Switzerland: Asylum and immigration (4)
01 January 1991
Switzerland: Asylum and immigration
artdoc November=1995
Immigration follows nuclear catastrophe as Switzerland's biggest
threat!
The Central Bureau for Defence has claimed that after the risk
of nuclear catastrophe the biggest threat to Switzerland in the
years to come is "problems related to immigration". Mr Hanshiri
Dahinden, the head of the bureau, made his amazing claim
following an official inquiry but added that although "these
problems" would not "shake the foundations of the country" they
would, nevertheless, create a situation of stress" (Courrier
28.1.95).
Additions to "Measures of Constraint" law includes information
gathering
Arnold Koller, the head of the Ministry of the Interior, has
hinted that further measures will be introduced over and above
the new Measures of Constraint law. Already, all foreigners
whose freedom of movement is limited under the new law will be
registered in the information retrieval system, RIPOL, despite
the fact that they have committed no criminal offence. Such
information gathering was not mentioned in the new law and has
been authorised by the government without reference to parliament
(Courrier 22.2.95).
Swiss Democrats petition against immigration
The far-Right Swiss Democrats' attempt to organise a petition
against immigration has so far attracted 3,000 votes. The
petition equates unemployment with immigration and demands that
if unemployment in a profession exceeds 30 per cent in a canton
no more permits should be issued to migrants. The Swiss
Democrats have also demanded the immediate expulsion of all
illegal immigrants, regardless of the conditions in their country
and the reason for coming to Switzerland (Courrier 22.2.95,
Tribune de Geneve 24.12.95).
Racism and fascism
Adolescent racism revealed
Forty seven per cent of adolescents between the ages of 13 and
18 are openly hostile to foreigners, according to a report by a
commission on youth in Zurich. The adolescents believe that most
crimes are committed by foreigners. Of those interviewed, 31.7
per cent reported having witnessed violence directed against
foreigners (Tribune de Geneve 28.1.95).
IRR European Race Audit, no 13, April 1995. Contact: Liz Fekete,
Institute of Race Relations, 2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS.
Tel: 0171 837 0041