'Deport Chinese, dog can
stay'
WebPosted Tue Aug 17 07:59:50 1999
VANCOUVER - While public sentiment
seems to support the decision to deport most of the Chinese migrants
who illegally arrived off B.C.'s coast last week, the dog that made
the trip is receiving a rousing, warm welcome.
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Next wave
There
are reports of an influx of Tibetan refugees into Canada from
the U.S., fueled by rumours that Canada will readily grant
asylum to Tibetans.
Some 123 Tibetans, mostly students who've been in the U.S.
for some time, have entered since the beginning of the month
and as many as 700 are preparing to leave, says the Tibetan
Youth Congress of New
York.
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Dozens of Canadians have offered refuge to Breeze, the
golden-Lab cross, pregnant with puppies, who came across with the
illegal migrants, says the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals.
Her warm welcome stands in contrast to the attitude expressed
toward the people who made the two-month voyage in a rusty ship.
"Go Home!" blared the front page headline of one West Coast
newspaper over the weekend. Another, the Victoria
Times-Colonist, reports that 97 per cent of respondents to its
poll said the migrants -- and another 123 who arrived last month --
should be sent home.
Immigration Canada appears to be listening.
The department says 77 of last week's arrivals have been ordered
out because they came to Canada to make money.
Only 10 of the 131 plan to seek refugee status because many
didn't feel it was necessary in order for them to stay in Canada.
Immigration officials are still trying to determine the fate of
the remaining migrants, particularly the 43 children in the group.
Department spokeswoman Janis Harper said for the most part, the
migrants didn't express fear at the prospect of returning to China.
People usually have 30 days to leave Canada after failing to file
for refugee status, Harper said.
All 123 Chinese nationals from the first ship, found July 20,
claimed refugee status. They are now free, awaiting refugee hearings
in September.
Crew charged
Meanwhile, the second ship's nine Korean crew members, believed
to be behind the smuggling operation, appeared in a Victoria court
Monday. They face charges of causing a person to disembark at sea.
The judge hearing the case asked all court staff to wear
protective masks during the proceedings. Although judge Robert
Metzger did not explain his decision, he would not allow members of
the public or the media into the court room unless they also had
masks.
Search continues
Search and rescue crews are still combing rugged terrain around
the Queen Charlotte Islands, looking for a missing migrant who is
believed to have been among the second group.
He became separated from the group when they were forced from the
ship onto rocks off the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Another four migrants, also separated from the group, were found
a day after Canadian authorities picked up the group.
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