Search
28.9.2023
NEWS

HISTORY

TRADITIONS, CULTURE

PERSONALITIES

USEFUL CONTACTS

PHOTOS OF THE ROMA

VARIOUS

RADIO PRAGUE










Česky English Deutsch Francais
Exhibition of 30 racist murders since 1989 marks International Romani Day
08-04-2008 - Rob Cameron
One community that’s borne the brunt of skinhead attacks are the country’s Romanies, 250,000 of whom live in a state of uneasy cohabitation with their white neighbours. Romanies make up half of the three dozen people killed in racially-motivated attacks since the fall of communism. April 8th is International Roma Day, which was first marked in 1971 and has been celebrated here in the Czech Republic since 1990. We spoke to Ivan Vesely, head of the Roma organisation Dzeno.

Ivan Vesely “According to the many reports and evaluations, the situation of Roma in Europe is not good. We’ve been members of the European Union since 2003, and we don’t see any change that was supposed to come from European institutions. We don’t see the democratisation process in decision-making in European institutions.”

But this isn’t about Brussels and politics and decision-making. This is about two communities – white Czech and Romany – who simply do not understand each other and have no time and tolerance for each other. Politicians can’t change that.

Exhibition of 30 racist murders, photo: Štěpánka Budková “I don’t agree. Politicians make the atmosphere in society. Politicians are examples, leaders. They show morality, culture, attitudes to issues. The public copies this behaviour.”

How is International Roma Day going to be marked today in the Czech Republic?

Exhibition of 30 racist murders, photo: Štěpánka Budková “We’re organising an exhibition on Prague’s Namesti Miru, showing the faces and names of those who have been killed in racially-motivated attacks in the Czech Republic since 1989. We’re also sending a letter [you can read it here] to Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, and Vaclav Klaus, the Czech president. In the letter we say that April 8th is a day of celebration for the Roma, and of course, there will be dancing and singing. But Roma Day is not only about Roma culture. Roma Day is also about emancipation. Roma Day is about the many problems which we experience every day in Europe.”

After 18 years of holding these celebrations and seeing almost nothing changing in Czech society, are you still an optimist?

“I’m an optimist, because we have two possibilities: live together, or face a return to fascist policies. And in that case there will be some kind of fight.”

http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=2533



Related articles
DateTitleFeature
26.06.2017Selbstbewusstsein und gute Nachrichten – Internationaler Tag der Roma in TschechienNews
08.04.2016‘Closer’ project brings high school kids to Lety to learn about Romany culture but also history of WWII internment campNews
08.04.2015Joint Embassies’ Statement for International Roma DayNews
08.04.2014Ambassador Eisen Sends Greetings on Occasion of International Roma DayNews
08.04.2013Statement Commemorating International Roma Day, April 8, 2013News
05.04.2012Ambassador Norman L. Eisen remarks for International Roma Day 2012News
08.08.2009Romany groups from central Europe form umbrella organizationNews
23.04.2009Romanies call for nation-wide rallies to condemn racist attacks on their communityNews
09.04.2009U.S. Embassy Prague participated in International Roma Day CelebrationsNews
All related articles
Article
Format for printing
Send as e-mail

Also in section "News"
31.10.19  Roma children’s choir Chavorenge and members of the Czech Philharmonic to perform in UK
13.09.19  Archaeologists discover graves of Roma persecuted during WWII in Lety camp
02.06.19  Ida Kelarová and her Romany children’s choir Chavorenge
29.05.19  Two Roma activists to receive Charter 77’s František Kriegel Award
07.04.19  Romany music from the Czech Republic
13.03.19  Czech singer Věra Bílá, dubbed the Ella Fitzgerald of Gypsy music, dies days before her comeback tour
21.11.18  Roma social worker from Ostrava listed on BBC 100 Women list
12.10.18  Why are there so few Roma politicians?
17.09.18  Virtuoso pianist Tomáš Kačo: When I tell somebody I’m a Gypsy in the US, they’re excited about it
06.06.18  Study indicates ethnic hate is contagious
Archive of the section

Most popular articles
3153053   26.02.00 Some Basic Information about the Roma Population in the Czech Republic
290319   27.01.05 The 'Devouring': A look at the Romani Holocaust
184516   26.02.00 The History and Origin of the Roma
141463   26.02.02 The Language of the Roma
107706   13.06.00 The History of the Roma Minority in the Czech Republic
105260   26.02.00 The Traditional Family Life of the Czech Roma
103929   02.06.03 The Roma Holocaust
88238    World famous Roma Personalities
88174   21.02.04 Extreme right activists demonstrate for skinhead in jail
74801    Photographs by Romani Children
Copyright © Český rozhlas / Czech Radio, 1997-2023
Vinohradská 12, 120 99 Praha 2, Czech Republic
E-mail: info@romove.cz