Denmark: PM resigns following `Tamilgate'
01 January 1991
Denmark: PM resigns following `Tamilgate'
artdoc May=1993
The release of a judicial report on the `Tamilgate' refugee
scandal has led to the resignation of the Danish Conservative
prime minister, Poul Schluter.
The publication of the report follows a lengthy legal inquiry
into the circumstances surrounding the government's refusal five
years ago to allow Tamil political refugees, given the right of
asylum in Denmark, to be joined by their wives. The report found
that Mr. Schluter, a former justice minister, and a number of
senior government officials had tried to cover up the breaking
of a Danish law which permitted families of political refugees
to be reunited (Guardian 15.1.93).
Asylum-seekers in detention
Living conditions on the floating ship, Norrona, in Copenhagen
harbour where refugees are kept whilst pending a decision on
their asylum application, have been strongly criticised. In some
cases, 12 men occupy a single room without windows or adequate
ventilation. Another ship - Flotel Europea - is soon to be
anchored nearby, to `absorb the unprecedented numbers of asylum
seekers arriving in the country' (Jyllands-Posten 13.11.92). In
a period of six months, asylum centres for refugees have grown
from 30 to 74. Prefabricated refugee homes are likely to start
going up on camping sites in the New Year as the supply of
suitable buildings for use as asylum centres has now virtually
dried up (Denmark Radio TV News 30.12.92).
Hunger-strike ends
A hunger-strike of Iranian asylum seekers at the Brejning Red
Cross centre, near Vejle, has ended after 49 days during which
the refugees only drank liquids.
Originally, 15 Iranians, some of whom already faced
deportation, went on hunger strike in protest over the
excessively long waiting periods that refugees have to face
before their applications are dealt with. They ended their strike
after receiving a letter from the Justice Minister promising that
their cases would be reconsidered (Jyllands-Posten 13.11.92,
30.12.92).
Local authority demands refugee `contracts'
Denmark's fourth biggest city, Alborg, is to demand that all
refugees sign a contract upon arrival, stating that refugees have
the same rights - and duties - as native Danes. Upon signing, the
refugees promise to learn Danish, and take up whatever
educational opportunities are on offer. Alborg city council
expects the new arrivals to be self-sufficient within six years
and no longer reliant on state support.
The local council has also announced plans for the dispersal
of foreign children in Danish schools following protests where
parents have withdrawn their children from schools with a
predominance of ethnic minority pupils (Denmark Radio News
18.11.92)
Different opinions on refugees
Protests against plans for an asylum centre to house some 1,400
refugees are growing amongst the population of Hvalsoe, near
Roskilde. Mayor Hilmer Fenger said that the number was too high
for a district with only 7,000 Danish inhabitants. However, the
people of Avnstrup, a small town near Roskilde, say they were
looking forward to the possibility of accommodating what could
be the largest asylum centre in the country. Up to 1,000 refugees
moving into a former nursing home would bring more job
opportunities (Jyllands-Posten 2.12.92).
Meanwhile, an opinion poll has found that six out of every 10
Danes consider Denmark takes in too many refugees. The figures
show a sharp shift in opinion from a poll taken in June 1990 when
31 per cent were happy to allow refugees to remain (Jyllands-
Posten 31.12.92).
Bill to protect refugee children
The Central Democratic Party has proposed a new bill to protect
refugee children who arrive in Denmark alone. Their proposals are
aimed at protecting children with asylum applications outstanding
who were fast approaching their 18th birthday - the cut-off age
for treatment as minors. Central Democratic leader Mimi Jacobs