(BCTV) - A dramatic,
cat-and-mouse game off the coast of B.C. in the dangerous, choppy
waters of the north Pacific. A cargo ship carrying what's believed
to be illegal Asian immigrants, zig-zagging through the water,
trying to evade the Canadian Coast Guard.
It finally dumps its human cargo including men, women and
children at the southern tip of the Queen Charlottes and tells
them to swim to shore. And then, it makes a run for it. John Daly
recaps today's events.
John Daly, reporting: "Bad weather foiled Canadian authorities'
attempts to intercept the ghost ship. It made it to Gilbert Bay.
One-hundred and fifty migrants forced to swim for shore. Canadian
military aircraft watched helplessly."
Officer: "The Rescue Coordination Centre in Esquimalt is taking
charge of the operation now as a rescue operation and is diverting
transport aircraft like the Buffalo behind us, which carry our
search and rescue technicians and supplies and are considering to
do some sort of drop to these people...some blankets and medical
supplies."
John Daly, reporting: "The boat headed for the high seas after
disgorging its human cargo."
George Varnai, Immigration Canada: "We are working in a
difficult area, in difficult situation. The 150 people are on the
beach now with our people. They are all from the Fujian
province...whether they are immigrants as stated under the
Immigration Act, we don't know yet, it is far too early to
tell..."
John Daly, reporting: "The unmarked vessel, believed to be of
Korean origin, and its eight Korean crew, was intercepted 80 km
from shore...making its getaway..."
Cpl. Frank Henley, RCMP E-Division: "At this time we have an
ERT team on the boat...The crew was fully cooperative. They turned
the boat around without incident. They are powering the boat back
into our waters. There is nothing at this time to indicate that
there is anything else on that boat."
John Daly, reporting: "Same area as last time, same type of
boat, people from the same part of China... Last time it was two
American fishermen who caught the refugees coming ashore and
alerted authorities. This time they had plenty of warning, but it
didn't make any difference."
Elinor Caplan, Immigration Minister: "Once there is an
interception, then effectively they are in Canadian waters and the
law applies. The concern that we have, and we know that there have
been other tragic incidences internationally, we are dealing with
human life. There are those suggesting that we use force. And I
say to them, "Are you proposing that we sink the boat"?"
Gary Lunn, Reform, Saanich-Gulf Islands; "And these two boat
loads, full of people, and more coming...it happens every day at
our airport. We have Americans coming into our country claiming
refugee status...this is ridiculous...so we need to change our
domestic laws now to stop this and send these people home."
John Daly, reporting: "But they aren't going home. Like the
last batch, they will be housed at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt
and given lawyers, and refugee hearings."
Anchor reads: "Premier Glen Clark is blaming Ottawa for this
new spate of illegal immigrants and says he doesn't think these
latest migrants should be treated as refugees. In Quebec City for
the premier's conference, Clark says federal cutbacks have left
the B.C. coast without an effective system of patrol and left it
open to people who would abuse the immigration
system."