Hungary "Independent team should investigate the attacks against Roma"

March 12, 2009

Newspaper	Hirszerzo
Country	Hungary
Type	Web

Comment: Recently there were a number of violent attacks against Roma homes in small villages, resulting in four deaths, among them a five-year-old boy. The article reports that the President of the European Roma and Travellers’ Forum visited the sites of these attacks and talked to both state authorities and NGOs. After the four-day visit he made a press conference, during which he suggested that an independent team is needed to investigate these cases, because there is suspicion that the perpetrators may be supported by state authorities.

While the growing racially motivated violence in Hungary is quite alarming, it is highly unlikely that Hungarian state authorities would by any means support the perpetrators of the attacks. Unfortunately the article does not mention what evidence the President, Mr. Kawczynski gathered during his visit to Hungary, that has compelled him to make the above statement.

The article in Hungarian can be found here

23.02.09 Reuters Roma father, 5-year-old son shot dead in Hungary