Thursday, 31st July 2008 - 12:16CET

Pregnant migrant dies during rescue

A pregnant illegal migrant died this morning shortly after being rescued from the sea by a cargo ship some 79 miles off Malta. The ship had reported that the woman was in poor health, and although the AFM scrambled a helicopter to transfer her to Malta, it was too late.

The AFM said the woman's corpse and that of another woman had been recovered by a patrol boat, while 28 migrants, said to be Somali and Nigerian were safely rescued from the sea.

The presence of the migrants was first reported by the Maltese-registered tug-boat 'Vittorin' which started picking up some of the migrants. Shortly after, the merchant ship 'Northumberland' reported having rescued a pregnant woman, who was suffering from severe breathlessness. An Italian Military Mission Air Force AB212 rescue helicopter was scrambled from Luqa but the woman died before she could be reached for treatment by the AFM doctor onboard.

Following a search in the immediate area of where the migrants were found, patrol boat P-52 then took onboard two female migrants corpses and the rescued 28 migrants. They are expected to be landed at Haywharf Base this afternoon.

An AFM patrol boat last night also brought to Malta 81 migrants who had been in two groups when they were rescued off Malta.

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Comments

Corinne Vella (on 4/8/08)

Denis Catania: You're addressing the wrong person. Some of us don't like making a song and dance about what we do.

Denis Catania (on 3/8/08)

@Corrine Vella: Yes I don't know anything about you.All I know is that you call us racists, just the simple fact that Malta is too small for all these people. I'm on your side in the US illegal immigration issue. I want all 13,000,000 to stay. Plus we have room for another 50,000,000 if not more. But I don't just argue for them. My company drops off baby products, cookies, water and candy. So I do put my money, were my mouth is.
If Malta and the Maltese want to open all the green areas and build some housing for them. Then yes we have room for all of them and another 10.000 of them. As long as we can prove who they were before they came. Are you willing to open all green areas for these poor people? You need to answer some of these questions, if you want us to know anything about you. All we know about you is you are a name caller. I think all of Malta should share the burden. The richer areas too, where they have a better chance.Such as Iklin and Sweiqi and so on.How about the church they can't help financially.

Corinne Vella (on 3/8/08)

Denis Catania: Incidentally, I note too that you don't say how taking an 11 year old out to sea constitutes 'learning a family trade which is legal by law (sic)". Since you claim to read the Times, maybe you also 'read' the Sunday Times, in which case you couldn't fail to have missed today's interview given by the President of the Fishermen's cooperative.

Corinne Vella (on 3/8/08)

Denis Catania: You do not know the first thing about me, yet you presume to know much though you manage to get it all wrong. That's proof - as though I needed any - that your pronouncements in the comments boards on this site are merely self referential assumptions. That's never a sound basis to take a person seriously. Why would you expect me - or anyone else - to do so?

Thanks for your invitation to take what you call a 'rinky ding boat' to the USA. Perhaps you should take do that yourself. It might then occur to you that people who do that are running away from far worse, and that a lack of ice cream for their children is the least of their concerns.

You claim to read the Times online. Perhaps you should actually do so - and try making sense of what you read while you're at it.

Denis Catania (on 3/8/08)

@Corrine Vella: First I come to Malta often, but thanks to the internet, unless the Times prints lies,we are well informed.If you can afford it, come to the US and you can find out what a rinky ding boat is. If you can't afford it,come on one of those rinky ding boats. All I know in the US sympathizers act when they speak unlike you and your friends. Have you taken any kids in, or just employing their parents with super low wages? What do you do, let some poor immigrant cleaning your house for couple of Euros? Have you ever brought a case of ice cream for these kids.? Have you taken a toy for these kids? Will your husband allow you to do such a thing?

Corinne Vella (on 3/8/08)

Denis Catania: All the way away in the US of A and you know more about what's happening here than anyone else, eh? The Simshar case is not closed - it has only just opened - and yet you presume to know all the facts.

By the way, what is a "rinky ding" boat? And what sort of things are not perfectly legal by law? Do you ever think before you write or are you all mouth and no sense?

Denis Catania (on 3/8/08)

@Corrine Vella: The Simshar was not rinky ding boat with 27 people on it. There was a life raft . This was an accident. Theo was learning a family trade. Which is perfectly legal by law.
@Kathie Micallef: Have you taken in any of these kids? Or are you all mouth and no action?
@Malcolm Tortell:Yes, please don't disrespect Theo's family, as Daphne and Corrine has already done so.
@Franco Farrugia:Ignorance is no excuse or defence for breaking the law, for putting kids in danger. Plus Libya is not killing these people.
@ To all so called sympathizers, if you people acted with actions, instead of all talk. These people would be living comfortable with you,while waiting for asylum, instead being held in detention center.
@The church: Why don't we take out a 20 million Euros from the Vatican Bank to help these people? Or are you too, talk and no action , Father.

Joseph Spiteri (on 2/8/08)

Daphne Caruana Galizia; The way you express yourself gives one the impression that we Maltese are a bunch of hypocrites. What THE MAJORITY are preoccupied with is the never-ending influx of these people. At the present rate of arrivals,you know as much as everyone else, that we are unable, both logistically and financially,to accommodate these ever increasing numbers. I suppose you know as much as anybody else that most of these people are not refugees, but are simply leaving their country for a better life elsewhere. Dealing with a few hundreds is not much of a problem, but when thousands are involved, its a totally different matter. Should we keep on accepting them without complaining and let them roam our streets at will? We would certainly like to know your ideas for addressing this problem,but remember that our country's interests come first.

a.cassar (on 2/8/08)

@ Malcolm Tortell.
So perhaps I shouldn't have added 'hidden' before agenda but then again it turned out to be a lucky slip for you as that was the only thing you found to criticise in my comment. sort of clutching at a straw when drowning! anyway you got the gist of my comment.

katie micallef (on 1/8/08)

@Denis Catania - your grammar is almost as bad as your ability to empathise.
DId you ever consider that an open boat in the scorching summer heat might indeed be better than a couple of bullets and an empty stomach? I imagine you have never known what it is like to be desperate, so it is all very easy for you to sit typing your mean little messages of condemnation.

Corinne Vella (on 1/8/08)

Denis Catania: "Matter of fact any time a minor is on a rinky ding boat, they should arrest all the adults as criminal and take there kids." You don't mean to say the owner of the Simshar should be arrested, do you?

Corinne Vella (on 1/8/08)

Here we go again - another barrage of calls for immediate repatriation. Do you mean organised repatriation in line with existing protocols and humanitarian obligations or crude logistics - i.e. push people back into a boat and send it out to sea?

Franco Farrugia (on 1/8/08)

@ Denis Catania - you simply have not understood anything, have you? Of the plight that some migrants find themselves in, when they make the decision to cross over to Europe.
Do you think that these people have the same concept of reason as ... well ... as you ... err... should? Do you think that these people are educated enough and mature enough to reason as to what is responsible and what is not?

I have come to the conclusion that the service which is being offered by timesofmalta.com also brings the worst of humanity that live in these islands. Such sadness ... how the human being can distort and impoverish himself into depriving himself of the joys of compassion. If you had to remove compassion from the character of the human being, there is nothing left.. You become an L.Galea.

Sandro Pace (on 1/8/08)

Current approval rate by authorities (those whose job is to listen to their stories and judge) stand at 53%.

A couple of weeks ago this same newspaper published two stories of from what they did escape. One came all the way escaping the revenge of the neighbour after accidentally burning his car, the other was that he 'could not stand the corruption by his government'.

Of course, these were in detention and yet to be processed, but they will probably be released anyhow, cause logistically they cannot be sent back, or so they say. None of these stories constitute a refugee claim, if we are serious.

If Italy (Lampedusa is Italy afterall), is alarmed with 500 daily, I cant see why Malta is not with almost 100 daily. That's the only thing irrational and callous.

Malcolm Tortell (on 31/7/08)

@ Edward Grech: yeah sure I'll go to Libya if you get yourself a boat (not one of Denis Catania's rinky dings however) and patrol the coastline...how about that?
Tens of thousands is it? Where are they hiding? Besides maybe my limit is not yours..ever considered that? Maybe that's because according to you I am a 10 year old lacking in common sense with no ability to recognise reality :-) But according to what you said everybody wants to help others, even if only 100... so go help 100 then... you see how ridiculous this can get? You're not making sense and your arguments are inconsistent.
@ A Cassar:
How come a hidden agenda is openly declared on Youtube...the mind boggles! You guys really need to sharpen up because to be honest you are finding it hard to string a coherent argument together!
I will be glad to reply once you all start to be consistent and actually come up with a reasonable argument...I can't wait!
@ Denis Catania: your argument is so ridiculous and flawed that I will not reply out of respect for Theo's family. Anyone with half a brain will know what I mean!

a.cassar (on 31/7/08)

@ Malcolm Tortell
The root causes are in sub saharan africa. a region way beyond our 'sphere of influence'
what we are concerned about is nearer home, Libya to be exact. The refugees entering Libya's southern borders are Libya's concern. Libya says it's unable to control this mass migration into its territory but I think otherwise. I think that libya has a hidden agenda which is to invade Europe in a subtle way (watch Gaddafi say so himself on youtube) as long as the EU keeps pandering to Libya's every wish the human traffickers will keep supplying the migrants with the means to make their voyages.

S Azzopardi (on 31/7/08)

I agree with DCG, it is certainly a possibility.

There are also other possibilities like are female immigrants the get-out-jail-free card when rescue is needed, are female immigrants the first to be thrown overboard when the situation becomes dire on the boat?

There are also other considerations like how are these women earning their boat ticket in Libya which in any case in a way is none of our business. It is also interesting how they manage to secure a place on the boat given that places must be in high demand and that when the law of the jungle rules male to-be-immigrants are more likely to force themselves onto a boat.

I think with a few thousand immigrants on the island there is no excuse that we are still pretty much in the dark as to what goes on in Libya. Is there really no one prepared to talk or is it a case that we're to busy doing other things?

R.Zahra (on 31/7/08)

@ malcolm tortell.. well said....
@ all the others in the brigade.. i can't believe that you can really be so callous? what if it were your mother making that crossing... ups... you'd have a problem.. you would not be able to read this cos you'd be dead!
As with any other phobia, it rises from the fear of the unknown, but really you can only overcome the fear if you face it...
I have a suggestion: instead of staying online wasting electronic space spewing hatred, why not spend a couple of days at the barracks to get know their stories..and you'd find human beings with human hearts that have seen unimaginable horrors... only then can you come back here to have your say...

Edward Grech (on 31/7/08)

M. Tortell, you said “I happen to love Malta, but I cannot for the life of me see why that is incompatible with wanting to help others.”

Because there is a limit to everything! Who doesn’t want to help others? We can accommodate 10, and even 100. But we can’t accommodate tens of thousands, not even if we wanted to. Come on. Be realistic.

Edward Grech (on 31/7/08)

M. Tortell, my “establish a mission” comment is not as fatuous as you try to make it seem. I suggest you watch the video “Libya a de facto shelter for African migrants” on YouTube: http://youtube.com/watch?v=8YmU7w0jcqA

From 1m20s: “…here the migrants are advised about the dangers of illegal crossings and are offered counselling…”

Denis Catania (on 31/7/08)

@Daphene Caruana Galizia: Keep that little angel out of this. First they didn't spend no Hundreds of thousands and if we did, yes it's no problem. little Theo's father paid Maltese taxes. Shame on you for using him as an example. The issue is this woman died commiting a crime, when she took that unborn child in the high seas on a rinky ding boat.Haven't we rescued enough of them. How many of these poor kids have you taken in? Or are you just mouth and no actions.Any parent who puts thier unborn child or minor in danger is a criminal(selfish criminal) the worst you can find. Matter of fact any time a minor is on a rinky ding boat, they should arrest all the adults as criminal and take there kids. By that, they waive there rights to any asylum. Whether they are white, Black, Blue or purple.

David Wain (on 31/7/08)

I agree with Malcolm Tortell that one must go to the root of the problem.

As for L. Galea, as he himself says, he will keep by his views no matter what . Therefore no use discussing.

I was particularly pleased with a. cassar though since, although he in principle seems to be against immigration, he manages to recognise the human element.

The same cannot be said on many others, who preamble their entries by cynically stating that they pity these people, and then proceeding to launch into the usual vile racist rhetoric

Daphne Caruana Galizia (on 31/7/08)

S. Azzopardi: you wrote "While my heart goes out to the expecting mother and any relatives, I find it to say the least a bit irresponsible for someone who is expecting a child to throw oneself in a boat in the scorching heat of the Med to come to Europe."

Have you considered that it might have been far more irresponsible for her to stay?

Daphne Caruana Galizia (on 31/7/08)

Behold a host of chest-beating Catholics. A bit of compassion will get you to heaven a lot faster than a lifetime of Sunday masses. If you don't believe me, ask your confessor. The AFM has just spent hundreds of thousands of euros searching for the body of one boy, yet the rescue of 28 living people is considered an abhorrent financial burden. Oh, but the boy was Maltese and the others are not, and God in his heaven distinguishes between humane acts to our fellow countrymen and humane acts to others - I don't think.

malcolm tortell (on 31/7/08)

@ David Wain:
Yes quite right. Both A.Cassar and Joanne Micallef make reasoned arguments and look at the problem in some depth. I am all for stopping the traffickers and also for taking steps to see why these people are leaving their countries in droves. If both these issues are handled then we may make some headway to solving this problem.
@ E. Grech: I happen to love Malta, but I cannot for the life of me see why that is incompatible with wanting to help others.

malcolm tortell (on 31/7/08)

@ A. Cassar: Yes I agree but I would like to add that I fear that just stopping the traffickers will not work on the root causes that are causing this mass migration.
@L. Galea: thanks for the compliment! I really mean that because being insulted by someone such as yourself means I am on the right track. If they play with fire they deserve to get burnt indeed! What kind of life do you think they are escaping to take such risks?
@ Edward Grech: No I am 40( 41 soon, send me a card!) but the last time I heard an argument like yours I was 10 I reckon. And I am no hypocrite because I am willing to make sacrifices to help these people. Furthermore your "establish a mission " comment is fatuous and simplistic to say the least. And don't assure me that you know what would have happened to this woman had she not made the journey because you have no Idea of what she left behind.
@Joanne Micallef: see my response to A. Cassar. We need to be looking at root causes not just effects otherwise the flow will continue.

G. Mangion (on 31/7/08)

It is shocking to hear of people dying out at sea, even the unborn! It is even more shocking when one thinks what is actually happening in Malta and other neighbouring countries like Italy. Aboout 800 landed in Italy and another 100 here in the last 24 hours. I pity these people but I'm sorry! Charity begins at home.
Moreover how can we know who these people are, what their background is.

L Galea (on 31/7/08)

@Charles Camilleri

You must have misunderstood me.

I am in complete agreement with you.

L Galea (on 31/7/08)

@Franco Farrugia
The same applies to you.
I don't care what you call me.
I dont want one single ILLEGAL immigrant to remain in MY country and will work with anyone to see that they are all repatriated or leave.
That is my opinion and I shall stand by it.

Franco Farrugia (on 31/7/08)

@ Charles Camilleri - 'Those few do-gooders who cannot see this tragedy from every angle are living in cuckoo land.' I don't think that there is anyone who is not seeing this tragedy, so, I think YOU are the one 'living in cuckoo land'.

john borg (on 31/7/08)

i would rescue them sea......but send them back the following morning!!!
if their number continues to increase they will someday become a real threat, has anyone decided a maximum number or percentage compared to our population??

Alex Ellul (on 31/7/08)

Part 2
Why are these poor people being shipped to Europe where we are lumped with unemployment problems, markets on the downturn, etc? There are countries that are much richer than ours, where the work opportunities are infinite, food is cheap etc, such as Dubai, Kuwait, saudi arabia, Libya itself,.....

Alex Ellul (on 31/7/08)

Part 1
The Libyan organisation(s) running this traffic in human flesh brainwashes the would-be victims convincing them of a safe journey, jobs for all, Euros falling from heaven etc. The tragedies are hidden from their 'news'. Only the day before, two dead babies were thrown overboard by their parents during one of the many tragic journeys to Pantelleria/Italy.

These criminals are grossly abusing our hospitality, Christian values and democratic principles to their own dirty financial profit, making millions of dollars in the process. The more we welcome the wretched illegals, the happier the criminals become. It is analogous to encouraging drug addicts to get drugs, making the drug barons richer.

If these poor poeple, whoever they maybe and wherever their country of origin is, must be helped not abused. Let's get them to 'rich countries' through the proper channels, with the proper papers, on safe ships, planes, trains and automobiles. I trust that I will not be accused of being one of the "patriotic turn them away" brigade by the appeasing brigade, those who are indirectly lining the criminals' pockets with blood stained dollars.

Charles Camilleri (on 31/7/08)

So long as we encourage these people to come over, these things are likely to happen. We are also encouraging Mafia human traffickers who are organising these trips. Now i ask L. Galea what happens if these refugees invade us with hundred coming every week? Who is going to feed them? Who is going to give them shelter? etc etc. It is us Mr. Galea through our taxes. Pls think with your mind and not with your heart. We have enough of them roaming our streets. We have enough problems of our own. The authorities will realise the enormity of this problem up when it is too late as happened in other countries.

a.cassar (on 31/7/08)

The migrant problem that is hitting us hard originates on Libya's Southern border. That is libya's problem not ours.If libya is incapable to stem the tidal wave of refugees then the country is in deep trouble and ripe for invasion. On the other hand,(and this is the most plausible theory) if Libya is letting them in with a plan in mind and that is to eventually herd them over to europe then the story turns sinister. That is why it is so difficult to persuade Libya to cooperate with the EU.

Alfred Azzopardi (on 31/7/08)

I beg to differ with those who say that these comments (thanks to the TOM) are useless and serve no purpose. No public meetings or peaceful demonstrations to show our preoccupation on this catastrophe is allowed. How else could the public show its concern on this unsustainable situation that is bringing the country to its knees? Those few do-gooders who cannot see this tragedy from every angle are living in cuckoo land. At least our honourable MPs will gauge the mood of its electors on this matter even if non wants to touch it with a ten foot pole.

M. Tabone (on 31/7/08)

If one want to commit suicide there is nothing to be done. Moreover has onyone questioned that these illegal immigrants should be prosecuted for not only risking their own lifes but also that of minors or the unborn? They are using these children and pregnant women for one scope that the public opinion will pity them and they will then roam our streets with their children and parasitising on our social system. Now even worse they will have the right that their extended family will also join them....and the story will never ends unless we clearly make a STOP to everyone immediatley. I will not be surprised that in the future what happened in Kosovo to Serbs will also happen to us because everyone know that the situation is very tense!

Joanne Micallef (on 31/7/08)

@ Mr Tortell - Unfortunately she was not the first and surely as things stand she will neither be the last. That is why this criminal operation has to stop, by accepting the illegal immigrants we are indirectly helping the human traffickers, with our collaboration they are not only getting richer but they also seem to be operating in a careless manner knowing that we'll be right their to clean up their mess.

David Wain (on 31/7/08)

A. Cassar, reading your entry, I do not think Malcolm Tortell's comment was directed at you. You acknowledge that there is a problem.... one would be blind not to realise. But rightly, you direct your anger towards the real culprits, that is the human traffickers, who should be found and brought to justice, not the victims.

Franco Farrugia (on 31/7/08)

@ L Galea: I hate having to insult people in public, but in your case I will: if you are really a human being, I disassociate myself completely from the human species since I have absolutely no wish to have anything common with the likes of you. Your way of reasoning, your bad logic, your miscalculations, all show me one thing - what a sad creature you are.

Joe Tabone-Adami (on 31/7/08)

This episode illustrates once again, if it was at all necessary, the callousness of those who profit by illegal trafficking of human beings. Nothing is holy in this criminal business - as long as money comes in, it is all grist to their mill, even babies and pregnant women. One more reason for Europe (and Malta) to stem such business and to punish traffickers. It is not a question of brigades or campaigns. It is a question of facing facts and halting murderous illegality, too.

Edward Grech (on 31/7/08)

Dear Malcolm Tortell,

I am from the as you call it “patriotic turn them away” brigade, and as I call it the “use your common sense brigade”.

How innocent can you be not to realize that the only reason pregnant woman are included in the trip is to generate comments like yours?
Are you ten years old?

That one of the passengers “happens to be” a pregnant woman is a coincidence as much as it is a coincidence that the boats always contain groups of 28. I’d like to hear what people from your “God save illegal immigrants, to hell with the Maltese” opine on that. If you want to offer assistance to these people, why don’t you establish a mission in Libya to offer help to 200 people there, rather than sitting here waiting for them to cross the Channel and then pretending to help the 100 that make it alive? Typical hypocrisy.

I can assure you that if we had adopted the “turn them away” stance some while ago, this woman would still be alive and kicking. May her soul rest in peace.

L Galea (on 31/7/08)

@malcolm tortell

Yes Mr Tortell.

If someone plays with fire he knows that he risks being burned.

Why should we worry about them when they know the risks that they are taking?

This shows that they are irresponsible and do not even care for their own unborn children.

So why should we?

It is people like you who is causing them to take these risks since they know they will find someone who defends their ILLEGAL voyage and fights for keeping them in Malta even though we do not know who they are.

If they were all returned or repatriated without a single one being allowed to stay then they will think more than twce before embarking on such a dangerous enterprise.

For us who are against this ILLEGAL INVASION as has aptly been described by none other than our Prime Minister and against the ILLEGAL immigrants being kept in Malta you are a collaborator with their traffickers.

a.cassar (on 31/7/08)

@malcolm tortell. yes I would like to comment. It is precisely to avoid such tragedies that this disgusting business called human trafficking must be stopped. You may not realise it but there are some who feel for these people yet see them also as a problem. that does not mean we wish to see them drown or die like this poor woman along with her unborn baby. In order to avoid tragedies of this sort from continuing these people must stop crossing the Med and in order to chieve this, the disgusting criminals who provide them with boats must be caught and given their just desserts. do you agree?

Chris Azzopardi (on 31/7/08)

This sad incident highlights perfectly why we need to stop this crazy situation now. Every time we accept these illegal immigrants we are encouraging incidents like this to happen, we are also unknowingly helping the criminals who are ferrying them across. If we stop accepting immigrants this way and instead open a legal way for genuine refugees to enter Europe then innocent lives will be spared.

malcolm tortell (on 31/7/08)

This is the sort of human tragedy we need to be more aware of when discussing the whole issue of illegal immigration. Any of the so called "patriotic turn them away" brigade care to comment?

S Azzopardi (on 31/7/08)

While my heart goes out to the expecting mother and any relatives, I find it to say the least a bit irresponsible for someone who is expecting a child to throw oneself in a boat in the scorching heat of the Med to come to Europe.

I understand this is a very sensitive issue but I would imagine migrants with children or expecting mothers are not held in detention. I agree that if this is the case, this is the only humanely possible way of dealing with this cases, however, this could be encouraging more such people to take this risky journey.

Denis Catania (on 31/7/08)

Sympathizers still encourage pregnant woman to board these rinky ding boats. With no sympathy for the unborn.

Pregnant migrant dies during rescue

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