Czech Republic: Numbers of foreigners
01 January 1991
Czech Republic: Numbers of foreigners
artdoc May=1994
In the Czech Republic, the government has expressed concern about
what they describe as a `swelling' foreign population. According
to a recent government report, the number of foreigners living
in the Czech Republic more than doubled between January and June
1993. The report's authors also warn that if the numbers continue
to grow, foreigners will comprise 1-2 per cent of the population
by the end of 1993.
The government says that the figures are probably an
underestimate, as many foreigners are failing to register. The
local council in the northern Bohemian town of Brandys and Labem
attempted to impose a 10,000 kc fine on migrants not registered
with the local council and the state police.
The government report implies that stricter visa requirements
will be brought in, and new treaties introduced allowing the
Czech Republic to send foreigners back to their countries of
origin (Prague Post 6.9.93).
Meanwhile, the new German asylum law is forcing Slovakia to
become a buffer zone for refugees from eastern Europe, with some
2,000 asylum-seekers being spread around holding-centres
throughout the country (Guardian 23.8.93).
Four Gypsies killed in Czech Republic
According to the Foundation for Improving the Status of Gypsies,
there were four killings of Gypsies in the Czech Republic in the
space of one week.
On 27 September, Jitka Chanova, died in Pilsen from head
injuries sustained after she had leapt from a moving tram to
escape an assault by two skinheads. Jitka, who was with four
friends at the time, was assaulted by the youths,who shouted
racial abuse. Her friends escaped the assault by leaping from the
moving tram but Jitka hesitated, as she was afraid to jump. Now,
as no witnesses have come forward, it is unclear whether she was
pushed or whether she jumped. One of the skinheads responsible
for the attack, a former classmate of Jitka's, has disappeared.
Another Romany youth to be killed was 18-year-old Tibor Daniel
who drowned in the River Otava in Pisek, south Bohemia, after
being attacked and chased by skinheads on 24 September. When
Tibor Daniel and his friends jumped into the river to escape
attack, they tried to swim to the other side. But there they were
met by more skinheads, armed with weapons, throwing stones and
screaming racial abuse (Report of the Foundation for Improving
the Status of Refugees).
Racism and fascism
IRR European Race Audit, Bulletin no 6, December 1993. Contact:
Liz Fekete, Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London
WC1X 9HS. Tel: 071 837 0041.