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Amnesty sez Spain, Morrocco being mean to fence-jumpers
MADRID - Amnesty International accused Spanish and Moroccan security forces on Wednesday of using exorbitant force and violating immigrantsâ rights in trying to repel waves of Africans seeking to gain a foothold in Europe over the past month.
The London-based but not necessarily reality-based human rights group said it had gathered immigrantsâ testimony during a 10-day visit to the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, located on Moroccoâs northern coast, and to three Moroccan cities.
Amnesty said it would stamp their feet appeal for an independent, international investigation steered to a suitable conclusion of the violence that left at least 11 people dead in Ceuta and Melilla as security forces opened fire on sub-Saharan Africans who climbed over - or attempted to - razor-wire fences to cross over from Morocco into those two Spanish cities. âThe fence kills. The fence allows people to be killed,â delegation leader Javier Zuniga said.
| Okay, when you guys each put a dozen refugees up in your own luxury homes in London, we'll agree that someone perhaps should be done. |
Neither country has held its security forces accountable, Amnesty said. And in the groupâs talks with Spanish and Moroccan authorities, âeach side blamed the other,â said Philip Luther, another delegation member.
Posted by: Steve White 2005-10-27 |
