The Celtic League has reiterated concerns to the EU Commission about the
victimisation and harassment of members of the Roma/Traveller community in the United Kingdom.
The latest move comes following eviction moves against a Traveller site in N E Scotland which came just hours after the Travellers had complained about racist attacks.
Equalities Commissioner, Lazlo Andor, has been urged to raise the matter with the British government (See below):
“Laszlo Andor
European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities
European Commission
B – 1049 Brussels
(Belgium)
14/07/10
Dear Commissioner Andor,
We wrote to you earlier this year to outline our concern at the ongoing
harassment and victimisation of members of the Roma/Traveller community in the United Kingdom.
In your reply you requested additional information which we furnished to your Office.
Obviously, the Celtic League welcomed the commitments you gave that the
Employment, Social affairs and Equal Opportunities Office, shared our concerns and was committed to bringing about real progress in relation to social inclusion for the Roma/Traveller community.
I am sorry to say that if anything in the past few months the situation for
these people in the British Isles has deteriorated. In Ireland a new report has
identified very negative attitudes towards Irish Travellers by the settled
community.
In the United Kingdom harassment continues and the most disturbing case occurred earlier this month (near Stonehaven in North East Scotland) when just hours after a Traveller site had expressed concern to police about racial attacks and abuse the local authority was granted an eviction notice against the Travellers.
News report here:
https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1808660?UserKey=#ixzz0tMgaD77I
We do urge you to raise the issue of ongoing harassment and victimisation of the Traveller community with the UK authorities.
Yours sincerely
J B Moffatt (Mr)”
Related links on Celtic News here:
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/3400
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/3373
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/3323
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/3315
https://groups.yahoo.com/group/celtic_league/message/2923
J B Moffatt (Mr)
Director of Information
Celtic League
14/07/10