ITALY/FRANCE: Demonstrators protest against French policy of turning back North African migrants

Record ID: 348402

  • Title: ITALY/FRANCE: Demonstrators protest against French policy of turning back North African migrants
  • Date: 3rd April 2011
  • Summary: VENTIMIGLIA, ITALY (APRIL 2, 2011) (REUTERS) VIEW OF THE CITY ITALIAN FLAG STREET WITH FLAGS HANGING FROM BUILDINGS WOMAN APPLAUDING NEAR CROWD OF DEMONSTRATORS MORE OF DEMONSTRATORS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) UNIDENTIFIED TUNISIAN MIGRANT, SAYING "When Ben Ali went, we found ourselves without money, without work and the situation is desperate. I have crossed the sea, I
  • Embargoed: 18th April 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Italy, France
  • City:
  • Country: Italy France
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB5GLYIEW0UAP3BWBFOPO81QFW
  • Story Text: Migrants and voluntary groups supporting them on Saturday (April 2) demonstrated in the Italian town of Ventimiglia against what they said was a French policy of turning back would-be refugees at the border with Italy.
    About 100 people demonstrated in protest against the living conditions offered to migrants, many of whom have passed through Lampedusa.
    A Tunisian migrant who was transferred to Ventimiglia from Lampedusa addressed the crowd.
    "When Ben Ali went, we found ourselves without money, without work and the situation is desperate. I have crossed the sea, I have risked my life on a makeshift boat with despair, and when I arrived in Italy I found nothing, but nothing."
    Italy has lately regularly accused its EU partners of abandoning it in its battle against illegal immigration.
    Giuseppe Fama from an anti-racism group said regardless of the migrants' legal status, they should be provided with humanitarian assistance.
    "Regardless of the debate about whether they are illegal or not, there is a humanitarian problem. All the people need to be received and given a place to stay, a hot meal, sanitation and a welcome. Don't let them sleep on cardboard on the steps of the train station like it happened for the last weeks in different cities in Italy."
    Thousands of migrants have arrived in Italy in recent weeks to escape turmoil in North Africa and many say there intention is to come to France, home to Europe's largest north African community which numbers several million people.
    From Ventimiglia, it is not far to the French border.
    Tunisian migrant Ahmed described how he made it to Monaco, but was caught there and taken back to Italy a few hours later.
    "We walked for six hours, we had not brought any water or food, we were almost collapsing, we were extremely exhausted and by 4am, 4.30am the police caught us in Monaco. And they took us with them, they asked us a few things, and told us that since Italy was willing to welcome us, they would take us to the border," said Ahmed.
    After landing on the Italian island of Lampedusa, migrants are generally transported to temporary centres dotted around Italy. Many abscond and make the trip north in a bid to get into France.
    French authorities have recently stepped up police checks at border crossings, in particular Ventimiglia just over the border with France.
    In recent days, Italian autorities have complained that France was failing to show solidarity with Rome, and tried to put pressure on other European partners to help deal with the influx of migrants.
    EU interior ministers will discuss the issue at a meeting in Luxembourg on April 11.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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