http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/826a66f0-dfe9-11e1-a96a-00144feab49a.html#axzz22rXw92Mg
Some 6,000 immigrants were detained over the weekend in the biggest
police operation in the capital for several years, though many were
later released, the same official said.
At
the same time about 1,800 police officers were posted to the 200km
Greek-Turkish border marked by the river Evros to join Greek soldiers
and the EU’s Frontex mission patrolling the river bank.
The unprecedented crackdown followed a sharp increase this year in
the numbers of illegal arrivals from Turkey, with an estimated 120
migrants a day managing to avoid the military patrols. Most illegal
entrants head for Athens to join large communities of African and Asian
migrants and asylum seekers hoping to make their way to northern Europe.
Athens has faced criticism from EU partners over
its handling of illegal immigration because of the failure to stem the
flow of arrivals. It is also accused of foot-dragging over plans to set
up reception centres for illegal immigrants with EU funding.
An official at the public order ministry said the latest measures
were intended to address two issues: an expected surge in illegal
immigration as refugees from the conflict in Syria sought shelter in the
EU, and mounting problems with drugs and crime involving immigrants
living in poor conditions in central Athens.
Nikos Dendias, the public order minister, said: ”The immigration
issue is a ticking bomb in the foundations of our society and
state . . . We will handle it with full respect for human rights and
European regulations.”
“Illegal immigrants have been without human rights, living in
unhealthy conditions and conned by smuggling rings into believing they
would be able to find a job and travel within Europe.”
About 8,000 immigrants have applied to leave Greece under a voluntary
repatriation programme arranged by the International Organisation for
Migration, paid for out by EU funds.
Eliamep, an Athens think-tank, estimated last year that more than
450,000 illegal immigrants were living in Greece, amid rising social
tension as unemployment soared among Greeks because of the economic
crisis.
The far-right Golden Dawn party,
accused of staging racist attacks in Athens, sometimes in collusion
with the police, entered parliament for the first time this year on an
anti-immigrant platform.
