Monika HorakovaMember of the Czech Parliament
in conversation with
John W. ErwinDirector, The Stories Exchange Project
Czech Ministry of Foreign AffairsPrague1 December 2000
Jack Erwin
So what about your story? How did you get to do what you’re doing? You’re a member of the Czch Parliament, a woman, a Rom, not too old: how did this come about?
Monika Horakova
Thank you [laughs].
It started when I began to work with government and I became vice-chairperson for the Interministerial Committee for Romany Affairs. At that time there were many things happening around me, especially the founding of a new political party, Freedom Union. That gave me hope, especially because it was a pro-European party. So I became a member and I ran for Parliament and was included on the list of candidates – which was a really big surprise for me. That began my real political career.
Jack Erwin
What’s been difficult about it, and what’s been satisfying?
Monika Horakova
What’s been difficult is my being really involved in political life. As many of us know, politics is not always about good things and it is not always just about doing public good. That is what was difficult for me and continues to be difficult: to see how politics really works. On the other hand, you meet good people, and you can see really hard workers in politics.
You can also change some things by yourself, which is the best way to help.
Jack Erwin
One of the ways I think that you’re helping is that you serve as a model for young people who see that it’s possible to do what you are doing. Is this something that you know about?
Monika Horakova
I hope it’s true. I don’t know if I’m a good example for other Roma, but I hope so. And I hope that this will empower them to be somehow involved in public work and in poiltics, not just on the national level but also on the local level.
Jack Erwin
Yes – and also on the international level, I think.
We talked in Terezin about planning a conference responding to the fact that Czech Roma are now not only relating to the majority within this country but also are having more opportunities outside the Czech Republic as Europe enlarges.
Monika Horakova
I think there will be negotiatons between the Roma nation and European institutions and structures and I think that Roma as a nation, even if they don’t have their own territory – : I think we have a right to have our representatives in this kind of institution. It depends on our having a political will.
Jack Erwin
How do you get there from here? How can this happen?
Monika Horakova
There are some suggestions, there are some ideas about what should be done. One would be just to have an office in Brussels which would deal with Romany issues throughout Europe. You can find a good example in OSCE: Nicolae Gheorghe is responsible for Roma and Sinti issues throughout Europe. So we already have some good examples.
Jirka [aaa@mujbox.cz] responded on 30 Sepember 2001:
I would like to ask: in this story you talk about the Romany nation. Whatnation is it? Where is their country when they are a nation? German peoplelive in Germany, Danish people live in Denmark etc.Where do Roma live? Eventhe opinions concerning their origin vary. Is there any other nation in the world that has and always had no mother country? Thanks Jirka
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