UPDATED: 28 migrants landed in Malta, second boat being tracked

Sandro Pace, I’ll stick to my main point – violence will take us no where! Denouncing our government of profiteering out of the misery of these people will! On the rest, I guess we both agree that some type of pressure on the government should be made although, personally, I do not see this in any way related with the election.

Joseph Aquilina, you need a reality check, or perhaps follow more closely what is happening around you.

Malta has been exerting pressure for 5 years, but to no avail. Moreover, the EU said that it cannot interfere with what Libya (the departing point) does, let alone intervening in all the countries you are saying.

The EU is taking us for a ride in this matter, and will continue doing so. Always talk, and no action. And it has no jurisdiction forcing member countries to accept our immigrants.

I have already mentioned preventive solutions. Like tracking mother ships, refuelling boats to proceed towards Italy (whatever the relations), pressurising Libya to accept those that left from there as soon as they are rescued (whatever the UNHCR says).

The status quo cannot continue, especially if the EU tightens its controls and continue sending back here those who manage 'to proceed'. Its physically impossible.

Whatever the 'worldwide' condemnations.

In this issue, there are no solutions without casualties.

Those who care for the future of Maltese society should pressurise the govt. to stand up against international bullying.
Although it will now do nothing, as per the electorate's wish.

Sandro Pace, saying what is wrong is easy; the hard part is coming with a solution for the problem. Your post, like many other posts over here, only says what is wrong and do not say anything how this problem can be solved. Solving this problem is further complicated because there are both moral and legal obligations involved. This means that coming up with solutions such as ‘leave them at sea’, ‘don’t go and help them’, ‘send them back’ are actually not practical because of the world-wide condemnation that Malta would then receive. The only option as I see it (which is my suggestion) is to keep our international obligations by helping illegal immigrants but at the same time make pressure on our government so that the latter makes pressure on Europe so that if needed the latter intervenes in the countries where these illegal immigrants are being oppressed.

It is stupid and simplistic to think that vast Africa can be pacified.

One can blame colonialism, but as Profs H Frendo said in a Times article on Zimbabwe, it is now a lost case.

It is stupid to think that our govt, is happy with the situation. It simply has no courage to take decisive stances. Which it should.

It is stupid to be naive and accept to be blackmailed by immigrants not telling authorities where they came from. (having something to hide? )

Choosing the simple way out (emigrate) will not help them solve the problem. Unless they suffer their own problems, no efforts will be done to solve them.

To begin with, if Africa is poverty ridden, why make large families? To dump the surplus onto us? How will they learn?

Thinking with the heart in this matter, is not going to be always in our 'harmonious' interest.

If we are being told to accept them by Brussels, so why not get Brussels to issue them with Belgium Passports

R Galea, just like you I do not wish Malta to become anything like England. In my post I tried to reason out what are the elements that are keeping the situation as is; that is the fact that western countries (capitalist government) make profit out of these immigrants! So do not expect anything to happen just by saying “we should kick them out” since those words only provide a way for our governments and businesses of continue profiteering out of these people in disguise of helping them out! Different from you I shout that civilized government “are profiteering out of these people” in the hope to achieve the same thing you wish. It is stupid to ask our governments not to help illegal immigrants when these are in open sea, since that goes against the morality of helping anyone (regardless of race or religion) in need. It is stupid to ask our governments to send these people from where they came since most of the time our governments do not know from which countries these people are from. Therefore rather than waste your time (at the expense of looking like a racist) by asking things you will never get, you should use all your time to try and understand what is keeping the situation as is, and try to find solutions where everyone can profit. Pressure should be made on our governments so that these take direct responsibility at what these people are suffering in their own countries and push them to take action in their countries. This is like having a jar of waters which falls over one side. The content of the jar will obviously start to come out. You can try to put the water back into the fallen jar but still some water will continue to come out. You can mop the water and throw it away but still some water will continue to come out. Or else you can go and put the jar back in place – which guess what; will make the water stop coming out! That maybe is a stupid example; but that is my line of thought and hope anyone reading it will understand that being racists will take us nowhere; saying how things really are can help us achieve the results we want and also helping these people in need!

Instead of spending millions of euros in patrols , why doesn't the Maltese govt invest in an old tanker , refit it with e.u funds and anchor it outside Maltese waters , to be manned by crews of all the eu nations . that way everybody takes a share of the migrants problem and try and solve it . this way it solves the problem of illegals coming to our shores , and repatriations

Haven't we read a few days ago that some four immgrants tried to leave Malta but they were refrained from doing so. They were even arrested.

I suggest the the Maltese government immediately raises with EU the issue of the existing Maltese Search & Rescue zone. Quite simply, this is far too big for Malta alone to cope with, meaning inevitably that many immigrant boats have to be picked up by the smallest EU nation.

The SAR zone (which extends almost to Crete) may have made sense when the Royal Navy was there in strength - now Malta is expected to serve a large area which should be the responsibility of Italy and Greece.

If Dr Gonzi were to bring this up at a serious EU session, the issue would, I'm sure, be recognized. The larger EU countries - UK included - need to address this problem together, rather than leaving it to Malta alone.

Discussing and proposing solutions for the illegal immigration issue, like all other issues is not only welcome but necessary. The rascist undertones of most comments though are regrettable.

While burden-sharing is something we should insist on, arguments such as "Not one illegal immigrant should be granted refugee status", calling their arrival "an invasion", etc. are extreme in my book.

Malta is an active member of the international community and therefore has its obligations, although I agree that it should receive all necessary help to deal with the challenges it faces due to its size.

This is just the beginning. I pity our future generation who within two decades they will have to face a army of millions of illegal immigrants demanding their rights and giving orders as to what to say and what to do. Recent events in Europe is just an indications of things to come. I am sure that future generations will hate us for allowing this to happen.

To M.Vella, and A.Cassar.

That is why we have a democracy. AN and IE did not address any other issues seriously no, you are right and I agree.

But for example people like Sandro Pace reasoned that unlike other electoral issues, the consequences are irriversible, therefore he gave this issue priority in the best way he could. I agree with Sandro 100%.

Being a democracy you have a right to do vice versa, i.e consider all the other electoral issues instead of the illegal immigration, and give your vote to MLPN. This means that you were sane enough to realize that neither AN nor IE are fit to be in government (and I agree). But it also means that you were insane enough not to realize the irreversible consequences of illegal immigration. It was about choice, and the people made their choice.

When I saw the election results I said to myself "majority of people clearly do not see the illegal immigration as a fore coming crisis, so why should I be a part of a non significant minority ?"

The problem wouldn't be so severe if our government didn't agree to such a gigantic search and rescue zone, during EU entry negotiations. Why this incompetent decision is not publicized more often is simply beyond me.

Mr. Aquilina, Who picked up your rubbish before the migrants started invading our little island????? Im sure you never had a problem with your rubbish been left behind your door, Right.....!!!!! If the migrants do not stop coming we will end up like the Briton a foreigner in our own country.... this is the beginning of the end....... they have already started driving soon they will start buying property in time they will own streets and possibly towns. We cannot solve there problems and we shouldn’t not have to solve there problems we have our own........ I am proud to be Maltese. If this keeps going in without any control in a couple of decades the situation will be out of control. Australia for example sends all its illegal migrants back to the country, and we should do the same.......

The basic problem is that as in all other Western countries, all the major political parties are in favour of mass Third World immigration.

Right of centre parties like the PN do not want to deprive their capitalist paymasters of the cheap labour they crave, so they make no serious efforts to curtail immigration.

On the other hand, left of Centre parties like the MLP know that once immigrants and their families get the vote, they will overwhelmingly vote left. So left wing parties welcome mass immigration.

The result is that doing nothing to stop immigration is the one important policy on which the PN and the MLP agree.

Citizens who are worried about the mass invasion of their country can only express their concern by voting for clownish no-hopers like AN and IE. Most people refuse to do so -- and so the MLPN duo continues to reign supreme.

Maybe a referendum on the matter would force government to face the issue. It would also silence once and for all those who accuse others of racism as soon complaints on the illegal immigration season start.

And Mr Tabone - did IE or AN seriously address any other issue? That is the real tragedy for if any one of them had a credible program I'm sure they would've fared much better. Unfortunately our bipartisan system leaves few choices - as Norman Lowell himself professed on Bondi+ last Monday.

The Maltese and the EU will do absolutely nothing about this issue since illegal immigrants help our economy go forward (and our standard of living as well). Who picks up your garbage from in front your house early in the morning? Who works heavy hours in construction for a misery of pay? Yes, if you have notices all these (cheap) works are being done by illegal immigrants here in Malta and in other EU countries as well. So are we really helping illegal immigrants or we are just profiteering (knowingly or unknowingly) out of the misery of these people? True, we are giving these people a bed where to sleep, a hot meal a day and for some even some type of work. However I personally believe that these people would rather be back in their countries should there be the right situation! Which in other words means that the EU can provide real help to these people not by JUST welcoming them here but by also making pressure (politically/military) on those countries from which these people are escaping. Screaming “we should kick illegal immigrants out” only helps the situation to remain the same – showing that we are not really helping out may change the situation to the best for everyone! P.s. – still we would need to determine who will collect our garbage in the morning then … maybe Norman will offer himself for the post ;)

I totally agree with L Galea. The Maltese government and the EU need to do something about this serious problem. Now.

Mr. Tabone,

IE is not an electable party! Its fun watching Lowel argue his views on youtube and Bondi+ but the Maltese gahan simply is not interested in taking him seriously!

AN tackled the illegal immigration issue in their electoral manifesto but they failed to keep focus on this issue alone. AN spoke about all sorts of issues not just illegal immigration, so the problem was that if one voted AN on the issue of illegal immigration then one would also be endorsing their views and proposals on other issues. AN should have kept and strengthened its role as a pressure group on illegal immigration, it would have retained its credibility, strength and appeal. Eventually they would have probably become even electable as a political party but in their first 5 months of existence wanted to replace PNMLP, with policies on all the subjects under the sky.

PN are in Government and they should take a strong stand on illegal immigration, this is what the people of Malta want. As Europe's smallest country we do have a lot of strength if we want to use it. Malta can veto any decision by the EU. Unless the EU helps us out on this issue we should paralyze the EU operation by Vetoing anything that requires voting by Malta - we did loose this chance with the new EU constitution - Poland vetoed this when they wanted to get their way on other issues.

The governement of Malta should rest assured that the Maltese people in their absolute majority will be behind it, if it takes a strong stand on this issue. We simply need to unite as a country putting aside any political differences and take a common much harsher stand.

Handle them the Australian way no more no less. We will then get all the criticism from all our European partners and after a week everything will be forgotten and our big problem forever solved. The hypocritical way is getting us nowhere.

Mr. A.Tabone

I am afraid, you are preaching to the converted. And I agree.

Elections are no single-issue matter, but the message to the govt. given by those mere votes is that it is ok to be lenient. And there is no other message.

I gave this issue a priority in my utmost expression of democratic right. Whatever defects those voices had. Cause unlike many other electoral issues, I deem the consequences as irriversible.

One can still be naive and hope for EU 'factual' aid or pressures, and not buying our island to colonise it (with financial aid), politely avoiding the problem.

When enough should be enough, the solutions are only in our hands, ie in Valletta, Castille.

There should come a point where Malta shall no longer be responsible for its 'inactions'. Otherwise the govt. would be failing our society and future generations.

Obligations first and foremost, to the national interest.

The government should stop pampering illegal immigrants and send them all back to Libya.

Not one single illegal immigrant should be granted refugee status. The refugee Convention is way out of its sell by date.

Whoever intercedes for them should be sent with them to protect them in their own country.

Maltese Government, tell whoever wants us to keep them here to go and tell it to the marines.

The Maltese people are really fed up with them.

What are we waiting for?
A repeat of Briston and Paris?
For Maltese people to take the law in their own hands?
WHAT?

They, like all foreign settlers and workers are taking the work of Maltese persons, lowering wages and the standard of living of Maltese persons.

WE ARE RELAAY AND TRULY FED UP!

Mr.Vella, I do agree with you, one issue may not be enough to vote for a party. But on the other hand, voting for a party that DOES NOT EVEN mention it, doesn't mean that it bothers you too much either.

And also you have to put weight on the issue. Does the light bulbs promised by the PN, or the reception class promised by the MLP, carry the same weight as the invasion of our country ?

Don't blame it on Libya. The Libyans so not want them as well. The only solution shall be repatriation and this can only be achieved by the EU.

Who is sending you these people God or the Devil? Look into your hearts and find the answer.

Mr Tabone - elections are not won or lost on one issue alone so the results you quote don't necessarily mean that people don't care about the migration issue. On the contrary, whoever one encounters feels very much involved.

A remedy is clearly called for and unless pressure is made on Libya by the EU or efforts are made to trace the ships which are launching these boats we won't make any headway.

Dear Sandro,

Whilst I appreciate your concern, we might as well start welcoming the immigrants with red carpets and flowers. Only 2 parties in the election showed concern for the problem, which are AN and IE. Together they got 1545 votes.

1545 out of 290799. This simply mean that the rest of the voters, were happy with the other parties who did not mention anything about the problem. Being such a minority who really care about the problem, there is no point to keep on caring. The hypocrisy about the Maltese people is that everyone complains as if Malta is going to sink, but then look at election results !!

We should no longer identify the arrival of summer by temperature, longer hours of sunshine, etc, etc but we should convert to identifying the arrival of the summery months by the arrival of migrant boats.

As soon as the weather improves and the sea calms down we are literally invaded! and where are we supposed to keep the new migrants?

Apparently this year the season has opened early.....Dear Gov please wake up and do soemthing concretely for the benefit of Malta and the Maltese!

Its the open season!
we should be expecting much more this summer. The governmental should use its voting power to veto and block any EU decision to put pressure on the EU to concretely help and implement burden sharing in the case of illegal immigration.

Yes, bring more and more and more.

It is clear that these are off-loaded from some mother-ship. What is being done to track and monitor such ships and not given the chance to dump illegal immigrants where we can pick them?

Every aim should be directed towards these efforts, by force if necessary.

Why is not Frontex an all-year round operation? Simply, we cant have our southern neighbours decide how much african immigrants we should have. Neither our northern one deterring us from taking preventive actions.