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News, November '05After 14 dead at African border crossing attempts and Maroccan bussing of illegals into the desert, EU announces new 'Marshall Plan'[Image 14???]12 October. Over the past weeks thousands of would-be immigrants have made several attempts to cross the fences protecting the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. On the 5th 6 died and on Sept. 28th, 5 died. Today, in response to all that has happened over this time, the EU has announced a new 'Marshall Plan' to significantly increase and coordinate aid to the continent. The announcement comes after several weeks of chaos at Spain's African border crossings in the enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta and subsequent severe responses by both Spanish and Maroccan authorities. It now seems those dead on the 28th were mostly crushed by fellow fence-stormers, although Maroccan forces may have shot the 6 on the 5th. On 6th October vice-president Teresa Fernández de la Vega visited the enclaves to encourage the border police and troops and issue new orders to send the illegal immigrants straight back to Marocco, reviving an agreement signed in 1992. Marocco responded in a similar way, taking bus loads of sub-Saharans, not just illegals, out into the desert and dumping them without any food, drink or medical support, much to the concern of numerous international NGOs. In each attempt over the past weeks up to 1000 sub-saharans attempted to cross the fences with ladders. Each night until the 5th saw increasing numbers of desperate blacks attempting to cross the fence. On the night of the 2nd 700 attempted to cross the highest part of the fence, some 6 metres high, also stoning policemen as they did so. Five Civil Guards were wounded, while 350 managed to get into the enclave. On the night of the 5th, the number attempting to cross reached 1000. Up to 100 made it each time, adding to the chaos at the detention centres in the enclaves. The centre in Melilla has 400 places, but it soon reached almost 2000. It is believed there are up to 30,000 sub-saharans in Marocco and Algeria hoping to get into Europe. [Image 16???]President Zapatero met with the Maroccan leaders on the 29th, following which Maroccan police and troops began to be more helpful in keeping the subsaharans away from the border, but then adopting the bussing policy. Meanwhile, Spain has announced the building of a third 'fence', a collection of wires in frront of the existing fences which will make the placement of ladders far more difficult. Meanwhile, the situation has clearly got beyond the capability of either government to handle alone, thus bringing the EU and African Union into the picture. The BBC has reported widely on this issue. Here are some representative links: BBC background on the enclaves New “European Union Strategy for Africa” (12 October 2005): <europa.eu.int/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/05/1260 > Sources: BBC, El Mundo, TVE, Europa Press, El País, EU |