• NRA reports about Thai guest workers employed at a wood-working enterprise in Latvia

NRA reports about Thai guest workers employed at a wood-working enterprise in Latvia. Recently, several Latvian mass media reported that the Thai guest workers are forced to live in inhumane conditions, nearly starving and not being paid money. 12 Thais received working permits in Latvia and concluded working agreements in September 2008. However, according to the employer, in October, all guest workers were dismissed because they did not have skills for the job they were hired for. In an interview with the newspaper, representative of a company which helped to bring guest workers to Latvia stated that the Thais already left the wood-working enterprise and allegedly left the country.

• MP Boriss Cilevics appealed to all MPs to join the action 9 November – Never Again! dedicated to commemoration of the Crystal Night
• State Language Centre has presented awards to persons who popularise state language and to alleged non-friends of Latvian language

MP Boriss Cilevics appealed to all MPs to join the action “9 November – Never Again!” dedicated to commemoration of the Crystal Night – tragic events in 1938 in Germany which initiated the Holocaust and to come to the Saeima’s session on 13 November with special badge “Crystal Fragment.” Boriss Cilevics believes that every MP should remind the society about these tragic events and to make a contribution into the struggle against attempts to justify and revive Nazi ideas in Europe.

MP Boriss Cilevics appealed to all MPs to join the action 9 November – Never Again! dedicated to commemoration of the Crystal Night – tragic events in 1938 in Germany which initiated the Holocaust and to come to the Saeimas session on 13 November with special badge Crystal Fragment. Boriss Cilevics believes that every MP should remind the society about these tragic events and to make a contribution into the struggle against attempts to justify and revive Nazi ideas in Europe. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

The State Language Centre has presented awards for popularisation of Latvian language to the newspaper

The State Language Centre has presented awards for popularisation of Latvian language to the newspaper Latvijas Avize and two of its journalists, as well as to a salesperson of a shop Narvesen who refused to speak Russian to a costumer. Special awards were prepared also for alleged non-friends of Latvian language – head of the Employers Confederation of Latvia Elina Egle and president of Latvian Ice Hockey Federation Kirovs Lipmans. Latvijas Avize

• Latvian Anti-Fascist Committee in the framework of the international week against fascism and anti-Semitism held procession on 9 November in Riga

The Latvian Anti-Fascist Committee in the framework of the international week against fascism and anti-Semitism held procession on 9 November in Riga. The aim of the action was to commemorate the victims of Crystal Night in 1938 in Germany, which is considered as a beginning of Holocaust, and to highlight the need to prevent the rebirth of Nazism and neo-Nazi ideas and movements.

The Latvian Anti-Fascist Committee in the framework of the international week against fascism and anti-Semitism held procession on 9 November in Riga. The aim of the action was to commemorate the victims of Crystal Night in 1938 in Germany, which is considered as a beginning of Holocaust, and to highlight the need to prevent the rebirth of Nazism and neo-Nazi ideas and movements. Chas, Vesti Segodnya

• FHRUL repealed its draft amendments stipulating lowering of required state language proficiency level at work for firemen, boarder guards, policemen and prison guards.

The Saeima’s faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has repealed its draft amendments stipulating lowering of required state language proficiency level at work for firemen, boarder guards, policemen and prison guards. According to the faction’s representative, the draft amendments were repealed because the Cabinet of Ministers has lowered required state language proficiency level for mentioned posts.

The Saeimas faction For Human Rights in United Latvia (FHRUL) has repealed its draft amendments stipulating lowering of required state language proficiency level at work for firemen, boarder guards, policemen and prison guards. According to the factions representative, the draft amendments were repealed because the Cabinet of Ministers has lowered required state language proficiency level for mentioned posts. Chas

• Newspapers report about a study on actual aspects of society integration and citizenship conducted for the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration
• Vilis Vitols (Latvian entrepreneur who lived for many decades in Venezuela): Latvia must stop funding Russian language schools

According to a study on actual aspects of society integration and citizenship conducted for the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, 60% of Latvian residents are Latvian patriots, while 21% of residents do not consider themselves as patriots. 56% of residents would defend Latvia if there is a threat for its independence.  Majority of Latvian citizens feel close ties with the country, while only half of non-citizens feel such ties. The study reveals differences in traditions of celebration of various occasions between citizens and non-citizens and ethnic minorities and ethnic Latvia. Thus, 63 of non-citizens and only 4% of citizens celebrate the Victory Day on 9 May. The Victory Day is celebrated by 54% of ethnic Russians and by 41% of other ethnic minorities and only by 5 % of ethnic Latvians.

According to a study on actual aspects of society integration and citizenship conducted for the Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Social Integration, 60% of Latvian residents are Latvian patriots, while 21% of residents do not consider themselves as patriots. 56% of residents would defend Latvia if there is a threat for its independence. Majority of Latvian citizens feel close ties with the country, while only half of non-citizens feel such ties. The study reveals differences in traditions of celebration of various occasions between citizens and non-citizens and ethnic minorities and ethnic Latvia. Thus, 63 of non-citizens and only 4% of citizens celebrate the Victory Day on 9 May. The Victory Day is celebrated by 54% of ethnic Russians and by 41% of other ethnic minorities and only by 5 % of ethnic Latvians. Latvijas Avize, Chas

Latvijas Avize prints an interview with Vilis Vitols (Latvian entrepreneur who lived for many decades in Venezuela). Mr. Vitols states that Latvia must stop funding Russian language schools because thus all young people will learn Latvian language and full society integration will be completed during two generations.