ROMANIA

FROM ROMA BUZZ AGGREGATOR

Hindus critical of Romanian President’s remarks about Roma

25/07/2010 - Although social inclusion of Roma was urgently needed all over Europe, but Romania just should not bail herself out of responsibility of Roma integration at home, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed stated in Nevada (USA) today.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, was reacting to Romanian President Traian Basescu’s comments at Baile Tusnad (Romania) on July 24, who reportedly said that social inclusion of Roma people was no longer a national issue of Romania.

Rajan Zed further said that condition of Roma in Romania had most of the signs of an “apartheid” and Romania should urgently do something solid to stop their maltreatment. According to reports, between 1.8 and 2.5 million Roma live in Romania and about 75 per cent live in poverty.

In its annual “Human Rights Report” about Romania issued in the recent past, US Department of State said: “Roma faced persistent poverty and had poor access to government services, few employment opportunities, high rates of school attrition, inadequate health care, and pervasive discrimination.”

Meanwhile, Rajan Zed; and Rabbi Jonathan B. Freirich, prominent Jewish leader in Nevada and California in USA; in a recent statement had said: It was now time for European Union to urgently intervene in Romania and do something “concrete and real” for Roma upliftment.

Europe’s most persecuted and discriminated community, Roma reportedly regularly encountered social exclusion, racism, substandard education, hostility, joblessness, rampant illness, inadequate housing, lower life expectancy, unrest, living on desperate margins, stereotypes, mistrust, rights violations, discrimination, marginalization, appalling living conditions, prejudice, human rights abuse, etc., Zed pointed out.