Co-Chairs Welcome Justice in Attack on Romani Household - Text 5

Co-Chairs Welcome Justice in Attack on Romani Household

A Leaders of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) today expressed their support for the stiff sentences handed down in the Czech Republic to four neo-Nazis who firebombed a Romani family’s home in 2009.

B The court found David Vaculík, Ivo Müller, Jaromír Lukeš, and Václav Cojocaru guilty of complicity in attempted murder and property damage in an attack that left an infant with second and third degree burns over 80 percent of her body and injured three others. The four men were all sentenced to at least 20 years in prison. The sentences are reportedly the toughest ever handed down for a racially motivated crime in the Czech Republic. The rehabilitation ordeal of Natálka Siváková, who will be maimed for life, has gripped the Czech nation.

C “We welcome the verdict in this case as a small measure of justice for a Romani family that was clearly targeted for no reason other than their ethnicity,” said U.S. Senator Benjamin L. Cardin. “Nothing can compensate for the baby's injuries and suffering, but hopefully this sentence will not only put off future hate crimes, but send a signal to extremist elements in the Czech Republic that their day of reckoning is at hand.”

D The four men committed the crimes to celebrate Adolf Hitler’s 120th birthday. In court one defendant, Lukeš, wore the shirt of a White Power band. In the past three years, the Czech Republic has witnessed an escalation of attacks on Roma, and other manifestations of extremism.

E “I am heartened to hear Czech political leaders supporting justice in this notorious hate crime,” said Co-Chairman Congressman Alcee L. Hastings. “We call on the new Czech Government to address Romani human rights comprehensively, including by strengthening public understanding of Romani experiences during the Holocaust. I will also be greatly interested in the outcome of the ongoing trial of eight alleged perpetrators of the mob attack on Roma in Havirov.”

F In Havířov, a group of men attacked several Roma on November 8, 2008. One teenager was beaten into a coma and suffers permanent disability.

alleged perpetrator – údajný pachatel

attempted murder – pokus o vraždu

comprehensively – zcela

day of reckoning – den zúčtování

maim – zmrzačit

ordeal – muka, utrpení

stiff – přísný

tough – tvrdý

1) Read the article and match each of the headings to a paragraph.

1 Cardin sees a signal to extremists

2 Escalation of extremism attacks in the Czech Republic

3 Four men found guilty in the Natálka case

4 The new Czech Government should care for Romani human rights

5 Introduction

6 Another attack in Havířov

2) Read the article and answer the questions.

       1 What is the article about?

2 What happened in the Natálka case?

3 Why was the crime committed?

4 What does Benjamin L. Cardin think about the verdict?

5 What happened in Havířov?

3) Explain the following words.

1 sentence

2 to firebomb

3 prison

4 extremism

5 justice

4) Answer the following questions.

How are Roma people discriminated? What organisations help Romani people and how? How does our school cooperate with Romani community?

Adjusted to:

http://www.romea.cz/english/index.php?id=detail&detail=2007_1977