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Chinese refugees put overboard off B.C. coast
Ship's crew captured trying to fleeJim
Jamieson The Vancouver Province
The Queen Charlotte
Islands
| VANCOUVER
-- Some of the details were different, but the bottom line was
another boatload of illegal migrants from the Chinese province
of Fujian landing on the West Coast of British Columbia.
After a game of cat and mouse on the high seas with
Canadian authorities, an unmarked cargo ship dumped about 150
men, women and children into cold, choppy waters near the
beach at remote Gilbert Bay on the west coast of Kunghit
Island, the southernmost in the Queen Charlotte chain.
This time, the vessel attempted flight after letting its
human cargo off near the shore.
That contrasts with the boat that arrived off Vancouver
Island near Gold River last month with 123 Fujian refugee
claimants on board, which was a listing rustbucket.
But latest smugglers' vessel -- which Customs and
Immigration Canada said is believed to be of Korean origin --
was persuaded to heave to by Department of National Defence
aircraft after it had travelled 80 kilometres and was back in
international waters.
Shortly afterward, the RCMP vessel Inkster -- one of four
ships in the operation -- landed a 12-man emergency response
team onto the mystery boat. Once aboard, the RCMP arrested
eight crew members -- also believed to be Korean -- and seized
the boat without resistance. Customs and Immigration wouldn't
say where the vessel will be taken, but it's likely to either
Port Hardy or Prince Rupert.
The second such incident in the span of a month had
Immigration Minister Elinor Caplan saying she would look at
toughening government policies regarding human smuggling.
"I am examining our legistlative proposals in light of
these troubling incidents," said Ms. Caplan.
Although rumours are swirling that more boats of migrants
may already be on their way from China, Lt.-Cmdr. Chris
Henderson of the DND said: "I have no information about a
third or fourth ship."
Still, Canadian taxpayers will have to foot another bill,
similar to that of the previous group. George Varnai, the
regional director for Customs and Immigration Canada said the
cost -- just to to his organization -- for last month's
operation was about $200,000.
Canadian authorities didn't witness it because of fog, but
the group of 150 was apparently forced to swim several metres
through chilly water to reach the beach at Gilbert Bay.
According to the Coast Guard, all were wearing life jackets.
But Mr. Varnai said there were no medical concerns.
"There was no immediate cause for alarm," said Mr. Varnai.
"There was no need for medical evacuation."
Unlike the migrants that arrived last month, this group
contained many more women and children, Mr. Varnai said.
"Unlike the boat last month which didn't have any small
children, this one had a number of women and up to 20 small
children in the 3-4-5 year old range."
There were questions as to why the boat wasn't challenged
before it got so close to Gilbert Bay, but RCMP spokesman Cpl.
Frank Henley said that fog and heavy chop made the logistics
difficult.
"It was very difficult to navigate in that weather and we
couldn't see them in the fog," he said. Cpl. Henley also said
there was no evidence of drugs or weapons on the ship, which
entered Canadian waters early yesterday morning.
The migrants' destination will initially be Port Hardy from
where they'll be taken to the same converted CFB Esquimalt
gymnasium that was occupied by their countrymen last month.
"We're unlocking the door and turning the lights back on,"
said Lt.-Cmdr. Henderson.
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