Unfortunately this is not surprising, given Europe's treatment of the Roma (even after WWII).
edit- press release from the Roma National Congress
http://www.yourmailinglistprovider.com/pubarchive_show_message.php?RomNews+19From the beginning of 2004, a new social benefit system was introduced in Slovakia. Social benefit payments have been reduced to half, and as among Roma the unemployment rate is quite high and most of them are depending on the social benefit, this measure has affected mostly them.
As a follow up of the new social legislation, the Roma have protested a several times, but as there was no reaction from the Government´s side and determinated by the fear of survival, they have commenced to raid the stores in groups of 40-50 persons.