A TRIP TO THE EAST: THE ROMA PERSPECTIVE

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000215

SIPDIS


DEPT PLEASE PASS TO CSCE COMMISSION - ERIKA SCHLAGER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM ECON SOCI PINR LO
SUBJECT: A TRIP TO THE EAST: THE ROMA PERSPECTIVE

REF: BRATISLAVA 191


1. Summary. On February 26 and 27 embassy staff traveled to
the Presov and Spisska Nova Ves regions to meet with
activists, city councilmen, and experts about the causes of
the recent unrest in the Roma community (reftel). After the
arrival of additional police and military in Eastern
Slovakia, Roma looting of grocery stores ceased. The last
reported incident was on February 25, the same day Roma
politicians called for a nation-wide strike against the new
welfare reform, which was not successful. Social workers
employed by the Office for the Roma Plenipoteniary
speculated that these events could be repeated next month
when Roma first receive lower welfare payments. Local
leaders stated that the outbreak of looting and protests was
a spontaneous event due to a series of reforms that had a
severe impact on the Roma community. Overall, Roma activists
claimed that the recent events and police actions in
Trebisov have diminished recent progress to improve
relations between Roma and majority communities. End
Summary.

Police Contain Roma Looting
--------------


2. On February 26 and 27 two embassy staff members traveled
to the Presov and Spisska Nova Ves regions to meet with
activists, city councilmen, and experts about the causes of
the recent unrest in the Roma community. The area had
relatively few incidents, but there was a noticeable police
and media presence. After the arrival of additional police
and military in Eastern Slovakia, Roma looting of grocery
stores ceased. The last reported incident was on February
25, the same day Roma leader Fizik called for a nation-wide
strike against the recent welfare system. Small peaceful
demonstrations occurred in some towns, but regional leaders
appealed to Roma to call off the strike because of the
volatile situation with the police. By February 27, 182 Roma
(51 men, 96 women, and 35 minors) were accused of robbery or
assaulting a police officer. In most cases, prosecutors
requested pre-trial custody, which was granted in at least
42 cases. The total estimated damage to equipment, goods,
and property was 26,500 USD (847,000 SK). General Prosecutor
Dobroslav Trnka opened an investigation into the statements
of certain Roma politicians inciting the closure of borders
and blockading highways as a method of protest.


3. Plenipotentiary for Roma Affairs Klara Orgovanova
expressed concern about the recent police action centered in
Trebisov, the largest police deployment in Slovakia after
the fall of communism. She stated her office received
reports officers entered residences without warrants and
complaints of police brutality, which she forwarded to the
Ministry of Interior to investigate. Ingrid Zubkova, a Roma
activist and education specialist from Trebisov, told pol
staff she was not allowed to enter some areas heavily
populated by Roma and some family and friends feared leaving
their homes for work or school. As poloff joined several
Roma activists celebrating a birthday over a bottle of
champagne, masked police entered the bar to root out
suspects involved in looting. Some Roma felt this regional
"show of force" was excessive, however an increase in
skinhead attacks targeting Roma that many feared would
result did not occur.

The Power of the Media
--------------

4. Roma activists stated that one of reasons why looting
spread so quickly was the sensationalized reporting on
television, the primary source of information in Roma
settlements. Ed Conka, a local NGO leader in Levoca, stated
he had observed a Czech television crew buying alcohol for
several Roma who were later reacting with more vigor than
others involved in a strike. The mayor of Levoca later
accused the crew of inciting the protest; Ceska Televizia
has responded by suing the mayor. The mayor of Bystrany
stated the media reported that Roma broke into the local
community center, but in reality they were playing soccer.
Roma reporters Denisa Havrlova and Daniela Hivesova-Silanova
from the monthly Romano Nevo Lil, accused their colleagues
from the leading dailies during a recent press conference of
contributing to the spread of the looting and ill feelings
toward Roma.

The Straw that Broke the Camel's Back
--------------


5. Roma councilmen from the Presov area told pol staff the
outbreak of looting and unrest was spontaneous. They
disavowed that politicians or usurers influenced events.
Rather, they were a display of frustrations with the series

of difficult reforms. The culmination of changes in health
care payments, the institution of the 19 percent flat tax,
and the welfare reform passed in a short time frame have
severely affected the Roma community.


6. The elected Roma leaders believed that neither local
governments nor Roma communities were prepared for the
monumental changes in the welfare system. A councilman from
Jarovnice asked why government cuts could not have occurred
more gradually to allow local offices to prepare for the
institutional changes and allow Roma to adjust their
household spending. The discussants spoke mostly about a new
monetary bonus given for ten hours of community service a
week, which local government and organizations will create
jobs and assist qualified recipients to fill them. In areas
with small Roma communities, all residents were offered this
benefit. However, for the citizens of Jarovnice, with a
population of nearly 4,000 Roma, it is more complicated.
Several municipalities contacted the local Roma entrepenuer,
Jozef Patkan, known for his thriving businesses employing
Roma, but he stated that there was more supply than demand.

Nostalgia for Communism and Work
--------------


7. It was obvious that the dramatic transition over the last
15 years to democracy and a market economy, so evident in
Bratislava, has not taken hold in the East. The Roma
councilmen were deeply disappointed with the current
government and professed a deep longing to return to the
simpler days of communism. They stated they wished to return
to the days where you either went to work or to jail.
According to noted sociologist Alexander Musinka, many
politically active Roma with leadership positions on the
local level have never held a job and have lived exclusively
on welfare. He confirmed that these Roma will likely vote in
the presidential elections for leftist candidates and in
favor of the referendum on early elections.

Looting Strains Race Relations
--------------


8. Several activists relayed to embassy staff progress in
the last few years in the Roma community, such as the
election of several mayors and council members in the 2002
local elections. Integrating Roma into the democratic
process has not been smooth, but these officials have
already done much for their communities. Bystrany, a city
that is 80 percent Roma, elected both a Roma mayor and city
council. After the election, the non-Roma population
appealed to the Ministry of Interior because of fears that
the newly elected officials did not have enough basic
education. Following the recent events, the non-Roma
population again began discussing whether the Roma mayor was
competent. Roma activists and the media were refused access
to a February 25 "public" meeting on this issue organized by
non-Roma. Activists who initially felt the civil unrest
could bring needed attention to the Roma problem conceded
that it was actually very destructive.

The Dual Face of Usurers
--------------


9. While the government placed some of the blame for the
Roma unrest on usurers, Roma themselves described a
different vision of usury's prevalence and influence. Some
usurers were elected to positions in the city council and
are well regarded for contributing to their community. Zehra
city council members complained the mayor was not
communicating with them. They were eagerly awaiting the
return of the deputy mayor, who was on "vacation," and was
able to cooperate more effectively with the mayor. (We later
learned that the deputy mayor was arrested for usury and was
due to be released from jail in two weeks.) Social workers
commented that while there are reports that usurers are
highly influential and occasionally collaborate with the
local police, not everyone in the community is beholden to
usurers. Peter Polak, former Roma housing advisor to the
district of Spisska Nova Ves, stated that usury is a by-
product of the current economic situation, which will only
be solved with further integration and employment for Roma.

Roma Field Workers Fear Uncertain Future
--------------


10. Nearly 50 social workers across Eastern and Southern
Slovakia are currently employed through a pilot project
operated by the Office of the Roma Plenipotentiary. The
office directly employs 21 workers and foundations and
international donors finance the remaining number.
Throughout the past year, these workers gained trust in

their communities, began education projects, and in some
cases were the only means of communication between the Roma
and the non-Roma citizens. In a small office in Velky Saris,
Jozef Simonic, a coordinator for the workers, showed on a
map the communities where the workers were engaged and where
the looting occurred. He proudly commented that there were
no problems in their communities and workers sought to
manage the peaceful demonstrations. Simonic said he believed
the government had adequate warning about the possible
effects of the new benefit cuts, but the ministries and
policy-makers suffer from not having enough knowledge about
the Roma communities and not adequately coordinating
policies through the Plenipotentiary's office.


11. The Association of Social Workers and the Ministry of
Labor (MOL) formed a working group to discuss guidelines for
the workers and the future of the project. According to Roma
Plenipotentiary Klara Orgovanova, the MOL agreed to transfer
money to the municipalities to employ social workers,
however delays may cause the project to run out of funding
before the end of March and she can only continue funding a
third of the staff. She is confident they will find a
solution, but the Association may loose its trained
employees due to new job qualifications and the inability of
municipalities to pay for new positions.

Comment
--------------

12. Our strongest impression after three days of traveling
in eastern Slovakia was the extent to which most Roma
communities have not participated in the economic or
democratic transformation that occurred over the past
fifteen years. Additionally, we noted a lack of mechanisms
for communication between the two communities, with the
exception of certain projects promoting field social work
activity. There is no clear leadership behind which Roma can
unite, and relying on sensationized TV coverage for
information has proven to have disastrous results. The GOS
speaks to Roma leaders that many claim have no constituents.


13. We encouraged our interlocutors to explore new methods
to get their message to policy-makers, such as more use of
the growing Roma press and increased oversight efforts at
the local level. We urged them to continue to build
communication between Roma and non-Roma and to demand
participation through peaceful means in decisions that
affect them. The U.S. mission will continue to promote grass-
roots democracy among Roma, and USAID's regional Roma
project may also offer training on conflict resolution and
other topics.

THAYER


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