Wednesday, 9th July 2008 - 06:11CET
Migrants land in Sliema
(File picture)
A group of 27 illegal immigrants landed at Sliema pitch this morning.
The migrants, all men, arrived in a boat at around 5.15 a.m.and were rounded up by district and mobile squad police. They were in a good state of health.
The group was the second to make it to land on its own in 24 hours. Another group of 27 arrived in Xlendi at 5 pm. yesterday.
RSS
Comments
i agree with you, but unfortunately in this world, mal-hazin jehel it-tajjeb. we cannot take this influx unless EU helps, and it seems the idea of burden sharing didnt really go down well with the EU. the immigrants are abusing of us coming in the hundreds, with some or many not really being such a desperate case, and because of this the genuine cases get lost among the crowd.
Most people in Malta do not have members of their family tortured and killed by their government or warring guerillas.
Most people in Malta also do not face the threat of torture and death for religious or political beliefs.
It is mostly about these people that I write.
Of course, like I said, among such people, there will be some (perhaps many) who either do not require protection, or else are not in such a terrible situation that they require immediate help.
However, because of the people who do, who are among the people who don't (both end up on our shores and we have no means of distinguishing between them before studying their case), we simply cannot, and should not, send all of them back on arrival.
For some of them, it is not a question of a "better life" but a question of life or death.
Regarding your last sentence, yes, for the EU to expect us to deal with the problem by ourselves, with our limited resources, is absurd.
the good reason they have is they hope to find a better life. how many in malta hope for that?for a better living? most of us i guess. but you dont find us entering somewhere illegally just because there is hope to find something better!they hope they go to usa, but they wont, they were tciked into false hope by coming here and we have to carry this burden.
if the authorities dont take care of your nation, your people, who will? will the immigrants do that?
if we do not send them back and accept them here , then let the eu and the us help us financially for their upkeep and not from our taxpayers money! malat cannot do this all by itself, its absurd!
Regarding the "needy ones", people in danger of being killed for political or religious reasons are not necessarily poor. Of course, they do become relatively poor when they flee their country, which puts things into perspective. Someone who decides to leave everything behind and try his luck elsewhere must have had a damn good reason for doing so.
most of them do know why they are coming here and with reason. remember those dozen that were granted refugee status in usa, they happened to be somalis, accidently all 54 immigrants yesterday where somalis. we are giving the impression that if they come here we can grants refugee status to all of them. i guess the really needy ones are still stuck in africa cause they cant put enough money for the crossing.
________________________________
Dear N. Vella, you'll perhaps be surprised to learn that no, the law is not equal to all. In fact, law courts are usually more lenient in exceptional cases where a person can't help it but commit a crime. The mental state of the person committing a crime is also taken into consideration.
Therefore, to answer your question, if I try to enter Libya illegally, I would expect (and justly so) to be given harsher treatment from a judge than an immigrant entering Malta illegally to escape from persecution.
As to whether Libya would accept all Maltese refugees if something tragic happens in Malta, that question could only be answered by the Libyan authorities. But even if they wouldn't, that says nothing about what we should do.
i wonder if our country was in the same state of some other countries and we tried crossing borders illegally, what would happen to us? would our beloved libyan neighbours let us all in???
Governing Bodies have to take action about this and not wait for the solution to fall from the skies!
You are clearly giving the impression that I said: "finally someone who believes in children' rights". It is obvious that you are the one who is giving "impression[s]", while accusing others of the same thing.
Would you please have the courtesy, Mr Cassar, not to address two people at the same time when those two people had said different things. Also, putting a name in brackets does not help. Can you be direct on who you are addressing and on which point.
You give the impression that you know all about each and every immigrant coming from Africa (point of departure, level of safety prior to departure, etc). This makes me wonder why you are not doing your duty and assisting the authorities by giving them this valuable information about each and every immigrant you seem to imply you know a lot about. This would sure help make re-patriation quicker (since you seem to "know" they do not deserve asylum) and would suit your "patriotic" purpose well. Given your knowledge about each and every immigrant, I'm sure their numbers would decrease in no time.
Also, I would be careful when saying things such as "finally someone who believes in children' rights". What you seem to be implying is verging on the libellous.
"Yet, your fixation on the small numbers of people who get to Malta is blinding you to the fact that several hundred thousand people do NOT try to cross the Mediterranean or even to leave Africa at all." So it cannot be so life threatening, is it, Ms Vella.
@Corrine Vella and Kenneth Cassar read MR Sammut comment and think about what he wrote about the UN and Libya.
@Corrine Vella By law you can't charge a corpse for a crime he or she committed against their children. But GOD will. You one day might have to answer to him too.
I too know that children (and infants) and pregnant woman are dying. I also do care. I also know that desperate people sometimes do not act rationally, and sometimes, when faced with death, they clutch at straws.
You ask: "Can't a father leave his family back in Libya (Safe place) come to Malta, do his detention, if qualified be out within 18 months altough I seen them get out within 6 months. Get a job get his Maltese citizenship and send for them in a safe and proper manner. Is there anything wrong with that".
There would be nothing wrong with that if it were at all possible, for the following reasons:
1. Refugees don't get Maltese citizenship.
2. Refugees many times never get to see the family they leave behind.
What makes you so sure that they start the voyage in a "rinky ding boat". According to investigative journalist Caroline Moorehead (read Human Cargo), most start their voyage in ships, but are dumped in small boats by their traffickers when they are "close enough" to shore. Of course, the immigrants probably wouldn't know this would happen.
But again, I don't claim to know the details of each case, like you seem to imply you do.
How could this tragedy have been prevented? Maltese police can only arrest people in Malta.
To judge I must know the specifics of each case, which neither you nor me actually have. But I can think of two reasons why people might flee from Libya with their children.
1. They actually might be persecuted in Libya.
2. Libya is a passageway from which they flee their country to make it elsewhere. Perhaps there is a chance that they get apprehended in Libya and get repatriated.
3. They know that there is little chance that they will ever see their children again if they leave them behind.
Let us understand their possible situation before pointing fingers.
@Corrine Vella Pregnant woman dead on arrival. Are you happy? Maybe if arrests we're made, as I suggested,maybe this tragedy would have been prevented.
Get this, Denis Catania: You, not I, are making the distinction about protecting children according to their skin colour. You're making a serious mistake in assuming that all Maltese babies are white.
"...if nothing is done, we could have a problem."
What kind of a problem do you think we could have?
I agree with you totally that Malta should not carry the burden of other countries. I also know that Malta is overpopulated as it is, and that if nothing is done, we could have a problem.
But the biggest problem is what to do. We have international human rights obligations to which we are signatories, and even if this were not so, letting them drown is not an acceptable solution. Now, seeing that we cannot send them all back (since some of them are true asylum seekers or refugees), we have to keep doing what we are already doing - that is, keeping them until we study their case and act accordingly. In the meantime we can also try to make deals with other countries to take some of the refugees who end up here.
Unfortunately, many people, because they are justifiably worried, misplace their anger at our helplessness and direct it towards these people who, at the least, seek a better life, and at the most, are escaping from certain death.
Unless someone comes with a better humane solution, we have to keep on doing what we are already doing.
I agree with you thats the root of the porblem. but why should our little island with no interest (assuming this)in selling weaponary, carry the burden of other countries?
shouldnt the proper authorities do something about this? it is irrespective of the nationality, if they enter illegaly. and here we are not talking about a few. taking there are around 10,000 and we have a population of 400,00.
the reason why most are balck is that we are closer to north africa than any other countries, but it doesnt mean we have to accomodate them all. dont you agree we are already an over populated country?
And what exactly do you mean by that? Am I right in thinking that you wish they arrived very sick or dead? Am I also right in assuming you are a "Christian"? If this is Maltese culture, bring on more immigrants.
Desperate times sometimes call for desperate measures. Try some empathy on for size.
Herein lies the problem, Mr/Ms Vella. Nations that profit from the selling of weaponry have no incentive (to put it mildly) to stop conflict in Africa. Iraq was different. There was an excuse (WMDs that never materialised and terroism), and an incentive (oil and the privatisation - to be taken over by multinationals - of security services).
@ Joanne Micallef
@J Zammit
Both of you are adding value to the debate. I appreciate you approach and understanding.
I welcome constructive debate that has NO-HIDDEN AGENDAS
@ Joanne Micallef
I QUOTE ‘
Re Europe needing migrants, I know it's true, but like I said not every Tom Dick or Harry will do, Europe wants a controlled migration, allowing entry only those qualified in one sector or another’ Again, you got another fact thing right… Prosit.
Europe need the immigrants on selective –base, I mean high skilled immigrants. This is Europe’ right. But would Africa allow brain-drain to happen again?
………………………
I asked about the Hundreds thousands of immigrants you mentioned in your post. I guess you were talking about Europe in general, right?
@ Because we didn’t have large number of kids in our families as you rightly said. We ended up having population deficit. (Here I am talking about the whole EU population)
@Cedric Busuttil
Irregular immigrants don’t take one penny from tax payers’ money. Check the amount of money the Gov receive please. If you prefer to think otherwise, feel free.
Malta is EU member state (receives money from EU- If I am not mistaken we have about Euros 850 on the way) Why you think the EU pays money to us? Is it because we have a sunny Island?
------------------------------------------------------------
I don’t argue a lot about the obvious. I suggest every body get the facts right before we talk or opine on such thorny issue
Yes you do help them, after all they are humans but then again we are a too small country to carry such a burden. They should defend their country against injustice/corruption(if need be we help them). send poeple to educate them, so they can propser in their own land.
4. Immigrants are needed to pay our pensions
The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee dismissed this argument in November 2003.
They reported “We conclude that… it is neither appropriate nor feasible to attempt to counter
the trend towards a more aged society in the UK through a manipulation of immigration
policy”.
The Turner Commission on pensions reached a similar conclusion in their interim report.
January 14, 2008
On the other hand, one have to question the insane numbers thrown around here on the amount of immigrants Europe need. So we are told Italy need 12 million. As if immigration is based just on the pension requirements. Can anyone guarantee that the same amount of jobs are created within the same period, to begin with?? Or Italy is expected to open the doors and 'Ask questions later'. Perhaps ending up with 7 million unemployed immigrants, creating, or exacerbating, problems. This is ridiculous.
An excerpt from the UK House of Lords report re. pensions and immigration will be included in the next post. Pension problems go solved mostly as we are doing in Malta. Financially. BTW, Malta does not need immigrants for that purpose. One has to see the report presented to the prime minister some time ago. On which he acted.
Let's say each one of them pays an NI of €20 weekly (so far no one pay a single penny) - and then calculate how much each one is costing weekly. I guess when you do calculate you will then pronosticate that we will not have even enough money for children's allowance in the near future. Was it a joke when you said that we need them to pay for our pensions?
Joanne Micallef probably "ignored" the most important part of your argument because it just does not hold water. It is not true that Europe needs African immigrants. If that were true, the Italians and the rest of the EU countries would be falling over themselves to take this burden off our backs.
Do not believe what the NGOs say, they are the ones raking in EU funds to churn out biased reports on racism and xenophobia and so they have an axe to grind.
You should get the real facts before you comment.
A good observation, Mr Limahit. My guess would be, the four boats were released by a mother ship in the straits between Malta and Sicily. Two were instructed to proceed north, ending up in Pozzallo, as you are saying. The other two south, one ending up in Xlendi, the other in Sliema. It must have been a mother ship. The probability of none out of four not being picked up by the AFM along a stretch of 170 miles is tiny tiny small.
Re Europe needing migrants, I know it's true, but like I said not every Tom Dick or Harry will do, Europe wants a controlled migration, allowing entry only those qualified in one sector or another depending on each country's demand http://euobserver.com/?aid=24761 .
The regular illegal migrant will usually sponge off the state or else resort to criminality between an odd job here and there. This is what is happening all over Europe, here are some more links for you
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/2701_immigration.shtml
http://mattinopadova.repubblica.it/dettaglio/Criminalita-la-nostra-provincia-e-peggio-di-Napoli-e-Palermo/1406822?edizione=EdRegionale
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE7DB1239F93AA35757C0A965958260
Like many others, you ignored the most important part of my argument. Do you know how many people (immigrants are needed in Europe within 20 years? By 2020 Italy (alone) is in need for 12 Millions of people
The fertility rates decline across all EU countries this of course includes Malta. The average birth rate within the EU is down to about 1.5 children per woman. This is raising fears among EU governments they will not be able to finance pensions systems for ageing European population. Therefore, man power must be imported to collect taxes for future pensioners.
Why should Egypt, Libya or Tunisia server as a patrol guard for Europe? If the entire world know about the population deficit in Europe? (But we Maltese we prefer not to face facts)
EU- Is paying money for Malta to cover all the expensive. Most probably the problem is that we aren’t yet making profits from EU funds allocated to Irregular Immigrants
Quote: ‘Remember that from the hundreds of thousands that have landed only about 200 were real refugees,’ where did you get this number from?
1. Teach all present and future immigrants Maltese and Maltese culture.
2. When we've turned them into good Maltese citizens, issue them with a Maltese passport.
3. With EU passports in their pockets, few of these naturalised citizens will hang around here for long.
I truly see no other solution, because nothing can stop our immigrant population swelling by thousands each year - perhaps for the next 10 or 20 years!
The EU will make a few noises for sure - but then Malta has always been a steady source of emigrants to Europe, Australia, etc. That's why it's often claimed that there are more Maltese outside Malta than within!
Now since it's clear that Libya will never properly participate in curbing the flow of African people to Europe, we must try with either Egypt or Tunisia. As far as I know our country has good relations with both, still to have a good shot at succeeding we need a very capable negotiator, unfortunately no one comes to mind from the present administration.
At this point in time I hope that Nicholas Sarkozy succeeds with his idea for a Mediterranean Union, maybe he will be able to negotiate something then.
ATTENTION
Some down there were mentioning Mr. Norman Lowell. Please note that:
We are smart peoples. And soon we will be Smart Island. However, when we go for general election, we are programmed into two colors. Unless the software of this programming is decoded every thing would remain the same.
Any yes, we have some floaters (hunters, gays, lesbians, pro-drugs, feces-eater, and urine-addicts). The more days goes by, we become more ‘open minded’ and ‘modern’, consequently voters expectations may vary and increase. No politician would fulfill all people’s anxiety.
Ilk of Mr. Lowell, can win over any of our local good comedians, for a short while though. They can also impress audiences of layman with some technical words (I doubt if they know the meaning of expressions and big words they use). But on the European Union political level, if, and only if, they are elected, they end within short period. (check far right’s history please)
@ David Wain
Guy, you talk levelheaded. Do you expect some one programmed not to understand like @ Louise Vella, to comprehend what you are saying? This is too much mate.
Shame that 5 years had to pass before the Maltese are realising this serious phenomena. Not wanting these migrants is not xenophobia or racism but it is a survival issue! 5 more years and the Maltese population, culture, religion will start to vanish!
Whilst the Maltese government, EU and even some of you have been blind on the hunting issue, thousands of migrants were preparing for their annual invasion!
I think that the Maltese should protest against the EU and fight for our rights.
I
I have asked this question " how many can we take ....?". two years ago. No politician will give a reply because he/she will be tied to that figure and have to start doing something about the problem when (or before) the number is up. If this isn't a real (and planned) invasion, then what is???
That is why some members of the opposition are whole heartily supporting this administration, in this matter. Though the MLP never came up any solution, surprisingly the new leader even advocates granting mass refugee status, the removal of the detention centers and if not Maltese citizenship a la carte. Isn't it curious? What has happened to Labour's slogan Malta l-ewwel u qabel kollox?
Maybe they will even be granted the right to vote to win them over!
It's not a phenomena, Mr Mifsud. It's a racket. Would you please stop reminding us, over and over again, that we are part of this world, and instead try to get your terminology right.
When boats leave randomly from Libya, the probability of any two of them arriving on tiny Malta within 24 hours is essentially zero. Perhaps the maths involved would be a little too hard for someone as naive as you, Mr Mifsud.
And your statement "Australia too have the same mentality of not accepting because they look different." is not true. You are making a false accusation against the Australian people. Australian people are responsible people who expect that their government exerts border control. Many Africans are presently emigrating to Australia legally, like all other nationalities, and there are no complains whatsoever from Australians, which is contrary to what you are alleging.
You guessed it right…
The only feasible solution is to build reception centers in Africa, either Libya or Tunisia, where asylum claims can be processed and those eligible can ’ This is exactly what Malta government is delegated to do for the EU. The latter needs millions of immigrants, and Malta is getting well paid from this business. NO SINGLE PENNY FROM TAX PAYERS MONEY IS SPENT ON IREGUALR IMMIGRANTS, as some try to promote lies through their post.
Who ever think that politicians from any party can promise to curb this issue, just dreaming.
Who ever think that, Libya will serve as safety valve for Europe? Keep dreaming.
What will our EU politicians would discuss with Libya, Oil supply or to stop immigrants, especially if every body except us MALTESE knows that immigrants are needed by Europe?
we spend too much time to comment and if we read about EUROPE NEED FOR PEOPLES we will set our mind at rest.
I remind, all
The topic of irregular immigrants has bestowed xenophobic and racist peoples a good cloak to come into sight patriots like! Their parties only goes one way – to drainage
That was in the early 90s. I think there were 2 reasons for not allowing them to disembark. Firstly, they were in a large ship and not feigning any distress. And secondly, Malta had still the geographical limitation clause option, whereby it could refuse a large number of refugees due to our size. This was signed off later on, by EFA, in the EU (at all cost) accession process. To much acclaim of JRS at the time.....
@M Tabone
Spot on. When they overflood Lampedusa, they are targetting them here. In groups of 27 not to cause any political panic. This is happening in waves or loads.
@Denis Catania
Talks of taking to the streets, rightfully, has already been done around here, but so far to no avail.
Solution: Deadlines, after which, you will not be guaranteed to be picked up. Whatever it takes. Other than that, as long as the priorities remain humanitarian, there arent. One may support the fact of them amassing here with the (now defunct) hope of someone taking them. But that is not a solution. Thats indifference and unfairness, to future Maltese.
All the 5 star hotels are there or nearby in St. Julians. Next time they will land at the Hilton Marina. Very convenient!!!!!!
No, we won't become a minority in two years. However, project current immigration for twenty years, plus the certainty that those who are here for a number of years will be allowed to bring over their families (family reunification), plus the extremely high birth rates these people have and you have some very frightening numbers indeed. Let a further thirty years pass and they could well be in sight of a majority. And that's assuming the inflow doesn't accelerate -- as it shows every sign of doing.
Moreover, inassimilable immigrants don't need to be in a majority to disrupt a society. Try to imagine the position when they become ten or fifteen percent of our population.
Are you looking forward to the ghettoes, the high crime rates, the racism and hatred -- on BOTH sides?
One final question, one I always put to liberals but to which I NEVER get an answer. Is there a limit to the number of illegals you would let in? 20,000? 50,000? 100,000?
If anyone thinks that anybody else in Europe is going to give us a helping hand......keep on dreaming!
If you watch the Italian news you can see that those boats who want to go to Italy carry hundreds not a couple tens, therefore it's pretty obvious that those who land here all want to be here.
The only feasible solution is to build reception centres in Africa, either Libya or Tunisia, where asylum claims can be processed and those eligible can be safely shipped to Europe. The rest would be finger printed and sent from where they came from, thanks to the database, if later they are caught in Europe they will be charged and sent to jail, once they pay the price for their actions they can be sent back to their country of origin.
Soon we will have the election to choose our mep's, and this time im going to choose those who always fought for this issue.
Frontex is only dictating our armed forces to bring illegals to our country.
Actually, both major parties are to blame, because if the opposition were to take up the illegal immigration issue, it would enjoy such a surge of support that the government would have to get off its backside and act forcefully to defend the country.
Unfortunately, both main parties are dominated by liberal do-gooders, who put the interests of the illegals well before those of their fellow Maltese. The ONLY important policy on which the PN and the MLP agree is that of ignoring the invasion from Africa!
Considering the serious existential threat Malta is facing, there is a word that accurately describes the behaviour of our politicians. It begins with the letter T. I won't spell it out because if I did, the moderator would censor me.
Full stop.
Has common-sense gone down the drain?
@ Louise Vella "full complicity by illegal immigrants" - don't make me laugh. Its like talking about the complicity of a drug addict with the trafficker, without even considering that there is a victim there. Do you ever even stop to consider the unfortunate plight of these people? Do you consider them as people after all?
Those who believe that there isn't an organised crime network are not living in this world. Observations on their state of health are not necessary since it is a known fact. That we are not getting enough help from the EU is also a fact. We should persevere and insist on such support.
However, I think that the racist's worse enemy on this issue is the racist himself, who chooses to cloud the whole debate with illogical, alarmist and prejudiced comments instead of sticking to facts. I believe that more good would come out of any debate if one were to put aside all his fears and prejudices and focused on the issues at hand.
This is not a matter of EU, but a matter concerning our country. We can easily give them food, see to their needs and escorting them back to Libya.
Well, that’s how much other countries care about how many people are entering Malta illegally. In other words, Malta’s problems need to be solved by Malta.
The Government needs to be honest too. How many more illegal immigrants can Malta take? And this question is not meant to be rhetoric,but rather, I expect a concrete number as an answer. If the Government’s answer is “an infinite number”, then our own Government is not working in the interests of the same people who it should be representing, which is unacceptable.
This is a very serious situation when one considers with what ease these boats are coming in to land. as for them being in a good state of health, it may throw some light under which circumstances they made their voyage.
FRONTEX is an acronym for Ferrying Refugees ON To Europe eXpeditiously.
ALL IN HEALTHY CONDITION!!!!!! In that case they must have been transferred from a big ferry to a smaller one just outside Malta.
We all know that frontex is a comical joke, since they are failing the least that the EU and frontex can do is to find the culprits that are organising this human trafficing