El Ejido - A Human Rights Emergency

The racism directed at immigrant workers in Spain exploded in three days of violence in El Ejido 5-7 February. Hundreds of Moroccan workers were bunt out of their tiny overcrowded shacks by racist mobs.

The workers, who earn just 4,000 pesetas a day for back breaking work in the hothouses that supply most of Western Europe with fruit, decided to go on strike. After four days the Moroccans agreed to suspend the strike on the condition that the attacks cease, and that they be provided with safe emergency accommodation.

One week later and they have received no help. Meanwhile those elements in the local population who carried out the attacks support the town's mayor, Juan Enciso, who refuses the Red Cross permission to erect tents for homeless immigrants in El Ejido and the Spanish police are cracking down on illegal immigrants. The Moroccan workers may yet go on strike again, they urgently need aid.

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Moroccan Voices from El Ejido
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