Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité….. for Travellers too?
Strasbourg, 26th July 2010: Following the dramatic events in Saint Aignan and in view of the forthcoming Elysée meeting convened by President Sarkozy on 28th July, the European Roma and Travellers Forum calls on France to consider all of its citizens as equals and not to single out Travellers as one of the root causes of society’s ills.
“One incident should not speak for an entire community. Criminal elements can be found in every sector of population irrespective of ethnicity and social class. This does not mean that the whole sector are criminals” emphasised Rudko Kawczynski, President of the European Roma and Travellers Forum.
Furthermore, how does the news story involving a settled French citizen of gypsy origin relate to the announced eviction measures which would affect a nomadic French population or migrant Roma, the vast majority of whom are citizens of the European Union? Will we now decide to expel European citizens in retaliation for a crime committed by French citizens ?
Additionally, in order to have a balanced, constructive discussion on Wednesday, representatives of Travellers and Roma should also be seated around the meeting room table? They would contribute fully to the debate with their views on, for example, how the specific legislation they are subject to, unlike any other French citizens, affects the reality they experience on a daily basis.
« Travellers are neither beneath nor above the law » declared recently Minister Hortefeux. But what about the French municipalities with over 5,000 inhabitants, over 50% of whom, ten years after the Besson Law came into force, still do not apply the law relating to the provision of encampment areas?
Mr. Kawczynski, President of the European Roma and Travellers Forum has sent a letter to President Sarkozy in order to clarify the French position and to ensure that Travellers, like other French citizens, will soon benefit concretely from Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité as advocated by the French Republic.
