13/10/2001 00:00
TW
0

Dear Sir,
Reading in the Bulletin that Mr Blunkett is at present on the island, apart from hoping he will push for identity cards in the UK for all the obvious (and even more necessary today) reasons, the whole question of asylum seekers vis-a-vis economic refugees, needs an even more radical re-think than is the case at present.

A political refugee “today”, could be a potential terrorist “tomorrow”. With the previous USA support of Bin Laden and others during their fight against Russian occupation, I wonder how many Afghans from that camp sought political asylum, to become entrenched in a western country, and with time, are in place to be called upon by their previous associates.

So often the ally of today (Iraq was backed, again by the USA, in their war with Iran), with the passage of time, becomes the bitter enemy.
There really has to be the most strict control of everyone wanting to enter a country like Britain, or all that is happening is the transfer of the problematic people from one country to another.

If someone does not have a firm offer of employment, somewhere to live, and/or a resident sponsor, properly established, and a medical certificate of good health, then it is totally wrong to allow them entry, not only for the country's population but for the refugee as well.

Proper planning and control is long overdue and whilst it may seem harsh in the first instance, there is a lot of truth in the expression: “Sometimes it is necessary to be cruel to be kind”.

Yours sincerely

Graham Phillips. Palma

More security in Majorca

Dear Sir,
Home Secretary David Blunkett is in Majorca studying wide ranging anti–terrorism policies which the Blair government could introduce as a result of the September 11 attacks. In view of the publicity currently being given to terrorist attacks, I am somewhat concerned by the apparent vulnerability of our local power station here on the island of Mallorca, where unlike the mainland, we have no national grid or alternative supply. Undoubtedly a well placed bomb could leave the island without electricity for months completely ruining the economy. I pass Es Murterar every day, I see no signs of any security whatsoever. In view of the current political climate, could I suggest you immediately take steps to improve the security and perhaps ban any hunting within 3 km of the station, as it was the gun shots and presence of the guardia civil there yesterday evening which made me very aware of the dangers.

John Roberts. Majorca