Editorial

It was quite evident that the problem of illegal immigration would intensify as the weather settled. More often than not, the intended destination of these "boat people" is Italy, their first foothold on the geographical landmass that is today the European Union.

The arrival of another 266 illegal immigrants on Tuesday night and the breakout by about 400 migrants from their detention centre earlier that same day serve to highlight difficulties that ought to be the focus of attention for the government and opposition, the security forces, the detainees themselves, our European partners and public opinion.

Starting with that breakout, one must commend the successful efforts by the security forces to bring the situation under control as quickly as possible. Stretched as they already are, both the police and the army dealt with a situation that could easily have spiralled out of control. They deserve everybody's support and solidarity.

There is reason to argue that two antagonistic camps are emerging to blur the issue of illegal immigration.

There is the camp that believes that the problem is one of race, specifically the colour of the immigrants' skin. This camp is entitled to believe whatever it wants. It is not entitled, however, to act on its belief, or threaten to act, or speak on behalf of those beliefs, or fan racial hatred. Those who do must face the full force of the law as is now happening.

There is then the other camp that at times appears to be refusing to acknowledge that illegal immigration creates a problem beyond Malta's control. By doing so, this group may unwittingly be adding to the problem and to a division the island can do without.

The issue simply needs to be addressed in a concrete and meaningful manner.

The time for the European Parliament and Commission to turn from words to action that will substantially alleviate the pressure on Malta is yesterday. The situation in Malta is already bad as it is and it can only get worse. The international community, but especially our EU partners, must get involved in a far more visible manner than they have done so far. This is the time when the people will be focusing on Brussels to see whether the EU is really what it purports itself to be for its members and beyond.

All this does not preclude Malta from doing its utmost to make the detention centre more hospitable. But neither are the detainees absolved from a responsibility to look after the little, as they consider it, they have, and not to break up the place or damage the facilities by their behaviour. They, too, come under the law and the law should be applied when it is broken.

The government and the opposition should have no difficulty in finding common ground. Both agree that the problem is too big for Malta to handle. Both want to see the detainees better settled and the detainees better guests. Both want to see a serious EU commitment to prevent what is often a trafficking in human beings - the boats that bring some of them here are usually lowered from larger ships.

Both wish the EU to take a more active part in the repatriation of illegal immigrants and to take on more of those immigrants who are deemed to be genuine refugees or asylum seekers. Both have members in the European Parliament who must lobby more strongly for just solutions to the daunting challenge Malta faces, which it cannot face alone.