Senegal may jail migrants
2006-09-11 13:37
Madrid - Spain and Senegal are stepping up their cooperation on illegal immigration to the Canary Islands, with Dakar considering the possibility of jailing would-be immigrants for up to two years, say reports.
More than 100 Africans landed on Monday on Tenerife, after the arrival of more than 700 others in the Canary Islands and the mainland coast during the weekend.
The Canaries had received more than 23 000 migrants this year, and several riots had erupted in overcrowded reception centres.
Five Senegalese police officers and two diplomats were in the Canaries to identify immigrants for their repatriation. Large numbers of incoming migrants were thought to be Senegalese.
Immigrants usually tried to hide their nationalities, and their protests during repatriation flights caused tension between Spain and Senegal earlier this year.
According to reports, Spain now intended to fly immigrants back to Senegal in secret, while Senegal was considering the possibility of jailing them to prevent them from immediately boarding new boats to the Canaries.
The reports said migrants could be incarcerated for up to two years.
Jose Blanco, organisational secretary of the governing Socialist Party, said: The Spanish labour market could no longer absorb new workers, and the "immense majority" of an estimated 800 000 illegals in the country would be expelled.
Sapa-dpa
- SAPA