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Czech town of Rotava rents right-wing extremists meeting space

Romani residents of the Czech town of Rotava are expressing their dissatisfaction with the fact that the Workers‘ Social Justice Party (Dělnická strana sociální spravedlnosti – DSSS) will be holding an event there. News server iDNES.cz reports that the town hall has rented out its „Slovanský dům“ cultural center to the party for an event on 28 January. Local Romani residents consider the meeting planned in Rotava by party chair Vandas to be a provocation.

Mayor Iva Kalátová argued to iDNES.cz that the hall was not being rented by the town, but by the cultural and information center itself, and that there was no reason to reject the party if what will be held there is a meeting. „We do not have the right to ban it,“ the mayor said.

Kalátová’s statement makes it seem as if the cultural and information center is an independent entity and as if the mayor had no influence over the decision. However, Hana Mašková of the center claims to be just an employee. She says the center is linked to the municipality and she cannot take independent decisions: „Madame Mayor and the other town councilors knew about this rental,“ Mašková elucidated to news server Romea.cz.

Kalátová made a statement to news server Romea.cz about the rental at the start of January. When asked for a statement on what the DSSS had posted on their website about the upcoming event, she replied: „I don’t follow the DSSS website. However, the town, as the owner of those spaces, has the right to rent them to those who are interested. The DSSS was interested.“ Deputy Mayor Jan Šedlbauer commented on the rental at the start of January as follows: „I personally know nothing about this rental of space to the DSSS. Madame Mayor is responsible for those decisions.“

„This is unnecessary, things are calm in Rotava. We will not be protesting against their event. It does worry us that the town has given the Workers‘ Party permission and rented the Slovanský dům to it. That’s bad news,“ Robert Koky of the Romani association Meta told iDNES.cz. Last fall Meta declared that it intended to get children off the street and improve the situation inside the Romani community.

Quelle: Romea.cz
Stand: 20.01.2012