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Spain condemned over border razor wire fences
By David Eade
The EC inspectors may have visited our border with Spain and ruled
the delays were appropriate but Brussels has reacted with anger to
the erection of razor wire fences in Melilla.
The EC Commissioner responsible for immigration, Cecilia Malmström,
has demanded explanation from the Spanish Interior Minister, Jorge
Fernández Díaz. She wants all the details as to why Madrid has
ordered razor wire fences to be erected to keep illegal immigrants
from getting in to the enclave.
The fact is whether the border is guarded by a regular fence or one
with razor wire it does not stop would be immigrants from getting
in. It just means that they get cut and injured in the act. On one
day last week 40 sub-Saharans attempted to climb over the fence
undeterred by the razor sharp wire. Only three succeeded close to
the frontier post at Farhana.
Malmström confronted Fernández Díaz in Brussels last week at a
meeting of Interior Ministers. The Swedish Commissioner also told
the media that the attempts to enter Melilla, and Ceuta too, were
not being prevented by this extreme measure. Brussels is also
annoyed there were no bilateral discussions with the Spanish
Government over introducing the razor wire.
The razor wire fences are not new. It was the PSOE Government under
José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero that introduced them in 2005. They were
taken down in 2007 after protests from NGOs and other organisations
who were alarmed at the injuries being suffered by the sub-Saharans.
Now Rajoy has ordered them to be replaced to the widespread anger of
the EC and these same NGOs and human rights organisations.
Of course Madrid as usual is in denial. The Minister of the Interior
insists Spain has the right to defend its frontiers, where have we
heard that before? In addition Fernández Díaz told a programme on
TVE that Spain’s immigration policies are “a model at European
level.?
Needless to say that is not how Malmström sees it condemning the
wire as it inflicts deep cuts and could even take lives. She is not
alone. The Commissioner of Human Rights at the Council of Europe,
which monitors human rights in 47 countries of the continent, Nils
Muiznieks, lamented that Spain had introduced the razor wire in both
Melilla and Ceuta.
The Council of Europe has a strong place in European affairs
although it is now seen to be in a secondary position behind the EC
– EU. However it has far more members and is very strong on human
rights issues. Gibraltar is not a member but the UK is. Perhaps it
is time for Nils Muiznieks to be asked to rule is Spain trampling on
the human rights of Gibraltarians and other European citizens at our
frontier in La Línea? We could get an interesting answer.
Rule Britannia!
I say, no paran de venir Royal Navy ships, mira que bien!
Y el que trajo al Governator, que grande que era, my dear Cloti.
And the more the merrier, now that we have a Royal Marine y todo.
Let's face it, the waters are British and they have to be defended,
because the Spaniards know it, blimey.
Claro que they know it, if not let's try it out en los international
courts, querida Cynthia.
Not only that, pero if they say the waters are theirs, why don't
they stop los British barcos de guerra coming in and demarcating el
territorial sea that is ours?
Claro, pero al nivel de pueblo, since they hear it said so often,
from El Seacock down, que son de ellos, for they believe it.
Y esto de los ad hocs we have to be careful porque nos quieren colar
hasta los alcaldes, que it's not fair porque our Chief Pica is at a
higher level.
Y el LOTO sin enterarse, que cabeza mas dura.
My dear, quien es este LOTO?
Chiquilla, that is the abbreviation for Leader of the opposition.
Con la lata que da el LOTO, echándonos el blame por los Spanish
restrictions.
Eso no se hace, I must say, pero este tío parece que esta dormio,
didn't you see him en el swearing-in?
Como que my darling husband hasta started swearing. The least said
the better. Bye.
Adios white flower. And rule Britannia! |
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