 |
East China Province Cracks Down on Illegal Emigration
Fujian Province in east China, an area plagued by emigration problems, has intensified its crackdown on stowaways after 58 illegal immigrants were found dead in a truck at the English port of Dover.
Over the past few years, local governments at all levels have taken various measures to crack down on illegal emigration. " Snakeheads," or those involved in human trafficking, have received severe punishment.
Courts at all levels in the province handled 296 emigration cases involving 595 people last year, and 97 of them were sentenced to two years imprisonment or more.
By June this year, 900 snakeheads had been arrested.
Fujian has launched two three-month long anti-emigration campaigns since last December, resulting in the arrests of 289 people allegedly involved in organizing and shipping illegal stowaways.
So far this year, only 17 emigration cases have been investigated, involving 79 people, down 72.6 percent and 92.6 percent, respectively, compared with the same period of 1999.
Meanwhile, the province has adopted strict measures to supervise ships and fishermen in coastal areas.
Following the Dover accident, the provincial government also tightened control on exit applications and called for rapid development of the economy to solve surplus labor and to improve people's living standard
Fujian was one of China's first provinces to initiate the reform and opening policy in the late 1970s. At present, the province's gross domestic product has reached 10,900 yuan (1,313 dollars), ranking seventh in the country.
In This Section
|