Hungary Buries Two Roma Killed by Hate

by Ese Omofoma
Impunity Watch, Reporter

TATARSZENTGYORGY, Hungary - Thousands of people, mostly Roma, joined the funeral procession Tuesday of a young boy and his father who were shot dead last week in the latest in a series of attacks on Roma in Hungary. The crowd included politicians from parliamentary parties and civil rights activists.

The killings last Monday were the latest in a series of more than a dozen attacks on Roma in Hungary in which seven people have died over the past year. Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom said Saturday that the economic crisis had created an urgent need for Hungary and other east European countries to show more understanding for Roma. It was not known whether last week's attack was racially motivated and police have so far failed to track down the perpetrators.  However, Roma community leaders said it bore similarities to other attacks on Roma in other parts of the country.

There has been a growing resentment against the Roma as the economic crisis deepens and jobs are lost. The Roma often remain on the margins, lacking jobs and proper education and living in deep poverty. The growth of the far-right over the past two years, which fights what it says is a rise in "Roma crime," has also contributed to a rise in antagonism, activists say.

The village of Tatarszentgyorgy, which has about 1,900 residents, has been shocked by the attack. "We still cannot comprehend what happened and this sentiment rules in the entire village," a Roma couple said. Peter Ignacz, 50, who arrived from Szolnok in the east of Hungary with around 30 members of his family and is also of Roma origin says, "Roma do not get any protection and this attack is totally outrageous, and to be honest, Roma people are afraid."

For more information, please see:

IHT - Hungary buries two Roma killed by hate - 3 March 2009

Portfolio - Hungary's Roma bury victims in emotional funeral - 3 March 2009

Budapest Times - Race war feared - 1 March 2009