2009-10-25 05:29:19

Roma Train Tickets

by Nicolas

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I have to confess that when at first time I have heard about “Roma Passport” I thought it is just a joke. As all of us can see, its reality; terrifying reality. Today International Romany Union (IRU) is issue “Roma Passport”, tomorrow “Roma driving Licenses”, what about day after tomorrow; Roma health insurance?

International Romany Union doesn’t have right to issue a “Passport”, neither Roma nor Non-Roma. IRU have a right to issue membership certificates or what they are going to call it, diploma, golden medals, diamond stars, it’s up to IRU. In regards of “Passport” it’s not in IRU capacity because passport issued by IRU doesn’t lead to juridical consequences like citizenship, for instance. Its juridical nonsense! Membership card can prove your relation to this or that organization and absence of this card means that you do not have relations to this institution. But Membership Card is not equal to Passport. It’s a different things.

“Passport”, as such, is a document which certifies citizenship relations (rights and responsibilities) between the Human and the State; belonging to State. Passport has amount of rights and responsibilities in accordance with you constitution, local law and so one… The same Law says that issue of “Passport” is a monopoly of the state.

Also, we don’t need a passport as a certificate of your identity. My identity is my private business and even Belarusian passport doesn’t carry information about my nationality or ethnicity. My identity is depending on me and from my willing to expose it but not from passport which I’m going to use. I don’t need additional certificate to emphasize my Roma identity.

I agree with ERTF President Mr. Rudko Kawchinski that so-called “Roma passport” can disorientate Roma community around Europe and beyond. It can have bad influences for Roma people just because it can mislead Roma in searching of official status. Some people can confuse both things and instead of official passport will start to present so-called “Roma passport”

Therefore if next time you are going to take train or a bus and you are using “Roma train tickets”, issued by IRU, I’m foretelling you some problems. Take care