Illegal Immigrants in Greece End Hunger Strike

ATHENS, Greece -- Nearly 300 illegal immigrants have ended a six-week hunger strike after the Greek government, fearing the death of one or more protesters, agreed not to begin deportation proceedings against them.

After crisis talks with the strikers tonight, a team of government ministers said the 287 immigrants -- mainly from Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria -- would be allowed to stay in the country for six months for humanitarian reasons.

mmigrants celebrate the end of their hunger strike, in central Athens, on Wednesday, March 9, 2011.

Petros Giannakouris, AP

Immigrants celebrate the end of their hunger strike in central Athens on Wednesday. Some 287 immigrants in Greece ended their six-week hunger strike Wednesday after reaching a compromise with the government, supporters for the protest said.

In addition, the minister said legal status would be granted to those who have been living in Greece for more than eight years –- four years less than the current requirement. The move is an abrupt about-face by the government, which initially rejected the refugees and their demands.

"This is a victory for the hunger strikers," said Thanassis Karabelis, a lead activist who campaigned for the immigrants. "We will start giving the protesters sustenance immediately."

The hunger strike ended as recurring images of gaunt and listless immigrants being rushed to hospitals for treatment of acute heart and kidney failure sent shock waves across the country, stoking fears within the government of a humanitarian disaster.

Even so, government spokesman George Petalotis called the outcome "successful" because continued deadlock -– and the death of one or more protesters --- could have spelled "unforeseeable consequences."

Conservative opponents billed the compromise a "humiliation."

Either way, the end of the hunger strike does little to ease Greece's immigration woes.

Experts estimate that 90 percent of the European Union's illegal immigrants flow through Greece's porous frontiers. In the first six months of 2010, Greece recorded 45,000 illegal border crossings in its northern frontiers in 2010. At least 350,000 illegal migrants are estimated in the country altogether, nearly double the figure estimated in 2007, according to national police statistics.

Sponsored Links

Only a portion -– less than 1 percent -– are granted political asylum.

To cope with the crisis, Athens has been considering a raft of controversial measures, including a soaring fence along almost eight miles of its northern frontiers with Turkey, to crack down on illegal immigration.

Other measures being reviewed include floating detention centers to accommodate overflow from a crowded and decrepit reception center that international organizations have billed as "inhumane."

Earlier this year, Denmark, Finland and Norway stopped deporting illegal immigrants back to Greece because of degrading treatment here.