 |
|
Migrants from North Africa arrive, escorted by
Italian Guardia di Finanza, at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa in this
March 24, 2011 file picture. (Photo: Reuters; Image source: Today's Zaman)
|
Two hundred
suspected human smugglers have been detained as part of the Ethiopian
government's efforts to stem the number of citizens trying to illegally migrate
to Europe, a senior official said.
The government is looking for 80 other alleged
smugglers who are conducting overseas operations, Ethiopian Federal Affairs
Minister Shiferaw Teklemariam told the Ethiopian News Agency late Sunday.
Reuters reports:
"The detentions are part of the government's
efforts to bring perpetrators to justice," he said. "People should
understand the fact that illegal migration is costing lives and leaving many
injured. The youth in particular should stop considering migrating as an option
and we are carrying out works to help in job creation at home."
Molla Abo, the mayor of the city of Hosaena in
southern Ethiopia, said many suspected human smugglers from the region have
been arrested in the past few weeks.
"This is besides the education we are
providing to the youth, parents and religious leaders about the problems of
illegal migration," he said.
Along with neighbor Eritrea, Ethiopia is the source
of many of the migrants making the perilous journey by sea to Europe, often via
Sudan and then Libya.
Ethiopia is drafting a new law to stiffen
punishments for human trafficking in an attempt to stem a wave of dangerous
migrations to Europe, the Ministry of Justice said.
Ethiopia's current
laws stipulate prison terms ranging from five to 20 years for crimes related to
human smuggling and a maximum fine of US$2,500.
No comments:
Post a Comment