Spain: EU funds new " Wall" in Ceuta
01 November 1995
The European Union and the Spanish government are jointly financing the construction of a 8.5 kilometre barbed wire border "wall" to stop migrants entering the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in north Africa. The "wall", costing $29 million, being constructed between Ceuta and Morocco will have the latest high-tec devices - 30 closed circuit television cameras, spotlights and sensory pads to detect anyone crossing the border area. It has been classified as a military project.
Roberto Franks, spokesperson for the Spanish government in Ceuta, said: "Without doubt this is the southern frontier of the Europe of Schengen. We have a whole continent to the south of us. It is increasingly evident that this wall is necessary".
This move followed major disturbances involving some of the Cueta refugees coming into conflict with the police on 11 October. 168 of them were sent to mainland Spain to face criminal charges for the "riots" or to be detained pending their repatriation (although this may prove difficult as almost all of them do not have any identity documents).
European, 30.11.95; Migration Newssheet, November 1995; see Statewatch, vol 5 nos 3, 4 & 5.