Detention policy

I refer to the report "Illegal immigrants on hunger strike" (February 26).

Malta's detention policy not only did not "come under fire" but was praised during the official meeting that the Italian Parliamentary Committee on Immigration had with the Minister for Justice and Home Affairs and government high officials.

It was only Pietro Tidei, member of the Democratici di Sinistra who, during a news conference at the end of all official talks, passed a comment saying that he disagreed that illegal immigrants should be kept in detention for two years. That was his personal opinion and not the official stance of the Parliamentary Committee on Immigration. The reaction by the Minister of Justice and Home Affairs, Tonio Borg, to these comments by the Mr Tidei were reported in The Times on February 14.

Malta's detention policy has been explained by the government on various occasions and is supported by the opposition.