News from Dzeno Association
Bulgaria: Out of reach wires stopped “black consumption” of energy 1.
11. 2005
Bulgarian Electrical Distribution Companies Stolicno, owned by CEZ
Group, installed 150.000 meters of new transmission lines and about
1.900 electrometers to protect people from Sofia’s Christo Botev
district from stealing electric energy.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9035
Kosovo Roma want to take part in the negotiations on Kosovo’s future
27. 10. 2005
Pristina, 25 October 2005: One day after the announcement by UN Security
Council of the opening of the negotiations on Kosovo’s political status
Kosovo Roma have requested to be admitted to these talks. In a letter
addressed to high representatives of the international community and the
EU representatives of the Kosovo Roma, Ashkalija and Egyptian
communities have asked for an urgent solution to the problems of the
Roma of the former Yugoslavia who have become victims of wars and racist
violence, many of whom continue to live in limbo.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=8996
Hungarian Courtship Rites With Plenty of Rough Stuff 1. 11. 2005
The csardas folk dance caused quite a stir 200 years ago in Central
Europe, according to the Hungarian expert Kalman Dreisziger. Perhaps all
those skirt-swirling women and boot-slapping men brought uncomfortable
visions of lusty Gypsies to aristocratic minds more accustomed to
waltzes and polkas.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9032
Nazis attack youths in Slovak capital 2. 11. 2005
During the night of October 31st to November 1st, two boys were attacked
in the center of Slovak capital Bratislava by a group of organized
Neo-Nazis. The victims of the crime were two boys who are fans of punk
music and style. As the victims informed our source, the Slovak NGO
Ludia proti rasizmu, they were attacked only because of their image.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9043
Slovak Roma Unplugged 2. 11. 2005
More than 5.000 Roma citizens living in Lunik IX are unplugged from hot
water and central heating system. Lunik IX contains 650 municipal flats
and is one of the most famous ghettoes of the Eastern Slovak city
Kosice’s housing estates. Although the municipal flats are equipped with
central heating and heating pipe-lines, the Roma people live there in
poverty produce their own heat with trees from a nearby forest or by gas
bombs.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9036
Fire threat 2. 11. 2005
A man doused himself with petrol and threatened to set himself on fire
at a land registry office in Athens yesterday after being informed of
the compulsory expropriation of his property. Police arrested the
35-year-old Gypsy after firefighters intervened by soaking him with
water.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9041
An evening of Romany literature and music in ‘The Poetry Days’ 2. 11.
2005
Works of Romany poets will be opened up to the public during ‘The Poetry
Days’ celebrations in Prague. The evening of the 14th of November will
be dedicated to the memory of Milena Hübschmannová, a professor of
Romany studies at Prague’s Charles who tragically died recently. The
organisers want to pay tribute to this outstanding person for her work
in introducing Roma literature to general readers.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9045
Czech Republic: Evictions of Roma in Bohumin continue 2. 11. 2005
Regional court in Karvina has decided that one of the last families
still residing in housing project owned by city of Bohumin has to leave.
The court decision regarding the other three families was decided last
month.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9044
Letter to the ERTF 3. 11. 2005
Dzeno Association has addressed a letter to the president of the
European Roma and Travellers Forum, concerning Dzeno’s membership in the
recently established platform. ERTF’s platform aims to represent the
populations of Roma, Sinti, Kale, Travellers and related groups living
in Europe. As we considered the facts described in our letter as
important for other Roma organizations in Europe as well, we have
published the full wording of our message.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9050
Austria: This gypsy still roves 7. 11. 2005
Her hands brought together in traditional Indian greeting — the
namaskar — Ceij’a Stojka, 71, stands in her Vienna apartment, and says
that it is she who is Aryan, not Adolf Hitler. After all, Europe’s
gypsies are proud to trace their origins to India, despite the fact that
they were persecuted by Germany’s Nazi party during World War 11, for
being too bohemian, dark-skinned and curly-haired.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9069
Django Reinhardt: The Gypsy jazz king 6. 11. 2005
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – In the fall of 1953, Norman Granz’s Jazz at the
Philharmonic series went out on tour again, this time taking in Japan
and featuring some of the hottest names on the contemporary jazz scene:
Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Roy Eldridge, Ben Webster and Benny
Carter, among others.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9071
German policeman suspended over Gypsy slur 4. 11. 2005
BERLIN – A German police officer was suspended and facing disciplinary
action Thursday after publishing a text saying Gypsies in Germany were
living like parasites, officials said. “Gypsies have explained to us
that one feels like a ‘maggot in fat’ in Germany’s wealthy society,” the
text in “Der Kriminalist”, a magazine of the Federation of Criminal
Police said, using a German metaphor for somebody who has a comfortable
life without effort.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9072
Gypsies and proud of it 3. 11. 2005
The last few weeks have offered a number of energizing performances by
so-called Gypsy bands ranging from the neo-Romanian Gypsy outfit Mahala
Rai Band to the breathtaking brass of Fanfare Ciocarlia–whose hypnotic,
imposing sounds kept audiences enthralled after closing time at their
recent Club Quattro gig in Shibuya, Tokyo
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9070
Bulgaria’s ethnic relations at risk 7. 11. 2005
PRESIDENT Georgi Purvanov has issued a strongly-worded warning that
ultra-nationalism could put ethnic tolerance in Bulgaria at risk.
Purvanov made the remarks at a conference on October 31 on “National
Interests, National Identity, and European Integration”.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9089
Roma Defenders Of Anzalika Borys are warned by Belorussian Authorities
9. 11. 2005
The Assembly of Belorussian Pro-Democratic NGO’s and on-line news
service Chartija 97 have published information that the Minsk city
prosecutor’s office made an official warning to activists of a number of
Belorussian national and religious minorities. In August he groups sent
a letter to the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko with an appeal
to protect Anzalika Borys, who is the legitimate head of the Union of
Poles in Belarus. The Union of Poles is not recognized by the
authorities.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9101
The second Asteroid named after Romany figure 9. 11. 2005
A recently-discovered asteroid in the Taurus constellation is likely to
be named after a Bulgarian folk singer AZIS. The asteroid, temporarily
been called 2005 UT12, was spotted in the Taurus constellation by
Bulgarian astronomers with the help of scientis from Spain and UK.”We
want to name the asteroid after the folk singer Azis, who is quite
famous here.” a spokesperson for the Bulgarian scientific team
explained.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9111
EC Internship for Roma University Graduates 9. 11. 2005
In co-operation with the Open Society Institute, the European Commission
offers 10 three-month periods of internships for young Roma university
graduates from all new member states (excluding Cyprus and Malta),
Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro (including
Kosovo), and Turkey. The training periods involve work experience in one
of the Commission’s departments. Applicants can submitt their
applications via e-mail by December 1, 2005 or by regular mail
postmarked by December 1, 2005.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9110
9th November: International Day Against Fascism and Antisemitism 9. 11.
2005
9th of November is dedicated to fight against fascism and antisemitism
in commemoration of the events that happened on 9th November 1938. On
this gloomy day, over 90 Jews were murdered, 100 synagogues were set on
fire and 7500 Jewish shops were damaged and had their windows smashed.
It was recorded into history as “Kristallnacht”, freely translated means
the Night of Broken Glass. Imprisonments and deportaions of 30 000 Jews
into concentration camps followed straight afterwards.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9109
A Housing Success Story 10. 11. 2005
One street separates the plush Sarajevo district of Ciglana from the
Roma settlement of Gorica, but in reality there is little difference
between the two. On both sides lie large, beautiful houses. No garbage,
mud or sewers flowing into the street are visible.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9121
Operation “Beggar” 10. 11. 2005
Jasmina is 10 and does not know that the Interior Ministry of the
Western Herzegovina canton has launched Operation Beggar, a campaign
that aims to clamp down on panhandling and vagrancy. Her life, which
consists of harsh physical abuse at home and begging in the streets of
Sarajevo , will, however, be affected by the initiative. The Roma child
approaches a car waiting for the traffic lights to change and does what
she has been forced to do many hundreds of times each day.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9120
Roma in Belarus 11. 11. 2005
“The most negative one is when the equal sign is put between the words
Roma and lawbreaker. It’s a pity, but the official mass media and
representatives of power bodies treat us this way,” says Nicolas
Kalinin, chairman of Belarus Roma organization Ekhipe (Unity).
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9130
Politicians to march against fascism 11. 11. 2005
TO protest the murder of 21-year old student Daniel Tupý, human rights
activists People Against Racism are organizing a candle march against
fascism and racism, the daily SME reported. An organized group of
neo-Nazis, attacked Daniel and his six friends. Another young man was
seriously injured.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9128
Letter from Hungary 11. 11. 2005
OITM contributor Stacey Horn has been in Hungary since September,
learning the language and making connections. She’s there to teach
English and on a church-related mission to work with Roma children and
families. The Roma, who have been called “Gypsies” (a pejorative name),
are treated as outcasts in many countries.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9127
Serbs urged to boost reforms, minority rights in Kosovo 11. 11. 2005
BRUSSELS (AP) – Serbia-Montenegro must accelerate judicial reforms,
tackle widespread corruption and avoid creating new barriers between the
two republics if it wants to move closer to European Union membership,
the European Commission said yesterday. In a report on the country’s
progress in preparations for signing the Stabilization and Association
agreement – an initial step toward eventual membership – the Commission
also said the country has made significant headway in its cooperation
with the UN war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, but urged it
to continue “to achieve full cooperation.” In a report on Kosovo, the
Commission said minority rights – particularly those of Serbs and
Gypsies, or Roma – must be improved. It also said a lack of respect for
the rule of law and problems of organized crime and widespread
corruption are of great concern.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9126
Sorry for Sterilization! 14. 11. 2005
Czech Republic: A regional court in Ostrava has ruled that Vitkovice
Hospital in Ostrava (Vitkovicka nemocnice v Ostrave) must address a
written complaint by 23 year old Romany Helena Ferencikova, who was
sterilized by doctors while she was giving birth in 2001. It is not sure
yet whether the hospital will appeal the verdict.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9139
Roma in Belarus 11. 11. 2005
“The most negative one is when the equal sign is put between the words
Roma and lawbreaker. It’s a pity, but the official mass media and
representatives of power bodies treat us this way,” says Nicolas
Kalinin, chairman of Belarus Roma organization Ekhipe (Unity).
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9130
Czech Police Take Action Against Neonazis 14. 11. 2005
About 100 Neonazis and Skinheads were having a birthday party on
Saturday (November 12, 2005) night in the restaurant Na Vrsich located
in the village of Zlata Olesnice near Jablonec nad Nisou. Actually , the
“birthday party” was just camouflage for a concert of neonazi bands.
Police of the Czech Republic were monitoring the whole event and before
midnight decided to disband the concert after neonazi slogans were heard
from the concert.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9148
Sorry for Sterilization! 14. 11. 2005
Czech Republic: A regional court in Ostrava has ruled that Vitkovice
Hospital in Ostrava (Vitkovicka nemocnice v Ostrave) must address a
written complaint by 23 year old Romany Helena Ferencikova, who was
sterilized by doctors while she was giving birth in 2001. It is not sure
yet whether the hospital will appeal the verdict.
–> whole article http://www.dzeno.cz/?c_id=9139
Riferimenti: Dzeno Association
