Head leads mission to rescue Bosnians
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.AN ENGLISH headmaster is poised today to test Home Office pledges to relax its treatment towards refugees bound for Britain from the former Yugoslavia, writes Carl Fellstrom.
Following the 28-hour journey across Europe in a donated coach, Gerald Smith, 52, from Northampton, is to bring up to 40 Bosnian refugees back to England.
The 'mercy mission', which began on Thursday and reached the Slovenian border with Austria last night, aims to persuade the British government to fall into line with other European Community countries in accepting a bigger quota of refugees from the war- torn country.
'This is a test case, especially in the light of the recent deportations,' Mr Smith said as he prepared last night for the safe passage of the refugees from the border town of Kranjska-Gora. 'We should not leave everything up to the governments of the world. The public must play their part too.'
The refugees are expected to arrive in Dover tonight. From there they will be transported to St Peter's School in Northampton, where Mr Smith is headmaster, and they will then be found homes in the area.
Mr Smith, who admitted his idea was 'somewhat mad', believes that the refugees will be allowed to stay in England.
'These people have lost everything. They have no homes to go back to for years - we must set some sort of example,' he said.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments