Saturday, 26th July 2008 - 17:45CET
Italian govt faces uproar over migrant emergency
Italy's right-wing government today defended its decision to declare a nationwide state of emergency to deal with an influx of illegal immigrants after sharp criticism of the move.
Leftist lawmakers accused Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's government of heightening fear and exaggerating the migrant problem by declaring the emergency yesterday, which gives police and local authorities added powers to tackle the issue.
"Where are the masses of illegal migrants pressing against the doors of our cities? And what are these risks for public order?" asked leftist lawmaker and former minister Rosy Bindi.
"The reality doesn't count for this government. What counts instead is the effect of announcements that serve to justify the climate of a police state."
Centrist lawmaker Rocco Buttiglone said Italy was not in need of "inhuman and extrarordinary" measures and that the application of existing laws would suffice.
A chorus of other opposition lawmakers demanded the government address parliament to explain its surprise move.
Monsignor Agostino Marchetto, secretary of a Vatican council on migrant issues, joined the debate by saying the term "emergency" in itself was not negative but that Italy ought to respect the human rights of all migrants and refugees.
"NOISE"
Lawmakers from Berlusconi's People of Freedom coalition -- which swept to power in the April national election by promising a tough line on illegal immigration and crime -- dismissed the criticism from the left as irresponsible and overzealous.
"It's a lot of noise over nothing," Fabrizio Cicchitto, the head of Berlusconi's party in the lower house of parliament said, playing it down as an extension of existing policy.
A state of emergency was already in place in the southern regions of Calabria, Puglia and Sicily before yesterday's decision.
Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, who will address parliament on the matter on Tuesday, defended the move as necessary to tackle a doubling of migrant arrivals on Italian shores and set up new holding centres for them.
Italy's long shoreline and proximity to Africa makes it a popular entrypoint into Europe for thousands of poor migrants who set sail from Africa in rickety, crowded boats each year.
More than 13,000 such migrants arrived on Italian shores in the first seven months of the year, up from over 8,000 last year. Aid workers acknowledge the numbers have risen after a falloff last year, but say they remain stable compared to previous years.
Immigration has jumped to the top of the political agenda in recent months after a spate of crimes linked to illegal migrants, prompting legislation by Berlusconi's government.
RSS
Comments
@Alex Ellul
Your message should have ended with….
Then, I woke up, and headed to the bathroom to get ready and go out!
@Malcolm Seychell
It’s too early for the Italian government to celebrate. Why rush? We should wait and see.
Mr. Sarkozy prior to election he was like many, if not all opposition’s parties and hopeful parties, they can talk volumes on how to clamp down on immigrants. But when they are in power and face reality they act differently. Talk prior to any election is cheap anyway.
Are we democratic or not?
@Malcolm Tortell
You gave me an Idea. Thank you
Practically, all our talks over the immigrant issue is undemocratic. We are talking with ourselves and the third party they don’t have a chance to voice their voice. I will have to write to the Minister to provide the detention centers with a computer and internet service and make it accessible to immigrants. Of course all this can be done under the control of the detention centers authorities. (After all the EU is paying every thing for the immigrants) and this idea goes well with EU human rights and democracy.
Here I would like to remind every one that, just because some persons do not have documents, it does not mean they do not have rights.
I say so, and I am ready to rebut any critics, but please, don’t confuse immigrants with ‘prisoners’
Rule of law? Escaping from a country where there is no rule of law, genicide and famine? Is this what you are referring to? As far as I am concerned I am willing to sacrifice some of my standard of living to help others. We have the luxury of being able to sit at our computers and voice our opinions...probably with full stomachs and with no risk of helicopters firing rockets at our homes. Do you all really think that people flee from their homes, trek across a desert and further risk their lives crossing a stretch of open water because they feel like it? Just to threaten our islanders complacency?
All I can say is let's hope that this situation never changes and we need help from others who show the small minded and callous attitudes so prevalent on these blogs!
As for all those harking back to the glory days of 1565, get over it! It was hardly like we had a choice in the matter was it? We fought someone elses war to preserve someone else's property rights over Malta
PS: I don't mind if if you sit in your car and watch either!
Any time...will you join? :-)
i agree on ur support of the italian government, as at least things are moving up there. however, i'm pretty sure, that if lega nord had more influence in the government, things would have move faster towards radical solutions. central-right politicans like frattini and berlusconi himself, tend to support an anti-immigrant stand only to hang themselves on their positions!
illegal immigration is a threat for everyone of us in europe and extreme solutions are needed. such policies can only be adopted by radical new right wing politicians, like LegaNord, BNP, VlaamsBelang, National Front, Austrian People's Party, NDP and others!
The only parties who where flushed into drainage in Italy were those of the Pro illegal Immigrants party the likes of the Communists, Greens and left wing parties.
Sarkozy won in France also because of his tough stand on immigration. The Tories will eventually do the same in UK.
If you really believe we will soon see an early election in Italy you are wrong. If it happens the Center Right will be even be stronger.
...I would love to see you taking a nice quiet stroll all alone down the streets of Albert Town late at night.....or wouldn't you?? ...My, my...see there? I thought you would consider it twice....are you xenophobic too, if I may ask?
Just to see things from the right perspective:
‘Immigration has jumped to the top of the political agenda in recent months after a spate of crimes linked to illegal migrants, prompting legislation by Berlusconi's government.”
What is not mentioned here (could be deliberately) is that, crimes rates they are referring to is NOT LINKED WITH AFRICAN IMMIGRANTS. This of Roma communities in Italy in which inhabitants of Naples set fire to camp-like homes of Roma families and forced them to flee.
Here Italy is faced with a severe racism and hatred sentiments from none black and most probably also none Muslims.
Shall we soon see an early election in Italy?
The EU should not remain backward in terms of Human Rights and Democracy. Immigrant’s issues structure a severe test to the EU. Human rights and Democracy are the fundamental base of the EU. therefore, All forms of racism must be abolished. All far-right and anti-Immigrants parties will eventually be flushed into drainage, similar to what happened in Malta.
This is a fine example of how steadfast politicians should act in the interest of their country.
Excellent move Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.
@ Malcolm Tortell
Your statement: ‘The only state of emergency that exists in Malta is in the heads of some people' is quite apt.
However, 'this state of emergency' is in those heads who
i. cannot distinguish between LEGALITY and ILLEGALITY
ii. compromise the rule of law
iii. refuse to accept the stark reality of the negative implications of ILLEGAL
immigration
Malcolm, you cannot escape the fact that Malta is a small country and can support a very limited number of people. We cannot absorb the African continent!
The EU (including MALTA) is duty-bound to help these ILLEGAL immigrants IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY by contributing financially towards the development of a strong sustainable infrastructure, including a serious investment in education and much needed health services.
Admittedly, this is a tall order, but not impossible if all EU member states (politicians and the people at large like you and me) are genuine enough to accept this vocation towards this noble end gradually making ILLEGAL immigration an unnecessary risk.
The government has the mandate of the people to tackle and stop illegal immigration
Gonzi should do the same. Our problem is worse then Italy and yet we have DR Mifsud Bonnici smiling and telling the newspaper that he is ready for at least 2000 illegal immigrants this year and if needed even more.
By opening more open centers it will even attract more illegal immigrants. We must do this on our own. EU will not help us. They already have problems thanks to illegal immigration.
Although billions of euro has been spend to try and brainwash people that illegal immigration can be healthy for the country nobody is believing this any more.
Results show exactly the opposite that uncontrolled illegal immigration has brought only problems, more social services, ghettos, cultural clashes, increase in crime rate and native people moving out of their country
Is this what really DR Gonzi wishes to Malta
Wake up the absolute majority of the people do not want any more illegal immigrants
Kudos to Berlusconi.
When are we going to wake up to this real emergency. Shall we wait until we face the same situation as the historic revolt of the slaves.
if governments were serious about this issue,it would have been nipped in the bud long ago.
for example, just stop paying your income tax to see how quickly governments will react toward the offenders.
The only state of emergency that exists in Malta is in the heads of some people. Its called Xenophobia.