Upheaval in Europe

The scorge of riots set off in neighboring France not only pose a threat to security across the continent, but it could also be the spark that could inflame all ready turbulent racial tensions across Europe.

After an emergency meeting with his cabinet on Tuesday, President Jacques Chirac announced that prefects in different districts across France will have the authority to impose a curfew to curtail the violence. Another emergency measure would allow authorities to search homes where they believe stockpile of weapons are being stored. During a television interview on Monday night, French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin (seen above left) acknowledged that sub-Saharan immigrants and others from the former African colonies faced discrimination in his country.

The riots began 12 nights ago outside of Paris when migrants set ablaze automobiles to protest the accidental electrocution of two youths fleeing police. A third youth who was badly burned when his two friends were killed, has called for calm. But the unrest has spread all across the country and spilled over to parts of Germany and Belgium. Here in Spain where many migrants from Morocco, Latin America and Eastern Europe live, discrimination is also widespread. Those from Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and other South American countries have grouped together to call for better treatment in terms of employment and equal opportunities. They have gained some ground. Last month, political tensions came to a head between Spain and Morocco over the treatment of sub-Saharan Africans who tried to enter the country by storming a security fence in the Spanish enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta. Eleven were allegedly shot by Moroccan police while others were taken to country´s southern border and reportedly left in the desert without food or water, eye witnesses have told the media. If the Africans can make it to the enclaves they can then travel within the European Union with little restrictions.

Right wing politicians in countries such as France, Germany and Austria have in the past made it clear that migrants only spell problems. They have waged fear campaigns and evoked nationalist passions among some Europeans who are now beginning to question whether to allow other countries such as Turkey and Bulgaria into the EU. If the French government doesn´t take a strong hand now in quelling the unrest and opening a dialogue with the migrants, the problem could magnify into a political one for the rest of Europe -- one that is founded on hatred and bigotry.