17.03.2016- LETTER

PSV Eindhoven fans behave like disgusting racists by humiliating the poor gypsy women begging on Plaza Mayor in Madrid

They made them dance, jump up and down, throw themselves to the ground and run around, just like dogs do when we throw a stick or ball for them.

 

Perhaps our comments on the unspeakable spectacle led yesterday by PSV Eindhoven snobs against the Romani gypsies who were begging on Plaza Mayor in Madrid might seem unnecessary in view of the great barrage of criticism, comments and condemnation expressed by Spanish civil society, most of which has come from the media and organisations linked to the defence of Human Rights. On behalf of the Union Romani, we thank you all.

As for us, today we’ve proceeded to carry out the following actions:

Firstly: We’ve lodged a formal complaint against the gypsy beggars’’ abusers before the Hate Crime Prosecution Service (Fiscalía de Delitos de Odio), which has its headquarters in Madrid. Our report, based extensively on the legal grounds which support it, is complemented by video footage which should allow the police to easily identify the individuals who acted in such a reproachable manner.

Secondly: We’ve presented several motions for a resolution before the European Parliament, so that the parliamentary groups which make up the Chamber vehemently condemn the behaviour of the PSV Eindhoven fans.

Thirdly: We’ve asked Spain’s Congress of Deputies to likewise adopt a resolution which defines their stance regarding the events described here and potential similar acts of aggression which might happen in the future.

Fourthly: We’ve presented a document to the Dutch ambassador in Spain, in which we ask him to follow up on our request to the Dutch Ministry of the Interior: We asked them to help identify the abusers and prosecute them as the culprits of criminal behaviour against the principles defended by the Treaty of the European Union.

Fifthly: We’ve asked the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to vouch for our request made to the equivalent organisation in Holland: We’ve asked the Dutch Football Association to proceed in the most convenient way possible against PSV Eindhoven’s racist supporters.

Sixthly: Lastly, we’ve urged the Council for the Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination – an agency under the Spanish Institute for Women’s Affairs and the Institute for Equal Opportunities – to hold an urgent meeting with the aim of reaching an agreement on the measures which the Spanish government should adopt in the face of acts of aggression such as the ones reported by us which have had great repercussions in Spanish society.

 

A sad and constant reality

Contemplating on the scenes that we’ve denounced gives us a bleak feeling of sadness, anger and powerlessness.

Sadness when observing just how low we human beings can sink. And we wonder how it’s possible for a large group of young people between the age of 18 and 25, who are strong, well turned-out, most likely well-educated and belonging to well-respected Dutch families, to become cowardly show-offs who take pleasure in observing the pain and suffering of people who are just trying to get a few coins to bring bread home with them.

Anger against everyone and everything, because something very fundamental is failing in our system of cohabitation. We’re constantly talking about moral, civil and even fraternal values, and yet it doesn’t break our heart to see that the behaviour of these young people may be the product of the education that they’re receiving. Events like this have to occur for us to realise that the society in which we happen to live has had holes in it for quite some time now. Dignity is an intangible and invaluable asset. And dignity was lost completely on Plaza Mayor in Madrid, transformed into a Romany circus, or into a clown show, where the mob took great pleasure in watching how the beasts of a soulless society feasted on the most unprivileged.

And powerlessness. We’d like to angrily point out the police’s lack of action in the face of what was a genuine exhibition of criminal behaviour, especially that of the Madrid City Police. One abuser dazzled one of the gypsies by waving a 5-euro note in front of her nose. Five Euros, after the poor women had been running round like madwomen searching for cent coins along the square’s cobblestones, thrown for them by their agitators! And the swine set fire to the money and threw it at the gypsy. Half-burned and of course useless, it landed at the poor woman’s feet and she couldn’t do anything to save it.

What kind of a world do we live in? What legacy are we going to leave our children? I prefer for them not to see the images on the news bulletins while we eat, because it might end up seeming normal to them that we can eat normally while thousands of humans are begging in Greece, covered in mud and grime, at the border with Macedonia, trying to cross into a new territory where they’ll be able to make the most of the crumbs that fall from our table.

Sadness, anger and powerlessness, although it does provide some consolation to see a man in one of the videos ― who, judging by his age, could be the father of any one of those braggarts ― giving them a dressing down for their disgusting behaviour. And, after realising that they weren’t taking the slightest bit of notice, it came from his soul to turn to them and say, if you’ll forgive the expression:

“You sons of bitches!!”

 

Juan de Dios Ramírez-Heredia

Lawyer and journalist

President of the Union Romani

 

 

 

Note:

You can see the various videos showing what happened on Plaza Mayor in Madrid.

 

 

 

 

 

This English translation has been possible thanks to the PerMondo project: Free translation of website and documents for non-profit organisations. A project managed by Mondo Agit. Translator: Thomas McGuinn.

 

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