The Canadian 'hole' in the Berlin Wall

Press, 18 December 1986, Page 16

The Canadian 'hole' in the Berlin Wall

By

DOUG LONG,

of Reuter, in Gander, Newfoundland

It has been called the “Hole in the Berlin Wall” and “The Underground Railroad to Freedom” for Eastern Block refugees looking for a home in the West. Several times a week, passengers from Soviet bloc airliners on trans-Atlantic flights stopping to refuel at Newfoundland’s remote Gander International Airport get out to stretch their legs — and then some apply to remain in Canada.

An airport community of 12,000 in Canada’s eastern-most province,. Gander has become a back door for people who wish to leave Cuba and Eastern Bloc countries,, such as the Soviet Union, Po’land, East Germany, and Rumania.

Indeed, for Eastern Bloc residents, it is perhaps the only route available to North America.

During the last three years, nearly 300 people have taken advantage of refuelling stops and failed to reboard their flights on Soviet Aeroflot, East German Interflug, or Cuba’s Cubana airlines.

Canadian immigration authorities grant most of those seeking political asylum permission to stas at least for a

their permanent refugee claims are processed. At one time, those seeking a safe haven at Gander via Soviet Cuban, and East German flights were always residents of communist countries, with the largest group from Cuba. In recent years, however, increasing numbers have been from other countries. Iranians and Sri Lankans, some Iraquis , and occasionally a Nicaraguan have abandoned their flights at Gander.

“It’s a part of being a port of entry, no different really than New York or Montreal,” the airport manager, John Pittman, told Reuter in an interview. “We like to have the flights at Gander and if people leave the planes, it doesn’t matter to me.”

Immigration officials say refugees typically approach a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in the airport lounge and declare their intentions.

“We have interpreters available on a 24-hour basis and claimants are also provided with a degree of financiaal assistance,” said the Gander immigration manager, Terry Loder. He said. Eastern Bloc claimants

were reviewed by a special refugee advisory committee in Ottawa and usually are granted a one-year ministerial permit as a starting point, which allows them to move anywhere within Canada.

The hurdle to Canadian immigration is reaching a major airport such as Montreal, Toronto, or Vancouver on a scheduled international flight because required visas are difficult to obtain from Canadian embassies. Mr Pittman said 17 Aeroflot flights, 10 Cubana flights and six Interflug flights pass through Gander each week. Eastern Block airline representatives have made formal protests with immigration and airport authorities about the asylum-seekers, but they are keen to retain access to the vital Gander facilities.

Several years ago Aeroflot officials, in an effort to curb defectors, sought to keep passengers aboard during refuelling stops, but they were told they would lose landing privileges because Canadian and international air transport regulations require that no-one be on board during refuelling.