New British Law Allows Government To Revoke Citizenship

New laws that came into force this week give the government the authority to revoke British citizenship from immigrants who "seriously prejudice" the country's interest. The laws are changes to the Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Act, and are part of a plan to cut the flow of asylum seekers. Asylum applications reached record levels last year, and the British government has taken many steps to meet its goal of cutting the number in half within seven months.

***

Malaysia Freezes Immigration Over SARS Threat

The Malaysian government will freeze the immigration of foreign workers and tour groups from several countries where there have been reports of an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Among the countries named are China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore and Canada. Health Minister Chua Jui Meng and Health Ministry director general Mohamad Taha Arif held a news conference and said there had been no deaths from the illness in Malaysia.

***

South Korean Justice Minister Pledges To Simplify Immigration

Justice Minister Kan Kum-sil promised to simplify immigration procedures and ease requirements for those seeking permanent resident status. At a luncheon hosted by the Seoul Foreign Correspondents' Club in downtown Seoul, Kang said he would take a stronger stance against human rights violations of illegal immigrants. He said that 290,000, or nearly half, of foreigners residing in the country were undocumented.

***

World Cup Bomb Plotter Seeks Asylum In Britain

Omar Saiki, 33, a French-Algerian who was jailed for four years and stripped of his French citizenship for his part in a plot to bomb the 1998 World Cup in France, is seeking asylum in Britain. Saiki, an Islamic militant, arrived in Britain last September. While staying at the Muslim Welfare House, Saiki was filmed by an undercover French journalist and was recorded as saying he was the "representative of the GSPC (the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat) in France." The GSPC has been linked to Al-Qaeda. Saiki denied he was involved in terrorist activities and said came to Britain because of its culture of "preserving human rights, justice and liberty." He also denied that he was a member of the GSPC, saying he was only talking about his alleged reputation with the French secret service when he identified himself as a representative of the group.