ABSTRACT
Due to outstanding snowfall, in February 1999, a huge avalanche destroyed parts of the small village Galltur in the Paznaun Valley. 38 people—both inhabitants of Galltur and tourists from Germany, the Netherlands, and Denmark—were killed. This was one of the most destructive avalanches Austria had experienced in history. During the winter 1998/1999, Switzerland and France were also affected by disastrous avalanches. The Nigerian-born Marcus Omofuma was remanded pending deportation. On 1 May, Omofuma was sent to Sofia, Bulgaria, in an airplane—accompanied by three Austrian policemen. On arrival in Sofia, though, Omofuma was dead. He died from suffocation, allegedly caused by the fact that he was gagged by the policemen. In Austria, this incident triggered a discussion about deportations and about Austria's foreigners and asylum policies. This was the clearest racist remark given in the Austrian Parliament in 1999.
