(en) France, Alternative Libertaire AL #227 - Seine-Saint-Denis: A platform for Roma (fr)

Policy Valls continues that of Sarkozy and his statements outraged the more moderate 
associations. Stroll in the collective 93. ---- Displaced at the whim of evictions may 
increase after a winter break on the so-called Roma populations (a majority of Roma in 
Romania but also sometimes Turkic Bulgars) are estimated around 10,000 people but no one 
can really know until the situation is moving. What is however certain is the extreme 
hardness of their living conditions, the prohibition of access to work that specifically 
targets (due to say transitional measures expire at the end in December but the extension 
n ' is excluded) and the lack of political will to integrate. ---- State mobilizations 
---- It should be recalled living in shacks (cleverly) installed in vacant lots, along 
autoroutes without access to water or lavatories, the efforts of mothers to keep clean and 
very "cozy" interior.

Recall the violence of evictions, destruction of houses under the eyes of children helping 
shovel, then a simple sharing of social effort needed between common enough, European 
funds that exist are hardly used. In response, each mayor reacts in its own way. Montreuil 
(Greens), Saint-Denis (PCF) and Bobigny (PCF) could do better but produce some efforts on 
a targeted number of families, but no city has a truly global policy of access to care, 
immunization of literacy or education. Rosny (UMP) is bent on evictions but tolerates 
schooling. Noisy-le-Grand (PS) and expels opposes schooling ...

Departmental platform

In many cities of various collectives are implemented with the dual task of conducting 
political battles against the institutional stigma and sometimes against the popular 
reactions organize minimum immediate solidarity. Catholic Relief Services is leading with 
LDH and MRAP. Political side, the activists Greens Fase, NPA, AL are more present. At 
Rosny, members of PS are invested. PCF side, its presence on the ground is the exception 
when it is not, as in Montreuil, on the side of popular demonstrations hostile, the mutual 
fund is also sometimes present, unions are totally absent.

At the departmental level, the prefect (still Lambert, the former super cop named in the 
93 for the figure ...) is supposed to set to music the circular of 26 August reminiscent 
of compulsory schooling and provides for the establishment sustainable solutions before 
deportation camps. But nothing moves. A group exists at this level: 93 Platform bringing 
together charities, humanitarian organizations, NGOs, political activists and brings 
together local community. Voice of Roma is also very active but not much brings together 
activists from es communities. There are numerous activities: exchange of information 
required, drafting a charter of demands, public statements. The platform 93 also held in 
early March a joint event with the DAL against all forms of bad housing and to requisition 
empty slots. Two hundred and fifty people for the first Saturday of the school holidays, 
it is rather a success. Activists present will remember a head of the procession where 
Roma and majority populations in Africa shoulder to shoulder merged their slogans.

Jean-Yves (AL Seine-Saint-Denis)