What would you do if it was your town square?

Many have said its puts Greek people in a very bad light. My own thoughts as a UK citizen living in Greece is that if this were to happen in Trafalgar Square Londoners would react exactly the same, as would French, Italians etc etc if it were their City.

The EU need to launch a massive public campaign in the counties where these people come from and show them what they must expect if they come any EU country illegally.......detention & repatriation immediately.

Those that use the correct procedures for immigration need to be treated differently and perhaps the Embassy's of the various EU counties should start becoming the first port of call for potential refugees before they plan their emigration.......

Illegal immigrants

In my previous posting I made reference to the EU supporting Greece in trying to prevent illegal immigrants from entering the country via Turkey. It appears no matter what the authorities try these people will always find a way and unfortunately there is always someone willing to take their money and "help" them.

This week in the very small tourist / fishing village of Finikounda, Messinias 56 illegal immigrants were stopped by the port authorities. A few miles further down the coast on the beach of Methoni another 102 illegal immigrants were arrested. The Greek owner of the boat mysteriously "got away".  Many of the 102 illegals at Methoni were thought to have made their way there on buses from the Athens location. All these people were planning to head for mainland Europe by boat....................

Having recently seen again the illegal immigrants camping in and around Patra it is clear this port is still being used as one of the main departure points to Italy. During my recent visit to the port police arrested people clinging to the underside of trucks boarding ferries. However the illegal camps are in strong evidence along the beach frontage. Perhaps the local farmers instead of planning protests against the government in January-February 2011 (it now seems an annual event at each New Year) should take their tractors and JCB's and plough the beaches, I recall the French doing a very successful job at Sangatte.