GREECE: Immigrant camp evacuation by riot police forces

Record ID: 348161

  • Title: GREECE: Immigrant camp evacuation by riot police forces
  • Date: 13th July 2009
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) LOCAL RESIDENT SAYING: 'For us, after having been plagued by this huge problem outside our homes for the past 12 years, this is justified because we finally managed to force the police to do something about it for once.' VARIOUS OF BULLDOZERS LEVELLING AND CLEARING OUT MAKESHIFT SHACKS AT CAMP (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) CHIEF OF PATRAS POLICE THANASSIS DAVL
  • Embargoed: 28th July 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA7E0IL4127O49IGXG9HAHOFOAY
  • Story Text: Riot police forces escort bulldozers that level a makeshift illegal immigrant camp in the port city of Patras as new government measures for immigrants are put into effect.
    Greek police raided an illegal immigrants' camp in the port city of Patras on Sunday (July 12), moving out 150 people and levelling shacks with bulldozers.
    Hundreds of immigrants, mostly Afghans, had lived in squalid conditions at the camp for years, prompting protests from residents.
    "For us, after having been plagued by this huge problem outside our homes for the past 12 years, this is justified because we finally managed to force the police to do something about it for once," said a local resident.
    Around 80 police officers took part in the operation. Police said that during the operation a fire broke out and burned the camp down, but no one was injured. Two immigrants were arrested for arson.
    "It's a successful, even if late, and effective demolition of this camp. All legal procedures and measures concerning the future of these people have been taken." said Patras chief of police Thanassis Davlouros.
    Immigrants, mainly from Asia, use the Patras port to pass to Italy and other European countries. Greece is often criticised by international organisations and rights groups for its treatment of illegal migrants, including poor conditions in detention centres.
    The conservative Greek government said this month it would get tougher on illegal immigration. It said that it had arrested about 47,000 immigrants who came from Turkey last year.
    Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis will visit Spain and Italy next week to discuss among other issues the illegal immigration problem.
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