Sarkozy wants to throw out Romani gypsies

“Nationwide demonstration in France to protest Sarkozy's security measures

 

English.news.cn   2010-09-05 04:37:07

PARIS, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of French people including associations, political figures and artists walked to the streets across the country to protest against Sarkozy security measures on immigrants and Roma repatriation on Saturday.

According to the League of Human rights, 140 demonstrations were hold on Saturday across the European country. About 100,000 demonstrators marched through France's main towns of Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Lille and Toulouse to express their strong refusal to the repatriation of Roma illegal migrants and the revocation of the French nationality for immigrants found guilty of attacking police officers.

In Paris, 12,000 marchers were chanting the National Anthem and slogans denouncing "State racism." They waved French flags and placards on which were written "Deprived of liberty without a court order, thank you Brice," "No for Expulsion, no for State Racism."

"We are here to show our refusal to French people and to the international community and to tell them that there is an indignation and revolt against the racist and xenophobe actions. The facts of striping nationality form immigrants and dismantle Roma camps are unacceptable," said Olivier Besancenot, the head of NPA party said in remarks to BFM TV channel.

French head of State vowed in July to tight control on criminals and delinquency after two violent unrest swept across south-eastern and central France.”

 

“Roma live often in depressed squatter communities with very high unemployment, while only some are fully integrated in the society. However, in some cases—notably the Kalderash group in Romania, who work as traditional coppersmiths—they have prospered.

Many former Eastern bloc countries have substantial populations of Roma. The level of integration of Roma into society remains limited. In these countries, they usually remain on the margins of society, living in isolated ghetto-like settlements (see e.g. Chánov). Only a small fraction of Romani children graduate from secondary schools, although during the Communist regime, at least some of these countries forced all children to attend school, and provided them, like other citizens, with all required basics such as textbooks and the compulsory uniform. Many Roma have faced discrimination and prejudice from both private groups and national Governments.

In 2004, Lívia Járóka and Viktória Mohácsi of Hungary became the two current Roma Members of the European Parliament. The first Romani MEP was Juan de Dios Ramírez Heredia of Spain.

Seven former Communist Central European and Southeastern European states launched the Decade of Roma Inclusion initiative in 2005, a ten year program whose aim is to improve the socio-economic conditions and status of the Romani minority.”