Polly Calls For Action

This is an excerpt from an e-mail sent to me by a dear friend on Tuesday. Its contents are certainly thought provoking and in the words of a certain thirteen year old “it’s just wrong!”

The words speak for themselves:

Dear Friends,

A terrible event occurred in Italy:

The European Union has criticised the mass expulsion of Romani from four provinces in the Italian state.

12,000 families including children are moving north through italy
and facing summary expulsion.

For three days in Naples, Shanties and encampments have been subject to
mob violence.

EUROPEAN ROMA INFORMATION OFFICE (ERIO) PRESS RELEASE
Brussels, May 20, 2008
The European Roma Information Office ERIO express its deep concern on
the aggressive racial attacks against Roma people in Italy by members
of the Italian society and on the passive position held by the Italian
authorities. ERIO asks the Italian government to take urgent measures
to stop Anti-Roma attacks and ensure security and protection to Roma
communities.

The latest violent cases against Roma carried out by non-state
individuals as well as by police forces are clear signs of an organized
anti-Roma action in Italy.

On May 11 the Roma camp in via Novara, in Milan was put on fire with
several Molotov cocktails bottles thrown by extremist groups.

On May 13 anti-Roma riots exploded in the Ponticelli area in Naples,
and several hundred Roma had to flee from their camps because of the
violent attacks from angry local Italian citizens.

As a subsequent of this I e-mailed every Irish MEP asking -

Dear MEP’s for Ireland,
Three questions:-
1. Can you tell me what action if any is being taken towards Italy after the disgraceful behaviour that has recently taken place in Naples (see article below)
2. What accommodation is being prepared for the re-location of the displaced Roma.
3. What are your views and is this action in Italy a hidden EU Policy?

Since then I have had frequent contact with Kathy Sinnot MEP, her most
recent mail follows please read on and sign the petition if you are
able.

Blessed Be,

Mel

Dear Mel,

Following my email yesterday I thought you would be interested in the following civil initiative, which you as a citizen can be involved in.
The link (in the forwarded email) is http://www.romapolicy.eu/

Kind Regards,

Kathy
Office of Kathy Sinnott, MEP for Ireland South
Tel. Brussels +32 (0) 228 45692
Email: kathy.sinnott@europarl.europa.eu
www.kathysinnott.ie

From: “DE GROEN Els” <els.degroen@europarl.europa.eu>
Date: 21 May 2008 11:14:22 IST
To: “MEP & ASSISTANTS” <DL-MEP&ASSISTANTS@europarl.europa.eu>

Subject: Join the call for actions on Roma in Italy

Dear friends,
Thank you for yesterday’s debate about the situation of the Roma in Italy.
Therefore, please join the call for action against the anti-Romani hate speech and racist action in Italy.
This is a civil iniative by the EU Roma Policy Colaition (Amnesty International, ENAR, European Roma Information Office, SPOLU, Open Society Institute, Roma Education Fund and Fundación Secretariado Gitano etc.)
http://www.romapolicy.eu/

YOUR SUPPORT IS NECESSARY !!!
Thank you,
MEP ELS de GROEN

Well, my reaction was probably fairly typical of most; I hadn’t heard anything about this issue and I wanted to know more. It’s not that easy to find out more and several Google searches have come up with little enough. Check it out for yourselves using keywords Italy Human Rights Attrocities Roma Gypsies 2008.

If like me you use anything less precise the results are scarce. However; from what I have learned to date I was persuaded to sign the Amnesty International petition protesting against infringements of human rights and hate campaigns against this race of people.

For those of you who aren’t aware; like my thirteen year old son who is a first year secondary student, it was behaviour like this which led to the genocide of the Jews and the Gypsies during the reign of terror during the Third Reich.

This smacks of fascism; especially as the media has been quashed by the Italian Prime Minister, Berlusconni; which means that the majority of people haven’t heard a word about this. Please act now and register your disgust at this situation by signing the petition and spreading the word.

Faithfully yours,

Polly Peirce