China Intensifies Crackdown on Illegal EmigrationFujian Province in east China has intensified its crackdown on stowaways after 58 illegal immigrants recently were found dead in a truck at the English port of Dover.The 58 men and women, reportedly Chinese, were crammed into a truck by "snakeheads," or human traffickers, and apparently died of suffocation on their long journey to Britain. Local departments have been mobilized to identify the dead immigrants, going from village to village to find family or friends. Many local people said that they could not comprehend why these people paid such a high price (said to be 23,000 US dollars a head) to snakeheads, and even risked their lives in the smuggling attempt. Fujian is one of China's first provinces to initiate the reform and opening policy in late 1970s. At present, the province's gross domestic product has reached 10,900 yuan (1,313 dollars), ranking seventh in the country. In 1999, the province's urban residents' average per capita disposable income stood at 6,860 yuan (827 dollars), and farmers' per capita income climbed to 3,091 yuan (372 dollars) -- relatively well-off amounts compared with earnings in less- developed areas in China. Over the past few years, local governments at all levels have been adopting various measures to crack down on illegal emigration. Snakeheads and those found involved in human being trafficking have received severe punishment. Concerned departments also strengthened cooperation with international organizations in the field. U.S. and Canadian immigration experts went to Fuzhou to help train border inspection personnel in May. This was the first joint effort by China, the United States and Canada to fight against illegal immigrants. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said at a press conference that the Chinese government strongly condemns the illegal emigration activities and calls for cooperation among the international community to crack down on the organizers. |
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