Human rights minister says government seeking buyout of pig farm at site of Roma camp

Czech Minister for Human rights Jiří Dienstbier, said Monday that the government would prefer a buyout of a pig farm standing on the site of a camp at which Roma were interned during the second world war before hundreds were sent onto death camps in the east. Many also died at the camp due to illness and poor conditions. The farm owners also indicated their willingness to discuss a sale. Dienstbier’s comments came on the eve of a visit to the site at Lety, South Bohemia, by finance minister, Andrej Babiš. Babiš is due to visit the site on Tuesday to apologise for earlier remarks at which he was quoted as saying that only Roma unwilling to work were sent to the camp. The minister later said he would help in long running moves to buy out the pig farm and create a fitting memorial. The camp at Lety was originally created as a work camp by Czech authorities before being turned into an internment camp for Roma by the Nazis.

Author: Chris Johnstone