Demonstration in Ceuta ends with warning shots as radicals clash with migrants
More than two thousand people marched in Ceuta against the Government's "abandonment", with moments of maximum tension at Trampolín beach.
Ceuta takes to the streets a month after mass crossing and protest ends with warning shots
More than two thousand people gathered on Wednesday outside the Government Delegation in Ceuta to denounce the "abandonment" and "inaction" of the central executive, a month after the mass entry of migrants recorded on 30 July. According to El Mundo, the moments of greatest tension occurred at Trampolín beach, where National Police officers fired warning shots to stop a group of radical protesters who had clashed with migrants.
The protest departed from the O'Donnell neighbourhood, opposite the Military Hospital, one of the spaces considered by the central Government for the accommodation of migrants. Local residents expressed explicit rejection of that and other municipal facilities being used for that purpose. From there, the march moved towards the Puertas del Campo and subsequently to the vicinity of the Government Delegation, where the gathering reached its largest scale.
Carrying Spanish and Ceuta flags, protesters chanted slogans such as "Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta is defended", "A caballa never surrenders" and "Ceuta is not a CETI". There were also repeated calls for the resignation of the Government Delegation head in Ceuta, Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, and the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez.
Inside the Delegation building, a meeting was being held at that moment to address the crisis, chaired by the Minister of Territorial Policy and co-ordinator of the unified command, Ángel Víctor Torres.
Tension at El Trampolín: warning shots and shouts at migrants
A group of approximately two hundred protesters diverted towards El Trampolín beach, where numerous migrants were sleeping rough. Some went directly to the beach to confront them. "If they don't want to leave, we'll throw them out ourselves", they shouted. Officers prevented the assaults, but when part of that group covered their faces and continued advancing towards the migrants, the National Police resorted to warning shots. The migrants present fled the area.
"There's more police here than on the day of the crossing", some attendees complained about the heavy security deployment. Just metres from the protesters, hundreds of migrants remained sheltered whilst officers kept the two groups separated and prevented any advance towards the area.
After several failed attempts to overcome the police cordon, many of those gathered began heading back towards the centre. During the journey there were new moments of tension as they encountered several migrants, although the situation did not overwhelm the police deployment.
Division among the protesters themselves
After 00:40, a much smaller gathering continued through some central streets of Ceuta. It was then that the differences among the participants became clear. The exaltation of a minority sector provoked open reproach from other residents: "We're not like that! We look like criminals!".
The mobilisation laid bare two opposing positions: those who defended the peaceful character of the march at all times and those who, in moments of greatest tension, demanded a more forceful response to a situation they considered unsustainable. The tension between both positions even led to discussions and verbal confrontations among the protesters themselves.
Residents also expressed their exhaustion with the daily situation. "We can't even go out on the street", some complained. "Do you know what it's like to live locked in out of fear? That's enough, now we're the ones spreading fear", said one attendee.
Context: the Royal Decree and previous protests
Wednesday's mobilisation occurred a day after citizen protests on Tuesday and following clarifications from the central Government, which clarified that facilities such as sports centres or other equipment included in the Royal Decree approved by the Council of Ministers would only be used in exceptional circumstances and with the consensus of the administrations involved.
The Executive's explanations failed to halt the discontent of part of the Ceutí population, which in recent days has intensified its protests over the migration situation and fears that public spaces in the city will be adapted to receive migrants. Under the slogan "the people save the people", protesters gathered their collective frustration against what they describe as an insufficient response by the central Government.
Source: El Mundo