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So, what has Bulgaria done since the fall of communism to reverse the ethnic separation of Bulgarian Gypsies through ghettoization? Not much, it seems:
the gypsy community was strongly oppressed by the Todor Jivkov government. A good example of the time would be the city of Burgas, situated on the Black Sea coast. Gypsies were forced to live in ghettos located near the skirts of the cities and were used for low qualified jobs. At a certain point, gypsies were "encouraged" by the police (then "Milicia") not to leave their ghetto and enter the city as rarely as possible. Every morning several trucks would transport the gypsies in town, before anyone was awake, so they can clean the city, and then transport them back before they could disturb anyone. The Milicia were not very fond of gypsies either - any situation would be dealt with by starting with the individuals with the darkest complexion. It is important to note, that during those years, as well as today, all Bulgarian citizens (everyone with a Bulgarian residence - Bulgarians, Turks and gypsies) were legally required to go to grade school.

Then the communist regime fell and oppressed gypsies, whose jobs were assured by the communist government, were left unemployed and uneducated.
...

Aid workers estimate that 90-95 percent of Roma in Bulgaria are chronically unemployed, hampered by illiteracy and prejudice, and the overall economic slump.


guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Apr 19th, 2006 at 07:00:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Actually Roma get benefits that Bulgarian don't. No Bulgarian was offered land for free, no Bulgarian can enter a university so easily and for such low taxes. The problem is that I don't see many gypsies taking advantage of the offers.

Interestingly enough, during communist time, there were houses built especially for the Roma (near the town of Rousse). They were quickly disassembled by the Roma, who took everything back to their houses in the ghetto.

So, would you say there is imposed "ghettoization"? I wouldn't. Would you say the Roma want to be part of the society? I wouldn't.

Be careful! Is it classified?

by darin (dkaloyanov[at]gmail.com) on Wed Apr 19th, 2006 at 11:34:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Fair enough.

guaranteed to evoke a violent reaction from police is to challenge their right to "define the situation." --- David Graeber citing Marc Cooper
by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Wed Apr 19th, 2006 at 11:35:44 AM EST
[ Parent ]
...no Bulgarian can enter a university so easily and for such low taxes. The problem is that I don't see many gypsies taking advantage of the offers.

Well, as most of them were shoved off to special schools, a form of discrimination thematised repeatedly both my me and Alexandra, this opportunity is none to most, so you shouldn't be surprised.

Facing contempt on a daily basis is another strong factor you seem to not even think of. This really seems a personal experience thing - those who got a taste of it themselves (like me and hitchhiker) do have a picture of what it means, those who didn't can continue to cling to illusions that everyone would have the same opportunities if only they tried.

Interestingly enough, during communist time, there were houses built especially for the Roma (near the town of Rousse).

This (and similar projects by the other 'communist' governments elsewhere) was not much of an intent at integration by the State, more like herding people like guinea pigs into cleaner, brighter ghettos (and tearing up family ties in the process). A later form of this, after 1989, was that some majors tried to segregate poor Romas living in social housing in their towns by building houses for them isolated somewhere outside of town, and then issued an eviction order.

What should be done instead? Some NGOs give help to Romas to renovate or build homes on their own.

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Thu Apr 20th, 2006 at 07:18:11 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Well, as most of them were shoved off to special schools, a form of discrimination thematised repeatedly both my me and Alexandra

qika PR just posted a great diary thematising this in greater detail - everyone check it out!

*Lunatic*, n.
One whose delusions are out of fashion.

by DoDo on Thu Apr 20th, 2006 at 05:06:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Thanks for adding an announcement here! I would not have picked up on this story having been offline for the past few days. For anyone else interested here is the direct link: http://www.eurotrib.com/story/2006/4/20/143827/618
by Alexandra in WMass (alexandra_wmass[a|t]yahoo[d|o|t]fr) on Sun Apr 23rd, 2006 at 05:00:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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