Dr Jan Cibula First president of the International Romani Union
Big Ben with Gypsy Council Ustiben (Rising) banner with from left to right: late Josie Lee, then presidident of the Gypsy Council, Dr Jan Cibula, IRU, and late Charlie Smith, chair of the GC.
Romani dancers and musicians with Dr Cibula
Romani dancer from Poland

Romani Rad Dance Troupe
Members of the Trans-European Roma Federation Chairman Ladislaz Balaz standing behind banner on far left
Members of Amare Phrale (Our Brothers) Romano Themutno Dives, 8 April 2009. Hungary
Parade by members of Amare Phrale (Our Brothers) Romano Themutno Dives, 8 April 2009. Hungary

Historical Events

Romani MEP Livia Jaroka

MEP Lívia Járóka has stated that the best way to combat the rise of anti-Roma extremism is to create jobs for the most excluded communities, to grant their fundamental rights and to improve living conditions. She rejects the political misuse of the situation of Roma by any political group and points out that the voice of Roma was almost never heard, even in the design and implementation of integration projects, where a much stronger Roma involvement is necessary.

The Threat: RACIST TERROR

ISTANBUL/ The video named "The Threat: Racist Terror" prepared by Çingeneyiz Movie Team is about racist terror attacks targeting Gypsies in Balkans. The movie, in which some of the most terrible terrible terrorist attacks caused death in Balkans are being explained, shows the bloody face of far-right racist movements raising in Balkans using a anti-ziganist hate discourse.

http://www.cingeneyiz.org/klb.html

Mammoth Indian Rally For "8 APRIL" (2003)

Seva Sangh Golden Jubilee on Roma Nation Day

Hundreds of thousands of people from all over India are expected to converge on a small town in
Maharashtra State to celebrate "8 April", in solidarity with Roma Nation Day rallies around the world.

Described as a mammoth gathering, the event at Dingras Town, Yevatmal, will mark the Golden
Jubilee of the All India Banjara Seva Sangh.

It will coincide with mass processions, demonstrations and candle-lighting ceremonies by Romani communities in sixty countries across Europe, North and South America and the Middle East.

Participation in the joint celebrations could total between 500,000 and one million, according to estimates by the organizers.

Endorsing the marking of both historic occasions together, Hristo Kyuchukov, general-secretary of the International Romani Union, called it "a fantastic initiative" which would create the largest yet "8 April" global mobilization.

"By showing our strength in numbers", writes AIBSS president Ranjit Naik, "we shall all gain in bargaining power in the social and political fields."

Digras was the birth place of the AIBSS back in 1953. It now links communities in 26 states, from the Punjab and Chandigarh to Tamil Nadu, numbering some 60 million people.

"THE MARCH OF 100,000"

Romani National Day 2001

This year is special as it's the 30-year Jubilee of the lst World Romani Congress.

The Congress adopted the blue and green flag, embossed with the red Ashok Chakra, the Indian symbol of perpetual life, and decided that the opening day 8 April should become "Romani National Day."

In London, we have had a working group preparing our events for some months, as well as lending a hand in coordinating rallies and celebrations in some l50 towns and cities around the world.

Many of these are linking up for the "March of 100,000", under the banner of Ustiben 2001. The more militant tendency of the Ustiben (Rising) has arisen as a response to an appeal by Roma who have been ethnically-cleansed from Kosovo.

They are now scattered - some 80,000 in all - as refugess around Europe, indeed the globe.

Also from newly formed Roma organizations in South America, which have urged we all utilize Romani National Day for a world-wide manifestation in favour of Roma rights and recognition.

Taken up by the Roma Parliament, meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia (3-4 March) and by the Quito Conference, in Ecuador (13-14 March), the momentum for Romani nation recognition by the UN is to be carried forward to the World Anti-Racism Conference in Durban, South Africa, at the end of August.

Our main event for Romani National Day will be a rally in Parliament Square, led by Dr Jan Cibula, plenary president of the 2nd World Romani Congress.

We shall be remembering all the victims of racist attacks - of which there have been not a few in the UK - and paying our respects to Roma who lost their lives in the two World Wars.

Among the many events abroad are a rally outside the UN in New York, a march in Gent, Holland, a concert in Vienna City Hall, an assembly in Sydney, Australia, and major manifestations in Belgrade, Bucurest, Sofia, Skopje and other European capitals.

Charles Smith

chairman of the Gypsy Council

We'll Keep On Celebrating Roma Nation Day in Verona

In Verona, Italy, people met at 6.30pm at the Arsenale for the Roma Nation Day River Ceremony 2002. Some had arrived earlier to prepare the music and flowers.

When the first of us arrived, three police vans were already there "to protect us".

We prepared a table with flowers, candles and leaflets. Colourful posters remembering the meaning of the Romano Dives were exhibited. The music system was set on, with music of Italian and Hungarian Roma, and German Sinti.

It was rainy, windy and cold but despite this everybody came bringing flowers, wanting to celebrate, to stay together and to dancee to the music.

With the music playing, we walked to the bank of the river and drop the flowers into the flow. We were about 70 people.

Many children could not come because of the weather. The Romanian Roma are still in a precarious situation and are at the moment living quite a distance from Verona.

The Harvati Roma sent a small delegation. But it was a good start, and we will keep on celebrating the Romano Dives, to make it also in Verona, a real Baro Dives.

Lorenza Montasta

Alessia Berardinelli

Antiracist Committee Cesark

Roma Escape From Detention Centre

A number of Roma are still on the run after the serious fire and break-out at Yarl's Wood detention centre for asylum-seekers near Bedford.

The fire and alleged riot at Yarl's Wood, following the handcuffing of an elderly woman, occurred on the night of 14-15

February. It was preceded by a hunger-strike involving 130 detainees.

One week later, nine detainess, including one Rom from Romania and another from Moldova, escaped from Harmondsworth detention centre near Heathrow Airport, London,

The two climbed from a second-floor window and scaled the seven-metre fence.

At the time of reporting, a total of 34 detainess from Yarl's Wood and Harmonnsworth are still free.

Members of the Trans-European Roma Federation have demonstrated at the gates of Yarl's Wood calling for the centre to be closed. Many Roma continue to be held there.

On Roma Nation Day, 8 April, further demonstrations will be held outside the residence of Prime Minister Blair and at the Home Office demanding an end to detention and "fast-track" deportations.