At Beech Hill Methodist Church in Luton on Saturday 29 June a group
of Roma people based in Luton and others including Bishop Richard of Bedford
witnessed a mock trial designed to highlight the plight of their Roma brothers
and sisters as they try to make new lives here in our diocese.
Although Romanians can now enter the UK as an accession state
subscribing to the European Treaties, until 1 January 2014 they have no right
to work other than as self-employed persons.
This dramatic event, the concept of Rev Martin Burrell of
Christchurch, Bushmead, and chaplain to the Roma people in the diocese, was
devised by Adam Weiss and Emma Fenelon from a legal charity, AIRE, (Advice on
Individual Rights in Europe).
Employment Judge Tom Ryan, a member of the diocesan Penal Affairs
Group and a Crown Court Recorder presided at the “trial” at which Bobby Bobiica, assisted in giving evidence by
Elvis Calin who translated for him, explained how
the Government, by delaying and frustrating applications by Romanian nationals
for National Insurance numbers, effectively prevents them from gaining
employment and access to a range of benefits.
The Government’s “case” was advanced by Professor Thomas Acton who until
recently held the chair of Roma studies at the University of Greenwich. He is and has been an authority on Roma
matters for many years and is much more inclined to support the Roma than
otherwise but he argued a contrary case to little effect.
Judge Tom Ryan invited the assembly to consider themselves a jury
for the purpose of the case. The jury voted conclusively in support of the Roma
case.
We are asked to point out that this was a wholly fictional case in
which the Government were not invited to take part. The drama was intended only to illustrate the difficulties
Roma people face and to encourage us all to support them in any way we
can."
[see picture in ealier post below]
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