Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRAGUE1371
2006-11-04 13:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Prague
Cable title:  

CZECH SENATE WINNER RELOCATES ROMA SETTING OFF

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL EZ 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO9717
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHPG #1371/01 3081341
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 041341Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY PRAGUE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8182
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 001371 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH SENATE WINNER RELOCATES ROMA SETTING OFF
STORM OF DEBATE

REF: A. PRAGUE 1333

B. PRAGUE 1356

PRAGUE 00001371 001.2 OF 002


UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 PRAGUE 001371

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/NCE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL EZ
SUBJECT: CZECH SENATE WINNER RELOCATES ROMA SETTING OFF
STORM OF DEBATE

REF: A. PRAGUE 1333

B. PRAGUE 1356

PRAGUE 00001371 001.2 OF 002



1. SUMMARY. The forced relocation of Roma families from the
city of Vsetin -- by a popular mayor who just won election to
the Czech Senate -- has generated strong public debate over
Roma rights that has impacts for the Czech Christian
Democratic party. The mayor, Jiri Cunek, had been considered
a front-runner for the leadership of the party. While the
practice of forcibly relocating Roma is unfortunately not
uncommon in the Czech Republic, Cunek's new-found prominence
is shining a helpful light on the issue, and the high-level
national debate could have a positive impact. The debate
comes just as series of public service announcements
attacking prejudice against the Roma, funded by USAID, are
being released. END SUMMARY.


2. Jiri Cunek -- a figure of some prominence in the
Christian Democratic party (KDU-CSL),which has been in
turmoil since its leader was forced to resign this summer
(ref A) -- was recently re-elected as mayor of Vsetin, a town
in southeastern Moravia. But he came to national attention
this week after winning a seat in the Czech Senate. Vsetin
won with the largest margin of victory in any of the 27
run-off races that were decided October 27-28 (ref B),taking
71% of the votes against an ODS candidate. The fact that ODS
won the majority of the races nationwide makes Cunek's
victory even more remarkable. (Although it is worth noting
that turnout in Cunek's district was only 19% of eligible
voters.) Cunek's name was already in play as a possible
KDU-CSL Chairman; his big victory in the Senate race only
served to raise his profile.


3. But as soon as the election was over commentators focused
on his record of dealing with Vsetin's Roma population. As
mayor, Cunek had evicted some 330 Roma residents from their
homes in the city, largely for having missed rent payments.
Some were moved to neighboring villages; many were moved into
prefab units that resembled stacked shipping containers.
Cunek staunchly rejected any criticism for the evictions and
forced relocations, and demonstrated his "resolve" by
evicting a further two families, consisting of 26 people,

from their homes in the week following his Senate win. In a
public statement he compared the relocations to a doctor
"removing an ulcer." When confronted with the fact that many
of the new homes where the Roma were relocated lacked basic
amenities like running water and heat, Cunek responded by
asserting that a simple home is better than no home at all.


4. Cunek's actions are unfortunately not uncommon; officials
in several Czech towns have evicted Roma from property (much
of it in areas slated for redevelopment) for either late
rental payments or unsanitary conditions. These efforts are
often politically popular, as was the case in Vsetin. Most
such incidents do not receive sustained criticism or
attention at the national level. That is no longer the case
in Vsetin, however. The level of press attention and
criticism over the past week has been intense. Jan Kasal,
acting head of the KDU-CSL, sharply criticized the
relocations, saying that expulsion of families is not part of
the party's program. He said the party would take up the
issue at its annual congress December 7 "because it might set
a model which I would not like to be applied in the Czech
Republic." Others within KDU-CSL are calling for Cunek to
leave the party, or even to leave politics altogether. Senate
Vice-President Petr Pithart (KDU-CSL) is demanding a public
apology.


5. While some criticism from KDU-CSL members may be political
motivated (an attempt to remove a challenger for the party
chair),this case is refreshing as it is attracting other
national criticism. There have been numerous editorials
criticizing Cunek's actions. Some have made comparisons to
Josef Mengele. It remains to be seen, however, how many top
political officials will engage on the issue, and whether the
Senate will take any steps to prevent Cunek from taking his
seat in the body when it reconvenes next month.


6. The Cunek controversy come just as a series of televised
public service announcements and posters, paid for with funds
from USAID, are calling attention to the problem of prejudice
against the Roma. In a regularly run spot, a Caucasian man on
a public bus discovers his wallet is missing, notices a dark
skinned passenger in the back and confronts him, demanding
that he return the missing wallet. A young girl stands on
her seat and points to the missing wallet, where it had
fallen from the first man's
pocket. The tag line reads, "Keep an eye on your belongings,
but also watch out for prejudice."


PRAGUE 00001371 002.2 OF 002



7. COMMENT: The situation confronting the Roma, the Czech
Republic's only significant minority, is complex
long-standing matter that defies easy solutions.
Fortunately, the approach taken by Cunek in Vsetin is at the
extreme end of the spectrum; unfortunately, Cunek is not
alone in his approach. While the resolution of this
situation, for both the Roma former residents of Vsetin and
for Cunek, is not yet clear, the coincidence of Mayor Cunek's
forced relocations and Senator Cunek's election victory has
at least forced the country and senior politicians to focus
on the problem. Decisions taken in the coming weeks about
Cunek will be a sign of where KDU-CSL, and the country as a
whole, stand on the question of Roma rights. END COMMENT.
GRABER