Hungary is failing to crack down properly on hate crimes against Roma because its police lack the skills to recognise and investigate such crimes, Amnesty International said in a report.
Amnesty cited the case of six Roma who were killed by a group of serial offenders in nine attacks across the country last year. Two men with a history of extremist sympathies were finally arrested in the case in August but they have yet to be sentenced.
"Hungarian authorities failed to identify and respond effectively to violence against Roma in Hungary, including by not investigating possible racial motivation," Amnesty said.
"Although there are existing provisions to combat hate crimes they are not being properly implemented, including because the police lack capacity to recognize and investigate hate crimes and lack training."
Amnesty said Hungarian authorities were not collecting the data necessary to identify trends in hate crimes. It said the law also needed to be strengthened to ensure tougher punishments for crimes that were racially motivated.
The far-right Jobbik party, which has vilified the estimated 700,000 Roma living in the country, got into parliament for the first time in elections in April, grabbing 12 percent of parliamentary seats.
TV NZ
Thursday, 11 November 2010
NATIONALISTS AND OPPONENTS TO MARCH IN WARSAW ON INDEPENDENCE DAY (Poland)
Two conflicting marches will be on the streets of Warsaw on 11 November - one by extreme rightwing groups and one by their opponents - to mark Poland’s Independence Day.
“The March of Independence”, organized by the nationalist All-Polish Youth will be joined by the extreme-right National Radical Camp and will start from near the Old Town at 15.00 CET. They will be opposed by the anti-fascist Never Again NGO, who are also planning a demonstration. The organizers of the nationalist demonstration have appealed to Warsaw residents to take part in the event so as to manifest their “national pride and commitment to the sovereign Polish nation” and to express their will “to fight for a strong and great Poland,” says a statement released to the media. In response, Never Again has issued a protest letter to city authorities against giving a green light to the demonstration, which “broke the law in previous years.”
The association, along with the Anti-Nazi Group, have joined a coalition called the 11 November Agreement, which aims to actively oppose what they call “fascist demonstrations carried out with impunity,” as the group writes in its communiqué. Representatives of up to 40 NGOs, along with journalists, artists and politicians will attend the protest. “We are demonstrating against utilising Independence Day by fascists for their own purposes. Fascism is not patriotism!” says Wiktor Marsza³ek, coordinator of the protest run by the Never Again association.
News from Poland
“The March of Independence”, organized by the nationalist All-Polish Youth will be joined by the extreme-right National Radical Camp and will start from near the Old Town at 15.00 CET. They will be opposed by the anti-fascist Never Again NGO, who are also planning a demonstration. The organizers of the nationalist demonstration have appealed to Warsaw residents to take part in the event so as to manifest their “national pride and commitment to the sovereign Polish nation” and to express their will “to fight for a strong and great Poland,” says a statement released to the media. In response, Never Again has issued a protest letter to city authorities against giving a green light to the demonstration, which “broke the law in previous years.”
The association, along with the Anti-Nazi Group, have joined a coalition called the 11 November Agreement, which aims to actively oppose what they call “fascist demonstrations carried out with impunity,” as the group writes in its communiqué. Representatives of up to 40 NGOs, along with journalists, artists and politicians will attend the protest. “We are demonstrating against utilising Independence Day by fascists for their own purposes. Fascism is not patriotism!” says Wiktor Marsza³ek, coordinator of the protest run by the Never Again association.
News from Poland
HOMOSEXUALS BANNED FROM CROATIAN NATIONAL TEAM, SAYS FOOTBALL FEDERATION PRESIDENT
Croatian gay and lesbian associations have condemned Croatian Football Federation president Vlatko Markovic after he said there was no place for homosexuals on the national team. "While I'm the president of the Croatian Football Federation, there will be no homosexuals playing on the national team," Vlatko Markovic said in an interview with Croatian daily Vecernji List. Asked whether he has ever met a homosexual footballer, Markovic replied: "Luckily, only normal people play football." Gay and lesbian associations have informed Croatian media that they will sue the Football Federation President for discrimination. They also intend to report Vlatko Markovic to UEFA, European football's governing body. The Croatian national football team is in the top ten of the FIFA world ranking.
Croatian Times
Croatian Times
Players in scuffle after alleged racist remark (Wales, UK)
A football match was marred by a half-time brawl between the two teams after an alleged racist remark was made.
The match, between Aberbargoed Buds and Ton Pentre in the Welsh League Division Two, saw the two sets of players embroiled in a scuffle as the half-time whistle blew.
It is claimed the fight was triggered by a derogatory remark made in the ground by one unidentified person. The match, played at Aberbargoed’s Recreation Ground in the Rhymney Valley, ended in a 2-2 draw.
Aberbargoed secretary Graham Owen rejected the claims, stating the club would “absolutely not tolerate” any player guilty of racial abuse.
After the match Ton Pentre claimed there had been an incident fuelled by a racist remark made during the game. Ton Pentre said their recent signing, Nana Baah, was racially abused while the team were leaving the field at half-time with the score at 2-2.
Ton Pentre’s secretary Chris Jones said: “It was a fiery opening half, which sometimes happens in games like this. But when the players were leaving the field something was shouted at our black player, Nana Baah, which led to a scuffle among the players.”
It was only the second game that Cardiff-based Baah had played for the Rhondda side.
Mr Jones said: “We have a good relationship with the Aberbargoed club. This was an isolated incident involving an individual.”
Mr Owen said nobody was aware of any racial abuse and that the whole matter had been blown out of proportion.
He said: “This club has never had any problems with racial abuse, which is something we would absolutely not tolerate.
“We have played against many teams containing black players and there have never been any problems.”
Mr Owen also said the referee had cited a Ton Pentre supporter for misconduct.
Ton Pentre AFC chairman Brian Bees said: “It is unwise for me to make a club comment until I have seen the referee’s report.”
South Wales Police said no complaints were made to them following the game.
Wales online
The match, between Aberbargoed Buds and Ton Pentre in the Welsh League Division Two, saw the two sets of players embroiled in a scuffle as the half-time whistle blew.
It is claimed the fight was triggered by a derogatory remark made in the ground by one unidentified person. The match, played at Aberbargoed’s Recreation Ground in the Rhymney Valley, ended in a 2-2 draw.
Aberbargoed secretary Graham Owen rejected the claims, stating the club would “absolutely not tolerate” any player guilty of racial abuse.
After the match Ton Pentre claimed there had been an incident fuelled by a racist remark made during the game. Ton Pentre said their recent signing, Nana Baah, was racially abused while the team were leaving the field at half-time with the score at 2-2.
Ton Pentre’s secretary Chris Jones said: “It was a fiery opening half, which sometimes happens in games like this. But when the players were leaving the field something was shouted at our black player, Nana Baah, which led to a scuffle among the players.”
It was only the second game that Cardiff-based Baah had played for the Rhondda side.
Mr Jones said: “We have a good relationship with the Aberbargoed club. This was an isolated incident involving an individual.”
Mr Owen said nobody was aware of any racial abuse and that the whole matter had been blown out of proportion.
He said: “This club has never had any problems with racial abuse, which is something we would absolutely not tolerate.
“We have played against many teams containing black players and there have never been any problems.”
Mr Owen also said the referee had cited a Ton Pentre supporter for misconduct.
Ton Pentre AFC chairman Brian Bees said: “It is unwise for me to make a club comment until I have seen the referee’s report.”
South Wales Police said no complaints were made to them following the game.
Wales online
Activists' children allowed to return home after break-in
Jason Devine and his friend were viciously beaten up in the southeast home Monday by a group of five men armed with hammers and bats.
His friend suffered a broken arm while Devine sported bruises up and down his back.
Devine's wife Bonnie, who ran unsuccessfully for mayor in last month's municipal election, and four children were asleep in a nearby bedroom but were unharmed.
Devine says his home was targeted as retaliation for posting anti-racist pamphlets near the home of a known neo-Nazi.
But Jason Devine says he felt he was revictimized when Alberta Children and Youth Services got involved two days after the attack because he says the department likened them to gang members or drug dealers.
"They said just as gang members and drug dealers put their kids in dangerous situations because they have drugs, our activism, no matter how worthy it is, is putting our children at risk," Devine says.
Calgary police say they had contacted Children and Youth Services about the case because of the degree of violence and the history of violence against the family.
The children had been staying with relatives since the attack but are now allowed to return home.
The department cannot comment on individual cases but says if contacted, they are obligated to assess the safety of the children. They said their aim is always to keep families together.
CTV.ca
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