Anti-Romany moods in a part of the Czech society may become a more serious problem for the country’s security than groups of rightist extremists, the BIS counter-intelligence service says in its quarterly report released on its website yesterday.

The report on the development on the extremist scene in the Czech Republic in the past quarter of 2013 pointed to the participation of ordinary citizens in anti-Romany rallies in Ceske Budejovice, south Bohemia, and Duchcov, north Bohemia.

Ethnic tension must be released resolutely and pragmatically, BIS says.

Most participants in the above mentioned anti-Romany demonstrations were ordinary local people who thereby expressed their dissatisfaction with what they call the authorities‘ insufficient solution to problems with the Romany minority.

BIS points out that these citizens are afflicted by petty crimes and breach of the peace near their homes that are not dealt with in a satisfactory way.

„If there is even a minor impulse, their everyday problems and their frustration provoked by them combined with latent anti-Gypsyism are expressed openly and result in more radical manifestations,“ BIS writes.

This is why the anti-Romany stance of a part of the Czech society may become a more serious threat to security than the activities of more extreme but less numerous and relatively well monitored groups of rightist extremists in a long-term perspective, according to BIS.

„We must start solving the tension between ethnic groups resolutely, pragmatically and without emotions. Otherwise, there is a risk of this problem gradually escalating and thus of increasing scepticism in a part of society about the Czech Republic’s democratic principles in a long-term perspective,“ the report’s authors warned.

The ultra-right Workers‘ Party of Social Justice (DSSS), successor to the outlawed Workers‘ Party (DS), attempted to abuse the anti-Romany moods in society in the past quarter, BIS recalls.

The DSSS staged a demonstration in Duchcov on June 22 in which some 1000 people took part a half of whom were the DSSS following.

„Despite a relatively high attendance, the party did not succeed in using the situation to increase its popularity. It was not actively involved in the demonstrations in Ceske Budejovice,“ BIS notes.

It adds that the DSSS also convoked a May Day meeting in Prerov, north Moravia, attended by up to 400 people. However, no incidents breaching the peace occurred.

Leftist extremists also traditionally met in Prague on May Day. Some 300 people participated in their march which was peaceful except for a few minor incidents.

Source: Prague Daily Monitor
Date: 31.07.2013