The first bodies of Vietnamese migrants found dead at the end of October in a refrigerated truck near London were repatriated Wednesday in Vietnam, after painful weeks of waiting for their families who will be able to organize the funeral. The Vietnam Airlines plane from the UK landed at Hanoi airport early in the morning "with 16 bodies on board," an airport security officer said on condition of anonymity. They were quickly taken aboard several vehicles to the different provinces of central Vietnam where they originate.
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39 bodies discovered
"We have been waiting for this moment for a very long time and we will organize the funeral on his return," said Vo Van Binh, whose son, Vo Van Linh, is one of the victims. "We are very sad, but happy because my son is finally back," added the father in front of the family gathered in anticipation of the arrival of the remains. The remaining 23 bodies are expected to be repatriated in the coming days.
The bodies of 31 men and 8 women, including two 15-year-old boys, were found on 23 October, packed in a container in the industrial area of Grays, East London. The container came from the Belgian port of Zeebrugge. This drama, which has raised an international outcry, has highlighted the dangers faced by illegal immigrants, particularly because of unscrupulous traffickers who take advantage of their vulnerability. Vietnamese candidates for exile often end up in illegal nail bars or cannabis farms in the UK, reduced to a state of semi-slavery.
Costly funeral
Two options were proposed to them by the authorities: to pay 1,774 dollars to bring back the ashes for a cremation, or 2,858 dollars for the body to be repatriated in a coffin.Despite the additional cost, most have opted for a classical burial, according to tradition in the Vietnamese countryside.
On Monday, the driver of the refrigerated truck, accused of manslaughter, pleaded guilty in London to help with illegal immigration. Originally from Northern Ireland, Maurice Robinson, 25, also pleaded guilty to taking a profit from this activity. As a result of this tragedy, several people were arrested in the United Kingdom and at least ten Vietnamese were arrested in their country, but none have been formally charged to date.