Friday 15 International Friday, May 21, 2021 Clashes erupt on Morocco border as Madrid accuses Rabat of blackmail Spain moves quickly to return most of the migrants who reached Ceuta FNIDEQ, Morocco: Spain accused Morocco of “blackmail” yes- “it is not acceptable to put the lives of minors or of people of terday for allowing a record 8,000 migrants to reach the Spanish one’s own country, at risk.” North African enclave of Ceuta, sparking a crisis that saw clashes on the Moroccan side of the border overnight. Spanish authori- ‘I will try my luck again’ ties were caught by surprise on Monday when large numbers of Spain’s government said that around 5,600 of the 8,000 mi- mostly young people began swimming or using small inflatable grants had already been sent back, and there were no new entries boats to cross the frontier as the Moroccan border forces looked on Wednesday as anyone who reached Ceuta’s beach was imme- the other way, quickly leaving the tiny territory overwhelmed. diately returned. Some of the returned migrants said they hoped But Madrid moved quickly to return most of the migrants and to try cross over into Ceuta again if border controls were eased calm has largely returned the Spanish beach of Tarajal in Ceuta, once more. “I have no future here, I want to work to help my fam- where soldiers and armored vehicles have been deployed in ily,” 17-year-old Mohamed told AFP in Fnideq after being re- large numbers. turned from Ceuta. He left his studies and his family in Morocco The outskirts of the Moroccan border town of Fnideq were to try to enter Spain in search of a better life. deserted yesterday, also under a heavy security presence. How- Hassan, 17, said “one day I will try my luck again and I will ever the previous night hundreds of Moroccan youths threw make it,” adding he “dreams of living in Europe”. Barefoot or in stones at Moroccan forces guarding the border, forcing them to sandals, a crowd of mostly young people have tried to cross Migrants climb a sea wall in the northern town of Fnideq after attempting to retreat, according to an AFP correspondent at the scene. into Ceuta, a small enclave of 84,000 inhabitants which is con- cross the border from Morocco to Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta The youths also set fired to a motorcycle. The migrant influx nected to mainland Spain by ferry services across the narrow Wednesday. —AFP comes amid tensions between Rabat and Madrid over Spain’s de- Strait of Gibraltar. Ceuta, along with Spain’s other North African cision to provide medical treatment for the leader of the Polisario enclave Melilla, have the European Union’s only land border Front, Brahim Ghali, who has COVID-19. with Africa and have long been a magnet for migrants seeking of migration” in a veiled allusion to Morocco. Rabat responded The Polisario Front has fought for the independence of West- a better life in Europe. in the form of a flurry of angry dispatches published by the offi- ern Sahara, a former Spanish colony mainly under Moroccan Earlier this week Spanish soldiers fired tear gas to prevent the cial MAP news agency saying that “Morocco is a sovereign control. Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said Mo- migrants from nearing the border fence. Several people were in- country” and “is not the police of Europe”. rocco’s actions were “an aggression of Spanish borders and of jured according to Moroccan media, but Rabat has not offered Several NGOs have expressed concern over the huge number the borders of the European Union”. an official figure. of minors who have crossed over into Ceuta from Morocco-and “We are not talking about youths aged 16, 17, children as the fact that Madrid is sending them back. “Asylum seekers and young as seven or eight were allowed through according to ‘Pawns in a political game’ migrants are being used as pawns in a political game between NGOs... ignoring international law,” she said in an interview with Spain has received the support of top European officials, with Morocco and Spain,” Amnesty said in a statement. It estimated Spanish public radio yesterday. European Commission vice president Margaritis Schinas warning that “around 2,000 unaccompanied children” had entered Ceuta “Call it what you want but I call it blackmail,” she said, adding that Europe “won’t let itself be intimidated by anyone on the issue this week from Morocco. —AFP teenager, who said he dropped out of school two years ago Moroccan teens ready and has been getting by working in a mechanic’s workshop in Tangier, said he has enough money to stay a few more days in the Moroccan border town of Fnideq and intends to try his to give up everything luck again getting across. His friend Hassan, 17, said he had decided to go home to Tangiers for now. He still dreams of living in Europe but doesn’t to reach Europe want to take the risk of setting off right away. FNIDEQ, Morocco: Moroccan high school student Mohamed, “One day, I’ll try my luck again and I’ll make it.” Others trav- 17, dropped everything-his studies, his final exams, even his elled to Fnideq from further afield after hearing news of this family-to try to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, like count- week’s mass crossing. “I have no future here. I want to work to less other youngsters who see no future in the North African help my family,” said Mohammed, who arrived in the border country. town on Wednesday after a long journey on foot. Since Monday, more than 8,000 would-be migrants, many of them unaccompanied minors, have managed to scramble, wade Anxious parents Migrants burn a motorbike as they clash with Moroccan riot police in protest or swim across the border in search of a better life in Europe. As Spain pressed on with its mass repatriations, anxious par- at being stopped from crossing the border, in the northern town of Fnideq, Most have been sent straight back by the Spanish authorities, ents gathered on the Moroccan side of the border desperate for close to the border between Morocco and Spain’s North African enclave of who have been angered by the blind eye turned by Moroccan news of their loved ones. Ceuta Wednesday. —AFP border guards as the youngsters streamed across to the tiny en- “I’m looking for my 15-year-old daughter,” said a visibly wor- clave of 84,000 people. But with already limited job prospects ried Abdelhak Bouchahtaoui. “Another girl said she saw her in the Spanish and Moroccan governments. for school leavers greatly reduced by the COVID pandemic, Ceuta but I have no news and nobody knows anything.” Another “Their expulsion by Spain runs contrary to international many of the young returnees are determined to try again, and woman who gave her name only as Ouafa acknowledged that at treaties on the rights of the child,” he said. “The Moroccan there are thousands more eager to follow in their footsteps. first she wanted her 15-year-old son to succeed in reaching authorities used them to put pressure on Spain for political Youth unemployment in Moroccan cities reached 40 percent Ceuta. purposes.” His allegation against the Moroccan authorities last year, according to official figures, and many young people But in the end she had been “relieved” to be reunited with has been echoed by the Spanish government. “We are not barely get by doing odd jobs. Abdellah, 16, was sent back to Mo- him after rushing to the border from the port city of Tangier. talking about youths aged 16, 17 — children as young as rocco by the Spanish authorities on Tuesday. Human rights activist Omar Naji said the striking number of seven or eight were allowed through according to NGOs ... “My mother hasn’t stopped ringing me to beg me to return teenagers among the would-be migrants was a first. ignoring international law,” said Spanish Defence Minister home, but adventure holds no fear for me,” he said. The He was deeply critical of the treatment of the youths by both Margarita Robles. —AFP.