Government urged to stop begging and 'take clear action'

The chairman of the Campaign for National Independence (CNi), Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici, said the government "should stop begging and asking for help and instead take clear action understood by one and all" to tackle the problem of illegal immigration.

Speaking about the 41st anniversary of Malta's Independence at CNi's new premises in Valletta, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said: "One cannot celebrate what one has lost. And the way the government has its hands tied on the illegal immigration issue is a case in point that clearly demonstrates that the government people elect can no longer make the decisions the people in Malta want it to," the former Prime Minister and former Labour leader said.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the CNi had a clear line about the issue of illegal immigration. Illegal immigrants should not be allowed to stay in Malta and illegal immigration should not be tolerated. These should be kept in detention until they are repatriated.

There should also be a distinction between those who end up here accidentally, by mistake or because they are saved and those seeking refugee status.

If their case is justified, the latter should be helped and together with international organisations, efforts should be made to re-settle them in other countries.

Those who are rescued or end up here by mistake should be considered as in transit and assisted to go where they wish to go.

"Malta should not assume the role of stopping immigrants at sea and should actually assist those who are on their way elsewhere rather than bringing them here. If these are found in other countries, no one should send them back to us but they can repatriate them themselves if they wish. They would only be in Malta in transit and we should not be lumped with the responsibility for them," Dr Mifsud Bonnici said.

He said the government should take all the necessary precautions to ensure there were no health hazards because of immigrants.

The issue of national interest and human rights was being bandied about but this was just a red herring. "The Maltese Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights was very clear that everyone's fundamental human rights were subject to public interest," Dr Mifsud Bonnici said.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said the CNi would be active "more than ever before" to regain what Malta has lost and the CNi was committed to fight to regain independence.