Roma from Ukraine are in need of support
JVL Introduction
In this briefing for the Institute of Race Relations, Tony Booth reports on his conversation with Miroslav Klempar about the discriminatory response to Ukrainian Roma refugees when they arrive in the Czech Republic.
Miroslav Klempar, himself Roma from Ostrava, compares gradations of discrimination between Poland where Roma are ‘at least treated as humans’ with the inhuman conditions offered in the Czech Republic, particularly in Brno.
Anyone who can contribute to a network of support for Ukrainian Roma coming to the UK, is asked to get in touch.
This article was originally published by Instutute of Race Relations on Thu 23 Jun 2022. Read the original here.
Roma from Ukraine
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Sometimes I don’t like humans.
So grateful that this story is coming out. Not only the Czech Republic but Poland, Moldova and all the border countries are treating the Ukrainian Roma refugees disgracefully. Not forgetting our own government! Roma families have now been sent to Ireland because the UK has put up so many obstacles. The Europe-Roma organisation , based in Birmingham, has 50 families lined up to come here and landlords with accommodation for them. Ladislav Balaz, the Chair of Europe-Roma, has been to the Czech tented camps and also the streets and railway stations where the Roma refugees from Ukraine are trying to survive. He is due to return there next week and is sending out an appeal for support. Please send donations to: Account Name: ERN. Sort Code: 20 09 03. Account No: 63414183. For further information and reports write to Ladislav Balaz at [email protected]
Congratulations to JVL issuing a ‘live news account’ that has not been first mediated by ‘the Guardian’. Roma & Sinti are not the only nomads with a history of persecution in Europe but they have throughout history, been kept invisible. ‘Gypsies’ have always been the forgotten people who do not belong & therefore shunned by the respectable bourgeoisie.
This is still happening & examples can be found closer to home as this Tory government passes legislation making ‘the travellers’ lifestyle’ illegal. Gypsies are the most persecuted people in history but this will not be documented, as the culture is predominantly oral & not written.
Bradford has welcomed maybe 5000 Slovakian Roma in the last decade who are now Bradfordians. I know personally how viscerally racist Czechs and Slovaks can be against Roma. It’s disconcertingly shocking. I will try to find people here who might be able to assist.