Greek police flatten migrant camp
Greek riot police have led an operation to demolish a makeshift camp housing illegal immigrants in the western port city of Patras.
Monday, 13.07.2009.
09:44
Greek riot police have led an operation to demolish a makeshift camp housing illegal immigrants in the western port city of Patras. The camp was used by migrants hoping to smuggle themselves onto ships bound for Italy and Western Europe. Greek police flatten migrant camp Its closure is more proof of Greece's tougher stance on illegal immigration. The camp had been a source of tension with many Greeks who regarded it as a major eyesore for themselves and for tourists arriving from Italy. They levelled scores of cardboard and plastic hovels. Only a makeshift mosque and a tent used by volunteer doctors were left untouched. The camp in Patras had been in existence in some form or another for 13 years. A few months ago, it accommodated about 1,800 people, mainly from Afghanistan. But that number had dwindled to about 100 following large-scale arrests and also because the port authorities had made it nearly impossible to get on board ferries to Italy. The early morning operation was described by Red Cross officials in Patras as "terrorising" the migrants. One worker said it was designed to send a message to all illegal immigrants that they had no future in Greece. The conservative government in Athens has started taking tougher measures against the so-called "clandestines" in recent weeks, especially since the success of the right-wing nationalist Laos party in the European parliamentary election. A new law has been passed which makes deportation easier. Greece has been criticised internationally for its handling of would-be asylum seekers. But recently the EU Justice Commissioner, Jacques Barrot, acknowledged that the "uncontrollable flow of immigration" posed a major threat to the equilibrium of Greek democracy. The clampdown in Patras will push some migrants into the hands of traffickers in Athens and Italy who are demanding up to USD 8,000 for passage out of Greece. Others have given up trying to catch a boat to Western Europe and have headed for Greece's land borders with Bulgaria and the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia.
Greek police flatten migrant camp
Its closure is more proof of Greece's tougher stance on illegal immigration.The camp had been a source of tension with many Greeks who regarded it as a major eyesore for themselves and for tourists arriving from Italy.
They levelled scores of cardboard and plastic hovels.
Only a makeshift mosque and a tent used by volunteer doctors were left untouched.
The camp in Patras had been in existence in some form or another for 13 years.
A few months ago, it accommodated about 1,800 people, mainly from Afghanistan.
But that number had dwindled to about 100 following large-scale arrests and also because the port authorities had made it nearly impossible to get on board ferries to Italy.
The early morning operation was described by Red Cross officials in Patras as "terrorising" the migrants.
One worker said it was designed to send a message to all illegal immigrants that they had no future in Greece.
The conservative government in Athens has started taking tougher measures against the so-called "clandestines" in recent weeks, especially since the success of the right-wing nationalist Laos party in the European parliamentary election.
A new law has been passed which makes deportation easier.
Greece has been criticised internationally for its handling of would-be asylum seekers.
But recently the EU Justice Commissioner, Jacques Barrot, acknowledged that the "uncontrollable flow of immigration" posed a major threat to the equilibrium of Greek democracy.
The clampdown in Patras will push some migrants into the hands of traffickers in Athens and Italy who are demanding up to USD 8,000 for passage out of Greece.
Others have given up trying to catch a boat to Western Europe and have headed for Greece's land borders with Bulgaria and the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia.
0 Komentari
Možda vas zanima
Sve je stalo: Zatvorene prodavnice, banke, aerodromi, zaustavljen prevoz...
Argentinski radnici započeli su danas generalni štrajk protiv radikalnih mera štednje i planiranih reformi novog predsednika Havijera Mileja.
19:34
9.5.2024.
1 d
Turska: "Imate tri meseca, a onda je kraj"
Tursko ministarstvo trgovine saopštilo je danas da kompanije iz te zemlje imaju rok od tri meseca da isporuče ranije naručene proizvode u Izrael.
19:21
9.5.2024.
1 d
Nešto se sprema... Bunkeri i rovovi na granici?
Poljska je počela da postavlja još veći broj metalnih barijera duž svoje granice sa Belorusijom kako bi odvratila nelegalnu migraciju i planira da ojača granicu sa Rusijom, saopštilo je danas poljsko Ministarstvo odbrane.
19:38
9.5.2024.
1 d
Amerika se predomislila: "Povlačimo"
Sjedinjene Američke Države su povukle licence kompanijama kao što su Intel i Kvalkom za isporuku 4G čipova za laptopove i mobilne telefone kineskom proizvođaču telekomunikacione opreme Huavei Technologies, rekla su tri izvora.
9:51
9.5.2024.
1 d
Naneli o Jokićevoj MVP tituli: Pljačka!
Košarkaš Partizana Džejms Naneli smatra da je MVP trofej za ovu sezonu trebalo da ode u ruke lideru Oklahome Šaju Gildžusu-Aleksanderu, a ne Jokiću.
15:49
9.5.2024.
1 d
Komentari 0