An investigation by Swedish Radio's Ekot programme has revealed that Roma people with Swedish citizenship face discrimination at the country's campsites. Of 20 camp sites called by Ekot, 10 said they did not allow Roma guests.
"We don't accept them," said one campsite manager.
"Experience says that we should say no," she added.
The programme called a couple of campsites to establish whether or not there were places free. Ten minutes later, the producers sent a Roma family to the site. In both cases they were refused entry.
Another owner admitted that all campsite managers discussed the issue and that emails circulate in which certain sites are warned to be on their guard.
According to the law against discrimination introduced in Sweden in 2003, "nobody shall be treated differently or unequally [on the grounds of ethnic origin] when it comes to buying goods, services or housing".
Sweden's Ombudsman against Ethnic Discrimination (DO) has already identified people of Roma origins as common targets of discrimination in Swedish society. Indeed, DO is already investigating five cases where Roma Swedes have reported camp sites.
"It makes me sad and concerned," said Keith Palmroth, himself of Roma origin, at the anti-discrimination office in Gothenburg.
"Now you see the truth in black and white, that it is actually the case that Roma do not have a place in society on the same terms as everyone else."
Palmroth said that Ekot's findings must be reported to DO and followed up. But as one man running a campsite contacted by Ekot commented, it is not ignorance of the 2003 law that is behind the discrimination.
Acknowledging the law, the man said that he does not "completely ban them".
"But we're not glad that they come - we try to avoid letting them in."
Original Internet Source
EDITORIAL COMMENT:
I have to say that, with what I have heard years ago from people such as Hans Calderas about the way the Romani (not just Roma) in Sweden were treated then, it does not surprise me. It would appear, and I do not think that I am wrong there, that things like this are again on the increase in the EU countries (and elsewhere) and not just simple refusal to be let onto campsites. However, that issue is also one for Germany and Switzerland, I believe, as there the same thing is happening, just like in Sweden. Then there are instances when a Sinto and his family are refused when trying to book into hotels with such comments as that they are listed in the computer as "Gypsies" and we will have Gypsies here. We must also not forget that in liberal Sweden, until the late 1970's it actually was illegal for Romani to stop anywhere for longer than 24 hours and the same is now - apparently - so tumor has it - happening in the Netherlands as well.
"We don't accept them," said one campsite manager.
"Experience says that we should say no," she added.
The programme called a couple of campsites to establish whether or not there were places free. Ten minutes later, the producers sent a Roma family to the site. In both cases they were refused entry.
Another owner admitted that all campsite managers discussed the issue and that emails circulate in which certain sites are warned to be on their guard.
According to the law against discrimination introduced in Sweden in 2003, "nobody shall be treated differently or unequally [on the grounds of ethnic origin] when it comes to buying goods, services or housing".
Sweden's Ombudsman against Ethnic Discrimination (DO) has already identified people of Roma origins as common targets of discrimination in Swedish society. Indeed, DO is already investigating five cases where Roma Swedes have reported camp sites.
"It makes me sad and concerned," said Keith Palmroth, himself of Roma origin, at the anti-discrimination office in Gothenburg.
"Now you see the truth in black and white, that it is actually the case that Roma do not have a place in society on the same terms as everyone else."
Palmroth said that Ekot's findings must be reported to DO and followed up. But as one man running a campsite contacted by Ekot commented, it is not ignorance of the 2003 law that is behind the discrimination.
Acknowledging the law, the man said that he does not "completely ban them".
"But we're not glad that they come - we try to avoid letting them in."
Original Internet Source
EDITORIAL COMMENT:
I have to say that, with what I have heard years ago from people such as Hans Calderas about the way the Romani (not just Roma) in Sweden were treated then, it does not surprise me. It would appear, and I do not think that I am wrong there, that things like this are again on the increase in the EU countries (and elsewhere) and not just simple refusal to be let onto campsites. However, that issue is also one for Germany and Switzerland, I believe, as there the same thing is happening, just like in Sweden. Then there are instances when a Sinto and his family are refused when trying to book into hotels with such comments as that they are listed in the computer as "Gypsies" and we will have Gypsies here. We must also not forget that in liberal Sweden, until the late 1970's it actually was illegal for Romani to stop anywhere for longer than 24 hours and the same is now - apparently - so tumor has it - happening in the Netherlands as well.
