AUTHORITIES TO CRACK DOWN ON ILLEGAL RESIDENTS
Authorities will mount a nation-wide search for illegal residents after an amnesty allowing them to leave ends late this month, newspapers reported yesterday, according to the Agence France-Presse, AFP. Interior Minister Lt. Gen. Dr Saeed al Badi met is aides on Saturday and discussed carrying out raids on suspected concentrations of illegal residents and other foreigners who are violating the immigration laws, the papers said. Between 100,000 and 150,000 people have left the Emirates over the past two months and the number is set to exceed 200,000, according to the very highest estimates, by the end of the amnesty deadline on October 31. The amnesty had been due to expire on September 30 but was extended to allow all violators to leave and avoid facing several years in prison under a tougher immigration law.
"There will be no new extension of the amnesty," said Ali Rashid al Nuaimi, Director of Public Relations and Moral Guidance at the Interior Ministry. "We will launch comprehensive drives after the end of the deadline. They will be conducted in co-ordination with the Ministries of Labour and Social Affairs, Justice and Immigration Departments and police throughout the UAE." Security sources said the raids would cover Mussafah, where thousands of illegal migrants, mostly from india and bangladesh, had been based before the country announced the amnesty offer. Other targets include low-cost restaurants and cafés, housing complexes, companies and other public places. Police will also be authorised to stop and check suspects in streets and other public places. Coast guards said they would step up naval patrols in territorial waters and deploy more radar networks to guard against infiltrations.
Officials reported this year that the Coast and Border Guards would also be equipped with additional patrol boats and advanced monitoring systems. "The aim of the search campaign is to organise the presence of foreigners in the country so it will conform to the new immigration law," Nuaimi said. "They will be conducted within the principle of respect for human rights and the new law will be enforced on all without exception." Nuaimi said the drive would also target employers who either recruit illegal migrants or foreigners who are sponsored by another employer. Under the new immigration law, which went into effect on October 1, foreigners who sneak into the UAE illegally face a three-year jail sentence and a Dh 30,000 ($8,174) fine. Those who bring them in face a stiffer punishment, including up to 15 years in prison and a fine of $ 27,247, although the highest figure could be as much as Dh 1.0 million.
Police records show that nearly 25,000 Asians have been seized while trying to enter the UAE illegally in the past 25 years of jobs but another 100,000 have managed to get in by sea under cover of night after crossing the Gulf from Iran. Nearly half of those who have left the UAE under the amnesty were from Bangladesh and India while most of the rest were from the Philippines, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Of the UAE's total population of around 2.3 million (as of the December 1995 census), the resident communities of these seven nationalities account for more than half.
UAE: RELAX DEBTS TO THIRD WORLD
The UAE yesterday called for international policies aimed at easing debts of Third World countries and opening up of industrialised markets for their products, reported the Emirates News Agency, WAM, from New York. Addressing the economic committee of the 51st Session of the United Nations, UN, General Assembly, UAE delegate Mohammed Abdullah Ahmed also stressed the need for increasing development assistance and transfer of technology to the developing countries. He also confirmed the importance of taking into consideration the outcome and recommendations of international conferences organised by regional and international bodies in the last five years. He placed special emphasis on refugees and their social problems, urban population and shortages of food and proper housing and other problems.
"The economic committee in its capacity as one of the instruments of international development and co-operation should work hard in co-ordination with other international organisation in planning policies that will lead to a better international economic situation based on equity and justice between nations," Ahmed added. He pointed out that economic security was a fundamental pillar for building a new world order based on development security and stability. "The international community should draw up an appropriate strategy on co-operation and solidarity in international economic relations with the aim of achieving progress and prosperity in the world as a whole," he added. The UAE delegate also spoke about the assistance given to Third World Countries by the UAE to finance economic and social development projects in a number of African and Asian nations. "Out of its convictions of the principle of co-operation and regional integrations as a basic step towards arriving at an integrated world economic order, my country was a forerunner in regional and international social and economic activities and has always called for collective action in the restructuring of economic and investment sectors," he said. This version was carried in Emirates News.
FUJAIRAH EXHIBITION CENTRE READY FOR DECEMBER
The Chairman of the Fujairah Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agricultural, earlier this week announced the completion of the Fujairah Exhibition Centre project, which will be officially opened on December 10, 1996. Saeed Ali Khamas, Chairman of the Fujairah Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, said that the project of the Fujairah Exhibition Centre has already been completed and awaits its opening under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamad bin Mohammed al Sharqi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Fujairah, to be an important additional commercial project which will contribute in the economic development of Fujairah. The opening ceremony of the Centre will accompany the country's celebration of the UAE's Silver jubilee of the National Day and the 30th Anniversary of HH President Sheikh Zayed's Accession.
"The Fujairah Exhibition Centre will start its first activities by holding its first exhibition "Made in the Emirates" which will be held under the auspices of the Fujairah Ruler in co-operation with the Federation of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry in the UAE," said Khamas. He pointed out that the 'Made in the Emirates' exhibition is traditionally held annually in one or other of the emirates because of its positive aspects and effects on the development process in the emirate. The exhibition will include very good samples of locally-manufactured products which contribute to the level of production in the UAE and will activate the important expected role of the Fujairah Exhibition Centre.
Khamas explained that the Fujairah Exhibition Centre will be operated and directed by the Oman Expo Company for a renewable five years as per the agreement signed last a week ago last Monday between the company and the Fujairah Chamber. The Oman Expo Company will hold as many exhibitions and fairs as possible, and not less than six per year, with each one under the supervision of the Fujairah Chamber. "The Fujairah Exhibition Centre will play an important role in attracting several types of industries through inviting businessmen from the AGCC, Arab and foreign countries to open new markets for their products which will be on display at the centre. It will help local businessmen to get new opportunities of agencies from some important foreign trade companies," Khamas said.
The Fujairah Exhibition Centre was constructed on a 55,250 square metre area of land and comprises initially three main exhibition halls of 1,080 square metres each with each hall including 68 stands for displaying products. "Being located in an area between the Fujairah Seaport, Fujairah International Airport, Fujairah Free Trade Zone Authority and the Fujairah Trade Centre, the exhibition centre will help in creating good opportunities for our local markets to interact with the modern foreign markets, in addition to helping attract several local and foreign exhibition." Khamas explained. The 'Made in the Emirates' exhibition will be opened officially by the Ruler of Fujairah and will start on the day the Fujairah Exhibition Centre is officially opened. It is scheduled to run from December 10 - 15.
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