Racism in Bulgaria? No...... really?

Ashley Young (above) and Chris Smalling, Ashley Cole and Theo Walcott all subjected to racist "monkey" chants

From the BBC:

Uefa has begun disciplinary proceedings against the Bulgarian Football Union (BFU) regarding events at last month's game between Bulgaria and England. The matter relates to alleged racist chanting and flares thrown by fans.

European football's governing body expects to take a decision on any potential punishment by 15 October. "A hearing will be held on 13 October and, after completion of the paperwork, a verdict will be announced," a Uefa spokeswoman told BBC Sport.

Marcos Marquinhos

Fines were the standard punishment from Uefa regarding racism until 2006, when they increased their measures to include other sanctions.  Potential punishments now include bans, stadium closure, points deduction and disqualification.

England's Ashley Young was alleged to be a victim of racist abuse during the game in Sofia. The Football Association (FA) reported the behaviour of a section of home supporters to the Uefa match delegate after the visitors' 3-0 win.

The Uefa spokeswoman said the BFU is "facing a charge relating to discriminatory chanting" and added: "They also face a charge relating to the fireworks." Between now and 13 October, communication will take place between the relevant parties before Uefa decides on what action, if any, to take.
The case, which will be heard by its control and disciplinary body, could lead to a fine for Bulgaria or additional sanctions.

The fans racist chants were not confined to England players. Bulgarian midfielder Marcos Marquinhos, who plays in Cyprus, was also the victim of abuse by the home fans. Marquinhos was actually born in Brazil but changed citizenship recently. This is somewhat ironic as Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff, who is currently on a state visit is being given a rapturous welcome in Bulgaria. Must look up the Bulgarian word for hypocrisy. Maybe GMantis can tell me...... Must be very confusing for the Bulgarian football fans though? But then again they are easily confused.

Regretably, it must also be said that English fans also contributed to the night's festivities by shouting many anti East-European chants.

No welcome in Bulgaria if you are black, homosexual or Roma then?

In Denial

"Bulgaria is for Bulgarians, not for dirt," Russian football fans offer support
for their "ethnic" Bulgarians colleagues. Photo by championat.ru

I knew it would happen but I didn't think it would happen that quickly. Ethnic tension? What ethnic tension? There's no ethnic tension in Bulgaria?

Boyko Borissov has been busily cutting ribbons (he likes a ribbon, does Boyko), opening new roads, fixing ramshackle airports and opening water purification schemes. Riots only happen in Western Europe according to Boyko. Bulgaria is an ocean of ethnic harmony. Everybody is working hard and getting on with things. No need for a crowd. Move along please.....

One would have expected a decent interval to have passed before the revisionists reared their heads but not so! Last week's happenings in Katunitsa were only a small local matter. A mafia hoodlum, who just co-incidentally happened to be Roma, has been arrested (not convicted, mind you - watch that space.  Rumors suggest he is highly connected!).  The same hoodlum has mysteriously evaded justice for years despite every dog in the street knowing about him. But this was not an ethnic issue. No way!  According to Rosen Plevneliev, the leading party's Presidential candidate, it was all a media conspiracy. Bulgarians aren't interested in ethnic tensions.

Novinite.com's Milena Hristova takes up the theme. There were no riots.  Foreign press (Der Spiegel) stink of "primitive populism" feeding simplistic analysis to their "thick and shallow" readership (I kid you not!).  Now I know Der Spiegel will always struggle to maintain the high journalistic standards of Maxim Behar's global media colossus, Novinite.com but they should be given some credit?  In fact, when you think about it, the Germans know a lot about the oppression of minorities. Personally, I would listen to them very closely. You could learn a lot from them.

Certainly something stinks in Hristova's articles. It's the stink of denial. Bizarrely, she wrote an article only a few days earlier asking why the Cauldron had Boiled Over!! Make up your mind Milena!! Milena's the kind of gal who, if she was around in 1945, would be saying "Death camps? What death camps?"She suggests that foreign journalists should go and live with the Roma to see what the real truth is. Great idea Milena, why don't you take your own advice? Try some real journalism for a change.

So there we have it. There was no problem last week. It was all a foreign media conspiracy. Thousands did not march against the Roma in Plovdiv. There were no riots in Katunitza.  Eighty thousand Bulgarian young people did not sign a Facebook hate page and many other similar pages (thankfully Facebook have since removed them). Protestors did not call for the Roma to be made into soap. And Mad Dog Volen and his bootboys did not try to storm the President's office or invade a TV station. Roma were not beaten up on the streets of Blagoevgrad. Shops were not burned. The Prime Minister and President did not stand together and appeal for calm. And night after night the riot police did not take to the streets of Sofia and other cities. It was just a local criminal matter in a small village outside of Plovdiv. Well you could have fooled me!

So, in 2010, the Prime Minister must never have said that the Roma were a "nomadic tribe" (i.e. if they want to go to France that's ok).  His Interior Minister never said that the Roma were "an incubator for generating crime". Political parties never bought Roma votes (I mean literally paid for them) to gain power.  Amnesty International, the EU and host of external reputable agencies have never condemned Bulgaria's record on the Roma. Bulgaria is a model of ethnic harmony. The new rainbow nation! And look! There's one of Hristova's Roma pigs flying past my eight floor window as I write.

Boyko should tell his Interior Ministry that there were no riots or ethnic tension last week because they appear to think differently. They announced that there were seven major cities (Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Pazardzhik, Veliko Tarnovo, Blagoevgrad, and Kyustendil) in Bulgaria which are potentially dangerous with respect to ethnic tension. I guess it's only potentially though. Because there are no ethnic tensions in Bulgaria. Right Boyko, Milena, Rosen? I despair!

When Bulgarians perceive that they are being attacked, especially from abroad, they round up the wagons and mount a strong defence. Ordinary Bulgarians, Roma included, have suffered a lot since 1989. They are decent, hard working people. Young Bulgarians are industrious and care about their futures and their country. And it is a great country.

Most people struggle to meet ends meet. Corruption is rampant and organised crime has been unchallenged for years. The current government appears to be earnest in its efforts to improve things. Bulgaria has recently, wrongly in my view, been denied access to membership of Schengen, although they hardly helped their case this week. There is a deep feeling of resentment at being treated like second class European citizens. Bulgarians know what it means and what it feels like to be discriminated against.  It is such a huge pity that they can't seem to appreciate that the Roma feel exactly the same. One thing is for sure. Denying the problem, will never resolve it. Everyone in this country deserves better than this.

Censorship and Novinite.com

Poor Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) has seen fit to censor Sofia Notes. This began this week when I criticised the global media outlet for their coverage of Bulgarian racism. I have been posting to their web site forum for a long time now and there was never any suggestion of a problem. But there you go. That's the free press in xenophobic 21st century Bulgaria for you. I've included an email thread to the editor-in-chief of the global media outlet for clarity.

Oh by the way. I got the logo from their web site. _________________________________________________________________________________
2011/9/29 Sofia News Agency
From: Sofia Notes 
Email: xxxxxx
Subject: Novinite censorship 
Text: I note that you have chosen to censor my comments to the Novinite forum. In what has been one of the most distressing weeks in recent Bulgarian history Novinite has disgraced itself with its coverage of the so called Roma crisis. Your coverage has been biased, prejudicial and in some cases has bordered on racism. In a true democracy a free press encourages open debate. It seems Novinite sees itself as above criticism and will not accept any from foreigners. ___________________________________________________________________________
Ivan Dikov, Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) 
Thank you for your email. 


Unfortunately, I am obliged to say that the only "disgraceful" thing in this case has been your campaign to promote your blog via our website, a globally respected media outlet with a 10-year history. The reason your posts have been moderated is that you constantly post spam links to your blog. You are otherwise free to express your opinion in our forum. Also, you need to stop posting copyright photos from our website on your blog as we have not granted you permission to do that, and I imagine the BGNES news agency hasn't, either. I am not going to comment on your accusations even though when one accuses others of prejudice, they should probably think about their own biases first. Your opinion is respected, and you are certainly entitled to it. 


Regards Ivan Dikov Editor-in-Chief Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) The Sofia Morning News The Sofia Weekly 24 Khan Asparuh Street Office No. 1 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria
____________________________________________________________________________
Reply Sofia Notes to Ivan


Sorry Ivan but I think you are a little too sensitive. I wonder why? It's normal for bloggers to use other media to promote opinions and views. I have done so on the following sites (to name but a few): Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, BBC, New York Times, Huffington Post, Wall Street Journal. I think these are all respected global media brands (in the truest sense of the word). They don't seem to have a problem with how I post my mails but Novinite does. In fact, you only began to have a problem when I started to criticise your news site. Hmmm I wonder why. And many of my comments (without tags) have been censored. 


We live in the 21 st century Ivan where free comment should be encouraged and especially so in this country. It's a shame you can't recognise that. My blog is not spam. It seeks to offer informed opinion and is open to criticism just like any other. Feel free!  Big Brother censorship belongs to the past don't you think? To be honest you need to get down from your self-righteous and self-absorbed horse. Feel free to do as you wish. That's your right.


I'll ignore the comment about the photos. It's too laughable to respond to. Save to say that I presume you have permission to take BGNES photos as well. I generally always mention the source of the photos I use. I would have though the the Sofia News Agency could withstand the infringements of a lowly blogger. C'est la vie. 


Finally, you won't respond to my comments about your coverage of recent events because there is no response. You coverage has bordered on racist. The language used in some of the articles is a disgrace to any responsible media outlet. It is at the very least pejorative and at worst inflammatory. In particular, Milena Hristova's article is sickening and it is a disgrace that it is still published. If anything was worthy of censorship that article is. 


Finally Ivan, I've always enjoyed your own articles. It's rare to find incisive commentary in this country. It's a pity you can't recognise the same. Here's to a free press and free blogging! SN

bTV invaded by Violent Volen!

The infamous presidential candidate, Violent Volen (VV) Siderov, invaded bTV's studios this morning to spew out some more of his usual vitriolic racist propaganda. Novinite.com reports:

The leader of Bulgaria's nationalist, far-right Ataka party and presidential hopeful, Volen Siderov, ruined a Thursday morning TV debate, dedicated to the issue of ethnic hatred.  The debate, aired live during the morning broadcast of the TV channel bTV, included representatives of the ruling, center-right Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria, GERB, party, the ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms, DPS, and the right-wing Blue Coalition.

Several minutes after the start of the discussion, Siderov appeared, insisting on being admitted inside the studio, where he busted with screams he had not been invited for the talks and accused the media of being biased against him. The hosts failed in their attempts to calm him down with explanations the Ataka press center had declined the invitation.

A loud quarrel erupted between Siderov, the hosts and the guests of the show, who unanimously decided to leave the studio, saying they wanted to let the nationalist clear his argument with bTV. The presidential hopeful stood alone in the middle of the studio shouting accusations against the media, prompting the hosts to tell him the dispute will be resolved in "another room." Siderov finally left and the program continued with its scheduled line-up. The representatives of the different political formations were invited to discuss ethnic tensions in the country.

A week of shame?

Riots in Katunitsa

It's been a bad week for Bulgaria.

It's been a sad week as well. Sad for the family of Angel Petrov, the 19 year old boy who was intentionally dragged to his death by a minibus driven by criminals associated with Kiro Raskov. And sad for the family of the 16 yr old boy who tragically died of a heart attack as a result of the ensuing protests. Sad for hundreds of thousands of Roma who were subject to outpourings of hate speech and violence throughout the week. Sad for the thousands of, mostly young, Bulgarians who were poisoned by this hatred and took to the streets to protest and march on Roma ghettoes.

There were very few voices of reason this week. The Prime Minister and President stood together against the ethnic protests. Relationships between the two are not good so this was an important event. But perhaps the most compassionate voice came from an unlikely source, the father of Angel Petrov, who painfully spoke of his grief but still called for calm.

Riot Police

There weren't many voces of calm however. VV Siderov frog marched his thugs up and down Bulgarian cities stirring up emotions and anti Roma hatred. The same Siderov is alleged to have organised violent attacks on peaceful, praying Muslims in Sofia earlier this year. He's standing for President in October. Let's wait and see.

The so-called free media helped to fuel the fires of hatred with the some of the most irresponsible coverage I have ever witnessed. This is from a Novinite.com editorial earlier this week:

"Tsar Kiro comes from the typical derelict, garbage-strewn streets of Bulgarian Roma ghettos, which are home to most of the country's 375,000 Roma - although unofficial data estimates their true numbers come closer to 750,000, out of a population of 7.8 million. Here he lived together with skinny men rooting through piles of rubbish alongside pigs and fat women in flowing skirts cradling babies."
Novinite.com is a respected news source. It is the largest provider of English language Bulgarian news in Bulgaria and the world. It is quoted widely internationally and this is type of vitriol it spewed out this week. Much of the press coverage was the same.

As the week progressed the apologists crawled out from under their rocks. These weren't ethnic protests, they said. These were protests against organised crime and government inaction (Ironically, this government has tried to do more than any other in recent times).

Protests in Sofia

But if all this were true why have we not seen street protests against the corrupt and rotten judiciary who acquit the most heinous criminals for no reason?  Why are there no marches against the corrupt police, the "ethnic Bulgarian" mafia bosses who terrorise the communities in which they live, the corrupt tax officials, the corrupt government officials who demand facilitation (bribes) at every opportunity? Why are there no investigations into where the many Ferarri and Porche drivers got their wealth from? Where are the protest marches against these people? Where are the nightly vigils?



The truth is that this week ethnic cleansing, racist mobs took to the streets of Bulgaria. Fueled by the many, many injustices in this country they turned their hatred towards the most vulnerable and against those who are least able to defend themselves. Just as Facebook became a vehicle for change in the Middle East it became the life support system of racism as more than 70,000 of its Bulgarian members used it to organise nightly protests.

Proud Roma children

As the week draws to an end, there is a small glimmer of light, however. So far, the Roma have remained calm despite the gross provocation (Two Roma were beaten up last night in Blagoevgrad and another killed in a car accident). "Amalipe", an NGO responsible for interethnic dialogue and tolerance, has sensibly cancelled a "Roma" pride parade this week. In its place Roma children will distribute drawings and essays they have written entitled "I Am Proud to Be Bulgarian and Roma." Unlike many of their compatriots, they have every right to be proud.

Crimes by EU Citizens Trebled in UK since Bulgaria, Romania Accession

I see the Brits are at it again. Dominic Raab from the Conservative Party has claimed that "Johnny Foreigner" crime has "exploded" since Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU.  Raab is a well known anti-EU "Little Englander" who obviously lacks even a basic understanding of statistics. But why let statistics come in the way of the distorted truth, Dominic?! Especially when you have another agenda?

While crime committed by EU citizens has increased since 2007 the biggest offenders are countries who joined before 2007. Three of the top ten offenders were founder members (France, Italy and The Netherlands) who joined in the 1950's while two others (Ireland and Portugal) joined in the 1970's. The worst offender, Poland, joined in 2004.  So basically what the figures prove is that there is no relationship between enlargement in 2007 and and increase in crimes committed by EU citizens since then. But xenophobes like Raab rarely let facts get in the way of their nasty little prejudices. The other, not inconsiderable point, is what kinds of crime are we talking about here? For instance do the figures include traffic offenses?

Two of the top three offenders joined the EU in 2004 and account for approximately 30% of the overall total. But the increase in crime levels only started after 2007. I wonder would the increase have had anything to do with the global recession? Nah....surely not. What happened was that all the Poles and  Lithuanians embarked on a crime spree when Bulgaria and Romania joined in 2007. They probably thought the Romanians and Bulgarians would steal everything before they had a chance. That must have been it. Pass me another doughnut Homer, will ya? My brain is starting to hurt again.

Of course what Raab omitted to say was how the UK has benefitted from EU accession and enlargement. But that would required a balanced viewpoint. Since 2007 exports to Bulgaria have increased by 45% and the UK is now the 4th biggest investor here. In general, the Brits have done well since they joined the EU. Now if EU enlargement has been so bad for them why don't they leave?

Raab also omitted to include figures for crimes committed by British citizens in the EU. Now that might be an interesting statistic to see, as anyone who has witnessed the idiotic behaviour of adorable vomiting British tourists to the Black Sea can testify!

For the record, over 9.5 million crimes were recorded in England and Wales last year i.e. about 25,000 a day. The UK is the most crime ridden country in the EU. Only 100 crimes a day are committed by EU citizens. This equates to about 0.004% of total crime in the UK. Bulgarians were responsible for a massive 296 crimes in the UK in 2010 i.e less than 1 a day. They should all be sent home immediately!

I would have thought that Dominic had more important things to to worry about? Like the 99.99% of crime caused by his compatriots. Or maybe he could see what he could do with the hundreds of English rioters and looters? David, can you find something useful for him to do? At least introduce him to some basic statistical concepts such as correlation and causation?