long-term marginalisation of members of the Roma
community by local governments in order to build their own political careers
across the political spectrum (for instance cases of forced evictions in the
town of Bohumín, undertaken under the auspices of Bohumín Mayor and Senator
Jiří Vícha (ČSSD), cases of forced evictions in the town of Vsetín
undertaken under the auspices of present Senator former Vsetín Mayor Jiří
Čunek (KDU-ČSL) or cases of illegal seizure of the Roma’s social assistance,
defended by Chomutov Mayor Ivana Řápková (ODS) who is now reportedly running
for a seat in the Chamber of Deputies).
It is necessary to emphasise that inadequate sanctions by the police and
courts of expressions of open racism, including racially motivated hate
crimes and racist behaviour and/or assaults targeting Roma publicly and/or
in their homes, and the lack of proactive and comprehensive strategies to
proactively eliminate all hate speech and hate crimes against Roma are
amongst the reasons for the increase of attacks committed by self-confident
racists. The alleged connections of some members of the Czech police and
army with extremist groups advocating violence and hatred are also very
alarming.
We must not forget that the aforementioned facts, as well as the recent
events in the Czech Republic (i.e., the two recent arson attacks, or the
neo-Nazi assaults on Roma demonstrators at the beginning of May) and the
signals which the political representation sends to ordinary citizens have a
far-reaching impact on the general public. The fact that members of the
Czech government accept racist attitudes makes it possible for members of
the general public to perceive these expressions of racial hatred and
intolerance as social norms of behaviour or thinking and appropriate them as
their set of values.
The Czech Republic is a signatory of a series of international charters and
conventions on upholding fundamental rights and freedoms, including the
European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the International Convention
on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
Fundamental rights and freedoms are laid down in the Charter of Fundamental
Rights and Freedoms, which is part of the Constitution of the Czech
Republic. Moreover, to the present day, the Concept of Roma Integration has
not been implemented: One of its primary objectives is fighting racial
discrimination against members of the Roma community.
We call on you, Mr. Prime Minister, to take the necessary steps to initiate
the democratic changes indispensable to assuring that members of the Roma
community can live full-fledged lives, and to facilitate their effective
participation in social, political and economic life. Yesterday’s adoption
of an anti-discrimination law, which we appreciate very much, and the
upholding of the conventions to which the Czech Republic has committed
itself are inseparable parts of the democracy which the Czech Republic has
been promoting since its foundation in 1918 and after 1989.
Yours sincerely,
Jekhetane Roma, Great Britain
The following organisations are joining the open letter
European Dialogue, London, Great Britain
European Roma Rights Centre, Budapest, Hungary
Paul St. Clair, Executive Director, Roma Community Centre, Toronto, Canada
Z§vůle práva, Prague, Czech Republic
RAPAR (Refugees and Asylum Seekers Participatory Action Research),
Manchester, Great Britain
Europe-Roma CZ, Czech Republic
Association of Roma and National Minorities of the Plzeň Region, Czech
Republic
Gwendolyn Albert, Prague, Czech Republic
Heather Ureche, Southwell, Great Britain
Dr Laura Cashman, Canterbury, Great Britain
Štefan Tišer, Halifax, Great Britain
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