"Emigration to Canada was a well-trodden path for dissidents after the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968," The Economist writes.

"Around 250,000 Roma live in the Czech Republic. Their problems include poverty, lack of education, centuries of prejudice and, now, attacks by far extremists," it adds.

"According to the Canadian embassy in Prague, 861 Czechs applied for asylum in Canada in 2008, and 84 won it. That exceeds figures from countries such as Afghanistan (488 applicants) and Iraq (282)," The Economist writes.

"For Communist Cuba, much scolded by the Czech government for its poor hum-rights record, the figures were 184 applicants and 93 given asylum," it adds.

"Admittedly, getting to Canada is easier for Czech Roma than for Afghans or Iraqis. But the figures are also higher than from other ex-Communist countries with large Roma populations and visa-free travel to Canada," The Economist writes, adding that "last year only 288 Hungarians made applications."

"The Czech record is no source of pride. Not only has far-right extremism been rising, but so also is segregation. A government study in 2006 found that 80,000 Roma live in over 300 ghetto-like communities, four-fifths of which came into existence only in the previous decades," The Economist writes.

"Roma activists blame Jiri Cunek,a Christian Democratic leader and former deputy prime minister, for making anti-Roma prejudice acceptable in the mainstream politics," it adds.

The weekly highlights the recent incidents, including "a firebomb attack on a Roma dwelling in Vitkov," The Economist writes.

"Roma are suffering in many other countries in the region. Hungary has witnessed a spate of especially nasty murders. But the rich, well-governed Czech Republic, which holds the European Union's rotating presidency, can surely do better," The Economist concludes.

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