THE CZECH Chamber of Roma Regional Leaders and the Roma European Centre protested the use of the Slovak armed forces and police against Roma during the recent protests and riots in eastern Slovakia, the news wire TASR wrote.
They presented their protest to Slovak Ambassador to the Czech Republic Ladislav Ballek in Prague on March 4.
Both organisations demanded that their standpoints be delivered to the Slovak constitutional authorities. They also organised a collection of clothes and food, and asked the Ministry for help with its delivery to Slovak Roma.
"The 'solution' of military force to the humanitarian crisis in Roma settlements is inexcusable and worth condemnation. Immediate withdrawal of the armies and the police is the only chance to prevent a tragedy," reads one of the statements.
Both condemned the looting of grocery stores and violence at the hands of Roma.
However, they stressed that the tumults were a result of a long-insufficient social policy on the part of the Slovak government.
According to an employee of the Slovak Embassy in Prague, Ballek explained the steps taken by the cabinet to the Roma delegations, informed them about that new measures, and said that usury is a common phenomenon among Roma.
Compiled by Beata Balogová from press reports
The Slovak Spectator cannot vouch for the accuracy of the information presented in its Flash News postings.
