Drahonice, North Bohemia, Oct 12 (CTK) – Eighty male foreigners were transported from Bela pod Bezdezem, central Bohemia, to a newly opened refugee facility in Drahonice yesterday, but a number of men were first opposed to the relocation, foreigner police spokeswoman Katerina Rendlova has told CTK.
“Some started to speak about family ties, they presented themselves as cousins and uncles of families. Some even said they entered into a Muslim marriage right in the facility and insisted on that the police accept it,” Rendlova said.
Eventually, 80 men left aboard two buses without much problem for Drahonice before noon.
An interpreter and medical workers are awatining them in the former prison in Drahonice which will have 60 employees.
The Drahonice inhabitants said they were afraid of the new arrivals. Their fears should be dispelled by guards, police and the security measures taken.
The complex is closed and the refugees are not allowed to leave it.
The placing of migrants in Drahonice was also objected to by Usti Region Governor Oldrich Bubenicek (Communists, KSCM), who said the region already must cope with many social problems.
The Usti Region has a big number of underprivileged places and it fights one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, which also raises crime.
Miloslav Koudelny, director of the Refugee Facilities Administration, said Drahonice has been opened so that the migrants can be in walled buildings. The capacity of 240 beds will be filled at about a half at the beginning.
Another reserve facility will be opened in Balkova, some ten kilometres away from Drahonice, but administratively situated in the Plzen Region.
Migrant detention facilities also exist in Zastavka near Brno and in Vysni Lhoty, north Moravia.
Police will be assisted in guarding migrants in the detention facilities by members of the Prison Service as from November 1. Justice Minister Robert Pelikan (for ANO) announced yesterday that he has released up to 70 people for the purpose at the request of the Interior Ministry.
Between last Monday and this morning, the police detained 33 migrants. They also detained a Dutch, a German and a Syrian who are suspected of organising and allowing the unauthorised crossing of the state border, Rendlova said.
She said they face two to 12 years in prison and expulsion, if found guilty.
