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AMNESTY/SPAINBack
[Published: Friday February 06 2015]

 Amnesty condemns Spain for disregarding human life

Ceuta, Spain, 6 Feb - (ANA) - The Spanish authorities’ failure to properly investigate the drowning of 14 migrants off the coast of Ceuta after the Civil Guard opened fire with large rubber bullets highlights the deplorable disregard for human life at Spain’s borders with Morocco, said Amnesty International on the anniversary of the tragedy. “One year on from this tragic incident, victims and their families are still waiting for justice, while the investigation has been blocked and stalled,” said Irem Arf Rayfield, Amnesty International’s Researcher on Refugee and Migrants' Rights in Europe. A year ago today, 200 migrants, refugees and asylum seekers from Sub-Saharan Africa attempted to swim to Ceuta, an autonomous city of Spain on the north coast of Africa, from its border with Morocco. Members of the Spanish Civil Guard opened fire with large rubber bullets, tear gas and blanks to stop their advance resulting in or contributing to the death of 14 people. An additional woman has also been reported dead after the incident, though her body has never been found. A government representative at first denied the use of anti-riot equipment; after footage emerged of the equipment in use. The Minister of Interior admitted it was used, though in such a way as to avoid hitting any of the people who were in the sea. However, survivors told Spanish non-governmental organisations that some of them were hit by rubber bullets when they were in the sea and that the tear gas fired by the Civil Guards made it difficult for them to see and breathe. Parliament voted against a proposal to establish a Parliamentary Committee to investigate the incident. While a criminal investigation was launched into the deaths in February 2014, it has been carried out by the Civil Guard Command of Ceuta, the same command that led the fatal operation last year. To date it does not appear to have been thorough, prompt or impartial. Vital information, including the identities of the officers who participated in the operation, was only collected by the investigating judge months after the events, after non-governmental organizations challenged her failure to do so in the courts. “One year has passed and little progress appears to have been made in holding those responsible for the deaths to account. The victims of this tragedy and their families deserve justice and reparation, not delays and prevarication,” said Irem Arf Rayfield. (ANA)
FA/ANA/6 February 2015-------
 

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