UPPORT ROMA UNDER ATTACK IN ITALY
Oread Daily http://oreaddaily.blogspot.com/
The Oread Daily has previously reported on the fascist campaign
against Roma currently underway in Italy. Besides physical violence
directed against Roma by vigilantes and their ilk, the actions of the
new Italian government have been just as ominous. These have included
racist and inflammatory rhetoric as well as the actual implementation
of a series of draconian policies targeting the Roma. Even before the
new government took power in May its representatives had promised
a “crackdown” on Roma, and indicated that those who would take the
law into their own hands would suffer few if any consequences.
Thus, the EU Observer reports, on May 11, four Molotov cocktails were
thrown into Romani camps in Milan and Novara. On 13 May, assailants
burned the Ponticelli Romani settlement in Naples to the ground,
causing the approximately 800 residents to flee while Italians stood
by and cheered. On 9 June, a settlement of around 100 Romanian Roma
in Sicily was attacked and burned to the ground. (pictured above is a
picture of a Roma camp set afire by Italian thugs).
Italian Minister of Internal Affairs Roberto Maroni, also a member of
the extreme right Lega Nord party, is reported to have stated about
these attacks: “That is what happens when gypsies steal babies.”
Maroni has also told the media: “All Roma camps will have to be
dismantled right away, and the inhabitants will be either expelled or
incarcerated.” The new government has acted on this promise by
destroying the housing of Roma in a number of areas, and expelling
their inhabitants, or simply forcing them into homelessness.
The new government has also carried out a forced fingerprinting
campaign targeting all Roma living in camps, as well as passing a law
which defines the mere presence of Roma in a given area as a state of
emergency.
Despite these facts, the European Union has to date been “incapable”
of responding appropriately to the scale of crisis. This although the
Union has the power under the EU Treaty to act preventatively when a
risk arises threatening the principles on which the Union is based,
notably, “the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human
rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, principles
which are common to the Member States”.
Claude Chan of the Advocacy Unit, Center on Housing Rights and
Evictions (COHRE), wrote recently, “As long as the Union institutions
tolerate the current actions and inactions of the Italian government,
the message of the European Union to the Roma of Europe is, ‘We care
little about your pain. We are deaf to your interests.'”
But the inaction of the EU really is no surprise. After all it isn’t
only in Italy where the Roma are treated like dirt. Roma communities
throughout Europe live in conditions that are glaringly inadequate:
poor or dilapidated housing, lack of sanitation and sewage
facilities, cramped living quarters and lack of clean water,
electricity and emergency services. In addition the Roma are often
segregated from the larger society and effectively ghettoised.
Because Roma people often live in conditions that are not legally
sanctioned, they also face an increased risk of forced eviction and
displacement.
In Manchester, England real people plan to protest all of this crap
next month. I hope this is just the beginning of a fight back
campaign.
The following is from the Anarchist Federation.
Invitation to Roma solidarity demo on 19 September 2008, in
Manchester
Join the Anarchist Federation, Manchester No Borders and Roma groups
for a solidarity demo against repression of Roma in Italy, taking
place in Manchester, Britain in September. All welcome.
Date: Friday 19 September 2008
Time: 11.30am
Place: Italian Consultate. 111 Piccadilly Manchester, M1 2HY.
Map: http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=M1+2HY&countryCode=GB
The Anarchist Federation is having a demo on Friday 19th September at
the Italian Consulate in Manchester (the day before the big demo at
the Labour conference, also Manchester). It’s at 11.30am, at 111
Piccadilly Manchester, M1 2HY.
The demo follows serious attacks on Roma people in Italy including
physical attacks on camps, threats of fingerprinting of the Roma
population (including children) and right-wing/fascist manipulations
by Italian politicians & press that are linking Roma people
to ‘crime’ and ‘illegal immigration’ which is increasing popularist
calls for their expulsion from Italy and destruction of Roma camps.
Manchester No Borders & Roma groups in the north-west have already
confirmed they will participate.
Please come & bring placards & banners!
Roma_Daily_News : Message: SUPPORT ROMA UNDER ATTACK IN ITALY.
August 26, 2008
Categories: Action Alerts, human rights, italy, Porrajmos, Refugees, Roma, Romani Rights . Tags: fascist, Gypsy, italy, protest, Roma . Author: gpjames . Comments: 1 Comment
The Romani Way 