When Wells Run Dry

Well Paid Hate
Teachers of the school at Chanov, in their own words, face increasing aggressiveness on the part of pupils and their parents: “It was a horrible experience. A father believed the story of his daughter, who said that one of the teachers had physically assaulted her, even though the teacher had discussed and settled everything in peace with the mother of the pupil before. The man came to scold the teacher, telling her that he would have her family murdered, her daughter raped. “When I came to support my colleague, he included me in his scolds too”, another teacher told the journalists. Two criminal petitions were filed: one by the father against the teachers, and the other by the teachers against the father. Somebody broke windows of the school. City policemen began guarding the school. The town of Most annually pays CZK 14.5 million for Chanov flats. About the same amount goes to the House of Romany Culture and other activities of non-governmental organisations with extensive involvement of town and Labour Office officials.

How to Approach Romany Issue
The magistrate of Most has decided to settle the Chanov issue. The strategy has a name: Action Plan. The budget is CZK 12 million. "We will begin with involvement of local citizens into repair of the destructed housing estate through the House of Romany Culture. The people will have more respect for things repaired by themselves and we will save money. We will pay the materials but the wages will be paid by the House of Romany Culture from their funds and grants”, said Vladimír Bártl, mayor of Most, member of the Civic Democratic Party (ODS). The magistrate has another plan, too – to establish a dormitory for non-payers of Tábor 7 in the dilapidating equipment of the local mines. After several visits to Chanov the town representatives have come to believe that the local inhabitants need 24-hour surveillance and low houses with special mode of operation. Operation and repairs of the prefabricated concrete houses are beginning to be too expensive for the town treasury and so Most expects the State to help, maintaining that Chanov is not the issue of the town but of the State.

What Can Romany Inhabitants Be Blamed For
Ten days in October were spent by the police in search for a seven-member Romany gang who were believed to have assaulted and robbed two school children. One of the children was robbed of its glasses, the other of its watch. Now the case has been postponed. The boys have been found to have invented everything. They were smoking in a deserted wretched car and an unknown man caught them. As they were running away, they lost the things. They did not know how to explain that and so they invented a colourful story of a Romany attack.

Back to Directive Control?
The Government Council for Romany Community Affairs has criticised approach of certain towns and municipalities against socially weak Romany people, especially as concerned the housing issue. In the words of members of the Council the situation is so serious that it requires a more active State intervention. The non-proportionately repressive measures of the municipalities against Romany people support displacement of the minority to the edge of the society, while the State attempts at their integration, said Czeslaw Walek, the Council secretary. “The State should possess certain mechanisms related to municipalities, control or even restrictive … viewing the current legislation this is very difficult, even impossible."

Romany Astronauts
On 8 November Romany children and parents of Jaroměř were visited by representatives of the Astronomic Institute of the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic of Ondřejov near Prague. The visit was one of 14 similar actions to be implemented in the Czech Republic in the context of the European Ethnic project. EUR 20,000 grant provided by Brussels (about CZK 600,000) has been received by Mrs. Dagmar Dvořáková, employed by the Academy of Science as promoter of its activities. Unfortunately, the project does not plan any more systematic activity, apart from such occasional visits and lectures of popular scientists that would improve approach of ethnic minorities to results of science, which is the declared objective of the project. Mrs. Dvořáková will certainly welcome your suggestions on her mobile phone number +420 606 249 676. Inhabitants of Jaroměř minding Romany children in the square certainly wish them an insight to the universe. If it was possible, they would even help their being shot away to Mars.

Discrimination Continues
The report of the European Commission evaluating compliance with the EU accession conditions criticises continuing discrimination of Romany population of the Czech Republic, especially in the area of jobs and education. The government attorney for human rights, among other things, said: “A systematic, transparent method of support of Romany employment would certainly be better than the so far preferred ad hoc solutions – I have been saying this for some time but in vain." The journalists asking him about his position in relation to the report felt that he agreed with the EC criticism.

Where Money Goes from Jařab’s Office I
A million Czech crowns has been contributed by the State to the town of Jablonec for reconstruction of apartments in the dormitory via the Government Council for Romany Community Affairs. Another about 650,000 were contributed by the town council with the result of construction of 9 new apartment units. “The dormitory obviously is not just for Romany people, and does not solve the housing situation, just being a provisional solution of a critical issue. For example when somebody’s flat catches fire. It is our option to provisional accommodation for example in hotels. We count on the people staying in the dormitory for periods up to six months. In the six months they have to solve their housing situation”, explained Jiří Rudolf, deputy mayor of Jablonec. Has this been approved by members of the Council as the method of struggle against social exclusion?

Where Money Goes from Jařab’s Office II
Two million Czech crowns were received by the Naděje charity for establishment of protected workshops in Písek. The project was recommended by a member of the Government Council for Romany Community Affairs, Mr. Matěj Šarkozi. The protected workshops were not established, though. Instead Naděje operates an N-centre behind the town, in the former barracks, where the town moves people not even wanted in the empty flats in the house in Svatoplukova street, until now being kind of “end station” in Písek. Alternative army service provides guards to the barracks – again paid by the State. But the charity is supposed to refund the loan.

A City of Contrasts
The Karviná district has become notorious for the epidemics of dysentery in the Romany ghetto right in the city centre and jaundice in Orlová. Practically in coincidence with the epidemics the Romany Cultural and Social Centre was opened in Karviná, a project of the local businessman Mr. Ferenc. The construction cost 13 million. CZK 11 million were contributed by the State, the rest was loaned by the city against Mr. Ferenc’s personal property. The Centre has not been much used yet (some after-school activities of children and occasional meetings), as the director, until recently mayor of Karviná, is afraid that the Romany visitors might damage the Centre. Waste disposal and cesspit emptying was only financed by the town after one woman died as a consequence of insufficient care and a medial scandal was launched. The former revolutionary motto “Peace to cottages, war to palaces” has probably been reversed in Karviná.

Real Pilot Project?
The Equal programme supports employment in member and accessing countries. Together 9 projects of the Czech Republic were successful in the tender proceeding for the pilot project, one of them being Kompas of Chomutov. The project was submitted by the Regional Development Agency, who invited 34 partners. In addition to labour offices and schools the project involved advisory groups, scientific institutions and employers via district chambers of economy. The project will cost EUR 560,000 (about CZK 17 million). The money will be used for 80 individuals who will take two-year apprentice courses (in engineering manufacture, tailoring and clothes manufacture, garden and flower care and electro-technical manufacture). 44 of them are already in the second year of the course. But how many unqualified unemployed will be supported with the remaining more than CZK 200,000? How much will chances for employment be increased for Romany and other individuals by such a two-year apprentice course when graduates from regular four-year secondary schools and apprentice courses have problem finding a job?

Who Would Wonder
As we informed in the last number, the Břeclav city hall demolished 3 houses to obtain lucrative land. The houses were inhabited by Romany citizens and apparently stained the city. The Romany inhabitants were moved to empty flats off the urban area of the city. The empty flats had been built several years before but the city could not manage to move anyone in them. When no other reason could be found, the building office was made to issue a demolition order for the houses. A month later the city representatives complained: Romany groups destroy city property, going as far as tearing off seals of hydrants and demolishing the garden of their landlord.

Last Hope - God
The former military area of Haná near Rakovník has for years serves as the so called “social dormitory”. What was supposed to be a provisional solution became the last instance for many people. Even those who have refunded all their debts, have restored their ”morals”, and have been returned their flats in the town return here. They simply cannot manage without this financially. The secluded area behind the town, missing connection and difficult access, missing basic civic services – over three dozen children grow up here with the stigma of social seclusion. A number of people have turned to God as their last hope and consolation.

German Paedophiles in Czech Border Region
Great stir has been provoked by the German non-governmental organisation Karo, reporting that German sexual tourists have been sexually abusing Czech children. The report has mentioned 500 cases in 7 years. The Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic through Jitka Gjuričová has demented existence of children prostitutes in the border region. The fact is that Czech police investigated nearly 50 cases of children prostitution in the years 1993-2000. In Germany, Belgium and other countries expansion of paedophilia has been considered a serious issue, processes with paedophiles have been taking place, children pornography and prostitution has been centre of intensive attention of repressive departments. The Czech Republic is not likely to be an oasis of purity and morality, is it?

Money for Study Procurers
The city council for Prague 3 – Žižkov has decided to spend CZK 50,000 out of its cultural and social fund for procurement of selection of secondary school, preparation for entrance examination and provision of scholarships for students of the ninth form of the basic school in Havlíčkovo náměstí, where most of the pupils are Romany children. The money is not intended as direct support to individual students but as fee for the procurer.

Resistance Against Construction of Social Apartments
Citizens of Mělník are signing a petition against construction of social apartments as they are afraid that the apartments will be occupied by Romany families. The city plans to construct 28 single-roomed apartments and 6 double-roomed apartments at the cost of CZK 34 million. A major part of the cost will be paid by the State, the city will contribute with the amount of CZK 12.5 million. “The worries are not in place, as the apartments will mainly be intended for people whose incomes are near the subsistence minimum,” says head of the Department of Construction and Development, Mr. Pavel Průcha.