Recent Romnews postings
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Date: Mon, 29 Jun 1998 09:21:29 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: Recent Romnews postings
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
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Recent Romnews postings
Swiss study causes indignation
ROMA CHILDREN WERE FORCIBLY SEPARATED
More than 600 cases between 1926 and 1972
Geneve / SWISS (RNN Correspondent) June the 23rd 1998
A study about the forcible separation of Roma and Sinti children from
their migrating parents has caused indignation and great concern in
Switzerland. The study had been commissioned by the government and was
published on Friday. It speaks of more than 600 cases in Switzerland
during the period of 1926 - 1972. Ruth Dreifuss, minister of the
interior, called it a "tragic example for the discrimination and
persecution of a minority".
Due to the report the authorities had financed the forcible
separations. A "welfare organization" which had been founded for this
purpose only, had sent the children to strange families, orphanages,
and even to psychiatric clinics. They were not allowed to keep in
touch with their parents anymore. The Geneve newspaper "Le Temps"
called these children "the victims of a Swiss-model purge". Due to the
report, the persons in charge told the children that their parents are
dead or alcoholics, who did not care about them anymore. The aim of
this action was to separate the children forever from their parents
"to their own advantage". From 1988 - 1993 the Swiss authorities paid
already 11 Mio. Swiss Francs as compensation to the victims.
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PASSING-THROUGH-PLACE FOR ROMA AND SINTI
Frankfurt a.M. / GERMANY (RNN Agency ) June the 24th 1998
Munich has one, Berlin has two, Hamburg have one, and even towns like
Bielefeld or Karlsruhe can afford them: Passing-through-places for
migrating Roma and Sinti.
Frankfurt has tried several times to establish such a place - without
success. The problem is that not one of the district advisory boards
was willing to offer an adequate area in his district", says the
manager of the office for multicultural matters, Mrs. Rosi
Wolf-Almanasreh. On the contrary - when the search for a place was
announced, the district advisory boards already protested as a
precautional measure. It is strange, that almost every district really
does want such a place because they all have already experienced
problems with the camping of illegal travellers, but they do not want
this place in their own district.
After many years they have now agreed with the advisory board of
district 4 to establish such a site at the Osthafen (East Harbour),
Schielestra�e. The Green Party" had applied for DM 65.000,- for a
road-metal surface, water- and electric supply, and sanitary
facilities of the site. However, the discussion of this subject in
May was not successful. Even to-day the setup of the place is still in
progress". Although most of the democratic parties have agreed to the
plan in general, the CDU still wants to take a closer look at the
project. That means, that Frankfurt will not have such a place even
this summer.
But in summer specially the West European Sinti and Roma start
travelling with their caravans, visiting their friends and relatives
for a few days or longer, and around their camping sites the conflicts
with the neighbours are inevitable. Traditionally, the popularity" of
the gypsies is extremely low.
For the authorities it is difficult to solve the problem. The migrants
are often stateless and cannot be expelled because they have no
destination country". It is also useless to expel them from the site
and to escort them to the motorway, because they would then take the
next exit.
Therefore, it would be really a good solution to establish the site at
Schielestra�e. The Roma Union also supports this project. Perhaps it
may succeed next year.
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