Government document cites French effort to target Roma

Government document cites French effort to target Roma



A letter from France’s Interior Ministry published in the French press mentions Roma as the prime targets of a campaign to dismantle illegal camps, contradicting prior declarations from Immigration Minister Eric Besson.

A document from France’s Interior Ministry published in the French press indicates that Roma have been explicitly singled out by President Nicolas Sarkozy’s controversial security crackdown, contradicting prior declarations from his administration. The letter, dated August 5 and first obtained and published by online news site Le Canard Social, says that “300 illegal camps must be evacuated within three months, the priority being those of the Roma”. But just last week, Immigration Minister Eric Besson – who said Monday that he was “unaware” of the Interior Ministry document -- asserted that Roma were not, in fact, being singled out by the government, saying that “there has been no collective expulsion”