Migrants land at Wied iz-Zurrieq

M.Mercieca

Aug 3rd 2008, 03:03

Often, as I delve into history books I come a cross one fact, Africa in general and middle east in particular is where history, civilization, religions begins.
I also understand the idea behind the continues promotion of a superiority of a race on other races. But can we change facts on the ground? Is it a divine command? I guess, If one day we have a Black Holy Father the whole world would be beautiful. But I think the divine orders aren’t color blind either.


When president (to be) Barak Obama be in office, this would be a correction of a divine 'oversight or mistake'!

I lived in Africa and the middle east for many years: If you ask the majority of peoples over there questions about any things, you shirk responsibility for your own education!

Victor Zammit

Aug 2nd 2008, 22:59

@ guze xerri
Church goers are decreasing all over Christian countries. This is the real dilemma of the Vatican. A divine solution does not see to be available for this issue.
But somehow our Christianity morals wake-up when Muslims are discussed!
My understanding is that. For Muslims, Saudi Arabia is equivalent to our Vatican. Christians would fully and freely practice their religion inside a Church in Saudi Arabia’ soil, only when Muslims have a Mosque inside the Vatican’ soil.

Not on country- by- country base. Number of Churches inside Muslims world all over the globe, more than Mosques inside Christian’s countries all over the globe. Unless we tend to edit, or make self-history, facts speak for themselves.

guze xerri

Aug 2nd 2008, 22:52

@ apgrech,

At least it is our own universe, ( il froga ija tana ).

Maltese from all social classes and political persuasion agree that illegal immigrants coming here in great unchecked numbers is a recipe for disaster , especially on a 100 square mile nation with one of the highest population densities in the world.

the Maltese are a more homogenous people than one might suspect,no matter what social class we belong to.
a common language, food, religion, culture ,values and shared historic experience make this so

We ARE unique.

and we are also a proud people and nobody's fool.

agrech

Aug 2nd 2008, 22:36

@Guze Xerri. Canada was a fool to give total freedom to everyone. They were not brave enough to fight to maintain their own culture. Canada bent backwards to satisfy the demands of the minorities like allowing police officers to wear the turban, etc. So Canada invited these problems with its "generosity".

The successful multiculturalism in Canada is only wishful thinking.

apgrech

Aug 2nd 2008, 22:09

M Mercieca said: "Racism and xenophobia are our problem and this against EU values"

We don't care about EU values, we care about Malta's values and culture. We struggled for generations to be were we are. 60 years ago, many kids walked barefooted in Malta. No one helped us. We don't want to go back to that stage.

At this stage, I feel the EU has betrayed us because if they were truly caring about Malta, they would take some of the illegals and distribute them in various EU countries.

It's about time the Maltese government establishes its own laws regarding this invasion. No one can enter Malta without proper documentation - no ifs, no buts, no exception.

Someone somewhere is orchestrating all this. Someone is making big money out of this invasion. The AFM should run after these people first and catch them and not "save" the illegal immigrants. Malta has become the fool of Europe.

apgrech

Aug 2nd 2008, 21:55

Any illegals who are given asylym must be forced to sign a declaration that they will not interfere in our culture and religious practices. If their children end up in a Maltese school, they should have no right to complain about crucifixes in the class or prayers at school.

Soon we're going to hear complaints that the feasts bother them, the religious objects are offensive to their beliefs, etc. etc. Whoever is accepted here, must accept whom we are and if they don't like it, they can pack it up and go back.

Maltese are not really racists, we simply don't like foreigners to interfere with our culture and religion. If we're left alone, we're the nices bunch in the Universe. Right fewllows?

guze xerri

Aug 2nd 2008, 21:46

In Canada, LEGAL muslim immigrants want to implement sharia law to be tried under, as they do not recognize christian based eurocentric common or civil law.

if you do not bend to their will, you must be racist and islamophobic.

Asked them how many christian churches are christians allowed to build in Saudi Arabia?

answer: none

They are using our democratic process and elite imposed political correctness and the fear of being labeled " Racist" to corral us into dhimmitude.

human beings like and prefer to live with their own tribe, their own kind, pure and simple.
no amount of government imposed political correctness can change that.

I have seen this in all the major cites of the world were multiculturalism is forced down people's throats.
ghettos are naturally formed.

In Toronto, the Jamaican community from LEGAL Jamaican immigrants have a minority in their group with Jamaican/African values that do not fit general Canadian values like
Gun crime, idleness,dole living and out of wedlock births

the privileged elite always hold on to power and run the show for their & tribe's benefit.

a.cassar

Aug 2nd 2008, 21:21

Malta has never experienced anything like this in its history. the number of illegal migrants who are coming in at once will not integrate with the local population. they will form enclaves like the ones in Marsa and Birzebbugia. others will form in the future. Their culture is totally alien to ours and this will lead to trouble as we are witnessing in othercountries. Do you want to call this xenophobia or racism? go ahead. I call it reality.

b. mifsud

Aug 2nd 2008, 20:43

they don't hae to be a majority either. they know our weaknesses and they wil exploit them. we are known to be a peace loving people and this is seen as a weakness to some. what happens when in a few years' time they will start protesting against religious symbols in classrooms, hospitals etc. then we'll see what the curia has to say.

guze xerri

Aug 2nd 2008, 19:28

@ M Mercieca,

How long do you think your catholicism version of christianity will last when muslims are the majority in Malta?

Just ask Egyptian Coptic christians how well their civil rights are respected in Muslim Egypt.

Africans have a culture suited to africa, they have a whole continent to live on, we only have 100 square miles of barren rock to live on,
our fore fathers made this place habitable by their blood sweat and tears , ingenuity and guile.
they true loved the land and their fellow Maltese brothers.

you must be living in La La land if you swallow that political correctness bunkum.

Political correctness did not appear out of nowhere.
it came from the top down, to ruin homogeneous cultures and nations like Malta.
Its twin brother is multiculturalism.

Multiculturalism does not work in cities like Toronto or London England or Paris France, I have live in these cities

it is a tool of the elite disguised as super fairness, so they and their families ( read tribe) will always hold on to power and control.

a,cassar

Aug 2nd 2008, 19:26

@M.Mercieca
And I assure you that if the survey was to be repeated today that 97.3% would increase.
Only those who fail to see beyond their noses would vote in favour of being invaded.
And why shouldn't the people protest against a newly elected government if they think that it's not doing enough? Finally,since when is atheism a religion?!

Sandro Pace

Aug 2nd 2008, 18:56

@Richard Maulverer

At this point, this has nothing to do with taking the good and the bad. We are already doing that without the immigration problem. But if joining the EU means accepting an African invasion, then leaving the EU will become a serious consideration. As Profs. Henry Frendo once written not much long ago.

So far it has been all pain and little gain.

There are rational and irrational obligations.

S.Aquilina

Aug 2nd 2008, 18:22

I totally agree with Joanne Micallef unless we go out in the street to protest noting is being dun.

M.Mercieca

Aug 2nd 2008, 18:02

Survey carried out by Mr. Mario Vassallo on 14-8-2005 shows:

An overwhelming 97.3% of the Maltese said that nobody had the right to come and settle in Malta, (this means illegal and legal peoples).
In the case of other races, rejection is much stronger. Palestinians and Arabs in general were unwelcome by 95.3% and 93.7% of the Maltese respectively, with Africans (90%) and Jews (89%) faring only slightly better.
The same level of intolerance was shown to persons belonging to different religions: 79.3% would not give asylum to Muslims, and 76.7% would refuse it to Jews. There was a similar degree of objection to atheists (78%), while there was a somewhat lower level of rejection of asylum - at 67.3% - to Christians.
Are we still Catholic? Wasn’t Jesus born in Palestine?
----
The above clearly shows an alarming situation:
Even if the immigrants were to land in Malta in owned private jets, still they are not welcomed.
Even the legal ones still are not welcomed.
Racism and xenophobia are our problem and this against EU values.
We are really funny peoples. Do you want to demonstrate against a government we have just elected?

Charles J Buttigieg

Aug 2nd 2008, 17:58

Back to the 1960s as a young boy I militated to see Malta independent. With other youths we painted graffiti on walls, demonstrated in the main streets with banners like Malta first and foremost, Malta for the Maltese, Malta Maltija,as well as British tyrants go home. On many occasions we were led by people like the late honourable Agate Barbara. At that juncture we were, in real terms, demanding the departure of people who were giving us jobs, a relatively decent standard of living and a solid administrative system which is the envy of the civilised world.

The world has really changed, imagine the consequences today for a person who plugs some courage and writes ‘Africans go home’ on a wall.

Richard Maulverer

Aug 2nd 2008, 17:52

To all od you complaining about illegal immigrants.. the only thing you can do about these immigrants is leave the EU and then you can dictate who stays and who doesn't.

Surely you knew when joining you have to take the good with the bad or didn't anybody tell you?

F. Camilleri

Aug 2nd 2008, 17:20

The solution to ILLEGAL immigration is making MALTA UNPOPULAR with ILLEGAL immigrants and deport all those who forced their way on our island.
The message should be LOUD AND CLEAR:

1. All open centres must be closed.
2. ILLEGAL immigration must be treated as a jailable offence; ILLEGAL immigrants treated as prison inmates with the dignity of human persons enjoying the same rights but under the same conditions as local prison inmates.
3. However, Children of ILLEGAL immigrants SHOULD NEVER BE PUNISHED FOR A CRIME THEY DID NOT COMMIT.
Measures should be taken towards their education, well-being and recreation. They must not be separated from their parents but placed in appropriate controlled centres until they are deported/repatriated along with their family.

Re Cardinal Martino:
Cardinal Martino should mind his own business and build bridges between himself and the Vatican.
We know our country’s needs/limitations. We do not need ‘learned’ Jesuits to invite him to lecture to the Maltese government on ILLEGAL Immigration.

Who is bearing the cost of his visit in October?
To add insult to injury Dr. E. Fenech Adami ‘will give a lunch in Martino's honour, as he did last time’ – probably from our pockets!

Guze Micallef

Aug 2nd 2008, 17:02

The Europen Union which is formed by these same powers which ruled these countries, now are SEEING the effect of their fathers' 'conquests'. Malta has been also ruled and NEVER imposed anything on other states. But,...by a some type of macabre joke, we have to host all these illegal immigrants, many of whom will stay in Malta. The ''funny'' thing about it all is the fact that European countries couldn't bother less about Malta. Simply, they couldn't...!! EU doesn't want to help malta,..because ''Malta receives just hundreds of immigrants,... not thousands''. We MALTESE have nothing to be blamed for the problems of these countries but still be have to do more than we can. It should be that we save them, see that they aren't ill or have any disease, feed them and then call our European ''friends'' to share them between them as THEY are to be blamed. But,...life has never been easy for us. For every thing we do not do as required by INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS in housing illegal immigrants, all EU starts being 'angry' with us..''Bad,bad,Malta...No good boy...'' This's aimed to show the world that they are doing something about helping these people( Malta dellha tqil!).

Guze Micallef

Aug 2nd 2008, 16:45

Some of these people remained in Malta and had their children born here. Nowadays, thanks to free movement we see or actually we DON'T see a lot of people from Russia, Poland, China and Hungary coming to live here. Probably, as we see them walking, we think they are tourists so we do say nothing about them. On the other hand, every black is an immigrant. Ultimately, both type of immigrants are harnful for our country. Why can't we decide on our country? Why WE who had our fathers fighting for freedom and rights from the opression of foreign powers have to be treated like a nation who has been ruling other countries instead of being ruled? Italy, Spain, Belgium, France, England...IT'S YOUR FAULT that all this mass immigration FROM AFRICA is taking place !! You ruined these countries and when they finally weren't more useful, you gave them 'freedom'. As years passed, conflicts arose and hundreds and hundreds and thousands of people were killed. YOU JUST STAYED THERE DOING NOTHING.,

guze xerri

Aug 2nd 2008, 16:31

So the forced africanization and islamization of this 100 square mile island nation of Malta continues.

and no politician has the guts and fortitude to do something to prevent this.

shame on these politicians, how corrupt can one get.

L Galea

Aug 2nd 2008, 16:30

Investigating what?

How these ILLEGAL immigrants from backward third world African countries had a crash course in instrumental and celestial navigation so that on an overloaded small boat with a small motor they navigate from Libya and successfully find the tiny spec in the central Mediterranean called Malta?

Or do they just ask them their names and from which country they come just for statistics?

Guze Micallef

Aug 2nd 2008, 16:28

A lot is being said about illegal immigration. Illegal immigration is a problem which no one can solve. Unfortunately, the truth is that illegal immigration will live in some form or another. Malta is part of the world, therefore we have to take also the negative part of being in our island. Our land has been always seen as the 'small child' who has no saying in decision-making of the family. We MALTESE have been always looked as being inferior to other nations. By time, even us Maltese started thinking this way. After all, our nation has been always ruled by foreign powers. This meant being ridiculed, for not having the power on your territory and not being able to have the say in the running of your country. For some decades however, we had total control over Malta,.US MALTESE.

Meanwhile, the conflicts in the Balcans caused a lot of immigrants to escape to Malta. They weren't criticized a lot. They were not Maltese. Nowadays, if we open the telephone directory, we can find a number of 'foreign' surnames. CONT...



Nowadays, we are assisting at these exodus of people coming from

Joe Scerri

Aug 2nd 2008, 16:03

Sometimes I wonder if the do-gooders have something to gain by finding no objection to all of this?

Joseph Cauchi

Aug 2nd 2008, 15:23

I concur wholly with Ms. Louse Vella.

However, I think that most of these people who have at heart these illegal immigrants, are a bit naive to the fact that they are not considering the demographic, cultural and political fall-outs that these illegals will bring to our country. Perhaps, at present this situation is not so apparent (though it is showing), but I am certain, unfortunately, that in few years time, our Malta will not be the Malta as we know today.

I cannot understand all this compalacency by our government. I think it is TOO much influenced by these organizations of do-gooders and not taking notice of what the majority of the Maltese people are worried about.

I think OUR government must come to its senses and ACTUALLY see what is REALLY beneficial to us Maltese and not to certain organizations, (whose interest and mission is not of this world!), that are living in CLOUD CUCKOO LAND.

WAKE UP DR. GONZI, TAKE THE BULL BY ITS HORNS NOW, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE !!!!

MALTA'S INTERESTS FIRST AND FOREMOST.

John azzopardi

Aug 2nd 2008, 15:20

Investigate what?. Is this meant to be a joke or something. The police have been investigating for the past 6 years. Where are the journalist in Malta to do some real investigating. They (journalist) should be asking the police what is the story is with these investigations. This whole illegal immigration thing is getting out of hand and turning into a big joke on the maltese and gozitan taxpayers. And where are the politicians. they talk and talk about burden sharing. However, those other EU countries all have their problems. I suggest that if the prime minister wants to deal with this issue, he should say what he is doing about it and not thing that he is above all this and let his ministers deal with this issue. This issue is turning into a national issue and needs to be address. If we don't address it today, we have to when the numbers keep rising in a few years. All I can say is whither Malta as we know it.

C. Ebejer

Aug 2nd 2008, 15:15

Why do we have to be lumbered with these illegals? The government should give us the opiton of choosing whether we want to squander our tax on these illegals. to do this he should call a referendum!!
After all it is our money that he is using so we should have a say and not be dictated to.
These cost the governement millions a year. And there are Maltese who do not even have enough money to eat 3 meals a days, as the government provides for these. if a maltese person is on the dole he/she only gets Lm135 a month. From these one has to pay for the lodgings, food, water & electricity!
And while these are living off us, we have to pay the exorbitant surcharge. Who is paying THEIRS?!
And why is it that for these, the government has the millions, but then Mater Dei is short of staff due to lack of Funds!
500 years ago our descendants fought hard against to Turks to keep Malta. Now 500 years on we are giving away Malta without a fight; rather giving it away on a silver plate

Edward Zammit

Aug 2nd 2008, 14:54

How about sending invitations to them to come here !!!

Joanne Micallef

Aug 2nd 2008, 14:24

We moan and grumble and show our concern every single day on this epaper, unfortunately it will not get us anywhere. I've said it many times before, unless we take our protest to the streets the goverment will not feel pressured enough to take a harsher stand on this issue.

I often wonder how many of you guys were present for the 2 National Protests that were organized a while back by Azzjoni Nazzjonali??

isobel mcgonigle

Aug 2nd 2008, 14:08

Nero fiddled as Rome burned.We have so many people playing their musical instruments it would put a philharmonic orchestra to shame.It is time to put down our fiddles and put out the fire,before all that is left is a pile of ashes.

Charles J Buttigieg

Aug 2nd 2008, 13:46

In the 1960s the late Enoch Powell, a controversial British Conservative member of parliament, talked about areas in Britain changed beyond recognition and without any consultation. He talked about inevitable tensions arising from mass immigration. He did say that immigration would work if the immigrants could be integrated into existing social mechanisms, but warned that the numbers coming were so large that integration would be impossible. He insisted that if the situation were not rectified there would be trouble: "As I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding. Like the Roman, I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood." Powell was censored by his own party for being so forthright . Today Enoch Powell is remembered as the best critic Britain ever had.

While posting this another group landed at Birzebbugia.

alfred bonello

Aug 2nd 2008, 13:00

Hats off to N. Camilleri -- But it's time for action now --Let us all unite, demonstrate if need be , and not just lament that >

a.cassar

Aug 2nd 2008, 12:54

@ Louise Vella.
Very interesting news about this cardinal martino. mayI syggest a bridge between Malta and Italy to allow the migrants to cross from here to the mainland. then the cardinal can stay at home and lecture the italians about bridge building.

N Camilleri

Aug 2nd 2008, 12:35

Wake up everyone!!! this has to be stopped!!

louise vella

Aug 2nd 2008, 11:38

The do-gooders have been active behind our back while Malta is being invaded by illegal immigrants. Lehen is-Sewwa (26 July, pages 16 and 21) has given us the news. Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, who was in Malta in February 2007 as a guest of the Jesuits and lectured the Maltese government on illegal immigration, will honour Malta again with his presence on 24-28 October. He will be here for a meeting organized by International Catholic Action and others on: Migration - an opportunity to build bridges. Dr Gonzi, a former President of Catholic Action, will be present. President Fenech Adami will give a lunch in Martino's honour, as he did last time. The Cardinal will be taken on a tour of building sites so he can see illegally employed illegal immigrants being given plenty of opportunities to build (and not only bridges). Readers may enter on
http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/46686?eng=y to read an article "Renato Martino, a Cardinal out of control".

Wayne Grima

Aug 2nd 2008, 11:16

Unfortunately Maltese authorities lack guts. In a couple of years' time I bet (hopefully not) that our beloved country will be begging on its knees. They have the right for assistance, perhaps a short staym but THEY def haver to GO BACK...We cannot take this anymore. They are sucking all what we have.

F. Camilleri

Aug 2nd 2008, 11:10

The situation IS ALREADY OUT OF HAND.
No POSITIVE action from ANY political party and ALL our MEP’s.

Our political parties:
-are more concerned about their childish skirmishes against each other rather
than the safety of our country,
-consider us as expired ballot-papers,
-place the party above the security of our country,
-do not care about the future of our adolescents and our young families,
-are more interested in our donations towards their party projects,
-are experts in Political alienation.

Meanwhile this VERY ACTIVE INVASION of our country goes on.

None is proposing/implementing tougher measures against ILLEGAL immigrants.
They hide behind outdated conventions agreed under different political scenarios.

Moreover:
Both Dr Gonzi and Dr. Edward Fenech Adami referred to ILLEGAL immigrants as IRREGULAR immigrants during their last press conferences.
As learned lawyer-politicians, they should know the divergent legal implications between these two terms.
Dr. J. Muscat/MLP is only concerned about winning the next election, WITHOUT REALISING that probably there will be NO MALTA to govern BY THAT TIME.

ALL MUST carry on FEARLESSLY COMMENTING/DEMANDING REAL action against ILLEGAL immigration.

The DUTY of All (Government, Opposition and ALL Maltese citizens) is to present a SOLID NATIONAL FRONT against this THREAT.

charles caruana carabez

Aug 2nd 2008, 10:55

Oh, let them come. God will provide for Malta, according to the Imam and the Bishops. In the meantime, because God has not yet provided sufficiently, we house these poor wretches in tents. I feel a twinge whenever I pass Hal Far; they should not be here in the first place. We keep them like chickens and exploit them as slaves. The kindest thing would be to discourage all this. But those with honey mouths insist that we should lie back and let it happen. Not one of them has disclosed what material help he is giving. I am sick of hearing of deaths and watching destitution. The men of God should launch messages warning them of the dangers and the hardships these poor foolish adventurers face. But it won't dissuade them, come to think of it. Yet at least they either shut up or help substantively.

I Abela

Aug 2nd 2008, 10:38

@ Joseph Agius. This is indeed news. Every arrival is news. Forget the migrants for a while and think about the money. Every boatload is costing the nation more than 500,000 EUR a year. And the Minister tells us that if he had to reduce the tax on fuels he would then have to collect the difference in revenue from other taxes. If we didn't have the Illegal Migrants here the government would save in excess of 150 Million EUR a year.

@ Charles J Buttigieg Couldn't have said it better.

Sandro Pace

Aug 2nd 2008, 10:27

To his detriment, the government is ignoring the psychological and moral effect this is having on the Maltese people. And judging by these posts and what is heard in the streets, it is not insignificant as much as he wants himself to believe.

What's the point of exercising tight financial, environmental and economic control on Maltese society, when if faced with 100,000 immigrants on the boarder (some still believe) you have to allow them in? You either have order or anarchy. It even makes control at legal point of entries look ridiculous.

Some people may still persist that nothing can be done except waiting for a never-materialising EU help. The point is that saying 'Never' to some options, is never going to make them help us, for they dont care. And if they dont want to help us, they cannot tie our hands to 'other' options.

John Schembri

Aug 2nd 2008, 10:20

By tomorrow we will hear that another group landed in Wied il-Buni or Ghar Lapsi.

Matt Manzie

Aug 2nd 2008, 10:05

I love Malta, at least Malta as it was before all the 'extras' began arriving. It's now time to send out a message to all that for the next five years Malta is closed for 'stocktaking'.

Charles J Buttigieg

Aug 2nd 2008, 09:49

Police investigation? Investigating what? They left Africa and came here full board and lodging. And will stay here as here everything is possible.

Joseph Agius

Aug 2nd 2008, 09:45

So what's new? I thought news meant something new! Could you kindly report if there are no migrants landing in one day and if the boat carries less than 28?