Sunday, 28th September 2008 - 12:20CET
Update 2: migrants brought to Malta
AFM patrol boat P52 taking on board migrants who were rescued by the Italian frigate Vega (background). Picture by Darrin Zammit Lupi.
(Updates, adds new picture)
A group of 101 migrants was this evening transferred from an Italian Navy frigate to two Maltese patrol boats who are due to bring them ashore at about 9 p.m.
The frigate Vega rescued the migrants from a drifting boat earlier today at the southern limits of Malta's search and rescue region.
The migrants were picked up because of worsening weather conditions.
The AFM said the group consists of 87 men, 10 women and four children. They were located after phoning the Italian coastguard by satellite phone yesterday.
Another group of 28 migrants arrived in Malta on a boat this morning, landing near Wied iz-Zurrieq.
Meanwhile, an Italian Guardia di Finanza vessel this morning also intercepted another group of around 30 illegal migrants some 50 miles south of Lampedusa. They are to be landed on the Italian island.
Migration has topped the Maltese political agenda over the past few days. Labour leader Joseph Muscat this morning urged the Prime Minister not to sign the French-sponsored EU Immigration Pact, agreed last week between Justice and Home Affairs Ministers (see separate story). The Pact is due to be signed at an EU summit in mid October.
Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi Malta told the UN General Assembly on Friday that : "it is extremely difficult for us to continue to carry such a burden which is so acutely disproportionate to the size of the country and its population."
Arrivals this year have surged to a record of some 2,400 migrants who arrived on 78 boats. July was the busiest month with 23 migrants' boats carrying 794 migrants.
RSS
Comments
I cannot agree with your argument as to why Europe needs immigrants. If what you say about pensions is true, then they are going about it the wrong way.
The illegal immigrants that are being brought to shore, inferred from your comments with the blessings of the European Union, are not the kind of immigrants that Europe needs. They will not be the tax paying, industrious upstanding citizens of the future. They do not hold a western work ethic and on the contrary, the state will wind-up financing their lives, thus they are an added burden on the social net in the countries they settle in.
I would like to be proved wrong, but experience in a muti-ethnic and immigrant intense nation has thought me otherwise.
@M. Mercieca
Another fallacy is the fact that there will not be enough money to pay for our pensions. This scare tactic is being used to cover the gross mismanagement of the national pension funds by governments who should have been investing the contributions they took over the years. Instead they spend the funds as they came in and relied on future generation to foot the bill from present taxes. That is why they will not allow us to retire and are extending the retirement age. In North America for instance, they removed the retirement age and sell it to you like it is a great human right, the privilege to die in your 70's or even older at your desk or factory at work. You are just a spoke in the industrial wheel and there is no respite.
@M. Mercieca
They will bring people in through immigration; both legal and illegal, to grow their consumer base and at the same time depress wages and erode work conditions and other benefits hard-won over the years, which are being clawed back at an ever increasing rate.
This is the real truth behind all this immigration, not the flowing words about the milk of human kindness or that pensions will run dry. They are exploiting the indigenous populations of Europe by inserting foreign workers and culture in our midst, they are exploiting the African immigrants who risk their lives to get here because they believe what they see on European TV and exploiting them when they get here by paying them less than the minimum wages, whilst at the same time the big multinationals make deals with African dictators and sell them arms. Multinationals extract the oil, gold and diamonds that Africa has in abundance but for which its people do not see a cent. If you wish to learn more about the rape of Africa read the sad story of Ken Saro-Wiwa , and other environmental activist who opposed Shell Oil in Nigeria and were executed in 1995.
@M. Mercieca. The fertility rates for humans should grow increasingly less as this is a good thing.
At present rate we are head to head only with the rat population, at the expense of all other species who are facing extinction. The world cannot support an ever-growing human population. This is all based on a fallacious economic model that calls for every increasing growth in business and GDP every quarter. The planet cannot sustain an infinite growth of humans since it is a finite planet with finite air, water and resources. The only other thing that grows infinitely is cancer. I guess we are using cancer as our economic model nowadays and we all know that ends up doing in the end. Humans will eventually go the way of the dinosaurs and our epithet will be - "Extinction through Reproduction".
If there were less people, there would be no need for mass production to feed the mass consumerism which is being encouraged to make ever increasing profits for multinational corporations, whose greed gets even bigger the more money they make. For this, they are partners with governments to ensure a steady supply of workers and consumers for their products.
Yes, the world is actually over populated BUT:
fertility rates decline across all the developed world this of course includes the European Union.
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.
This is happening in the developed world, while a baby is born in India each 15 seconds
Good day
The facts about the population statistics that you are so fond of quoting are nothing but lies; in fact the greatest danger to the world is overpopulation.
All that immigration into Europe is designed to do is to make the rich even richer and reduce the middle classes to poverty.
The ideal world for these manipulators and the hidden agenda that they are keeping from you is to make everywhere like South America, with a majority population composed of a mixture of races, the sub-race, ruled by the Elite White overlords, who travel about in helicopters so as not to make contact with the dregs of humanity that they have created, as the poor struggle in search of food in the garbage heaps around their shanty towns.
You wish to be an Activist and champion for third world countries? Start with the same EU that are providing you with these bogus statistics. After all it was their colonies and now their multinationals that are the root-cause of most of the poverty in Africa and elsewhere.
Talking about not seeing the Woods for the Trees!
In other words at least twenty times as many Africans could be maintained if they were kept in Africa itself.
I suggest that the authorities (Maltese & EU) consider 'leasing' a tract of land somewhere within that vast continent and shipping such immigrants back there immediately on arrival.
Such a project would be vastly more charitable as more Africans could be maintained in their own continent where they would not have to endure hardships(?) while those who are on their way here would avoid the perils at sea as well as the cost of their satellite phones, navigation equipment (seeing that they give their precise position when 'in distress"), outboard motors etc.
I ask you, what country would abide by any Agreement that it signed way back when if this Agreement would go against it self-interest and that of its people and jeopardize its own sovereignty? None.
Even a marriage is not indissoluble when one party decides it has had enough! I am sure that when Malta signed the Refugee pact, it did so in good faith to help people in need and not to be taken over by opportunists, masking themselves as refugees.
God has given the Maltese nation one of the smallest countries in the world and we have fought tooth and nail for our beloved land. These people have a whole continent and yet they are coming in their boatfuls to take it over.
What is more sad and obscene is that we have people here in Malta aiding and abetting them to accomplish just this.
The citizens of Malta need to wake up and be concerned. While walking in St. Julians or Sliema, I felt very uncomfortable to see these men walking behind me. One of the reasons why I traveled to Malta was because it is (was) a safe country.
Do you really think these illegal immigrants will contribute to Maltese society?
@ M. MERCIECA
Your conclusion to the EU report was ABSOLUTELY UN-SENSIBLE.
The report does not mention the word `illegal`, but just `immigrants`.. So it was suggesting the kind of immigration as when the Maltese Citizens, (your`s truly inclusive), migrated from these islands during the 50`s and 60`s to the U.K. Canada, U.S,.A. and Australia, by the thousands.....
BUT THEY WERE ALL LEGAL IMMIGRANTS, WITH VALID PASSPORTS AND IDENTIFICATIONS...
Dr. Joseph Muscat, is THE ONLY Political Leader, that KNOWS EXACTLY what our Country deserves, under these uncontrolled circumstances....
AND ON THIS ISSUE, HE IS 100% CORRECT....
While Malta is acting like a voracious vortex of the Mediterranean for the clandestines.
We want to SAVE them even if they sink their own boat to fools us, but we don't want to save them all and ADOPT them ALSO. SAVE them YES, ADOPT them NO.
Plus the migrants were being given preferred treatment and given service before us maltese..
hmmm.. food for thought now.
I don't like discriminating against foreigners but I'm against discriminating against us Maltese too..
MLP - focussed on their agenda of restructing
and in the meantime Malta is drowning with these illegal immigrants.
Why do not our good life politicians not start housing these migrants in their own home and see what it feels like? rather than escaping into their walled homes and leave us to deal with their incompetance.
While there are undoubtedly some genuine asylum seekers among these boat people, it is common knowledge that the vast majority of them are not. They are people who call themselves 'adventurers', drifters who leave their country and travel northwards to see how many borders they can cross without documents. This is fact, I recently watched a documentary about this. This is why they are willing to accept 5000 Euros to go back to their motherland. What a successful 'adventure' for them at the Maltese taxpayer's expense!
Friends..The only better solution I see for Malta in the EU is........to give them maltese passport and send them to Brussels.
What does it take to repatriate them... everyone one knows that the majority of them are not asylum seekers?
Admittedly, I have always sympathised with PN, but the way they are handling this crisis I consider "amateurish and lacking ideas and solutions"
Stop this now at whatever cost, even at the cost of being ousted out from the EU. People prefer to be hard pressed for money and other needs than to surrender their country for which our ancestors had fought so bravely. In extremis this could be stopped in 3 ways.
1 Get after the human traffickers, bring them to book.
2 Refuse at all cost to accept not even one more of these immigrants.
3 Start repatriation as soon as possible.
Lacking this, we should show strong signs of protest by means of our votes.
However, I am one of those who is extremely concerned what is going to happen in two three years time, if the number of arrivals carry on unabated.
I do also think that this recent 'poor' publicity stunt with giving so much coverage to the half a dozen illegals who chose to accept what it is for them a golden handshake to return to their country of origins and set themselves up in business. The public is no fool and is worried that if this is the best we can do, then were are all doomed!
The question that each and everyone of us would like to ask our administrators is,"When are we going to see a few planeloads departing our shores"? then and only then we will start to think that the issue is being addressed.
Till then we will remain extremely concerned!
The Government can continue arguing till the cows come home about the supposed benefits of the EU immigration pact, however, all level-headed people in their right minds can conclude that nothing will really change for the better. The only remaining hope is in the MEP elections next June. I hope the electorate votes sensibly for those individuals/groupings who really have Malta's interests at heart and who are ready to put their foot down and stand their ground to the dictatorial European Soviet.... yes you've got it right Dr Gonzi.... The Soviet Union sought to control and fetter the national identities of the countries making it up, JUST as the European Union is doing right now. Well the Soviet Union finally imploded and crumbled; and the European Union is destined to follow suit if it continues trampling on the aspirations of its nation states. Mark my words, history will surely repeat itself.
This is not a question of intolerance as you suggest, here we are talking of thousands of individuals entering our country illegaly, sponsored by our taxes, and threatening our stability. I take pride in my country and would not like to see it turned into a ghetto like Marsa, Hal Far etc. And please do not underestimate the patience of the Maltese!!!
I agree with you 100%. I will rest my mind when I see a large number of illegal immigrants sent to their countries and not just a small number you could count on your fingers. This would be the start when one is tackling the problem over this issue. We are not fools into beleiving that the authorities are really handling the situation. It is getting out of hand and I am afraid Malta is going to make ratical change over our culture, economy, jobs and the welfare is going to suffer thus we will have an increased deficit. In the next few years we will be asked to put down the crucifiss which hangs on the walls of our school classrooms because we will be accused of insulting them.
This issue should not be as a political gain votes. Both sides of the parlament should sit around the table and discuss for the best interest of the nation. I am not saying we shouldnt help these people in need but it has become and over burden and they are abusing from our geneorisity.
If you are so eager to accept the illegal immigrants, how about housing a couple of families yourself?! We live with them 24 hours a day, how about sharing the burden, not just preach?
A revival in religious interest has been a surprising characteristic of rapid urbanization according to the report. Such as radical Islam in the Middle East, Pentecostal Christianity in Latin America and the cult of Shivaji in India — has been a primarily urban phenomenon, the report said."
These 'immigrants' are Takers not Contributors. The government coffers will be long depleted. Our Social Services and pension funds not to mention our culture will disappear. The money will go to feed, clothe and house them.
I lived lin the most multicultural City in the world and know of what I speak.
To all who mentioned ANR, AN or Mr. Norman Lowell. Please note that:
When we vote for general election, we are programmed into two colors blue and red. Unless our programmed political approach is decoded every thing would remain the same.
Yes, we have some floaters and also many pressure groups such as (hunters, gays, lesbians and pro-drugs), but all these, remain pressure groups. The more days goes by, we become more ‘open minded’ and ‘modern’, consequently voters expectations may vary and increase. No party would fulfill all people’s anxiety.
Mr. Lowell, can win over any of our local good comedians, for a short while though. Those types of peoples can also impress an audience of laymen with some technical words they use haphazardly. Sincerely, I doubt if they know the meaning of the big words they use. I am sure, if Mr. Lowell, is elected as our MEP, he will be shipped back to Malta in less than six months,
As far as ANR and AN are concerned, peoples should understand that the way they do politics in Brussels requires professional politicians, not kids in diapers!
Are you the same one who used to organise barbeques for illegal immigrants in Balzan, were not even 20 Maltese citizens turned for the event?
The truth is not that we are insecure, but we have already example like england, italy, france, germany, and every place in the world that illegal immigration has no benefits.
Who gave you the idea that there are few who want to protest?! Why don't you come to my village, Birzebbuga, perhaps you'll think otherwise. Let me point out a little what we go through:
Our teens getting harassed every time they go up the bus with them, how would you feel if your daughter keeps being touched or squashed to the window and obviously continuously asked for the mobile number?!
How would you feel if you were out for a walk, and suddenly you see these immigrants relieving themselves or vomiting against some wall or on the bus?!
How would you feel if to go to work by bus you have to be on the first stage extra early because the buses tend to come full up with the immigrants from Hal Far?!
To top it all the locals are now being discriminated because the terminus has now been transfered to Hal Far!! We have over 1000 immigrants at Hal Far and 'nini nini' we go to work on time because they will surely be full up!
How about we ALL share the burden, and by all I mean all the Maltese villages!!!
I have absolutely no problem being associated with either Norman Lowell or Josie Muscat. Or has that become illegal in this "democracy"?
They might not be perfect but at least they honestly call a spade a spade. You might also care to tell us "what these two individuals stand for."
I also use my real name here.
It is clear that Gheddafi is playing games with us and the rest of Europe. My solution would be to wait for them just outside Libyan territorial waters and after providing them with fuel, food and drink send them back our friend Muammar. Then when thousands of hungry and angry immigrants will amass in Libya we'll see if he'll continue to turn EU into his laughing stock. They depart from there so that has to be their problem and not ours but the EU has to wake up from its deep sleep but I will not put my hand on fire while waiting.
Tony
However, I am one of those who is extremely concerned what is going to happen in two three years time, if the number of arrivals carry on unabated.
I do also think that this recent 'poor' publicity stunt with giving so much coverage to the half a dozen illegals who chose to accept what it is for them a golden handshake to return to their country of origins and set themselves up in business. The public is no fool and is worried that if this is the best we can do, then were are all doomed!
The question that each and everyone of us would like to ask our administrators is,"When are we going to see a few planeloads departing our shores"? then and only then we will start to think that the issue is being addressed.
Till then we will remain extremely concerned!
No Mark, because the political parties are subservient to the eu diktat and everyone feels insecure and that somehow they will be victimized.
As for being cowardly, you and the Nationalist (sic) Government are cowards par excellence because you cannot stand up to the eu dictators for OUR rights.
@M. Mercieca
If the european countries have a decreasing population then they should take all our ILLEGAL immigrants without any questions being asked. But they won't do so because they don't want to be lumped with ILLEGAL immigrants which you so much defend against the interests of your fellow citizens and your country.
As regards eu and international obligations, no country is obliged to sacrifice its territory and citizens for ILLEGAL immigrants, and can disregard any international obligations, more so eu dictats.
@John Borg
The same applies to you.
@Loïc Le Brun
The ILLEGAL immigrants INVASION will stop when the people start taking the law in their own hands, because that is what the authorities are inviting.
@g.c.Forte
It is the government's job to act. The Opposition is there to push the government into acting.
Get it into your head that Europe does not need immigrants. If it did, EU countries will be clamouring to take our illegal immigrants.
And Europeans are having less babies because they cannot afford to, not with all the taxes and other expenses they have to cope with. Immigrants, on the other hand can afford to have many babies because we end up paying for their expenses.
If they do not want them, they should not criticise us if or when their rights are broken. Our rights are being broken by this lack of recognition. The government should have not signed anything, and should have made it clear in principle that only lack of agreement with Libya is hindering mass forced repatriations there, and nothing else.
Respect is reciprocal.
The minister of Italy ,for security wants to block immigrants with a patrol boat himself , it was on the news. I once heard a man in Malta who wanted to do the same and some people laughed but most agreed with him.
"It is now patently obvious that Gonzi and Mifsud Bonnici are a serious liability to our security."
It's your insecurity you should be worrying about. You're terrified of immigrants and such fear is often a sign of low self-esteem.
Now it is time to stop allowing Malta to be abused in this manner. The government must be touch and REFUSE entry to any further boatloads. These people should have been taken to Italy or Libya. Malta cannot be held responsible for their safety, so whether they're in our 'search and rescue' area or not, they MUST be taken to other larger countries.
If these illegal immigrants were picked up by the Italian navy, and are at present on this ship, doesn't it mean that these illega immigrants are on Italian territory?
Then, why bring them to Malta and not to Italy ?
Are we so helpless that we cannot even defend our rights ?
Pity.
Correct me if I.m wrong Mr.Forte but didn't we just have an Election in March and the poeple AGAIN elected for the 3rd time in a row a PN GOVERNMENT,so why do you want the opposition to solve the problem that this incompetent GOVERNMENT put us in.
Maybe just maybe one day the Maltese poeple will wake up and smell the coffee.
they will do nothing to stop this invasion because it has been engineered by a hidden unelected government that is in our country but does not reside in our nation.
our elected officials are implementing what they are told to implement, and to hell to what what the maltese people want.
thes guys in nice suits lie to your face with a smile ,and keep implementing the NWO agenda.
they must have been paid off very well indeed.
No need to panic, remember, the authorities managed to deport a few last week or so, were they 2 or 3 in total that were actually sent back?
At this rate by the year 2100 we may be on the last 20,000 head count!
Congratulations to all involved!!
Carlo
Just as I'd imagined... More and more illegals will be gracing our shores with this new deal. Might as well start preparing some couscous and building them a huge Mosque.
24.09.2008
The population of the European Union is avoiding decline mainly thanks to immigration from other parts of the world, as native Europeans have stopped making as many babies.
While anti-immigrant feeling is on the rise both amongst European politicians and the wider public, ironically, the union's population would soon go into decline without the immigrants that arrive here, according to fresh figures from the EU's statistics office, Eurostat.
Europeans are having fewer babies, meaning immigration fills in the population gap (Photo: European Commission)
Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal and Romania.
In only France, the UK and the Netherlands was natural change the main driver of population growth.
http://euobserver.com/9/26799/?rk=1
----------------------------
Our democratically elected and responsible government understands these horrible facts and acting accordingly. I suggest we try to understand the bigger EU issue.
No need to waste time and use the immigrants for political gains. This is an increasing phenomena that’s here to stay with us. Any body in the government shoes ‘must act’ according to EU laws and EU needs, this is of course including, Dr. Josie Muscat, Joseph Muscat, or even some thing Like Mr. Magic wand!
don't sign the last fabulous agreement you have reached with the very helpful our brothers the Europeans about the illegal emigrants. If you really believe that you are the prim Minister of all the Maltese people and you want a national consensus on all issues that are in the national interest take the helping hand of the MLP Leader Dr. Joseph Muscat and reject this pitiful agreement and after the Maltese political parties will make more pressure on the E U to star to treating us as a member state and we will show to all the Europeans that we mean business.
Take action before you pusy us maltese to take action againt you and your party. We coed to become meberbers of EU not to be part of Africa!
MIN MHUX MAGHNA HUWA KONTRA TAGHNA!
W
What absolute rubbish!!!!!!!
I haven't got a clue who Louise Vella is but.................... the reference to "low class" people is a fabrication of your own mind!!!!!!!
And if according to you she is " Hysteric" then i can safely say she is not alone!!!!!!!
All the posturing In Brussels has not done us one mm of good. That is reality!!!!!!!!
This the Biggest crisis confronting Malta at the moment!!!!!!!
Immigration is quite a new phenomenon in Malta. Whether one likes it or not, it won't stop as long as the gap regarding the standard of living between the North (Europe) and the South (mainly Africa) is not addressed. Unfortunately, for many decades, billion of Euros have been "sent" to Africa without any (or few) control about the final destination of the funds involved. Many African states are undemocratic ones and led by a successive bunch of dictators, often supported by Western countries and/or multinational companies.
I don't blame these suffering people trying to find a better, safer place to live. We all will do just the same in their situation. On the other hand, I fully admit that this is a burden that Malta cannot bear on her own. That's why, after all, the agreement reached by the Maltese government is not that bad. It has raised awareness about her situation among her European counterparts. That's certainly not enough but, at least, that's a positive step forwards. Well done!
Dr Gonzi is going to sign a burden sharing agreement with the EU :)
Are you saying he is a Liar ?
101 migrants landed in Malta today. Any volonteers?
"Another group of 28 migrants arrived in Malta on a boat this morning, landing near Wied iz-Zurrieq." Were they brought here or they learnt the way to Malta by heart?
"Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi Malta told the UN General Assembly on Friday that : "it is extremely difficult for us to continue to carry such a burden..."
Shhh Dr Gonzi, beware what you say cause someone might call you racist!.
This counts as the population of Mqabba or Mgarr. So with this year's arrivals we can add another village.
Sort of a reverse burden sharing mission. A burden DUMPING exercise. Thank you Italy.
It is now patently obvious that Gonzi and Mifsud Bonnici are a serious liability to our security.
"I implore Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici to tender his resignation AT ONCE. His incompetence is mind-blowing."
Yes Carmelo why are you bringing these low class people ?
Dr Karm , just to accommodate the likes of (hysteric)Louise why don't we shrink our sea territory to three hundred metres.
Italy's answer, send their illegals to Malta
(sic)