Gypsies : Now I know where they come from

[Frederick]

I have noticed more of their caravans in this area of the Vendee this year..And more Police about in the village . I did not know this had taken place.. It perhaps explains why they are here in greater numbers .

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/343482/Coming-soon-to-a-field-near-you-France-s-Roma-gypsiesis

[NormanH]

I belive they originally came from India

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Romani_people

 and have been living in Eastern and Central Europe for some time

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roma_%28Romani_subgroup%29

They were deported to the camps in the Second world war.

The dismantling of their camps started under President Sarkozy

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/driving-out-the-unwanted-sarkozy-s-war-against-the-roma-a-717324.html

 and this despite campaign promise continues under Presidant Hollande

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/world/hopes-raised-roma-in-france-still-face-a-date-with-the-bulldozer-651347/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/23/francois-hollande-normal-roma

Hardly new news...

locally to me the persecution continues

http://www.midilibre.fr/2012/08/30/dans-un-camp-de-roms-menaces-d-expulsions,554751.php

[5-element]

For anyone genuinely interested on gypsies, I would recommend "Bury Me Standing - The Gypsies and their journey" - by Isabel Fonseca (1995)

described as "A grand panorama of European gypsydom, its history, its present condition and its future prospects" - Jan Morris, Sunday Times.