Anti-Terror Raids Rouse UK To 'Enemy Within'

IOL ^ | 1-17-2003

[blam]

Anti-terror raids rouse UK to 'enemy within'

January 17 2003 at 05:54AM

London - A crude newspaper cartoon depicts a band of weapon-wielding, poison-laden refugees charging into Britain past an immigration official who politely tells them: "Enjoy your stay, gentlemen."

The Sun's caricature on Thursday summed up growing public disquiet among Britons over a link between asylum-seekers and terror cells illustrated in two shocking raids this month.

First, two men arrested on January 5 over a discovery of the deadly poison Ricin turned out to be asylum-seekers housed in London.

Then one of the men arrested in this week's related anti-terror raid in Manchester - during which a policeman was killed with a kitchen knife - was also revealed to be an asylum-seeker on the run.

'We cannot be a fortress Britain' The raids have woken the nation to an "enemy within".

They have also given focus to a long-running asylum debate, prompting a frenzy of calls from some quarters for tougher laws, but warnings from others to avoid a backlash against genuine asylum-seekers fleeing persecution.

Most of the 200 terror suspects Britain has arrested since September 11 have been north African, mainly Algerian.

The opposition Conservative Party led the outrage. "No person should be allowed to enter the country if they pose a risk to our security," said its leader, Iain Duncan Smith.

The Sun was more blunt. "If Britain wasn't such a soft touch, policeman Steve Oake would still be alive today."

The anti-asylum torrent in Wednesday's papers was met head-on by rights groups.

They fear asylum-seekers could face a backlash similar to a wave of anti-Muslim feeling after the September 11 attacks.

"There is no distinction being made between legitimate asylum-seekers and a violent minority within them," said Inayat Bunglawala, of the Muslim Council of Britain.

The head of Amnesty International, Irene Khan, agreed.

"Inflammatory headlines have demonised and dehumanised an entire category of people who are genuinely in fear of their lives," she said.

Home Secretary David Blunkett insisted Britain would not be closing its doors.

"We cannot be a fortress Britain," he warned. - Reuters

[blam]

Why does the west feel obliged to admit asylum seekers?

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[jimtorr]

I think the self-imposed obligation to admit asylum seekers stems from guilt. We (western nations) tell people living in tyranny that they should stand up for truth, justice and The American Way--or in this case, The British Way.

Part of the implied agreement is that if they are in fear of their lives or freedom from doing what we say, then we will provide a refuge for they and their families. Asylum is enshrined in law in the Western Democracies, as well.

[kittymyrib]

We, who are in fear of OUR lives, should deport every last one of them NOW. We are tired of paying the bills for all the problems they bring with them, and we are far better off without them.