1.
GV PORTUGESE COLONY BARRACKS (2 SHOTS)
0.07

2.
SCV DIRT AND GARBAGE IN THE STREET
0.13

3.
SV WOMAN WASHING OUTSIDE HOUSE
0.17

4.
SCV SMALL CHILDREN IN DOORWAY OF HOUSE
0.22

5.
GV WOMEN WITH CHILDREN QUEUE UP TO GET WATER FROM TAP OUTSIDE BARRACKS
0.27

6.
GV WOMEN FILLING UP POTS WITH WATER
0.32

7.
SCV DIRT AND GARBAGE DUMPED IN STREETS
0.36

8.
SCV WASHING FACILITIES INSIDE ROOM
0.41

9.
TV PAN. PORTUGESE COLONY BARRACKS
0.46



Initials DR/S/CR/PN DR/S/CR/PC



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THOUSANDS OF PORTUGUESE WHO HAVE BEEN SMUGGLED INTO FRANCE IN THE LAST THREE YEAR, ARE LIVING IN SQUALID SURROUNDINGS IN A SHANTY TOWN JUST OUTSIDE PARIS.

IN AN EFFORT ESCAPE FROM PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH OVER POPULATION, MANY PORTUGUESE RESORT TO AN ILLEGAL METHOD OF CROSSING INTO FRANCE. CONTACT IS MADE WITH A "TRADER" WHO FOR A LARGE FEE WILL ARRANGE A CROSSING, ALWAYS AT NIGHT, OVER THE PORTUGUESE BORDER INTO SPAIN. THE EMIGRANT THEN JOINS A PARTY WHICH IS SMUGGLED OVER THE BORDER INTO FRANCE. THERE, THE TRAIL USUALLY ENDS IN THE PITIFUL SETTLEMENT AT CHAMPIGNY-SUR-MARNE.

UNTIL THE CLANDESTINE PORTUGUESE IMMIGRANT HAS FOUND FRANCE. AS MOST FIND WORK IN THE BUILDING TRADE, WHICH IS USUALLY SEASONAL, THE SEARCH FOR PERMANENT WORK CAN TAKE MONTHS.

EVEN THEN, WITH THE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF HOUSING IN PARIS, MOST OF THE IMMIGRANT ARE FORCED TO REMAIN IN THE SHANTY TOWN.

THE COLONY PRESENTS DISMAL PICTURE - ROWS OF GREY CONCRETE BLOCK BARRACKS, WITH ENTIRE FAMILIES LIVING IN ONE SMALL ROOM, WHICH THEY RENT FOR VERY HIGH RATES. THERE IS NO RUNNING WATER IN THE HOUSES. IN FACT, THERE IS ONLY ONE TAP FOR THE WHOLE TOWNSHIP.

IN THE NARROW "STREETS" BETWEEN THE HOUSES, REFUSE LIES IN ROTTING HEAPS. RATS ABOUND, AND OVER THE AREA THE AREA IS THE STENCH OF DECAY. THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES SAY THE COLONY IS A MATTER FOR THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT. THE PORTUGUESE CLAIM IT IS A MATTER FOR THE FRENCH TO DEAL WITH.

SO FAR, THERE HAS BEEN LITTLE ACTION FROM THE GOVERNMENT, AND THE POPULATION AT CHAMPIGNY-SUR-MARNE, WHICH HAS BEEN ESTIMATED AT NEARLY TEN THOUSAND, CONTINUES TO GROW, BY NIGHT, AND THE LITTLE GREY BARRACKS CONTINUE TO SPRAWL OVER THE SURROUNDING COUNTRYSIDE.