Roma Gypsy Romany Gypsy Romani ~ Pesha's Blog

An Urgent Appeal From The Balkans

2008-08-10T15:23:00.000Z

I have recieved News from my friend Milenko, he has sent the following message and links. I ask you all to take the time to read the publication, please send this link on to as many people as possible. The winter will soon draw in, and as has happened in the past in Kosovo many will perish.

I was horrofied, but not at all surprised to read that the Red Cross no longer provides donations to refugees and the displaced. When people give their kind "donations" to the Red Cross I wonder is they are aware of this...I think not. Refugees and the displaced are surely amongst the most vulnerable people on the planet, yet this worldwide charity offers them no help, Shameful.
You can tell them what you think at this email address webmaster.gva@icrc.org

I urge you all to contact the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, and ask for urgent assistence

UNHCR is based in Geneva, Switzerland.
address:
United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesCase Postale 2500CH-1211 Genève 2 DépôtSuisse.
telephone number:+41 22 739 8111 (automatic switchboard).

To contact by email you will need to go to the website
http://www.unhcr.org/contact.html

OPRE ROMA!

The message from Milenko is below;

Dear friends,
Balkan Refugee Voice is a publication that in this issue informs readers about the living conditions of refugees living in Serbia, about the Readmission Agreement signed by Serbia and the EU, about Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Kosovo, and the Erased (Izbrisani) from Slovenia.You can download Balkan Refugee Voice here:
http://freedomfight.net/cms/uploads/BalkanRefugeeVoice_web.pdf
And if you would like to print it and distribute it you can download it here:
http://freedomfight.net/cms/uploads/BalkanRefugeeVoice_print.pdf

Freedom Fight (Serbo-Croatian: Pokret za slobodu) is an organization devoted to working on issues of worker, refugee, and students' rights. Among other projects Freedom Fight organizers produce Z-Magazine Balkans, a printed version of Z-Magazine in the Serbo-Croatian language, as well as monthly bulletins such as Workers' Voice, Refugee Voice, etc. produced by and for affected communities.
More at:
http://www.zmag.org/zspace/group/freedomfight
Freedom Fight (Pokret za slobodu)

Roma Education in Belarus

2008-08-10T15:05:00.001Z

I have recieved the following article from Nicolas Kalinin in Belarus. Again, I would be grateful if after you have read this, you pass it on.
Education is paramount to to future of our people,
Nais tuke Nicolas mi pral !

Don’t stay aside from Belarus

Recently Lukashenko signed new edition of State educational system program. It was so many discussion about future edition in society but finally everything happened even worst that anybody accepted.
Belarusian authority still neglects national minorities. I want to remind, that some years ago Belarusian Section of International Society of Human Rights have done proposition to Lukashenko about Roma educational problems. One from there plenty directions how to solve low percent of Educated Roma people, was idea to establish Roma school or Roma classes. By official origins of information, only 2 percent of Roma population has finished secondary school (9 classes). Its official number, which seems too increased (exaggerated) a lot to decorate real situation.
Well, now Belarus has new Educational system. But again Roma minority in Belarus still has not been involved in educational process. Some independent experts assured that its not single case, its policy. Policy to prevent Roma people to been educated, to prevent Roma people to have a job, to separate Roma people from society! Odd, isn’t it? Its not odd, its terrible but we have to live with it.
Belarusian authority well informed about Roma minority problems, they have access to all information. But it’s a policy in Belarus. In Belarus discrimination against Roma is not a social problem. Its political. Actually, nothing new, we saw that kind of behavior before. From Saddam, When Kurds had not rights at all and it was in contemporary history.
I always ask myself, what poor Roma people have done to Belarusian Authority, to merit so strong hate in return? Its strange because, Roma is single minority discriminated in Belarus. There is no discrimination against Poles minority in Belarus, it wasn’t Poles minority in Belarus and wouldn’t be even in theory. Famous “Grodno” case nothing more than well financed fake. Why Roma?
Europe and USA have to do something for Belarus. Its so beautiful country, I really like it, so, It seems to me, we deserves to give as a hand. Don’t stay aside from Belarus.

Kalinin Nicolas
European Roma Travelers Forum
Roma_Rights@yahoo.com

"Red Cross Collaborates in Ethnic Filing of Roma in Italy"

2008-07-16T10:12:00.001Z

Once again the Red Cross are demonstrating that they are not in fact "nuetral" as they always claim to be. Italian Police are being assisted by the Red Cross to carry out the abhorent act of finger printing the Romani people, including innocent little children.

The Romani in Italy live in squallor and are the victims of frequent and extreme racial attacks, which the police fail to prevent.

The Red Cross should be involved, but far from finger printing these poor people they should be doing what they can to help them.

Although I do not dispute that the Red Cross does do a huge amount of good work worldwide, sadly when it comes to our people it is a very different story. In a more recent "Holocaust" the Red Cross failed to help the Roma when they were dying , often freezing to death on the Macedonian border, the help was there, but the Red Cross workers who were mostly Albanian refused the aid on purely racial grounds.

In World War 2 the Red Cross played an active part, collaborating with the Nazi's and aiding them in the deportation of innocent people to the death camps.

And now we have this horror taking place in a modern Europe, in a so called civilized country.
Please email the spokes person for the International Committee for the Red Cross to protest.

fwestphal.gva@icrc.org

Please also sign the petition

http://www.petitiononline.com/08041971/

NA BISTER ~~ OPRE ROMA !!

Press release - European Center for Antiziganism Research Monday July 14, 2008
http://www.openpr.com/news/48590/Red-Cross-Collaborates-in-Ethnic-Filing-of-Roma-in-Italy.html
Massimo Barra, the head of the Italian Red Cross, insisted that the aim was to integrate Roma people into Italian society. If children were fingerprinted, it would be done "as a game", he said. Mr Barra said the Red Cross "always respects human rights. We are building bridges, not walls." 5 July, The Times
The European Center for Antiziganism Research based in Hamburg, Germany condemns in the strongest possible terms the involvement of the Italian Red Cross in assisting the Italian Government in the ethnic registration and profiling of Roma. We urge members of European Civil Society to condemn this action of the Italian Red Cross and to pressure the Red Cross (internationally) to demand that their Italian division withdraw from this involvement.
The registration of minorities is contrary to European Data and Minority Protection legislation in Italy, and yesterday, the European Parliament itself passed a Resolution against the fingerprinting of Roma in Italy, see a recent news report at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7500605.stm
The announcement that the Red Cross will assist the Italian police in the registration and fingerprinting of Roma in Rome, Naples and Milan was made by Massimo Barra, Head of the Italian Red Cross, in an interview published in The Times on July 5. This was confirmed in a statement by the Italian Minister of the Interior, Mr. Roberto Maroni, published in the Südtiroler Zeitung on July 10, that the government of Silvio Berlusconi is proud of the participation of the Red Cross in the ethnic registration and fingerprinting of Roma.
The decision of the Italian Red Cross to assist a neo-fascistic Government in singling out the Roma for registration and profiling is chillingly reminiscent of Red Cross collaborations with the Nazis during WWII in the registering, deportations and destruction of Roma life. Moreover, today these actions are being validated by arguments that are similar to those of Nazi German, which state that Roma and Sinti need to be controlled as a means of “crime-prevention”.
We ask every Board and Organizational Structure of the Red Cross to condemn the actions of the Italian Red Cross which support the current Italian government’s recent measures towards Roma.
We request an official Statement from the International Red Cross, as a matter of urgency, condemning the behaviour of the Italian Red Cross for their support of the policies of the neo-fascistic Italian Government. We demand an immediate interdiction of this support for the Italian Police in ethnic profiling and registrations of Roma.
Furthermore, we urge members of European Civil Society to pressure the Red Cross by withdrawing their support, and stopping their financial support to its activities.

The Roma in Italy~ A case of Deja Vu?

2008-07-01T23:50:00.003Z

I do not need to express my horror and outrage at the communication I have received from the Council of Europe, Concerms have been raised for some time about the Italian government making "camps" to keep the Roma in. Cast your mind back 60+ years. But more recently...remember Kosovo..Ruanda..and currently the situation in Zimbabwi.
History just keeps repeating itself over and over again

In response to the many requests for information on who to write to to express disapproval. May I suggest that you contact the Pope. During WW2 Pope Piux X11 maintained a public front of indifference on the grounds of "nuetrality". I'm not going to deliver one of my famous rants about this, however I do think that this Pope given his own history and background should be seen to speak out against this. The Popes English is impeccable therefore he will understand any correspondence written to him in English.I'm sure he would want to hear peoples veiws on this, with that in mind ...here is the Holy Father's personal email address benedictxvi@vatican.va

Please read the communication from The Council of Europe, please also watch the BBC News video

Subject: SG - Proposal to fingerprint Roma in Italy - Proposition de relever les empreintes digitales des Roms en Italie
Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:14:38 +0200

From: "Council of Europe "

Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis on the proposal to fingerprint Roma in Italy
Strasbourg, 27.06.2008 - "The Italian Minister of Interior is reported to have proposed that all Roma, including children, living in camps in Italy should be fingerprinted. This proposal invites historical analogies which are so obvious that they do not even have to be spelled out. While I believe that Italian democracy and its institutions are mature enough to prevent any such ideas becoming laws, I am nevertheless concerned that a senior member of the government of one of Council of Europe member states is reported to have made such a proposal."
Thanks to the BBC for the report below

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7479298.stm
MOB VIOLENCE AGAINT GYPSIES IN NAPLES
http://www.i-italy.org/bloggers/1907/mob-violence-against-gypsies-naples

These Romani children died in "camps"

Write to your Euro MP

NA BISTER!......NEVER FORGET!

OPRE ROMA

UK's Only Gypsy Magistrate Sacked For Criticising The Police

2008-06-08T11:06:00.004Z

I would like to thank Robert Verkaik of the Independent newspaper for kindly writing this article.
If you read this and the article underneath about another Magistrate who to my mind quite rightly spoke out against the Police, then you must draw your own conclusions as to why this gentleman was not sacked, but I was
Kushti baxt
Pesha
Anyone who did not see the original posting on this matter please scroll down a little, the post on the balance of the scales of justice gives far more detail.

Straw sacks magistrate who criticised police
By Robert VerkaikSunday, 8 June 2008

Jack Straw was at the centre of a political row last night after he sacked a magistrate who criticised the police for failing to protect her daughter from being physically assaulted at school.
Mr Straw, the Secretary of State for Justice, has written to the magistrate saying that while he understands a mother's desire to help her daughter, her criticism of the police means she can no longer be trusted to be impartial in court.
"We have concluded that although you acted with the best interests of your daughter, your behaviour has led to your impartiality being brought into question," Mr Straw said in the letter. "It is clear that by mentioning you were a magistrate and then criticising the police, the two issues became linked and therefore there is doubt whether you would be able to consider matters involving the police impartially."
Shay Clipson, 50, a magistrate from Grimsby, Humberside, believed to be the only Romany magistrate on the bench in England and Wales, had asked police to help protect her 13-year-old daughter from a gang that had been bullying her in and out of school.
She claims her daughter had been subjected to beatings, racially abused, spat on, had cigarettes stubbed out in her hair, and had been thrown into the traffic on a very busy road.
The news comes a week after it emerged that the family of 15-year-old Arsema Dawit had complained to the police that she was being harassed shortly before she was stabbed to death in a London council block.
Ms Clipson said: "On 20 September 2007, my daughter had been told by a key member of this gang that she was going to be subject to a beating, possibly during the lunch break, failing that definitely on her way home. Neither the headteacher nor the head of year would make themselves available to speak to me. I told the school that in that case I would have to involve the police."
But, she said, the local police made it clear that they would not intervene. When Ms Clipson complained about the officers' alleged inaction, the police reported her behaviour to the local bench committee and then to Mr Straw, who upheld her dismissal.
Police were later forced to investigate when her daughter was badly assaulted by a family member of the same gang. In a separate incident, recorded on mobile phones and uploaded to YouTube, Ms Clipson's daughter was kicked unconscious on the school playingfield.
But Mr Straw, in a joint ruling with the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Phillips, found that by raising the fact that she was a member of the local magistracy, Ms Clipson cannot be trusted to do her job.
David Howarth, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on justice, said: "Mr Straw's action is shameful and very heavy-handed ... Why can't a magistrate criticise the police? ... The police should not be able to end the career of a magistrate just because they don't like being criticised."
Ms Clipson said she feels let down by the system. "I was acting as a mother who had good reason to be both furious and to question the lack of competence and ethics that were being displayed. Not only was my child terrified for her safety, this campaign of terror was based on racism, mainly her Welsh accent, and possibly her Romany background, yet the police were not doing enough to support her."

Magistrate’s shock at Boro fans’ treatment by police
Apr 30 2008 by Marie Levy, Evening Gazette

TEESSIDE magistrate Mick Dobson today told of his shock at seeing innocent fans intimidated by police at the Wear-Tees derby.
The Sunderland fan has vowed never to attend another derby match after witnessing what he describes as police provoking trouble from the minute fans stepped off the train.
Mr Dobson, who works as a scout for Manchester City Football Club, said: “I have been working in professional football for 20 years and I have never seen anything like it.
“I have nothing but scorn for Northumbria Police, so much so that I will not go to another derby match again. I feel nothing but sympathy for the Middlesbrough supporters; they were very harshly treated.”
Mr Dobson, who lives in Norton, got the train to the match with his wife, Maureen and Boro fans Maggie and Len Robinson of Billingham.
He said there was a stark contrast between the way police treated them at Middlesbrough and the hostile reception they got in Sunderland.
“Police at Middlesbrough station put the four of us at the bottom end of the train. They operated really friendly and professionally.
“There were Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Hartlepool and Nottingham Forest supporters on the train. The banter was very friendly and there were no incidents

“As we came into Sunderland railway station we saw about 50 police on the platform, many in full riot gear. They opened only one door which meant we had to get off the train one at a time.
“Ten to 20 police ran towards us shouting, screaming and banging their riot gear - it was unbelievable. The police were very intimidating and very aggressive. There were a lot of people getting pushed about who were not even going to the match.
“One old woman was crying her eyes out. She had only gone up for the shopping.”
When questioned an inspector told Mr Dobson it was his job to be intimidating but he soon changed his tone when he was informed that Mr Dobson was a magistrate.
“They escorted us to the exit but all the doors were locked and bolted. If there had been a fire there would have been a lot of casualties,” said Mr Dobson, who also had to wait for over an hour for his friends to be let out of the Stadium of Light after the match.
“The police were provoking a lot of the trouble. To be honest I might not even go back to Sunderland. I’m at an age now where I do not want the hassle.
“I was just really annoyed that people could be treated like this.
“As a magistrate I try to be fair and reasonable and look at both sides, people are always innocent until proven guilty.”
Northumbria Police Superintendent Neil Mackay, head of the force’s operations unit, said: “From the intelligence and evidence we had we were aware that large numbers of risk groups from both sides would be attending the match.
“They arrived at the city centre early and began drinking in public houses and there was some disorder during the match.”
He said most fans were good supporters but there were some groups causing confrontation.
“My officers came under attack from bottles,” he said. “My intention at any game like this is to prevent innocent fans from being injured.
“We did that, but the only way to police a match safely is to take a strong stand with some supporters.”

Plight Of The Roma in Serbia

2008-06-01T13:47:00.000Z

I have been asked by "Freedom Fight" to inckude their video on the plight of the Roma in Serbia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M8RY2TJ59Q

Please take the time to watch this video about a very sad situation

I apologise to the good people at Freedom Fight for the delay in getting this posted

you can also visit the Freeedom Fight web page

www.freedomfight.net

How Balanced Are The Scales of Justice in UK Courts

2008-02-27T16:42:00.006Z

This posting is rather long and I apologise in advance for this, however I would ask that time is taken to read it, and I would appreciate comment and feedback on this issue. I am not asking for this on a personal basis (although I am relating a personal experience) but I feel strongly that this posting might well be highlighting a far reaching problem, that may have dire consequences not just for those from minority groups, but also for any defendant, appearing before a Magistrates Bench on any day, in any town in UK.

If you come from an Ethnic Minority group, you are more likely to be stopped by the Police, you are more likely to be arrested and appear in Court, and as a result you are more likely than non minority defendants to receive a custodial sentence. What is not always so readily publicised is that as a member of a minority group you are also far more likely to be the victim of crime. Minorities are greatly under represented within the Criminal Justice System. I became increasingly aware of the disproportionate numbers of those from minority groups within the prison population; I was also becoming aware that it appeared that the Travelling Community seemed to be sent to prison very readily. I wondered if this was due to the transient nature of our lifestyle. I wondered if with some understanding this might somehow in the fullness of time be improved.

With all of the above in mind and after much thought, I applied to become a Magistrate, I felt I had a great deal to offer, and was able to have an insight and understanding of many different aspects of life, due to my quite diverse life experiences.

I passed through each stage of the interview process; having always answered the questions asked of me as honestly as possible, I also passed the checks that are made to make sure I was of good character. It’s quite a long drawn out process but after all checks and interviews were complete I was duly appointed. The aim these days is for a diverse Bench and on face value that is exactly what you appear to get. The training included and afternoon on “Diversity” which to all present, seemed a little OTT, and on times PC gone crazy, but ok, at least the effort was there. All in all the training was impressive.

In September of 2007, I had cause to telephone the Police, my 13 year old daughter had contacted me from school during the lunch break absolutely petrified. She had been the victim of an ongoing bullying campaign that was particularly nasty; it had been going on for 2 years by this time. The gang involved were 2 years older than her, and had terrorised her to the point where her health and education were suffering (she had missed almost a years school before returning in the September). The school had consistently failed to take any action at all, even though 1 gang member had been prosecuted the September previous. My daughter had been subjected to beatings, she had been spat on, cigarettes had been stubbed out in her hair, she had been verbally abused threatened, and thrown into the traffic on a very busy road outside of her school amid a barrage of threats, racist abuse and foul language. On the day in Question 20th September 2007, my daughter had been told by a key member of this gang that she was going to be subject to a beating, possibly during the lunch break, failing that definitely on her way home. Neither the Head Teacher nor the head of year would make themselves available to speak to me, I told the school that in that case I would have to involve the Police.

The Police made it clear that they did not intend to intervene. A very rude and abrasive female officer informed that they were “not body guards”. I asked to speak to her Inspector and when he phoned me back he was equally unhelpful saying there was “Policy in place” which meant the school must deal with this, He could not tell any more about the Policy other than that he believed it existed. I explained that the school were refusing to assist, and therefore the Police must act, he refused saying there was nothing he could or would do. I requested that at the very least Harassment Orders be issued in the hope this would afford my daughter some protection, and if this failed further action could be taken, The Inspector refused saying he could not do that. I explained yes he could I had recently read the Law in relation to this, he jibed at me and asked if I read it on the internet? I explained that I was in fact a Magistrate and had this information from my “Bench Book” so it was most definitely accurate. I also brought to his attention past failings on the part of his Officers, these were personal matters in reference to my disabled son who had been attacked more than one occassion, blunders by his officers meant the perpetrators had escaped prosecution. My daughter had been sexually assaulted at her place of work ( McDonalds), refusal by Officers to collect CCTV footage meant that her assailant escaped . On one occassion an Officer had made mocking comments, and later lied by denying them when I asked his Inspector to intervene. These "personal" experiences were conveniently recorded as matters that had arisen in Court, I had apparently stated that I had heard the Police "fibbing" in Court all the time. This remark was not made, and indeed could be proven to have been very highly unlikely to have been made in my capacity as a Magistrate, but the personal incidents to which I refered would be a matter of record.
I was very angry, and told him that I would contact the Police HQ the following day and speak to the Chief Constable.

The Following day after contact with the Chief Constables Office I had a phone call from a Detective Superintendent. He was equally unhelpful, making various excuses as to just why Harassment warnings could not be issued, The gang in question were motivated by a certain family within the locality, and I was questioning as to why this family appeared untouchable, No mention was made in relation to Police Informants by me, but I was immediately subjected to a rant as to how they were not informants. One excuse was that “these people do not respond to the law”, ( I will leave the reader to muse and draw their own conclusion on this comment ) . The top and tail of it was that he was adamant that Harassment Warnings could not be issued in these circumstances, I was equally adamant that they could, and forcibly telling him that I had read the criteria in a Bench book, and that they could be, and should be and that I would not accept his refusal, I told him it was my intention to revert back to the Chief Constable.

Shortly afterwards a Sergeant phoned he called to our home, took a statement from my daughter, and miracle of miracles the Harassment Orders were Issued that evening. The Orders were issued on the gang leader, her sister and the mother.

Small incidents continued, and were reported, and then I was told by a neighbour of this family that the Harassment Orders were withdrawn. I tried on numerous occasions to contact the Inspector (who had by now been promoted to Detective Inspector). Although messages were left, he never returned my calls.

On 19th October 2007, my daughter went out early evening with some friends, she was due home by 8.30, when she had not returned by 10 my husband telephoned me ( I was away due to Gipsy Kings Tour), we were unsure what to do, and decided to give it another hour and see what transpired my husband called me back at 10.45, my daughter had just returned, in a highly distressed state, a drunken adult male from this family had held her against her will, for part of the time he had his fist in her face issuing threats, only releasing her when the male with him started to get windy about it all, the Police were notified immediately and promised to call the following day.( At the time of writing this, 27th February 2008, and despite reminders the Police still have not called in relation to this).

On October 23rd 2007, I was in London the Detective Inspector phoned ( mobile phone) I asked about the Harassment warnings, he told me they might be removed, the reason he gave was that the family concerned “objected to having them issued against them” I was astounded, The Inspector assured me he would speak to me about this on my return home, I informed him about my daughter being detained and threatened a few days before, he assured me he would follow this up.

As I had heard no more on either the status of the harassment Warnings, or what was to be done in relation to my daughter being detained against her will and threatened, I began to make calls to chase matters up This began on 7th November 2007, my daughter had again been threatened at school, and I was getting worried once more for her safety. I was assured by a Sergeant, that he had left a message for the Inspector to contact me urgently, I got no response so over the next week I left several messages, but still got no response. on 20th November 2007, and by now totally fed up. I was pondering on the position;
were this gang, led by this family untouchables?..they most certainly appeared to be.
If they were not untouchables as the Police assured me they were not, then why was my daughter not being protected by the law? ..if they were not untouchables….then was it then the case that my daughter was “fair game”? ……what could make my child fair game ? She seemed average enough..dressed like all the other kids…liked all the same music….There was only one thing that set my child apart…her accent and/or her origins.

I contacted the Office of the Chief Constable, I spoke to the Assistant Chiefs P.A, she told me she would leave a message and someone would get right back to me, nothing happened and I phoned again the following day (21st) she was surprised I had received no contact and told me she would get another message across there and then, The following day there was still no response, I tried to speak to the PA again on the Friday (23rd) but she was not in her office.

On 23rd November 2007, a letter of complaint was sent to the Bench about my conduct during telephone conversations, on 20th and 21st September 2007, these conversations were with the original female officer , 2 Sergants (with whom I never spoke) and the Inspector on 20th September, and with the Superintendent on 21st September 2007. It was felt that my conduct was one of expressing prejudice against the Police by my comments, thus meaning I could not be impartial if sitting in Court, and also that I abused my position, by telling Officers that I knew it was indeed Harassment because I was a Magistrate and I had seen the relevant criteria for Harassment in my Bench book. So, throughout the remainder of September, the whole of October, and the most part of November, some 2 months and 2 days in total, nobody felt inspired to complain, yet now on 23rd November, 3 days after I had again began to ask questions and direct them via the Chief Constables Office, suddenly I was a threat to the Justice system!

The complaint had come from The Inspector ( now Detective Inspector), The Superintendent, the first Officer I spoke to, who had been rude to me and 2 Sergeants, both of whom were named, who claimed to have been concerned by my conduct when they spoke to me , I knew without doubt that I had not spoken to these 2, the Police log later proved that I had not !

I was told I could not sit in Court until this matter resolved, I was also told there would be a hearing before a Panel of Lord Chancellors Advisory Committee for the area, I was allowed to take some one with me for moral support, and asked what days I would be available, I said that the person I wanted to go with me could go any day at all , except for a Wednesday. A hearing date was set for 30th January 2008 ..a Wednesday..apologies were made for the fact it was a Wednesday . This date was arranged in early/mid December; it seemed that it must be a Wednesday, as some “key” people needed it to be a Wednesday. To say I was beginning to feel “stitched up” is an understatement!

The Inspector and Superintendent submitted Statements, both of which were utter fabrications of the truth. The Superintendent claimed that I had phoned him, when in fact he had phoned me, a small point maybe, but important, as he is a Professional Officer who should be used to recording facts accurately. The tone of his statement was one of me using my position as a Magistrate to gain favour, which was totally wrong, I was phoning as a mother, I was stating I was also a Magistrate to try to make him listen to me, because I was correct, it was harassment, and he could and should take action, which of course he was forced to do. So clearly I was correct, I should not have had to go to such lengths of phoning the Chief Constable and quoting the law to get the help my daughter was entitled to ..”by law”.

I had attended the hearing alone, I had no choice, I was shocked that after hearing evidence from the Inspector,which took about 20 minutes at most, a break was decided upon while we waited for the Superintendent to arrive from the Police Station. The Panel were made up of 3 Magistrates who were from another Bench and whom I did not know . My disabled son was ill on that day, and I was keen to get this hearing over with to return home, the panel were aware of this, but a fiasco then took place that I found both incredulous and insulting. We had not been there long before this enforced break while we waited for the Superintendent, the inspector had left and we were stood out on a landing where coffee, and biscuits were ordered and delivered, on arrival it was decided that toast would be better having ordered the toast there was concern over whether this would be white or brown toast. There was great joviality and silliness, which I found somewhat misplaced as they were there to decide on my integrity.

The Superintendent gave a wonderful performance which was a greatly enhanced version of his original statement, and it was accepted with enthusiasm. I had written(faxed) to the Chief Constables PA on 24th January 2008 to ask if the conversations I had with the various officers would have been recorded, and also to clarify that I spoke to their office and they had the Superintendent to call me. I got no reply) On the day of the hearing (30th), his account had been nicely tailored , he now stated that he phoned me as the Chief Constables Office had asked him to, and nobody on the Panel batted an eyelid. His evidence was peppered with lies and innuendo that led me to believe that he was very subtly drawing attention to my ethnic background, and was claiming that I had told him that I was frequently racially abused within the community, and that I had sworn, I had told him about the vile racist abuse my child had been subjected to and the foul names she had been called. I was not swearing at him, I was outlining what my daughter, a child was going through.By making it sound as if I was claiming to be racially abused and name called, he was effectively making me appear an outcast in the community that as a Magistrate I was to serve!
His evidence was twisted and distorted and accepted without question by the Panel.Even though some of his claims could be proven wrong as a matter of official records.

When I had my chance to speak I pointed out that 3 of the complaining Officers had neither made statements against me or attended on that day, The Secretary to the Panel had said that he had contacted all 3 officers on several occasions asking for statements but none had responded in anyway. I had told how the 2 Sergeants mentioned had not even spoken to me, therefore the complaint against me if not proven to be false was at least exaggerated. The claim that they had spoken to me was a lie! The Polices own log proved it.

I told the Panel that I only kept repeating the fact I was a magistrate in order to make them listen to me, to prove I knew there was Law in place to protect my daughter. It was claimed that I was trying to gain some advantage…..to this day I cannot see how, asking for a child to be afforded protection from the law, and using the knowledge I had gained in my position as a Magistrate was gaining advantage? I was only asking for what any citizen is entitled to, how can asking for what is rightfully yours be in any way be gaining advantage?

I told the panel how I was not prejudiced against the Police, I saw the Police as I did any other organisation, with both good and bad within its ranks, this is a realistic view point surely?. I had only the month before given up my own time to see 2 senior officers from a neighbouring force, in order to try and help the Police understand the needs of the Gypsy and Travelling people. Far from harbouring prejudice I am keen to break down barriers and get people talking.

I made it clear that I found it abhorrent that the Police should try and have me removed from the Bench for my conduct in a personal matter, but also how I found it equally abhorrent that any Magistrate who airs concern about the Police should be subject to such an assault.

The Panel agreed with the Police, and have recommended The Lord Chancellor should remove me from my position. They failed to see that I was acting as the mother of a terrified child, and went on to say that in regard to the Police they feel that I am incapable of recognising my own prejudices! I was outraged by this comment, from 3 people who had met me for a limited time in difficult circumstances. If anything on the day I feel the Panel failed to be impartial, indeed I would go so far as to say that I felt that it mattered not a jot what I said, the Police had made a complaint and that was that.

Taking all of this into account, if any Magistrate who speaks out or airs concern about the Police should be ousted, how diverse is the Bench? All the PC diversity training in the world is useless in this environment. Magistrates sit in three’s for the purpose of balance and fairness. To my mind each case should be taken on merit and ALL of the evidence, and of course the evidence should be questioned thoroughly, a person’s liberty can depend upon it. If the Police want compliant Magistrates, and that’s certainly how it appears to me, then the integrity of the Bench and Justice itself is in jeopardy. And where in Gods name does this leave a Defendant? Doesn’t he or she have the right to expect to be in front of a Bench with a balanced and realistic outlook?. In this climate surely there would be hardly any need for a Court at all. It would be more or less a fore gone conclusion that if you stand accused by the Police, then you must be guilty, a frightening prospect.

I have been falsely accused by the Police, and the Panel, all of whom are experienced Magistrates, either failed to see, or refused to see the truth of the matter and the flaws in the complaint made against me, a worrying state of affairs to say the least, Thankfully it was my integrity alone that was at stake and not my liberty and my ability to earn a living.

The Coat of arms in the Court room bears the words ;
Dieu et mon droit(God and my right)
Honi soit qui mal y pense('Evil to him who evil thinks')

I'll second that !

Amended Saturday 1st March due to requests in comments section of this post

Officers in Question.

Detective Superintendent Mark Smith

Detective Inspector Ian Miller

Pc Mandy Ware (1st officer I spoke to)

Sgt Thomas

Sgt Whimsey

Last three added their names to the complaint but failed to either attend hearing or issue statements, Sgt's Thomas & Whimsey, falsely claimed I spoke to them .

The Police log proves their allegation is false!

Dick Jones's Blog

2008-02-15T19:14:00.002Z

I would like to thank Dick Jones for sharing his wonderful blog with me, and for allowing me to share it with you all. Dick is a Poet and this is very apparent in this beautifully written blog, which contains many of his poems.

During the 1980's Dick did a lot of work with the Romany people, there is an account of this on his blog entry dated February 11th 2008, Dick kindly gave me permission to copy this onto my blog for you to read, please go to Dicks blog to see the accompanying photographs http://patteran.typepad.com/. I'm sure you will all find this a very interesting post, and many of you will enjoy the "family names" that are mentioned.

Nais tuke Dick, Kushti baxt phral x

Extract from Dicks blog;

The other day I came across a set of photographs that I took during my association with a group of Gypsy families in the 1980s. I wished I’d laid hands on them a couple of years ago when I posted a two-part piece on Gypsies. They would have made the perfect visual accompaniment to the section on the Yateley families.

I’m going to try the patience of my longer-term readers by posting now a slightly revised version of that account so as to provide a context for the pictures.

First of all, a poem that I wrote shortly after the funeral of Ellen Collins, a woman of extraordinary wisdom & judgement. Sadly, I can find no photos of her, although I can remember her posing with great dignity & grace for several shots amongst her collection of Crown Derby china.

BEBEE ELLEN’S MERRIPEN

Sometimes they stand in twos
and threes at the edge
of the road, arms folded,
eyes unfocussed, expecting nothing

but more of the same. Dogs bark
staccato over the pulse of generators.
Washing flickers between the vans,
random semaphore, and clocks

run slow. Sun rises over the warehouse,
sets behind the chain link fence.
But on Sunday old Aunt Helen died.
Inside her trailer mourners fidget,

watched by the gold-haloed faces
of her best Crown Derby plates.
No-one speaks but half-words form
in the gas fire’s popping, in the wind

around the broken door. Holding flowers
and a card he cannot read, brush-headed
Johnny, the boxer hero, racks tears
into a cushion. Sister Lizzie

glances sideways, gnaws a fingernail.
Traffic raises curtains in the rain
and Georgie stands where his mother
used to sit at night with her roll-ups

and her pint of tea. Arms folded
and his eyes unfocussed, he dreams
awake, pondering atavistic visions
of the fires of Little Egypt,

of the briar and the gorse,
of slower tides than these
that pull us all from history
and into the new lands.

*AUNT ELLEN’S DEATH in Anglo-Romani, the dialect of Britain's Gypsies.

...

THE YATELEY GYPSIES

My interest in Gypsies has its origins in pure romance. Many years ago I picked up a book called The Wind on the Heath in a second-hand bookshop. It was an anthology of historical writings about Gypsies & within a few pages I was entirely seduced. The depiction of a raffish, swarthy, inscrutable people living not within but at the edge of society, sleeping out under the stars, poaching in the greenwood, speaking an exotic tongue represented a heady vision of freedom & self-determination & breathed new life into the fading utopian dreams of the early ‘70s.

When, eventually, I put the books aside, took courage & encountered the real thing by walking onto an illegal site at Yately a few miles from my home in Farnham, Surrey, the trappings of myth fell away. Well, maybe not entirely: the raffishness, the inscrutability, the aura of authentic difference from the (largely inhospitable) host population remained a distinctive feature always. But the loud, raucous, demanding, suspicious, sometimes confrontational persona became for a while the reality. There were many times when – mistaken for a policeman, a council official, a bailiff, or simply seen as an intrusive stranger – I had to stand my ground & deal with bitterness, confusion & anger.

I gained some credibility with the Gypsies simply by being in a position to articulate publicly their argument in the ongoing debate concerning the status of the local unofficial Gypsy site. They wanted the site granted official recognition but residents were anxious to see the back of the settlers, citing the usual objections of plummeting house prices, rubbish left at roadsides, barking dogs & tales of thefts or incidents of violence that always seemed to have happened to some one else who knew someone else who was the victim.

So I wrote a series of letters to the two local newspapers, both widely circulated, signing them as from the families on the site. With something like 80% illiteracy amongst adult Gypsies at that time this was a service that made some sense. My letters provoked fury in various forms ranging from the barely literate to the eloquently inhumane. Whilst a few murmurs of support crept onto the letters page now & then, accompanied occasionally by moderate, entirely reasonable pleas for consideration of the needs of local housedwellers, the overall effect of providing a voice for the Gypsies was to poke a stick deep into the wasps’ nest. Through many of those extreme responses I had my first encounters with the ugliness & brute ignorance that underpins so much of attitudes towards Gypsies.

Gradually the implacable reserve & suspicion of the Gypsies with whom I was liasing melted away &, as I became more involved in the mass of practical issues that resulted from illegal encampment, friendships formed. Working principally with three or four leaders (never acknowledged as such by the others, never officially accepted as such by the men themselves), I obtained legal representation & we set about prosecuting Hampshire County Council for non-implementation of the Caravan Sites Act. The least we were able to achieve in the early days was the entanglement of the Council in so much procedural red tape that actions to evict were constantly delayed & postponed. The most we achieved in the long term (& it took several years) was the provision of an official site for all the families in a decent area away from housing, sewage plants & the motorway.

During the 10 years in which I was involved with Gypsy families in Surrey & Hampshire I experienced again & again their generosity, their dark humour, their resourcefulness, their optimism, their powerful allegiance to family & their deep, self-defining pride in their ethnicity. When I moved from Surrey I lost touch with the families. But I have many abiding memories of good times & bad - of warm caravans on winter heathland, across which blew the very winds that introduced me to the Romany dream years before; of pouring rain & ankle-deep mud through which bailiff’s Landrovers slithered, towing out the very same caravans… Of the following:
• Trips up to London with men in battered hats & Luton ‘traveller’ boots to talk with Saville Row-suited barristers in Lincolns Inn Fields.
• Striking deals with the property company that bought the land on which, at one time, the families were encamped - £100.00 per family to move off voluntarily, each family represented by how ever many caravans they owned (& Fuzzy Eastwood borrowing four tourers from his family in Berkshire & driving each one out in quick succession without being recognised by the paymaster at the gate.)
• The one tap in the centre of the Napley Road site from which all the families had to draw brackish, brown water & the local doctor (who was angry about the proximity of Gypsies to his five-bedroom house) unable to deduce why so many babies & young children were brought to him with gastric complaints.
• Eating jellied eels with Johnny Stevens, Georgie Collins & Bluey Bagley on the Derby Day hillside where, traditionally, Gypsies from all over Britain traditionally gather; listening to them speaking Anglo-Romani – the poggado-jib, or ‘broken tongue’ - & understanding virtually every word.
• Turning up one morning to a piece of rough ground at the bottom of a slope in Farnborough where the families had moved days before just ahead of eviction & being shown 12 variously charred car tyres that had been rolled flaming down the slope during the night.
• Watching 70-year-old Joby Cooper step-dancing inside a circle of wildly cheering, ecstatically drunk Gypsy men & boys at Misty Collins’ wedding.
• Arguing with a local Tory MP about obligations to beleaguered Gypsy families with nowhere to go as he posed for regional television cameras & being told (off camera) that since they weren’t householders & weren’t in rented accommodation they had no vote & thus fell outside his sphere of interest.
• Standing by an outside fire one autumn evening listening to 98-year-old Nofella Smith, Bui & Georgie Smith’s grandmother, reciting without pause for recollection & barely drawing breath, the names & interrelationships of all her ancestors back five generations.
• Taking photographs of Georgie Collins, Young Joby Cooper, Old Joby Cooper & his wife Esther, Johnny Stevens, Bui & Georgie Smith, Jackie Louder, Caleb & Mary Wenman on the opening day of the new official site; watching the breezy jubilation of the County Council officials, so proud of the results of their relentless & unsparing work for the Gypsy families; looking back at the impassive faces of the Gypsy men & women, displaying no gratitude to these fly-by-night local dignitaries, expressing if anything a quiet satisfaction at the successful culmination of 8 years of dogged, stubborn battle…
• Then of walking around the trailers, all drawn up onto their own hard-won pitches to say goodbye to the families on the eve of my move from Surrey to Hertfordshire.

Latest News From Beluarus.

2008-02-15T19:03:00.000Z

I recently recieved an email from my dear friend Nicholas Kalinin in Belarus. I am attaching his email for you all to read.

Nais Tuke Nicholas & Kushti Baxt.( and thank you for your prayers)

The Email.

On January 24 Belarusian delegate in Europe and Travelers Forum, lawyer Kalinin Nicolas, accosts to Belarusian government with proposition to establish in Belarus minority and faiths roundtable.

This idea is manifest on everyday needs and challenges. In 2007 there were some serious discrepancies in Belarusian human rights policy. If we try to explore some problematic cases, we can conclude that sometimes it’s physically impossible to deliver to Belarusian government propositions and ideas from Belarusian citizens. At the same time, some proposition from Belarusian citizens, which are delivered to authority come out so distorted and baffling that nobody can benefit from it. Due to specific human reasons, finally it’s leading only to misunderstanding and can’t lead to mutual dialogue between authority and Belarusian citizens. The biggest problem is lack of dialogue among these two sides. Due to barriers and obstacles all attempts are doomed to failure.
Lack of meaningful interaction with authority leads to difficulties, which impact negatively on all layers of Belarusian society. Internal policy like a foreign policy, must be based on essential conclusions. Information is accessible in modern society and all people, who are interested in it, are allowed to use it. Sometime problems are rooted in how people implement this information. A lot depends on personal perceptions.
As a good example of successful work, is European Roma and travelers Forum. This forum enables Roma people to raise their voices and to be heard. Roma people themselves came up with this idea and Roma people are final recipient of this work. Roma participate in the discussions and Europe takes into account their hopes and expectations.
The roundtable in my opinion can solve a lot of problems. At first, all information from national minorities and religions can be delivered directly to Belarusian authority without any kind of distortions. Roundtables already exist in different countries and are quite successful. Representatives from national minorities and religions are in position to share their relevant ideas with authority. At the same time, it helps to reinforce intercultural dialogue between different people within society. My proposition is to create permanent roundtable under the Belarusian society from representatives from national minorities and religions to enhance cooperation and to solve same problems.
People have a right to be heard.

Belarusian Roma Lawyers Group
Minsk

Hello in Holland !

2008-01-29T10:27:00.000Z

Would the 2 students who emailed me from Holland last week get in touch. I would be delighted to help you, but I have lost your email address.

Happy Christmas ~ And A Sad Farewell To A Much Loved & Cherished Friend.

2007-12-24T21:57:00.000Z

This is a very mixed post. Firstly I would like to wish everyone who reads my blog, new friends and old a very happy and peaceful Christmas. This is such a special time, this year we have 2 new little grandaughters Emily & Megan celebrating their very first Christmas, they are both a little bit young yet to understand, but I'm sure by next year they will both be enjoying the magic and excitement. Belle is 4 years old now, and really excited, I bet she will be up very early in the morning to see if Santa has appreciated her " good behaviour" :-). Little Charlotte was visiting us yesterday all better now after her treatment for Leukaemia, busily ripping open her Christamas cards. By next Christmas we will ahve another little grandaughter, my grandson Matthew will be visiting on 27th, he will no doubt be feeling very out numbered by all these girls ;-)

A little while ago I posted about my cousin Franks wife who was terminally ill. Sadly Sissy died in the early hours of Christmas Eve. She was just 36 years old and the mother of 11 children, including 1 year old twins.

Sissy passed peacefully in her sleep, having hugged and kissed all of her very much loved children goodnight. I cannot even begin to tell you how saddened I am to be making this post at all, but more so at this time of year. I am sure that you will all hope and pray her husband and children can some how find some peace and comfort.... but how I really do not know.

Sissy seems to have known that last evening was her last, she told the children she may not be with them for Christmas, as she maybe had a " very important birthday party to attend"..and this was said shortly after she told the younger one why presents were exchanged at Christmas, because it was the birthday of Baby Jesus and the three wise men gave him gifts.

If in some heavenly place there is a party for the baby Jesus, all I can say is it will be a rip roarer with Sissy there ;-).

Sissy passed on the night before full moon, a very important night, and my beliefs are that tonight her spirit will make it's journey to the spirit world. and she will have the "Silver Goddess" to light her path.

The picture above depicts very well a place I visit in dreams. I woke early this morning and half awake and half asleep I felt certain it is a place of peace where Sissy rests. There will be some of you reading this who will wonder what I am speaking of, others will know full well, one of the ones who knows is Frank, so he will know what I'm saying. Estrella also knows and to her I say the water is flashing with darting silver fish, all is well in that world.

Mi Kamel tu Sissy mi doori doori bitti phena..kushti ratti xx

Dream well phena, for we are what we dream

Gypsy Children To Hand Petitions to Gordon Brown

2007-11-18T18:47:00.000Z

On 20th November 3 Gypsy children will presenting their petitions the Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Please click on the link below to hear the children talk about their petitions.

Many thanks to Journalist Robert Leslie and the BBC for kindly consenting to my adding thier article to my blog

I am sure you will all wish to join me in wishing latcho drom and kushti baxt to Blue, Johnny and Libby.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/kent/content/articles/2007/11/07/romany_petition_feature.shtml

Gipsy Kings & Reines Anglaises

2007-11-04T12:00:00.000Z

Last month I travelled to Manchester and then to London to see Gipsy Kings on a mini UK tour.
Manchester was spoiled only by over zealous security, who dispite being invited backstage to chat with my friends, a bully of a rascist security man thought he would try to intimidate my friend Marguerite and I and bear in mind we are 2 ladies in our 50's well we were not frightened of him, then I had my camera taken off me even though I had been given permission to take photographs, What a wonderful impression of Britain this gave!. But the concert was FABULOUS, and I hurt myself badly dancing with a really lovely Portugese family.

Le mois dernier j'ai voyagé à Manchester et alors à Londres pour voir les rois gitans en mini excursion BRITANNIQUE. Manchester était seulement près une sécurité ardente corrompue d'excédent, que le dispite étant invité à l'arrière plan à causer avec mes amis, un despote d'un homme de sécurité de rascist a pensée qu'il essayerait d'intimider mon marguerite des prés d'ami et I et nous considérer sont 2 dames en nos années 50 bien nous non effrayés de lui, alors j'a eu mon appareil-photo m'a enlevé quoique j'aie été donné la permission de prendre des photographies, quelle impression merveilleuse de la Grande-Bretagne ceci a donnée !. Mais le concert était FABULEUX, et je me suis blessé dansant mal avec une famille vraiment belle de Portugese

Gipsy Kings are wonderful ambassadors for the Gypsy people. They came from humble beginnings, and they have not allowed fame to change them one little bit. They sing of dancing and family and they do so with joy, they sing of the struggle of our people and they do so with such passion, they sing about being Gypsies and they do so with pride. What always impresses me with thier concerts is the diversity of the audience, so many nationalities gathered. They may not realise it but they do so much to promote inter-culturism, which is what is needed in the world today. And when you look around there are the very young and the very old all enjoying the wonderful night of music and friendship.

Gipsy Kings sont les ambassadeurs merveilleux pour les personnes gitanes. Elles sont venues des commencements humbles, et qu'elles le démuni a permis la renommée les changent un peu de bit. Ils chantent de danser et la famille et eux font avec joie, elles chantent de la lutte de nos personnes et elles font ainsi avec tant de passion, elles chantent au sujet d'être des bohémiens et elles font ainsi avec fierté. Ce qui m'impressionne toujours avec des concerts thier est la diversité des assistances, ainsi beaucoup de nationalités recueillies. Elles ne peuvent pas le réalisent mais elles font tellement pour favoriser inter-culturism, qui est ce qui est nécessaire dans le monde aujourd'hui. Et quand vous regardez autour il y a très le jeune et très le vieux tout appréciant la nuit merveilleuse de la musique et de l'amitié.

Gipsy Kings were at The Royal Albert Hall last years as well and when I sit there watching them I often wonder is there an unseen member of the audience? The Royal Albert Hall was built in memory of Prince Albert the much loved husband of Queen Victoria, who had a great love for the Gypsy people, there are sevreal recorded instances of her kindness to them. When she was a young girl in 1836 she visited a gypsy camp near where she was staying for Christmas and persuaded her mother to send food, blankets and fuel: and she recorded in her diary
"their being assisted makes me quite merry and happy today, for yesterday night when I was safe and happy at home in that cold night and today when it snowed so and everything looked white, I felt unhappy and grieved to think that our poor gypsy friends should perish and shiver from want".

Gipsy Kings étaient chez l'Albert royal Hall des dernières années aussi bien et quand je m'assieds là les observant je se demandent souvent est là un membre invisible des assistances ? L'Albert royal Hall a été construit dans la mémoire de prince albert que le beaucoup a aimé le mari de la Reine Victoria, qui a eu un grand amour pour les personnes gitanes, là sont des exemples enregistrés sevreal de sa bonté à elles. Quand elle était une jeune fille en 1836 elle a visité un camp gitan près où elle restait pour Noël et persuadé sa mère pour envoyer la nourriture, les couvertures et le carburant : et elle a enregistré en son journal intime
"leur être des marques aidées j'aujourd'hui tout à fait joyeux et heureux, pour la nuit d'hier quand j'étais sûr et heureux à la maison dans cette nuit froide et aujourd'hui quand il a neigé ainsi et tout a semblé blanc, je s'est sentie que malheureux et affligé pour penser que nos pauvres amis gitans devraient périr et trembler de voulez".

Queen Victoria's life seemed to intermingle with the Gypsy people even before she was born,When Victoria's father, the Duke of Kent, was stationed at Malta, he heard a Gypsy prophesy that a daughter of his would someday be a great queen. Hearing the call of destiny, he rushed his pregnant wife across the English Channel during a winter storm in order that England's next great queen might be born on English soil. Eight months after his daughter's birth, the Duke of Kent was dead. He died from complications of a head cold. Queen Victoria also loved to have her fortune told and is remembered with great affection by the Gypsy people for proclaiming Palm Reading a legal career amongst the Gypsy groups.

La vie de la Reine Victoria a semblé mélanger avec les personnes gitanes égales avant qu'elle soit née, quand le père de Victoria, duc de Kent, a été posté à Malte, il ait entendu un bohémien prédire qu'une fille à lui serait un jour une grande reine. Entendant l'appel du destin, il a précipité son épouse enceinte à travers la Manche pendant un hiver donnent l' assaut à pour que la prochaine grande reine de l'Angleterre pourrait être soutenue sur le sol anglais. Pendant huit mois après la naissance de sa fille, le duc de Kent était mort. Il est mort des complications d'un froid de tête. La Reine Victoria a également aimé faire dire sa fortune et est rappelée avec grande affection par les personnes gitanes pour proclamer la paume lisant une carrière légale parmi les groupes gitans.

Queen Victoria also had a great love for Gypsy music, and often had Gypsy musicians to play for her when visiting Wales she had Edward Wood to play his harp for her, I believe he later became her official harpist. There is a story in my family of an ancestor busking on the street in London as a young boy, he was with several other young Gypsy boys. It is said that Queen Victoria who was passing in a Carriage stopped to hear them play and threw a large numver of coins to them.
This is why I wonder , when Gypsy Kings play at Royal Albert Hall, if she is not there in spirit. I am sure this great Queen would have loved to see these Gypsy boys playing in the Hall built as a tribute to her husband.I am also sure that given the history Nicholas Reyes singing Un Amore would have touched her heart.

La Reine Victoria a également eu un grand amour pour la musique gitane, et a souvent eu les musiciens gitans à jouer pour elle en visitant le Pays de Gales qu'elle a eu le bois d'Edouard pour jouer son harpe pour elle, je croient qu'il plus tard est devenu son harpist officiel. Il y a une histoire dans ma famille d'un ancêtre busking sur la rue à Londres en tant que jeune garçon, il était avec plusieurs autres jeunes garçons gitans. On lui dit que la Reine Victoria qui passait dans un chariot a cessé de les entendre jouer et a jeté un grand numver des pièces de monnaie à elles. C'est pourquoi je me demande, quand les rois gitans jouent chez Albert royal Hall, si elle n'est pas là dans l'esprit. Je suis sûr que cette grande reine aurait a aimé voir ces garçons gitans jouer dans le Hall construit comme hommage à son husband.I AM également sûr que donné l'histoire Nicholas Reyes le chant d'un Amore aurait touché son coeur

A Message from Frankie Boy

2007-10-14T14:18:00.000Z

The Silent Valley at The Mountains of Mourne
The Mountains of Mourne

I am sat here wanting to say thank you all for the emails and posting on Pesha's blog. I can't tell you just how much comfort it has brought us as a family at a very hard and very emotionelle time.
I asked Pesha to say thank you and she suggested I say so myself and she was good enough to give me her details so I can do this.
I am a man of words I love to write poems and tell stories but right now words seem to have left me. I don't know of a word that can say what I feel. I want to tell you about my wife. Some may say this is an obituary and that might be right. Not many get to read they own obituary but Sissy has always been different to the rest and I know when she is gone I won't be able to do this
I have knowen Sissy since we was kids growing up our paths would cross afew times a year at fairs mostly and I used to think she was a little pest I was her brothers friend and she would always be following us. I got to think a bit different though when she started to blossom into a bit of a looker, then the tables turned and I was following her about and she were telling me to get lost. But she never did mean it she was playing hard to get she would be hard pushed to find a better looking moosh than me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So we got married and thats why I put those photos up of the mountains of Mourne in Eire thats where we went for our honeymoon and we have been back many times since, it's a special place for Sissy and me and when times have got hard and we have been tested that is where we head off to to catch our breath and remember what we are all about.
If you know my girl you will know she is a little lady as pretty as a picture and as firey as hell itself Sissy have got a short fuse and a big heart. She works hard keeping our home spotless and our children fed and well dressed and she is always full of fun and devilment.
People see us arguing and her giving me what for or ripping me up with that sharp tongue of hers and many have said I deserve a medal. But for all of that I know the loving wife I have and when the children are all in bed and we can sit for a bit together I know just why I married her. Whenever I am troubled, my girl knows and she is there by my side and if anyone should give me trouble then they got her to deal with
We have been through a lot together good times and bad times but all that has done is make us stronger. Couple of years back we lost a little baby girl, she was born too soon and was taken back I thought then this is the worst thing that can ever happen but then I could not know about this.
The little pest that kept hanging round , well I saw her grow in to a beautiful vibrant funny young lady
I saw that beautiful girl become the reason why the birds sang and eventually she became my girl
Then my beautiful girl became my beutifuk wife, and in turn my beautiful wife became the mother of our children and just when I thought I knew every side to her, motherhood brought a hole new wonderful amazing gentleness that left me in awe of her. The plan was that we grow old together we watch our children have children of their own. It was not to be. When I told me father that Sissy was going to be taken from me he said to me Frankie I'm not surprised, that one is so full of spark and energy she could not possibly go the 3 score years and ten she was destined to burn out long before
I have been asked why Sonny put the letters S & C in the picture he drew of his mother That is because I call her my crystal and I call her this because she is clear and bright and has many facets to her and each one is dazzling and full of sparkle and throws lightness and brightness around it.
I just do not know how I will live on without my darling and I dread the day I wake up to a still and empty space, but I know as well that I have been blessed
My girl, the devoted mother has made a memory book for each of our children and each one is personal to each child.
Sissy is home again with us but we are told her time is days and weeks not months she is just 36 years old.
I never went much to school but a did for a while and a school master said to me Frankie you are a clever bloke you should come to school and get quailfied the world is your oyster
That bit baffled me all my life the world was my oyster he said which is kushti enough but I never found out how to open the dam thing.
But see I never needed to because my world is in the home with my wife and my children and to all that will say well the Sissy can be a one, all I can say is as our time in this world draws to a close suddenly that oyster has opened up to me and I see that inside there was a wonderful and beautiful pearl growing within it.
My Girl My Pearl my Crystal and my one true love
You will never be gone from me I will hold you in my heart and each heartbeat with be an embrace for you
My life now will be making sure that the part of you that lives on, our precious children want for nothing, rest assured Sissy they will never want for love

Thank you everyone for your kind words they are priceless
Thanks Shay for letting me have my say on the blog
Ashlen Devlesa
Frankie

Miracle Needed!

2007-10-10T14:09:00.000Z

Last night I got a phone call from 2 of my cousin Frankie boys children, Ruby aged 10 and Sonny aged 7,

Frankie Boy and Sissy frequently make comments on this blog, and have 11 beautiful children aged between 17 years and Twin boys who are a year old today.

About 5 months ago Sissy was diagnosed with a terminal illness, it has advanced quickly, and yesterday she finally had to leave her family home and go into hospital. It is as yet unknown if Sissy will be able to return home to spend her final days with her husband and children.

When it was being explained to the children a while ago that their mother was going to have to leave them, the local Catholic Priest Fr Jim, who is a close family friend told the children, not to give up yet, that there is always hope and they should pray for a miracle, because God always listens to the prayers of little children, even if he cannot always answer them.

Sonny tearfully told me how he and his siblings had prayed really hard, but it had not worked... their mother was getting sicker and now could not stay at home. He asked me to put a request on this blog for others to pray as well, and then maybe the miracle would happen.

It was probably the most difficult conversation I have ever had, trying to explain to a little boy, without being able to cuddle him at the same time, that not everyone who asks for a miracle can have one, and sometimes even though they are much loved, some mummies cannot always stay, but that the love they have for their children surpasses even death.

I promised Sonny that I would make a posting on my blog.....and here it is !

Sonny then asked me with great sincerity, if I could also take a look at EBAY for him, just incase there were any miracles for sale that he and his brothers and sisters could pool their money to buy one. I told him that Miracles could not be bought or sold, but that would look anyway.

His sister Ruby then took the phone, she was talking to me, but at the same time explaining to her little brother, that she felt possibly, their mum had to go to heaven to look after the little baby she lost 2 years ago,

Listening to this brave little girl comforting and mothering her little brother, I came to the conclusion, that I'm not sure I believe at all in miracles

But I ABSOLUTELY believe in Angels !

The above pictures were mailed to me this morning by Sonny and Ruby

Pesha / Shay on Rokker Radio, The BBC Radio Program For Gypsies and Travellors

2007-09-23T16:55:00.000Z

I was pleased to be asked to speak on Rokker Radio about my blog. Rokker Radio is a BBC Radio Program for the Gypsy and Travellor communities.

It's a very interesting program that you can listen to online each prgram is available to listen to online for 7 days. . The program goes out between 7pm and 9pm on a Sunday night, and is then updated online.

The program discusses issues that affect the Gypsy and Travelling Communities both in UK and oversea's, and is not only a good thing for those communities, but surely must go a long way in promoting understanding of our culture to those from other cultures who tune in.

The program is presnred by Jake Bowers, who is one of UK's only Romani Journalists, Jake often contributes to the Guardian and to BBC Radio 4.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/aod/networks/three/aod.shtml?three/rokker_radio

I hope you all enjoy listening to Rokker Radio. You can use the link to listen to future broadcasts

Pleased don't be confused that I am called Shay :-)..this is the name I am commonly known by......Pesha being an "addition"

Kushti Baxt

Pesha x

"Jaisalmer Ayo! Gateway of the Gypsies"

2007-09-10T16:16:00.000Z

This is mistro!!!

Melitta Tchaicovsky is a photographer and documentary filmmaker born in Brazil and based in San Francisco, California interested in developing projects that inspire dialogue and action for positive social change and to document ancient and indigenous cultures.

In 2003, Melitta & partner Pepe Ozan have spent seven months in the Thar Desert, Rajasthan in India, to co-create the 54 minutes documentary "Jaisalmer Ayo! Gateway of the Gypsies" an ethnographic documentary which follows the lives of various nomadic communities in Northern India who are believed to share ancestors with the Roma people. "Jaisalmer Ayo!" premiered at the Rotterdam International Film Festival in 2004 and has won the award for Best Documentary at the VideoFEST2004 in San Francisco.

I am not surprised at all to tell you that this film has won many awards as listed below.

For those of you involved in Eduaction Melitta and Pepe are keen to now promote "Jaisalmer Ayo" for the educational market contact melitta@artnetwork.com

Melitta tells me;

"Being Jewish and I feel a very strong connection with the Roma people culture and struggle."

Nais tuke Melitta & Pepe , kushti baxt, bright blessings and Shalom!

Please Click the links below and read the reviews !

http://www.artnetwork.com/JaisalmerAyo/trailler.html

http://www.artnetwork.com/JaisalmerAyo/reviews.html

http://www.artnetwork.com/JaisalmerAyo/links.html

List of Festival Screenings & Awards:

2007 â€¢ Documentary Fortnight Expanded 2007 at The Museum of Modern Art, New York.(MoMA)2006 â€¢ All Roads National Geographic Film Festival, Washington D.C, Los Angeles â€¢Latino Film Festival, CA â€¢ Document 4 Documentary Festival, Glascow, Scotland â€¢ VIII Festival International de Cine y Video de los Pueblos Indigenas, Oaxaca, Mexico â€¢ Mediawave International Festival, Gyor, Hungary. â€¢ Tartu WorldFilm, Tartu, Estonia.2005: Zagreb Film Festival, Croatia.â€¢ 10o Mostra Int. do Filme Etnografico, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. â€¢ California Independent Film Festivall, CA, USA â€¢ Best Documentary Award San Francisco VideoFest, CA.2004 â€¢ World Premiere Rotterdam International Film Festival, Rotterdam, Netherland.â€¢ Festival Globalisering, Amsterdam, Netherlands â€¢Synchron /Szinkron international Human Rights Documentary Festival Budapest, Hungary.â€¢ Swedish Film Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. â€¢ Il Gigante Festival, Florence, Italy.

Romani (Gypsy) Culture on the Internet.

2007-09-10T15:44:00.000Z

Professor Steve Balkin of Roosevelt University, Chicago USA has compliled, This amazing web page of Romani Culture. There is so much here, I'm sure it will keep you all busy and fascinated for hours. Steve has added me to his "Friends on the Internet" section...thank you for that Steve ..I'm honoured.

If any of you know of any good Romani music or videos please pass the links on to Steve so he can add them to his web page . You can email Steve on sbalkin@roosevelt.edu

here's the link to Steves collection ...enjoy

http://faculty.roosevelt.edu/Balkin/roma.htm

Ashlen Devlesa !

Just To Say...Thank You..I'm Fine

2007-09-06T21:01:00.000Z

Kushti Divves to you all

Thank you all so much for your emails Texts and good wishes...Doesn't news travel fast ?

Yes ..I did have a Heart attack ..but I'm fine now...I'm back home with my family.. please don't offer me any sympathy ..it's the result of an unhealthy lifestyle ..and therefore I am ashamed to say self inflicted.

I would like to introduce you all to a very special little somebody in my life 6 week old Alfie..a gorgeous little Border Collie Puppy..

Last Year my much loved Border Collie Lucy died, and I have missed her very much...she was a very old lady but it was still very hard to say good-bye

Alfie came into my life very suddenly a gift from someone I love very much.....a lovely man who often infuriates me..but always makes me laugh..even when I am not very nice at all ..being bad tempered and snappy..because I wasn't feeling too good..but who held my hand in the A&E ( Emergency Room) and when a nurse said you will have to take your bra off for this test..as it's under-wired...replied it needs scaffolding not under-wiring!

So when you read this darling ...sorry I was mean..and sorry when I wouldn't listen and go to Hospital ......I love you ...so very much xxxxxxxx

Life of a Romanychall' . my Romany stories'

2007-08-28T17:54:00.000Z

The link below will take you on a wonderful Journey with Gypsy Leeboy Winter,

Gypsy Leeboy shares his stories from himself and his family with you, and also his songs and music. There are alot of Romany words used in his stories . I have no doubt you will all really enjoy this website

Nais tuke Leeboy for sharing this with us

kushti baxt phal

http://gypsyleeboy.tripod.com/id3.html

Roma Democratic Development Association

2007-08-28T14:47:00.000Z

Nadir Redzepi, Executive Director of the Roma Democratic Association, has sent me the link below. It takes you to their website, which has published "How Long Is The Journey...", an article by Zsuzsanna Ardó, writer and photographer (http://www.ardo.org/). "How Long is the Journey..." is about the Roma Holocaust but also about everyday racism and its consequences. The article was broadcast on BBC in August, in the spririt of 2007, which is the EU Year of Anti-discrimination. Zsuzsanna's photo exhibition, Roma Decade, opens in London 7th September - invite for the launch is here: http://www.zsu.f2s.com/Files/HCC_Photo_Exhibition_Invite.png

http://www.sonce.org.mk/howlong.html

I am honoured to tell you that Mr Redzepi will soon be making contributions to this blog, I am sure if you all take time to look at the Roma Democratic Association web site you will be impressed with the marvellous work that they do. I am also sure that when Mr Redzepi makes his posts you will find them interesting and informative.

kushti baxt !