Safi Barracks 'inhuman' and leading to 'insanity'

The Maltese would become more resistant to racism if they had to witness the "inhuman" and "shameful" conditions at the Safi Barracks, Alternattiva Demokratika said.

Its chairman, Harry Vassallo, called on the government to transfer the detainees to an alternative location at once after he described the barracks as a recipe for insanity.

Dr Vassallo said he felt compelled to call a news conference after he was allowed to visit the illegal immigrant detention centres last Thursday.

While the living conditions at the Hal-Far centre were acceptable, Dr Vassallo expressed shock at the state of the Safi Barracks. Though AD recognised the problems of immigration, the horrific conditions at Safi were inexcusable, he said.

Dr Vassallo relayed to the media what he said he had seen the previous day.

Some of the detainees were living in torn tents, in unhygienic conditions. Others were housed in bunk beds in a large tent made of corrugated sheets and women had no choice but to try and shield themselves from the cold by clinging onto pales of warm water. The electricity system was an accident waiting to happen.

Dr Vassallo said he had been informed that newspaper distribution had been stopped since the January 13 clashes between the AFM and the illegal immigrants.

The detainees could not indulge themselves in any activity, apart from staring into thin air. "We are not psychiatrists but the mental damage is clearly conveyed on the faces of the detainees."

He claimed that those suffering from depression were being sent to Mount Carmel Hospital, given a sedative, and returned to the camps which where driving them insane in the first place.

A 61-year old detainee gave Dr Vassallo his number when he asked for his name.

One man lost his spectacles at sea several months ago and has not had them replaced since. Dr Vassallo said he was shocked to learn that some of those injured in the clashes with the AFM were returned to one of the cramped blocks inside the barracks. One man with a broken jaw was housed in a box-room, he said.

He said those injured in the clashes had no intention of protesting further against the attacks but had asked to be treated with the "minimum EU standards".

The detainees also asked to send a representative of theirs to speak out during the national conference on immigration in 10 days time.

Dr Vassallo called on the government to allow the media to enter such detention centres, which housed 550 persons.

"This is not a case of sympathising with these asylum seekers, but we believe nobody should be treated this way," Dr Vassallo said.

He called on the Labour and Nationalist parties to stop beating about the bush and to speak loud and clear against racism, amid rising intolerance since the Safi Barracks incidents.