MINELRES: ERRC Calls for Full Prosecution of Anti-Romani Rioters in Czech Republic
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[email protected]
Thu Nov 27 15:14:22 2008
Original sender: European Roma Rights Centre <[email protected]>
ERRC Calls for Full Prosecution of Anti-Romani Rioters in Czech Republic
Budapest, 25 November 2008: Today, the European Roma Rights Centre
(ERRC) sent a letter to Czech authorities expressing its concern
regarding recent violent clashes between the police and anti-Romani
protesters and the rise of anti-Romani hate speech in the Czech
Republic�s public domain.
On 17 November 2008, demonstrators affiliated with the far right
Workers� Party diverted from their declared route, moving away from the
Litvinov city centre and marching towards the predominantly Romani
neighbourhood Janov. Forceful police action prevented the rioters from
reaching Janov, where the outbreak of an anti-Romani pogrom was likely.
The ERRC expressed its gratitude to the police forces, particularly
those who were injured in the line of duty, in preventing the attackers
from reaching Janov.
Recalling that the Czech Republic will take up the EU Presidency, the
ERRC urged Czech authorities to use recent events as an impetus for
placing Roma issues high on the EU agenda and leading the call for the
development of an EU Framework Strategy on Roma Inclusion
In its letter, sent to Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, Minister of
Interior Ivan Langer, Olga Sebkova from Supreme Public Prosecutor�s
Office and Ombudsman Otakar Motejl, the ERRC urged Czech authorities to
ensure that all those who participated in the riot are prosecuted to the
full extent of the law and that the racial aspect of the incident is
taken into account. The ERRC also requested that, in accordance with its
obvious intention, the racist march reportedly being planned for 6
December be monitored and immediately dispersed if any laws are
violated, and that the Janov Romani community is protected against
further violent assaults. Finally, the ERRC requested that Czech
authorities act forcefully against the Workers� Party up to and
including disbanding it as provided for by Czech law.
The full text of the ERRC�s letter is available on the Internet at:
http://www.errc.org/db/03/8A/m0000038A.pdf
For further information, please contact: Sinan Gokcen, ERRC Information
Officer, [email protected].
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The European Roma Rights Centre is an international public interest law
organisation which monitors the human rights situation of Roma and
provides legal defence in cases of human rights abuse. For more
information about the European Roma Rights Centre, visit the ERRC on the
web at http://www.errc.org
To support the ERRC, please visit this link:
http://www.errc.org/cikk.php?cikk=2735
European Roma Rights Centre
1386 Budapest 62
P.O. Box 906/93
Hungary
Tel: +36.1.413.2200
Fax:
+36.1.413.2201
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