Page 8 - atoday
P. 8
A8
WORLD NEWSSaturday 2 April 2016
Despite criticism, EU plans are ready to deport refugees
Syrian families embark a bus, transferring them to the western coastal Greek town of Kyllini, from denied proper protection And rights group Amnesty
the Athens port of Piraeus. Greece is pressing ahead with plans to start deporting migrants and while some are allegedly International, which has
refugees back to Turkey next week, despite mounting concern from the United Nations and hu- even being forced back strongly opposed the EU-
man rights organizations into their war-torn country. Turkey agreement from
Lawmakers in Athens Friday the start, said in a report
(AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis) voted 169-107 to back draft Friday that it had evidence
legislation, fast-tracked of Turkish authorities round-
DEREK GATOPOULOS Greece is pressing ahead despite mounting concern through parliament, to al- ing up Syrians and send-
ELENA BECATOROS with plans to start deport- from the United Nations low the returns to start as ing them back across the
Associated Press ing migrants and refugees and human rights organiza- soon as Monday. border to their conflict-torn
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — back to Turkey next week, tions that Syrians could be The operation would see country.
migrants and refugees who The group said Turkey has
arrived on Greek islands af- been expelling around 100
ter March 20 put on boats men, women and children
and sent back to Turkey. nearly daily since mid-Jan-
Several Greek officials with uary. “EU leaders have will-
knowledge of the planning fully ignored the simplest of
told the AP that deporta- facts: Turkey is not a safe
tions are likely to start from country for Syrian refu-
the island of Lesbos, with gees,” Amnesty’s Europe
migrants from Afghanistan, and Central Asia Director
Pakistan and other coun- John Dalhuisen said.
tries whose asylum claims Greek officials did not re-
are considered inadmis- spond to the criticism di-
sible. The transport, the of- rectly, but insisted the rights
ficials said, will be carried of detained asylum seekers
out under heavy security were being protected.
escort — with one police “I assure you that we will
minder for every migrant strictly observe human
— using buses that will rights procedures, not what
travel from island detention people are inventing, but
camps and are likely to what is required under the
board straight onto char- circumstances,” Migration
tered vessels. Affairs Minister Ioannis Mou-
The officials asked not to zalas told parliament.
be identified because The clashes on Chios were
plans for the forced returns the latest in a series of
have not been formally an- violent incidents at shel-
nounced. ters and gathering points
The imminent deporta- across Greece, where
tions are backed by the more than 52,000 migrants
European Union follow- and refugees are stranded
ing its recent agreement following EU-supported Bal-
with Turkey, and triggered kan border closures.
more violence at detention More than 11,000 of those
camps in Greece. stranded remain camped
Authorities on the Greek is- out at the Greek-Mace-
land of Chios said several donian border, ignoring
hundred people pushed calls by the government to
their way out of an over- move voluntarily to orga-
crowded detention camp nized shelters.
and staged a peaceful Many say they have heard
protest in the island’s main conditions in other camps
town, chanting “freedom, are worse, and they fear
freedom” and “Turkey no.” what they might find if they
The rally followed overnight are forced to move.
clashes between Syrian Karzan Kmaran, a 28-year-
and Afghan detainees that old Iraqi from near the city
left five people injured. of Mosul, said he still hoped
More protests are planned that the borders would
on the island Saturday. open.
In Geneva, Switzerland, “We are waiting for hope.
the United Nations refugee Here, the place is very sad
agency, or UNHCR, urged for the people, and we
Greece and Turkey to pro- don’t know what to do,” he
vide further safeguards for said, standing by a queue
asylum seekers before the of people lining up for
returns begin, noting that food and baby milk. “The
conditions were worsening people, they don’t want
by the day for more than to stay in Greece, because
4,000 people being held in Greece now is in crisis, the
detention on Greek islands. economy is so bad.”
