Far away, close to home: the persecution of Roma

A VIVID description of the horrific treatment of Roma in Lithuania has just been put out in email circulation. This is yet another in a long line of reports of discrimmination and injustice against Roma in Eastern European countries – a catalogue of unacceptable situations.

But you do not need to go to Lithuania to find all that is described in graphic detail with illustrations in this report of physical attacks on Roma dwellings and blatant anti-Gypsy racism in Lithuania. It is all happening here in the UK, but at the edges of society, and 'invisible' to the mainstream population because they do not want to see it. Nimbyism takes precidence and the general popular wish is to remain comfortably ignorant and indifferent to the injustice that is causing so much unnecessary suffering for Roma and Travellers in Britain.

When Roma or Travellers do become noticeable the media present them in an insulting and largely negative way inviting unthinking readers that 'they only have themselves to blame'. The media omits to report the positive contributions Roma make, in particular to music and creative arts and crafts, but also in professional careers. It seems to be more interesting and satisfying to play 'the blame game'.

Of course, reporting anti-Gypsy racism far away in Lithuania, Czech Republic, Hungary etc. is a form of denial of what we are allowing to happen under our noses here in the UK. We are encouraged to feel righteous, just and 'squeeky clean': occupying the 'high ground' and looking down on countries like Lithuania. In reality we are blind and indifferent to the suffering we cause our own minorities by our failure to challenge the ignorance and racism in our own community.

However, 'thinking people' are already seeing through this charade and supporting Roma and Travellers in organising themselves to claim a voice and demand justice.

On November 20th the Traveller Movement held their annual conference on the theme of “Operation Traveller Vote”. In a very professional conference with high-quality speakers, the motive was that the way forward was for every Romany and Traveller to vote. The myth of registration restricted to permanent residence was exposed by Alex Robertson of the Electorial Commission's evidence that every adult Traveller of any kind is entitled to name a location to which her or his registration to vote is then linked. The confidence at this conference that 100% voting takeup could and would be achieved was palpable. Six of the nine speakers proudly introduced their Traveller background and one of these was Sharon Hodgson, MP for Washington and Sunderland West in the North East. Her presentation was masterly, filled with insight and empathy. She shone as a possible future Labour Prime Minister.

Lord Avebury outlined the past history of provision and planning laws that had grossly let down the Roma and Traveller communities. In counteroint was Owen Neal, representing the Department for Communities and Local Government, who presented the proposed new planning document. The audience, at question time, expressed outrage at Mr. Pickles' proposal to deprive Travellers of the right to resume travelling once they had started to live in bricks-and-mortar housing. His right to define the identity of Travellers was questioned and his use of the term 'Travellers' in the proposal document without a capital 'T' was denounced as an unwarented insult. Travellers repeatedly made the point that they are Travellers by their total culture not by whether or not they travel. As the planning part of the document severely restricts possibilities for Travellers to travel, many felt it as a deliberate attempt to destroy their Traveller culture. This, if true, could be regarded as one of the elements defining genocide.

Through the workshops it became evident that Roma and Travellers are coordinating to claim their rightful voice in many other fields such as in challenging not only planning law but media, equal opportunities, penal practice, policing and health and education policies.

This conference was in fact a wake-up call to government and the general population to realise that Roma and Traveller Gypsies are People like themselves that should be welcomed and valued as part of the community.

Ruth Barnett is a writer and speaker challenging stereotypes and prejudice.

For more information visit: http://roma.idebate.org/news-articles/roma-and-travellers-claim-their-rightful-voice