Posted on 11/13/2002 5:29:31 PM PST by blam
Refugees in France Threaten Suicide
Thursday November 14, 2002 12:50 AM
CALAIS, France (AP) - Desperate refugees occupying a church in this northern French port threatened suicide Wednesday if police try to forcibly evict them, the latest episode in a struggle between authorities and illegal immigrants hoping to sneak into Britain.
The about 90 immigrants, mostly Iraqi Kurds and Afghans, say they have nowhere else to go since a nearby Red Cross shelter was closed to new arrivals last week. They were given temporary refuge over the weekend at Calais' Saint-Pierre Saint-Paul church, which officials say is unsuitable for housing people.
On Tuesday, officials gave them an ultimatum: Leave the building or face forcible removal within 24 hours.
The church has one working toilet and one sink. Many of the refugees are sick, and authorities suspect about 15 cases of scabies. They sleep on flimsy mattresses and wrap themselves in parkas or sleeping bags at night. The Roman Catholic church was shut to worshippers this summer so authorities could inspect it for suspected traces of asbestos.
A Red Cross center in the nearby town of Sangatte has long served as a stepping stone for refugees trying to smuggle themselves through the Channel Tunnel. Many risk their lives to stow away on freight trains heading through the tunnel to Britain, where asylum laws are more relaxed than in France.
Officials in France and Britain are planning to close the center permanently in April. As a first step, they said last week it would stop accepting new refugees.
Many illegal immigrants see Sangatte as their only hope for a new life. Refugees at the church held up a hand-painted sign for television cameras: ``We want to go to Sangatte or to die.'' On Wednesday, they threatened to kill themselves if police use force, said Joel Loevilleux, the Calais president of the Human Rights League.
One refugee also told reporters of the suicide threat.
``We don't want to eat something, and we don't want to do anything,'' said the man, who called himself Keroan and said he was the group's spokesman. ``We just need to stay in Calais and get into England.''
Police surrounding the church prevented more refugees from entering, but they allowed volunteers to bring food, such as cheese and water.
As an incentive to leave, authorities offered the refugees a five-day window to allow them to make political asylum requests in France, said Isabelle Isaert, a spokesman for the prefecture in the Pas-de-Calais region. A bus filled with about 30 refugees were transferred Sunday from the church to a center in the Paris area to apply for asylum.
On Wednesday evening, two more refugees agreed to leave and were escorted out by police. A representative from the United Nation's commission for refugees met those inside to try to persuade them to come out.
The interior minister, Nicholas Sarkozy, has promised that refugees who leave the church will be suitably sheltered. ``None will sleep outside,'' he said.
Drug addict: Give me heroin or I'll kill myself!
Welfare case: More food stamps, or I just might open up my veins.
Walter Mondale: Give me the Senate or give me death!
One always learns something by perusing Free Republic. At the Michigan border in Canada myself. Twice, took the better half down to Petosky- superb clinic there, it is less than a hundred miles south. (Where this book is printed).Hopefully I can order this book tomorrow when I go over to Michigan. If not, I must get hold of it.
Surely one of the most pressing questions of out time for Western Civilization. This critic,Turner- can only cry ad hominem remarks- fascist indeed. Britain nigh overpopulated to destruction in the future. Thanks.
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