AN tells UN to stop lecturing on immigrants' detention
The right-wing party Azzjoni Nazzjonali has advised the government to ignore pressure from supranational and "ultimately unaccountable bodies" like the UN in the wake of a damning report by a working group on detention.
Referring to the working group's visit to Malta's detention centres last week, AN said it sees little of value in bureaucrats coming over, "indulging in patronising criticism and yet offering neither a solution nor, at least, tangible help". It urged the UN to stop lecturing.
Following a week-long visit which ended on Friday, the group heavily criticised the government over its detention policy and described the conditions at the Safi and Lyster barracks detention centres as "appalling".
Rapporteur Manuela Carmena Castrillo said the group had come across an eight-year-old boy in detention and a Somali man suffering from HIV and chicken pox "vegetating in a cell" in complete isolation when he should have been in hospital.
The government reacted with equally strong words, accusing the group of not fully appreciating the scale of the problem for Malta and stressing that its policy was aimed at striking a balance between the security and humanitarian dimensions of the issue.
AN yesterday said it agreed with the government's position fully. "...perhaps - as even the UN representative insinuated - it is more of a matter of 'reluctance' to help rather than an incapacity of comprehension," the party said in its statement.
"If the UN thinks it would fare better in accommodating illegal immigrants, perhaps it can relieve us of them and take care of them itself somewhere else," it argued, reminding the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) that it has so far proven to be more of a hindrance than a help, particularly on burden sharing.
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Giov DeMartino
Jan 27th 2009, 15:29
All those who watch the news on RAI have seen how illegal immigrants are forcing Italy on her knees. The streets are deserted after sunset and the Italians are terrorised. Unless we do something concrete to keep these immigrants away from our shores, the same thing will happen here. I'm afraid it is already late.
Andre` Micallef
Jan 27th 2009, 15:22
AN should be commended on their non-compromising stance on illegal immigration. Pity that they garnered so few votes in the last election - just one seat in parliament would have kept the party in government (whichever it might have been) on its toes when dealing with this hot issue.
In the face of all this ceaseless lecturing from the UN, telling us what we should and shouldn't do, AN alone had the guts to tell this organisation to put its money where its mouth is. Put simply, UN should first of all put pressure on all those indifferent African governments to improve their citizens' well-being. Failing that, it will be useless on the UN to keep rapping the knuckles of successive European and other western governments, instructing them to make good for the mess that others have created.
Moses Mula
Jan 26th 2009, 19:38
Do the AN really believe that the government is going to stop listening and working with the UN? You people are only clowns. The government has every right to comment over the criticism received by the UN convoy, although most of it was justified, but the AN should keep out of this, as we all know what their agenda is. There is a big difference between the `Malta being small` arguments and the anti-immigrant beliefs that are shared among AN and its thank God few supporters.
Salvatore aquilina
Jan 26th 2009, 19:25
Well done AN send them back
lgalea
Jan 26th 2009, 17:22
Agree with you
louis gialanze
Jan 26th 2009, 17:05
Recriminalize illegal immigration in all its forms and the sooner the better. National security overides any other consideration. Any other comment is superfluous. Malta CAN act unilaterally to stem the flow.
Wilfred L Camilleri
Jan 26th 2009, 15:23
The UN and its agencies are infamous for lecturing countries on such issues even though they do not have any alternative solutions and never lend a hand in solving such problems. The UN is partially responsible for this mess because they pushed for a very loose and wide-open definition of the word "refugee". If the UN and UNHCR are so concerned about the plight of refugees, they should take an active role in finding a solution to the illegal trafficking of desperate economic refugees from sub-Saharan African countries and then take responsibility for housing them, clothing them, feeding them, and repatriating them or relocating them to other countries that have the ability and willingness to absorb them.
Michael Neville Cassar
Jan 26th 2009, 14:38
Would it not have been appropriate for Ms Castrillo group to put pressure on African Governments so they stop pushing people out of their country? The Island of Malta is not the World refuge center. Enough is enough get lost . .
Andrew Borg
Jan 26th 2009, 13:50
Well-said AN.
What did Manuela Carmena Castrillo, the UN, the UNHCR, or the ubiquitious EU (that's completely absent or counter productive in illegal immigration) expect?
That we let them roam about the place? As if Malta hasn't got too much of them and is not a rotting free-for-all already.
Take them all away immediately OR it's the perfect opportunity to say nothing.
John Portelli
Jan 26th 2009, 12:14
At least there's a movement who speaks for the nation and people,
H Dempster
Jan 26th 2009, 11:20
Very well put AN. It would have been far better if the UN had taken all the illigal immigrants and who so ever at halfar with them on the way back home.
lgalea
Jan 26th 2009, 10:53
AN you have my support on illegal immigrats
Corinne Vella
Jan 26th 2009, 10:42
Malta is a member of the UN. Apparently, Azzjoni Nazzjonali hasn't noticed.
Charles Sammut
Jan 26th 2009, 10:32
What is truly damning is the impotence of the UN.
Countries must put the interests of their citizens first and not incoherent UN resolutions. Israel is a prime example. It has ignored hundreds of UN resolutions, and this from a country that receives more international aid than the whole of sub-Saharan Africa.
John Portelli
Jan 26th 2009, 09:55
If these UN bullies think that were treating them that bad why don't they board the illegals on big boat and send them back to the Jungles that they came out of? And why does this spineless coward government in Malta just leaves them there? why does the government bring them in the first place??? why help these africans who are selfishly taking advantage of your inadequate BORDER CONTROL....IF YOU DON'T WANT THEM ,DON'T BRING THEM IN...THAT SIMPLE!!!! HOW HARD CAN THAT BE?? STOP AT SEA AND TELL THEM ''GOBACK''
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