Detention center, hellish work pace

This is the title of an article published in the Midi Libre from May 9, 2011. If Bin Laden is no more, refugees and other migrants from the Maghreb remain in full turmoil. They have begun to «invade» Europe (think, 20,000 already at the beginning of May, while Europe welcomed 500,000 to a million asylum seekers around 1990, not to mention illegal immigrants! What to do? But what to do today when twenty years of xenophobia have poisoned the minds of old Europe!!!). In France, one year before the presidential election, this is a godsend for little Nicolas, who still hopes, through absolute firmness, to win back some voters from Marine Le Pen.

In a few days, about thirty North Africans landed at the Nîmes detention center (equivalent to the administrative prison of Frambois, in Geneva). A mad race against time then began. This is because the procedures used do not comply with French legislation, and upon the first judicial review, the individuals are released just as quickly. Therefore, the authorities must ensure the return of these undesirables to Italy (the first country they transited through) within 48 hours. Except that... police unions are protesting. The law limits continuous work for the staff concerned to eleven hours, and some officers have been on duty for 24 hours.

Violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits inhuman treatment in all circumstances? Who knows! These «kroumirs» who dared to fight in the name of these words still engraved on the facade of the Republic's buildings, but not in the heart of its practices (you know: dignity, fraternity, liberty…), may eventually advance respect for the rights… of the police, failing to obtain the implementation of the right to asylum.

Yves Brutsch