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Roma Parliament Chides Gypsy Rapper Rytmus for Anti-Roma Remarks
Monday 19 April 2010 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, April 19 (TASR) - The European Parliament of Roma (EPR) on Monday lambasted Slovak gypsy hip-hopper Rytmus for his remarks last week indicating that inhabitants of Roma settlements in Slovakia are degenerate, and that he doesn't like them, and Slovak National Party (SNS) head Jan Slota is right when criticising them.
"Mr. Rytmus, you have built your career on profanities in your songs. Those 'degenerated' Roma buy your CDs with their last pennies," EPR chairman Vaclav Kappel said in a written statement.
Kappel didn't hesitate to go on the counter-attack. "When speaking about hip-hop, American blacks are far better, as they have perfect pitch - unlike you," said Kappel, calling for Rytmus (33, real name Patrik Vrbovsky, from Piestany, Trnava region) to apologise for his remarks.
Slota recently announced that his party wants to boost police patrols in areas inhabited by the Roma. Furthermore, SNS intends to promote social benefits for the Roma in the form of goods to prevent them from 'drinking the money away within days'. "Why shouldn't the payment of social benefits be conditioned by 30 hours of public work? They could begin by tidying up the mess (in which they live). Let them humanise their own environment. They aren't even moving at the moment," said Slota.
Also, Kappel chided Slota for his claim last week that Roma are lazy. "Their only movement is when procreating," said Slota. Kappel also said that Slota can't camouflage his anti-Roma sentiments by fraternising with the likes of Ladislav Fizik, who is Roma and an SNS member and was also an advisor to former Construction and Regional Development minister Marian Janusek.
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