Up to 340 refugees a day, life-threatening smugglers moving through the city at breakneck speed – there is uncertainty in the communities along the border. In Deutschkreutz, the SPÖ is preparing a petition calling for the strengthening of security forces in the city and throughout the region.
“We no longer want to stand idly by as human suffering is waved away at our doorstep by senior politicians. At the same time, our own quality of life has been taken away from us!” Harsh words that can be heard from residents of the border communities. You are addressing the 70 to 340 refugees who will come to Burgenland from Hungary every day this summer. And they confront the smugglers who are being chased and race through the city at 100 km/h.
Worry about the children
“We will not wait for a child to be seriously injured or even killed by a smuggling vehicle while trying to escape,” says the SPÖ Deutschkreutz’s current petition, which is addressed to the ÖVP’s Interior Minister. The request to strengthen security forces in the city and throughout the region will be presented at the next city council meeting. Due to its importance and explosiveness, the SPÖ expects the approval of all parliamentary groups. The letter must then go to the Minister of the Interior.
Falling on deaf ears
Deputy Mayor Jürgen Hofer (SPÖ): “With our petition, we once again call on the federal government to finally recognize the seriousness of the situation and call for more security personnel.” So far there has been no response from official bodies in Vienna. Even an open letter from all SPÖ mayors and representatives of the Oberpullendorf district was ignored. At the same time, the number of military patrols on relief missions and border control by the executive branch decreased.
“Urgent action needed”
“The Ministry of the Interior has not even ignored our concerns and solutions in the open letter,” criticizes Roman Kainrath, SPÖ mayor of Lutzmannsburg. The SPÖ district chairman, regional councilor Heinrich Dorner, sees an impending danger: “Last Sunday, a smuggler was stopped in Deutschkreutz with 46 refugees, who could barely breathe in the hold. Community pursuits often end in accident. Urgent action is needed before something bad happens.”
Clear ministerial line
The position of Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) is unmistakable. In addition to a decrease in the number of arrests, he points to the declining number of asylum applications: 53 percent less in August compared to 2022. “And the fact that Austria consistently checks is a central measure in the fight against the internationally active smuggling mafia.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
