Stanley J. A. Clews, Sliema
Process migrants from a ship
In spite of the so-called Frontex supposedly controlling the Libyan coast, we have recently had something like 700 unwanted guests turning up along our shores.
It is fast becoming a national emergency and the European Union must stop this talk, talk, talk and promises, promises, promises. Some time ago I mentioned that at one time the Australian government provided a chartered passenger liner and anchored it off its coast sending their illegal immigrants there to await processing. I then suggested that the EU does the same.
I now would like to suggest it again that the EU forms a "partnership for illegal immigrants" and a passenger liner be chartered to patrol outside Libyan territorial waters, intercepting and taking on board these immigrants. In the first instance, Malta, Italy and Spain would provide on board, on a roster basis, joint teams of military, the police and civilian officials to process these immigrants and decide which country they want to go to. Alternatively they could return them to Libya.
I am sure Amnesty International, the JIC and many other NGOs would be only too happy to help out in the processing from on board such a vessel and at the same time each country involved would be able to share in the cost on a pro-rata basis to size.
Now that our own Simon Busuttil is heading an EU immigration commission perhaps this suggestion may be considered. The chartered vessel itself would of course fly the EU flag.
Whether this suggestion is taken up or not, the talk must stop or we will have a greater emergency than the one we have today. With the cost of living rising we cannot afford to support these unfortunate people in such large numbers adding to our own population.
Stop all this talk and take action now!
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wally vella-zarb
Jul 9th 2008, 00:00
@L.Galea.
"Warships of any nation have the right to stop and search any vessel on suspicion of piracy, drug and arms trafficking and other serious crimes."
I believe that you have one letter mistaken: they have the MIGHT to stop and search, but not the RIGHT!
The Proliferation Security Initiative, a US-led coalition, aims to contain the spread of weapons of mass destruction through a variety of measures based on uncontroversial heads of state jurisdiction. But when might high seas interdictions be lawful, if suspect vessels do not pass through territory within the Proliferation Security Initiative's reach? Ordinarily, merchant vessels in international waters can only be stopped and searched without flag state consent in very limited circumstances.
On 9 December 2002, the So San was interdicted 960 kilometres from its destination in Yemen by a Spanish frigate, the Navarra, acting on US intelligence. The Navarra was patrolling as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, intercepting contraband cargo and searching for al-Qa'eda members fleeing Afghanistan. The So San was engaged in transporting 15 Scud missiles from North Korea to Yemen.
The incident caused Spain to fall flat on its diplomatic face!
wally vella-zarb
Jul 8th 2008, 22:18
@ Charles Camilleri
"Government must be more bold and if need be act alone and return the migrants to the Libjan coast."
And how, precisely, do you propose that the Government goes about doing that? By violating Libyan territorial waters and depositing the migrants right on the beach? By dumping them back into the sea? Perhaps by blasting their boats out of the water?
Governments are bound by international laws and conventions. Like it or not, in this case, our Government is between a rock and a hard place. The countries that, in the past, exploited the African continent when most of it was divided into colonies are our 'friends and associates' in the European Union. Theirs is the moral responsibility. They happen not to give a tinker's toss about our predilection; we are just a very convenient buffer zone.
So much for 'solidarity'!
L Galea
Jul 8th 2008, 21:12
To Wally Vella Zarb.
Warships of any nation have the right to stop and search any vessel on suspicion of piracy, drug and arms trafficking and other serious crimes. Pirates can even be caught and prosecuted by any country as they are considered as hostis humanis gentis, that is, enemies of manking.
Certainly people traffickers are enemies of mankind.
However, all depends on the will of countries willing to take the necessary measures to stop the ILLEGAL immigrants invasion of our country and stop indirectly collaborating with people traffickers by accepting ILLEGAL immigrants and granting them asylum and humanitarian status instead of repatriating them.
B.micallef
Jul 8th 2008, 20:29
@ Charles Camilleri .
"Otherwise the Libyans know how to stop this crossing if they want.''
YOU VERY RIGHT, I TOTALY AGREE WITH YOU.
Charles Camilleri
Jul 8th 2008, 16:23
Stanely you were never wrong but this time you are right. We fully agree with you. What we had so far is talks and promises which mean nothing. Government must be more bold and if need be act alone and return the migrants to the Libjan coast. I am sure that this is a diabolical plan by Gadaffi to distabilise Europe with increased Moslem population. Otherwise the Libyans know how to stop this crossing if they want.
laurie smith
Jul 8th 2008, 15:53
Mr, Clews, I like to know where did you get the information about the Australian government processing illegal immigrants on this so called ship. What Mr Howard our then Prime Minister did is used these immigrants as a political tool. Those who made it to Australian territory he locked them behind barbded wire fences miles away from civilization till he build camps for them on mainly Nauru Island which were costing us hundreds of millions of dollars and the story is too long so I leaeve it at this point. How ever I do agree that Malta have a very big problem with these illegal immigrants and this should be shared by all members of the EU.
wally vella-zarb
Jul 8th 2008, 14:42
Interesting proposal; practical?
Leave the oft-invoked ‘duty as christians’ part out of it. Concentrate instead on the legal aspects.
It is proposed that “a passenger liner be chartered to patrol outside Libyan territorial waters, intercepting and taking on board these immigrants”. By definition, this would place the vessel in international waters. Now while refusing assistance when it is asked for at sea constitutes a criminal offence, “intercepting and taking on board these immigrants” WITHOUT such a request for help, could well be construed as an act of piracy.
Libya cries "Foul!" (harassment; blockade).
Personally, I am not convinced that the boats that are shown on the media have actually left Libya ‘on their own steam’; it is more likely that they are ferried out on larger vessels and then launched to continue the last bit on their own. Will the larger vessels also be stopped and boarded as soon as they are in international waters?
The only place where the proposed liner could legally operate would be in Maltese waters – which means that ‘guests’ would have already entered Malta and are therefore, ipso facto, our responsibility.
Back to square one.
Louis Gialanze
Jul 8th 2008, 14:13
Very well said. Alas we are still waiting for malta shipyards to launch the 'Titanic'. Had she been built at Marsa it would not have floundered. She would have remained on the drawing boards!
R Spiteri
Jul 8th 2008, 12:07
I fully agree with this correspondent. As christians we should offer the necessary help but there is a limit depending on our finite resources. Reflecting on past illegal immigrant rescues by maltese authorities I observed (as many others are doing) that this is a well organised illegal activity. One week ago a boat of illegal immigrants was rescued by AFM but as reported in the news the immigrants sank the boat to hide important evidence such as place of origin etc. Talking to AFM members unofficially, it is argued that illegal immigrants in camps would know that illegal immigrant boat s are arriving to Malta before AFM officials actually receive calls to go out to give assistance! I feel that this 'silent invasion ' be stopped and the suggestion of an 'alternative temporary island' such as a passenger ship be used where processing and possible repatriating of these illegal immigrants takes place. Only those who are really in a bad state of health should be taken ashore.
L Galea
Jul 8th 2008, 12:06
ACTION IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW.
WORDS AND PROMISES AFTERWARDS.