Thursday, 19th February 2009 - 11:19CET
Updated: Disturbance at Hal Far centre - Tunisians want to be deported
A large number of policemen and soldiers have surrounded Lyster Barracks at Hal Far, where Tunisian migrants who have been in detention since February 1 are holding a violent protest.
Informed sources said that contrary to other recent protests, the Tunisians are protesting because they want to be deported - insisting that they originally wanted to go to Italy not stay in detention here. Their papers have not yet been received from Tunisia.
The group - numbering 71, arrived on a boat carrying 262 migrants which had entered Birzebbuga.
This morning they set a number of mattresses on fire and damaged windows. Some of them could be seen dangling dangerously on sheets from third storey windows. They were heard singing patriotic songs.
A large number of soldiers and policemen fanned out amid fears that a number had escaped. However a Home Affairs Ministry spokesman said later that it did not appear that any had actually left the camp.
Labour Party Home Affairs spokesman Michael Falzon in a statement today reiterated a call for more discussion and seriousness from the governemnt on immigration.
"The Labour Party cannot but express its concern and the concern of the people over the growing problem of illegal immigration.
The latest arrival of 230 illegal migrants, at the height of winter, cannot but raise serious concern over how this problem could grow in the coming months, especially in the summer," Dr Falzon said.
He said the government was not showing sufficient commitment to tackle the problem. The PL, the spokesman added, would remain the people's voice on this issue as well.
Meanwhile, the political group Azzjoni Nazzjonali in a statement this morning said that in view of the increasing numbers of illegal immigrants, in view of the fact that migrants' crossings were no longer confined to the summer, and in view of the fact that the numbers present were becoming increasingly difficult for the authorities to handle and control, the government should immediately suspend Malta's obligations under the UNHCR Refugees Convention and the Dublin II Treaty.
The party said the government should refuse to take in any more illegal immigrants. Those that do manage to land should be given safe means to carry on with their journey.
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Comments
Keep your religion out of this will you? Religion has nothing to do with it... Stop being an inquisitorial moaner..
Very well said, Kaydee! You are so right!
As I have already stated, I do not link this issue to religious ones. As a person with mine and my country's interests at heart, I am thus acting.
If you're a devout Christian ... act like one
Who are you to tell me that by wanting illegal immigrants off our islands means that I worship satan? Well, I don't. I am a devout Christian by all means, but being a Christian does NOT mean being a fool. I know what I see everyday living in Birzebbugia. What do you know of all this? Please, do not preach. I don't need preaching, and frankly I don't really care who you think I worship. However, I would like to thank you for your concern on my soul. Have a nice day.
By the way, Jesus too got angry when he got rid of the money-changers and animal sellers in the Temple, if you have read the Bible. That was because He wanted to protect the values of those who believed. If you are talking religion here, which is really not the issue, think again. Are these people acting in a Christian way? No. I hardly think it would be appropriate to turn the metaphorically other cheek here and let our Christian values be lost. Think twice before submitting everything to Christian and not. In the long haul, we ARE protecting our Christianity.
and if someone thinks they are to be pitied.. NO THANKS.
this event of them burning their own resources that WE provided them, shows clearly that they want to take control, where in reality they HAVE to be grateful towards us to have provided them a roof above their ungrateful heads,,, food for their egoistic stomachs... and etc etc.
and straight forwardly, big shame for the government who let's these OUTRAGEOUS episodes happen!! while we are suffering and not THEM and not the GOV
What do you do? Kindness and charity have their bounds and limits. There is only one thing that you can do. Forcibly toss them out and send them back to where they came from.
That is the situation in Malta. We have uninvited “guests” who arrived on our shores illegally. Out of a sense of charity, we took them in, housed, fed, and clothed them; and in return, they burn and trash the very places where we housed them. They have overstayed their welcome. Send them all back – those that want to go as well as the rest. Our home is simply too small to accommodate them as well as us.
I'm sick of having to pay from my taxes for these fellas, they come here in a boat, eat, drink better than most of us and then depart comfortably on a plane, some also with €5,000 in their pockets when most of us are struggling to keep up with the of living.
I am sure Africa has a space somewhere where they can stay. GONZI do your duties and save our country and us all. you did sometimes break the EU laws do it again now.
Now, assume I went into a government building and brought havoc in there, burned things, broke the window pains and so on. What would have happened to me ? Would I be charged in court, made to pay for the damage, financially or in kind. Would i have a track record on my conduct sheet ? Would I risk going to prison, if only for a few days ?
These men have done what they did out of their own free will. They were well informed that it is the "Vive Tunesie" government who is procrastrinating in getting their documents over, but still forged ahead with the hooliganisim "Viv Tunesi" Style.
These people should be charged in court for:
1-Having come here illegally
2-Causing damage to Maltese property
at the very least.
They should not be sent home before they pay for the damages and sentenced.
And they also were brandishing sheets with the words 'Vive Tunesie' on them...
Patriotism???
Why did they leave Tunisia then?
And than if this immigrants did damage, let them live in the mess they themselve cause; if they broke a window purposly and are feeling cold - good luck for them; they made a famine strike and the food went bad - good luck for them; they want to stay outside in the sun in summer - have a good sunbath. The goverment must harden his hand for now its more than enough.
Poor are the true refugees who because of this guys take a bad name.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. However if you could have maybe pointed out what was irregular or unfactful from my write-up, I could easily have answered your statements or at best learned something new about the MLP blunder.
However you did not, and just put in a general cheesy senseless statement. Alas, I ask, what's the story ?
http://www.timesofmalta.com/blogs/view/20090212/fr-joe-borg/shipwrecked-the-irony-of-two-incidents
There is no denying that the LABOUR MEPS, with the blessing of CMJ, voted to bring the terrorists to MALTA and THE EU. Had they wanted they could have voted against that part, like the PN MEPs did but they betrayed us.
While we are not yet sure (but could be) that the government could veto the terrorists coming to Malta, it will be an embarrisment for the Malta Gov not to pool in when other EU countries would have taken on some terrorists once it passed. Furthermore, the situation is compounded because, from the Malta MEPs side, there wasn't unanimaty against getting terrorists to the EU. Giving the impression that half of Malta (represented by the majority of the Malta MEPs (LABOUR)) want to get these terrorists here.
You voted to get the terrorists here, now don't go trying to blame the Malta government if they come here, by saying he should have refused them... I believe you should not have voted in favour in the first place.
I read about foreigners and illegals breaking the law , these people should be deported immediately. On top of this, we have the daily arrival of hundreds of illegals. If anyone in government would read the comments by the Maltese public after each story, they would see that by far, what worries the Maltese most is this issue! I urge the government to take action NOW, get them out! Malta is small and cannot accommodate theses people. People, don't just comment, organize, protest, march!!!
malcolm azzopardi
‘I appeal to ANR to organise another protest!!!!!’
Being anti-immigrants does not constitute a good politician or a valuable MEP. All anti-immigrants parties only manage one thing: increase racism and create instability (like whats happening in most of these comments). Despite Anti – Immigrants continues scaremongering and xenophobia campaigns they hardly fill one ballot box and usually have one way to go through: drainage . It happened last March and would happen again coming June.
HOW many Illegal Immigrants are you hosting in your own home?
If, by being worried about the state of affairs in MY country means that I am a racist; the so be it!
What's God and Satan got to do with with this?
See what being so christian has got us? Illegal Immigrants who burn and destroy the stuff WE pay for to keep them comfortable!
Since you are such a Christian, will YOU be paying for the damages?
Nobody wants to mass murder or harm the ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS however now it crystal clear that these people are not the persecuted chaps few want to portrait. These are economic immigrants who are trying to slowly infiltrate in europe and once their numbers will increase will start the islamification of europe and GOODBYE to your Christian freedom.
TO ALL THOSE that are against illegal immigration stop believing that by voting this or that in June will change anything. Only a referendum to abolish certain treaties that are tying our hands can solve the problem and which gives no room for excuses from the Prime Minister.
what are the three (3) mlp mep's plus leader joe ?
THEY WANT THE GWINTO INMATES HERE IN MALTA !! SIICCCC
THEY WANT TERROR HERE WE ALL WONDER WHY, EVERY BODY KNOWS THE QWINTO
GUY'S ARE THE MOST DANGER PLL OF ALL. DO WE NEED THEM ? NO !
EVEN IN THE U.S, DONT WANT THEM AN YOU ALL KNOW IT.
Dr Gonzi will resolve this illegal immigration Problem But with True & not Parigjanizmu
Propsals from the mlp in the Opposition.
I won't......
You know what? When my time comes, I will put up with it. Now please get off your soap box. This is exactly what happens when you are charitable, you give an inch and they take a yard. And they will always want more.
This is what people with your mentality have got us into.
I would.
@ Adrian Borg
In physics there is a law that states that for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. This applies to everything except perhaps these illegal immigrants living here. Because this was not the first riot to take place at Hal Far; theres have been others and no one seems to know what happened after the events. I should think that burned mattresses WILL be replaced, because the poor immigrants can't sleep on the floor, can they, even if the Maltese are losing their jobs and paying sky-high taxes. Malta should pull back from the Refugee Convention scheme, because although it may work in bigger countries, it most certainly will not in Malta. In Lampedusa, after setting fire to the detention center over there, the mayor of Lampedusa Dino de Rubeis has said: "This is the fault of the government... the immigrants are exasperated", like you wouldn't believe. Believe it or not, you will always find these people counter-arguing each argument put forward. More often than not playing the Christian card, like Mr. Borg here. Exasperating, true, but we will have to contend.
Please send them on their way.
Now, I heard that Somalia is also a beautiful country...
No country is in a situation like Malta. Italy and Spain are large and leave them to cross boarders upwards. And pending agreement with Libya, Italy will be taking actions similar to what AN suggested.
@Massimo Borg.
At this point this is no religious issue. No miracle can fit a quarter of Africa into Malta. This is an issue of social order, and to curb abuse of outdated obligations.
This should have been done a long time ago when the alarm bells began ringing at least three years ago. The government should have refused to take in anymore illegal immigrants then.
They chose to adopt a defeatist attitude saying that we are helpless. This has led to a serious crisis becoming a desperately dangerous situation for the law-abiding citizens of this country.
The stupidity of allowing thousands of (mostly) men illegally enter one's country in droves, totally unchallenged, knowing they are not refugees, knowing they cannot work legally, knowing they cannot move on to larger countries, is beyond belief! It doesn't take a genius to work out that this has always been a recipe for disaster.
Now we are witnessing the fruit of that lethal concoction! Well done to our politicians for inadvertently bringing about this situation with their inaction. The time for words is over - now it is time to take action - and fast. STOP THE INVASION!
If Azzjoni Nazzjonali would stage a protest, how many of you are willing to attend? Are we afraid to stand up and unite in this fight because AN is a political party? Even if we disagree with this party's ideals we should at least back them on this one, since the vast majority seems to be anti immigration!
If they can't even think with their head, let's make them realize at least that there are consequences to each and every action!
The new EU law should if the goverment has guts be enforced without favour or fear and I believe that the best man to do it is the PS for Lands.He has got them believe me.Let's start with the big boys and if they try to blackmail the government with redundancies if they do not get public contracts , for each one of the big contractors who fires his workers for not getting government contracts there will be 3 who would employ the trained workers.
I believe the time has come for the Members of parliament to start naming and shaming these big contractors in PARLIAMENT AND SUPPLYING PROOF OF ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT.
I join with Joseph Mifsud, Who Does?
I sincerely hope that your statement was a joke. Either you never venture out of your home, are being ironic, or have an odd sense of humor. This is not a question of racism, which by the by, is not equivalent to worshiping satan. This is a question of protecting our country and ourselves. Yes, I believe in God, but that does NOT mean I will welcome trouble makers into my country with open arms and give them the red carpet treatment. Tunisia is not even in trouble, meaning these people have even less right being here! I really do hope you were joking.
Nazzjonalist ghal dejjem imma b'riserva rigward kif qieghda tigi rizolta l-problema tal-immigranti llegali.
id-decizjoni ahharija jekk jigux dawn il-prigunieri tibqa xorta f'idejn il-gvern.
bhal ma kienet d-decizjoni li ha dan il-gvern biex jilghaq dak kollu li jghidulu ta EU
issa qed nghidu li mhix problema allarmanti u noqghodu nomodu l-helu u nghorku idejna
Something which I would like to point out is about those two hundred and so which arrived lately...almost an other dozen of illegal immigrants, who are already based here in Malta, went to welcome them upon arrival...how did they know about them? interesting!
Saying this, notwithstanding the fact the 'stealing of jobs'. Receantly I went to Arcadia Gozo, where I've got really frustrated to see all those illegall immigrants working when I've got friends who have just lost their jobs, and others who are working with a 4 day week job, pending to loose their job too.
we are paying allot of tax..lossing ours jobs..........and we pay this people to go back!!!are we donkeys??? jew!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please dont compare the prisoners of Guantanamo to the influx of Illegal immigrants. If the Americans do send some prisioners I am sure they account of only a very small number (possibly a mere one or two) and the real terrorists will be handled by the Americans. In the case of illegals they are comming by hundreds weekly and the situatution is and will be getting more out of our control and will have disastorous consequences.
That Guantanamo Bay problem is a serious one, as well, seeing as Kordin is situated amongst houses and all, and riots still take place in the Guantanamo Bay prison with all the training the guards have. I sincerely do not know what they were thinking to accept these terrorists to live amongst us. One can only conclude that the vote was just to please other countries.
However, the illegal immigration problem is still an immediate problem which needs to be solved, possibly without further delay. But the closest date for the debate will be on the 16th of March, and the debate will be without a vote so I doubt anything'll be done. On both issues. Sometimes I wish I didn't get to know these things, because it drives me mad that a couple of people can have Malta's fate in their hands, and throw it all away.
AN was telling us all along and is now being proved right. However, because of our political indoctrination we chose to ignore the obvious and chose to trust our demigods. Perhaps it is time to see the light and pray to God. Amen
The Jesuits' Mount St Joseph will otherwise be used for housing the illegal immigrants who have no mattresses to sleep on as they accidentally caught fire this morning.
Isthu jekk tafu sinjuri Laburisiti. Ghax qed tkunu llogici.
The Tunisians cannot be deported to their homeland without the required paperwork, and that paperwork has to come from the Tunisian authorities.
This is similar to the process that led to the deportation of those Egyptians earlier this week. I am sure that the authorities are eager to send these illegal immigrants back as much as we do.
We can also tow them to Tunisia if they want!
What is the government waiting for to let them go back???!!!
If they were not afraid to show their faces then now they must stand up for the consequences.
VIVA MALTA TAGHNA.
PS - Please stop politicizing every news article! Let us unite to save our children!
RW
I would like to see all those who think that, what they have to say in a few years time when all has been to late to rectify, to late to control and too late to say we are proud of a country we had strived so hard to get where it is today.
Are we to believe or is the government to emmersed in something else not to realise that this situation has been an urgent subject of discussion for quite some time.
The goverments claims this crises does not warrant urgent attention, the public thinks otherwise and now the PL somehow or another has woken up or being opportune at the right moment.
Whatever it is they are absolutely CORRECT ( very loud and clear) Yes Sir very much CORRECT.
It is time for the latest version of " RAJT MALTA TINBIDEL"
and yet they tried to escape their mother land.........
MALTESE CITIZEN I BEG YOU----Don't waste your vote on MLP/ PN/ AD candidates in the MEP elections...
PN is afraid of their EU Masters
MLP just wants to take advantage of the PN's inability to handel the situation
AD don't even know what they believe in
Cittadin choose wisely in your vote...It is the only chance we cittadini have to do something against this coming and already present disaster.
These people do not deserve your pity..they are all ECONOMIC immigrants..they just want to jibbamjaw kemm jifilhu minn fuq darna...
MALTA SHOULD RENOUNCE ALL IMMIGRATION PACTS...IT HAS EVERY RIGHT TO DO SO...
You may be right, but we're not talking cart and horses here. Throughout history, the Maltese have managed to keep control over our country, why let it go to the dogs now?
You are wrong. The Italians turned it back because that boat touched Maltese territorial waters, which are just a few miles offshore. At high seas, Malta can repair, resupply and refuel with no problems. But at this stage, every action is legitimate by Malta.
The problem is no longer a legal one. Of course, the present politicians, being all legalistic will tell us that Malta's hands are tied down. But pending that there is reluctance to change such laws, the issue for Malta is a political one. Do not believe that nothing can be done short of waiting for burden sharing.
By suspending UNHCR obligations, in principle, all landings should be returned to Libya. By suspending the Dublin II, immigrants will not be fingerprinted and hence can leave to their final destination, leaving no trace that they came from here. All actions now legitimate.
For those who asked, the law forbid referenda about international treaties, so unfortunately AN cannot take that action.
As Mr. John Spiteri said, this is a political issue. Street presence is a prelude to the ballot. The only language politicians understand.
What can be done, depends on us only. Flimkien kollox possibli.
If the so-called Maltese government doesn't take immediate drastic action to stop the inflow and get rid of the thousands of illegals already here, it should resign.
Otherwise 2009 will be remmebered for as the worst year for arrivals of illegal immigrants. We as Maltese are going to end up as immigrants in our own country!!!!
These Tunisians should go and make these scenes in their own country if they are so patriotic!!!
If another protest is organised I will surely attend like I did the previous 3, unfortunately only the first was a success, and that is why we find ourselves in this situation because many preferred to shy away from the event rather than stand up to be counted for this Nations sake.
I prove you wrong. Put a cart before the horse and flog the horse till he`s dead. Both the cart and the horse dont get anywhere.
So cheeky that they are even encouraging pregnant women to cross over !
And, here......we.....we are so stupidly gullible and naive to this organized network !
We are being silently invaded without ourselves realizing that one day we will put our head out of the sand and find out that we have been cunningly undermined.....our culture......our belief !
From the start of these " invasions" there should have been measures taken to maintain a 24-hour a day coast guard patrol to keep them away.
Mela noqghodu nifirhu ghax baghtna disa lejn pajjizhom b'hafna pompa fuq l-ahbarijiet u jumejn wara jidhlu 227 ohra.
Nitlob mahfra jekk ma ghogobtx lil xi hadd imma jien mhux razzizt imma Malti mugugh u imbezza ghal gejjieni ta' uliedi.
the best form of protest is your vote - if you really want to send a message there's nothing a politician understands more clearly than his vote.
@J Attard - UNHCR geneva convention
Article 44. Denunciation
1. Any Contracting State may denounce this Convention at any time by a notification addressed to the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Dublin II convention - unilateral refusal to meet the obligations therein until the other EU states meet theirs by exercising the fundamental principle of the EU - the much vaunted 'solidarity'. - what's the EU going to do? expel us?
note that libya is obliged by neither and see how tough they act with her!
Well done AN... We need more people like you that really love Malta.
The proposal by AN cannot be done as Malta some years back refuelled a boat to continue with its journey but was turned back by Italian Authorities.
In 4 years time!!!!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7898773.stm
The Government should do something URGENTLY to address this worrying situation!
Gonzi is just not fit to govern. He and his predecessor together have committed a state crime against all Maltese citizens, both on Malta and around the world.
We now demand action by the responsble persons to heed and sort things out once and for all!!!!!!!!!!!
GonziPN qum minn hemm!!!!!!!!!!
It is only Maltese citizens who are preoccupied, as shown by the Eurostat survey.
The present batch of MP's are incapable of offering solutions.
The PN are too inept to tackle the problem.
The PL is more intent on making political capital out of it.
Then there are certain TV presenters and certain religious orders who are more preoccupied with how to ease the immigrants lot.
We need a new outlook in the curcumstances.
Can we afford to adhere to our obligations under the Refugees Convention ?
Lots of UNHCR officials come to Malta and scold us, rather than lift a finger and help Malta to tackle this problem !
illegal emigrants to join them and ask for their
deportation orders, preferably today before tomorrow...........
Let us get serious and take the necessary action to solve this
problem instead of keeping pussyfooting around this chronic
problem just to please other Countries
A very worrying question comes to mind :
Why do these otherwise healthy immigrants want to clandestinely enter Europe ????
The Gov't (meta jqum) will call a "State of Emergency" later this year... I bet!
Probably it will be too late!
Please keep us informed as we shall surely be there.
This is all the making of Dr Gonzi and his mentor Dr Fenech-Adami over the past eight years. All they do is copy the Italian government. They think that what is good for the Italians is good for the Maltese.
Dr Gonzi is a bazwi PM. You have got to get him out of Castille.
IF AN wants to do something why not collect signatures to force a referendum to suspend Refugees Convention and the Dublin II Treaty
Do it forthwith and a.s.a.p. Malta and the Maltese people don't deserve this criminal behaviour in their country.
Is it too late for the AN to hold another protest then? Will the media give it the importance that it desrves?
There already is a petition going round.
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/save-malta-from-illegal-immigrants/sign.html
Vote for AN like I will be doing. We must all treasure our childrens future and protect the little that we have left. Protest by voting AN and take part in any future demonstrations that will take place.
Can someone do a website for use Maltese to sign a petition and forward a mail with the link !
If AN are right they have my vote in any election!
Can anybody speak about the dangers my family - my direct family - is facing please?? Can someone defend these people? I shudder to think what might happen to my family.
I am worried and very much so.
The Maltese authorities do not know how to handle this situation. Let's see what happens when they start to harm innocent citizens after they escape. Will the government take action then? Will it be an urgent matter to discuss then? Better still will it be too late then?
Too late my dear friend. The people should have protested then not now. The MEP elections are the final, repeat final, chance.
First things first, we could create a new forum where we could discuss this in detail.
"We understand that these people are suffering..." it did not really transpire from their faces when yesterday some of the immigrants went to welcome the others in Birzebbugia. This continuous efflux of immigrants seems to be at the base of a plot to overturn their current condition within the detention centres. It is already difficult with the present number of police and armed forces to control these centres, an increase of illegal immigrants will make it impossible and they could easily riot and escape. And the worst thing, Gonzi is not alarmed and wants to discuss this issue in several months time. What an irresponsible attitude. We need to vividly protest. People UNIT and PROTEST as was the case against the tariffs. The immigrants protests are becoming more frequent. LET'S SHOW THEM THAT WE TOO KNOW HOW TO PROTEST!!!!!
ANR is perfectly placed to stage a protest because it has no political affiliations, and the message it sent through the various media in 2005 worked wonders, so why can't it work again?
Please ANR, do it for Malta!
Malta wake up.
Send them back, we can't afford, we're not the USA.
Gonzi clearly cannot stand the heat, he should get out of the kitchen.
Joseph Muscat wanted to debate the illegal immigration issue in Parliament last night as a matter of urgency.
It was the biggest tragedy when the GonziPN government was elected again in March last year. Dr Gonzi is not on our side regarding this national crisis. He made it simple and clear last night that is the attitude of the Maltese people needs to change. Our government is going mad!!!! We are totally finished now.
We no longer care a hoot for them.
They must be expelled never to return.
If I am not mistaken there is some sort of agreement that prisoners are sent to their country of origine to be kept in prison according to the sentence.Could not this apply to illegal immigrants since they are breaking Maltese law.
The police are quick to arraign any MALTESE and they take them to court even over a trival thing.
Is this not discrimination !!!
Give them a plane ticket and tell them to obey the rules or leave.
We DO NOT WANT THEM. They are here because of their own actions, they are ILLEGAL and have no right to disobey our laws. The law is too lenient on them, they should be told to shape up or ship out and STOP abusing the Maltese authorities generosity.
halli tipprotegina u tghina?
LOOOL at "chucked out the british".
viva d-demokrazija
mhux ghal maltin imma
Till they will have an army of immigrants and start making panic in streets !
I heard that in Lampedusa they made a disaster check this site .
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7898773.stm
WE ARE NEXT !!
KEMM AHNA IMBECILLI ! ! ! ! !
Malta used to be one of the safest places on planet earth, and now these ILLEGALs are making riots every week with costly damages.
When are we maltese going to start waking up against the invasion? Our ancestors fought the turks, french, chucked out the british, gained our freedom and this generation only seem to be cabable of moaning without taking action!
we are going to end up like Lampedusa!!! yesterday they burned down their whole opencentre!!!