Italy: Many Roma Gypsies 'gone to permissive Spain' says minister
Rome, 3 Oct. (AKI) - Italy's Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said that Roma Gypsies have left the country and gone to 'permissive Spain' in an interview with Italian weekly L'Espresso.
"We thought there were 120,000 (Roma Gypsies in Italy). There are less. Many of them have spontaneously gone to the more permissive Spain of Zapatero," said Maroni, referring to Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
However, Spanish Minister of Work and Immigration Celestino Corbacho responded to Maroni on Friday by saying:
"I think that Roberto Maroni would do better by making his remarks and policies fit with what we agreed on, only 15 days ago, in the Council of Ministers of the Interior and Justice, which is the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum," said Corbacho quoted by Spanish daily El Pais.
The pact, set to be approved by European Union leaders this month, will make it harder for member states to grant mass amnesties for illegal migrants. It will also urge EU states ensure that foreigners without papers are removed.
Italian rights groups and charities such as the Comunita San Egidio say the Berlusconi government deliberately exaggerated the numbers of Gypsies living in Italy to justify its "emergency measures" against the them.
Such measures include a Gypsy census involving fingerprinting, and the dismantling of illegal encampments.
"The numbers (of Roma Gypsies) were somewhat inflated, but thousands of Roma Gypsies have decided to leave the country, fleeing from harassment and persecution," said rights group, Everyone, quoted by El Pais.
At least 70,000 Roma Gypsies are Italian citizens, and many others come from European Union countries such as Romania, while others came from countries of the former Yugoslavia.
"In the Gypsy camps, we have found Roma Gypsies of Romanian origin, Roma and Sinti Gypsies of Italian origin, non-EU citizens that are not Gypsies, as well as Italians.
"We found everything. The shocking aspect is that half are children without parents. We will send them to school," said Maroni.
In June, Gypsy camps in Naples were set on fire in arson attacks after a teenage Roma Gypsy girl was accused of trying to steal a baby.
The Roma census was compared by both Jewish and Catholic groups in Italy to Nazi racial discrimination and persecution.
The Italian government argues that the census is intended to stop Gypsy children begging and stealing, but also to help them gain access to the Italian health and education systems.
Maroni has defended the dismantling of illegal Roma camps and other measures targeting illegal immigrants, including expulsions.
He claims the government wants to identify those who have the right to stay in Italy and make sure they can live in "decent conditions".
"We thought there were 120,000 (Roma Gypsies in Italy). There are less. Many of them have spontaneously gone to the more permissive Spain of Zapatero," said Maroni, referring to Spain's Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.
However, Spanish Minister of Work and Immigration Celestino Corbacho responded to Maroni on Friday by saying:
"I think that Roberto Maroni would do better by making his remarks and policies fit with what we agreed on, only 15 days ago, in the Council of Ministers of the Interior and Justice, which is the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum," said Corbacho quoted by Spanish daily El Pais.
The pact, set to be approved by European Union leaders this month, will make it harder for member states to grant mass amnesties for illegal migrants. It will also urge EU states ensure that foreigners without papers are removed.
Italian rights groups and charities such as the Comunita San Egidio say the Berlusconi government deliberately exaggerated the numbers of Gypsies living in Italy to justify its "emergency measures" against the them.
Such measures include a Gypsy census involving fingerprinting, and the dismantling of illegal encampments.
"The numbers (of Roma Gypsies) were somewhat inflated, but thousands of Roma Gypsies have decided to leave the country, fleeing from harassment and persecution," said rights group, Everyone, quoted by El Pais.
At least 70,000 Roma Gypsies are Italian citizens, and many others come from European Union countries such as Romania, while others came from countries of the former Yugoslavia.
"In the Gypsy camps, we have found Roma Gypsies of Romanian origin, Roma and Sinti Gypsies of Italian origin, non-EU citizens that are not Gypsies, as well as Italians.
"We found everything. The shocking aspect is that half are children without parents. We will send them to school," said Maroni.
In June, Gypsy camps in Naples were set on fire in arson attacks after a teenage Roma Gypsy girl was accused of trying to steal a baby.
The Roma census was compared by both Jewish and Catholic groups in Italy to Nazi racial discrimination and persecution.
The Italian government argues that the census is intended to stop Gypsy children begging and stealing, but also to help them gain access to the Italian health and education systems.
Maroni has defended the dismantling of illegal Roma camps and other measures targeting illegal immigrants, including expulsions.
He claims the government wants to identify those who have the right to stay in Italy and make sure they can live in "decent conditions".
Labels: Gypsy, Gypsy Discrimination, Italy, Racism, Spain
posted by Allie @ 9:03 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home