Unanswered questions: Czech Roma and the European Union referendum
Racism, discrimination in schools, unemployment, decrepit living conditions - Roma have enough problems in the Czech Republic. Now, less than a month before Czech citizens voice their opinions in a referendum concerning their country's membership in the European Union, once again the Romany minority feels left out. That's the way well-known Roma activist Ondrej Gina sees it, as he spoke out about the absence of a special campaign targeted to help the Czech Romany population understand what the referendum is all about.
Mr. Gina also emphasized that while Roma aren't keeping silent about the referendum, the discussions take place among Roma activists and do not reach the entire Romany community. How can he and other activists help Roma gain the needed information about the referendum? In an upcoming gathering of Romany representatives, participants will discuss the referendum and receive material to disperse among the Romany population.
Still, Mr. Gina asserts that for Roma many questions remain unanswered:
"What will the position of the Romany people be like after our country enters the European Union? What will the representation of the Roma be like for example in the decision-making processes, where will they assess the issues of the Romany population? We would like to know if the Romany voice will be heard in the decision-making processes because, as we know, a lot of Roma expected that when they left for other countries to ask for asylum, it was as if they were ahead of our country's entrance to the European Union. It's a question of this freedom of movement, of what it means to be a member of the European Union in relation to job opportunities, to the possibilities of settling in another country, and other questions that are related to migration. We would like to hear something specific about these issues, but unfortunately we don't have a resource from which we can gain such information."
Ondrej Gina and other activists had hoped that the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a European Union delegation in Prague would provide the necessary resources. But that's not the case. Mr. Gina's criticism of this ministry is sharp indeed:
" Of course, it's important that someone from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs be responsible for matters concerning Romany people and their participation in the referendum because it is really a very specific group of citizens who need information in a bit different form than that which we see on television or read in the press."
