Christian Peregin
Tunisian migrants erupt into protest
Other immigrants steered clear from causing damage
The Tunisian illegal immigrants who protested yesterday broke windows at the Ħal Far detention centre and dangled from sheets, while chanting patriotic songs and asking to be sent back home. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier.
Tens of Tunisian migrants organised a chaotic protest at Lyster Barracks in Ħal Far yesterday morning - putting pressure on the Tunisian authorities to sort out their deportation papers as soon as possible.
The uproar began when some mattresses were set alight, causing the authorities to deploy a fire engine and send soldiers and policemen to the scene.
A large group of police fanned out around the perimeter of metal-meshed fences since there were fears that some migrants might have escaped.
However, unlike in recent incidents at the detention centres, it turned out not to be the case this time.
When the media's cameras arrived, things took a turn for the worse and the Tunisians huddled together on the third floor of the barracks, squashed like sardines by the windows.
Eventually they started to smash the window panes and dangle out by means of bed sheets they tied together.
They chanted what sounded like patriotic songs and held up sheets with messages written on them - among these was one saying "Viv Tunisi".
Although some were laughing and smiling, others used cloth to cover their mouths and pulled up their middle fingers at the cameras. Some even started to throw their belongings out of the window, including bars of soap and cans of shaving foam.
According to the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs, the migrants causing the trouble were the 71 Tunisians who arrived on February 1 on a boat carrying 262 migrants.
A spokesman for the ministry told the press that the Tunisians had originally hoped to go to Italy. Instead they were detained in Malta and told that they would soon be deported.
When asked why they were protesting, the spokesman said that it was because they wanted to leave but were being held in detention until the Tunisian authorities sorted out their documents for repatriation to be possible.
Knowing they would anyway be leaving shortly, they had no qualms about burning their mattresses and tearing up their sheets, the spokesman added.
On the other hand, some other protesting migrants in the detention centre - many of them coming from sub-Saharan African countries like Somalia, steered clear from damaging any of their belongings.
At first, a group of African women gathered in the yard outside the barracks and chanted back to the Tunisians. The women seemed to be jokingly taunting the Tunisian men but when they noticed that windows were being smashed they moved away and let the Tunisian men continue chanting alone.
Eventually the press was asked to leave so that the situation could calm down and it is believed that things were brought under control soon afterwards.
This is the latest in a series of "disturbances" caused by immigrants due to imminent deportations and an increase in off-peak arrivals.
On Wednesday, 227 healthy looking illegal migrants arrived in Birżebbuġa claiming to be from Somalia. This, together with the arrival of 262 migrants on February 1, marked the beginning of a possible trend of large-boat arrivals during the off-peak winter season.
Malta is not the only country dealing with unrest because of immigrants.
Yesterday it was reported that a number of illegal immigrants and asylum-seekers set fire to part of their detention centre on the southern Italian island of Lampedusa after a failed escape attempt.
Meanwhile Labour Party Home Affairs spokesman Michael Falzon in a statement yesterday reiterated a call for more discussion and more seriousness to be shown by the government on immigration - echoing Labour leader Joseph Muscat's plea to have an urgent parliamentary debate on the matter.
"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 concerns over how this problem may grow in the coming months, especially in the summer," Dr Falzon said.
Promising that the PL would remain the people's voice on this issue, he said the government was not showing sufficient commitment to tackle the problem.
In a reply, the Justice Ministry said the government had no problem discussing the immigration problem in Parliament and reminded the Labour Party that the subject had been brought up several times through parliamentary questions.
The government was working to obtain more EU funds for repatriation programmes and the ministry reminded the Labour Party that 35 Egyptians were sent home this week while others will be sent in the near future.
The ministry said that there are indications that the French government will accept around 80 people who have international protection, thanks to a special agreement with the UNHCR and the EU member states.
Another statement was sent by the political group Azzjoni Nazzjonali which said that in view of the increasing numbers of illegal immigrants arriving in winter, creating an increasingly difficult situation 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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Joe Xuereb
Feb 21st 2009, 01:01
I have a feeling that these young men from peaceful countries like Egypt and Tunisia are jumping on the bandwagon that is young men wanting to go abroad for a laugh. Their British counterpart let off steam by going to Amsterdam or Prague for a stag night/boozey weekend. These North Africans of course come from a different, very oppressive society. To them this is just a bit of reckless, irresponsibel fun. They do not mind the women on Malta. But the Italians have more of them. Young men brag about their escapades, largely imagined or inflated, often forced. Words get around. More want to try. It is a group thing. To them it is a bt of a laugh, a little adventure away from home. But it causes enough problems. Not least to potentially genuine asylum seekers. There should be absolutely no consideration of sending them onto Italy. What for? They should not have left their country and that is precisely where they should be sent. Wanting to come to Europe as economic migrants? I do not think so. And anybody who believes even genuine asylum seekers seek that, in their dreams yes. And anyone who believes them is naive.
L..Galea
Feb 20th 2009, 23:22
Stephen Vella
I have said this many times and it has not been denied by the authorities.
They are going to turn the Senglea, Fortini and Kalkara schools including part of Bighi into illegal immigrats open centres.
REPATRIATION NOT INTEGRATION.
malcolm azzopardi
Feb 20th 2009, 20:25
dear government... We are not interested in any repatriation programmes. We just don't want them to come back in the first place. When they are sighted in Maltese waters, give them some food and water and turn them back.
malcolm azzopardi
Feb 20th 2009, 19:34
this problem is like a cancer...if it is not treated early it will be lethal because today they are burning their open centres (paid by us taxpayers) and tomorrow they start protesting in our streets like they did in Lampedusa AGAIN today !!!!!!!!
Robert Callus
Feb 20th 2009, 18:38
@Stephen Vella AN could not just decide like that if it has one or even more candidates in EP. They will still be a minority. Maltese are a minority. AD have been pushing for the revocation of Dublin 2 for a long time. Once again, if both candidates are elected, Maltese will still be a minority votewise TO be honest I don't know what candidates from the major parties will do. I don't trust them actually
L. Gauci
Feb 20th 2009, 18:16
On February 1st, a boat carrying 262migrants landed at Marsaxlokk. On Wednesday a group of 227 healthy-looking illegal immigrants landed in Birzebbugia. Hasn't anyone noticed that these two large groups arrived packed into fishing-boats (which look very much like maltese boats) and that they knew exactly where to land? Is it possible that they had come all the way from Libya, packed as they were on these boats? Isn't it more likely that they were transferred from ships a few nautical miles from shore? Instead of going out to bring them ashore, cannot the AFM, patrol our seas to see who is helping them to arrive in Malta? The government must wake up to the fact that these Africans have made us the laughing stock of the world and that there is an ulterior motive behind these landings. All political parties should get together to see how this invasion can be stopped, if necessary even taking unilateral action. Waiting for help from the EU is futile. No one is going to help us. We have to fend for ourselves.
Stephen Vella
Feb 20th 2009, 18:14
If AN will suspend our international obligations,Then there is no doubt that during the coming eu elections we should vote for them. Another 260 from Somalia!!! - where is the next detention centre going to be? Our country's name should change to SOMALTA.
Mark-Anthony Fenech
Feb 20th 2009, 18:10
they should have stayed at home if they want to go back there.. If they have burned the mattresses... they should sleep upon the ashes.. One does not urinate in his drinking bowl and expect the water not to taste of piss.. I agree completely with L.Dimech.. It's bad enough with the situation as it is.. And Tunisians? What the hell? Maltese people go to Tunisia on holiday, it's not as if the country is for the dogs like others such as Eritrea etc.. And in winter... I shudder to think what the situation would be like in summer...
Phil Humphries
Feb 20th 2009, 18:05
"Protesting at their detention" - Nobody forced them to come. Perhaps they should be reminded of the old saying, "If you can't do the time, don't do the crime."
Wilfred L Camilleri
Feb 20th 2009, 17:11
How's that for gratitude. A bunch of Tunisian thugs destroy property that the hard-working Maltese taxpayers have paid for through their labours. And some even give the finger as the cameras were rolling, unbelievable. The authorities should let these sleep on the burnt mattresses while they are awaiting deportation! Perhaps this is a wake up call for the government to get aggressive with refusing sanctuary for these boatloads of illegal immigrants.
Joe Morana
Feb 20th 2009, 16:28
So the slumbering Opposition has finally woken up! Too late! And thank you for the offer of being the people's voice on the subject of illegal immigration. But no thanks! The People can speak for themselves as they have been doing and will continue to do. The party in government and the opposition should both resign for having both failed the Maltese People, and for allowing Malta to become the doormat of our neighbour to the south for far too long. Without so much of a whimper, I might add! Shame and double shame! Call yourselves Maltese Patriots? How dare you?
As for the illegal immigrants who create disturbances, they should be identified, taken away from the crowds they play to, and placed in isolated detention.
R. Formosa
Feb 20th 2009, 15:49
I wish the govt would not repair these windows and let the Tunisians enjoy the nice cold weather that Malta has at the moment, especially during the night. Obviously though no extra heating has to be supplied!
N Aquilina
Feb 20th 2009, 15:44
and then we have our Prime Minister in Parliament saying that he cannot understand
the urgency of Joseph Muscat to discuss the illegal immigration issue.
What are you waiting for Dr.Gonzi that some maltese cowboy takes the law in his own hands?
Because whether you like it or not we are in that situation! and then what?
We are fed up of not feeling safe in our own country, we are fed up of being afraid to go to
Marsa/Hal-Safi/Hal-Far/Birzebbuga. Stop putting the EU laws before Maltese National Security Malta is ours not theirs. If you are not going to do something about this and fast rest assured the ppl in the streets will!
L..Galea
Feb 20th 2009, 15:41
Since they were Tunisians and the Ambassador had spoken to them the Tunisian Government should make good for the damage they caused.
Graham Crocker
Feb 20th 2009, 14:58
This is not fair, they know they are going to leave soon so they're burning stuff that could be of use to other REAL refugees. The Tunisians are making hell not only for the Maltese authorities, but also for other illegal immigrants who have had enough taken from them.
Denis Catania
Feb 20th 2009, 14:40
@J Martinelli; Another PN supporting journalist condoning censorship on the illegal immigration. Although I do. Understand where you are coming from. We should keep filming. Let the EU , the do-gooders and the world know they don't belong with our children in our society. The Maltese worked too hard for the fuiture of the Maltese.
J Martinelli
Feb 20th 2009, 13:53
"When the media's cameras arrived, things took a turn for the worse" - "Eventually the press was asked to leave so that the situation could calm down and it is believed that things were brought under control soon afterwards".
Hello Einstein, where are you?
This incident is a repeat of others in recent years. The irritated immigrants continuously use the media to gain exposure and vent their grievances, so why provide them with the tools to do just that and, in the meantime, destroy property?
Two rules: Rule # 1 -Do not replace destroyed mattresses - will teach them to appreciate sleeping on a soft mattress compared to sleeping on a hard floor. Rule # 2 - Ban media and cameras from such protests. Inflaming a situation, so that the media will have something to report on page 1 or TV coverage the next day, does not justify the risk and added expense to the public purse.
Those who break law and order, immigrants or not, should not be encouraged in any way, shape or form.
L. Dimech
Feb 20th 2009, 12:51
I sincerely hope that the mattresses and sheets and likewise the broken panes will not be replaced till whoever damaged them leave these Islands. If they can't pay for wreaking havoc let them at least realise how they also harmed themselves. These people have no respect for themselves, how can we expect them to respect others and their property?? The low night temperatures will soon bring them to their senses. And then please just throw them out ,,,,,,,,,,,
H Dempster
Feb 20th 2009, 11:20
These illegal Immigrants forcebly came to Malta (although they say that they wanted to go to Italy) with out any papers. So why bother to wait the papers for the tunisian government and all this bureaucracy. All we have to do is just dump them in the same boat they came with , point them towards the tunisian coastline and give them a shove with a southernly blowing wind.. This way we will get rid of some.
Michelle Dali
Feb 20th 2009, 11:19
It is the duty of the government to suspend Malta's obligations under the UNHCR Refugees Convention and the Dublin II Treaty. It is also its duty not to accept any more illegal immigrants into the country. The situation for Malta worsens by the day!
These Tunisians should have booked a flight to Italy if that's where they wanted to go, like decent people do. It probably cost them much more to go by the illegal route. The fact that they chose to pay criminals to get them into Malta illegally is proof enough that their intentions were not in good faith - they were clearly up to no good.
The result of their illegal activity is that the money they paid to the human traffickers is wasted because they're being sent back, and the honest tax-payer's money is being wasted too as it is our taxes which will be used to deport them.
The article says they were chanting patriotic songs and saying viv Tunisi. What incredible stupidity! If they love their country so much, why on earth did they leave? These people are nothing but trouble. Keep them out of Malta or we'll all live to regret it!
Anthony Cardona
Feb 20th 2009, 11:06
Try doing that in their country.
Just kicks the sad sobs on to the first cargo vessel out of the country.
John Azzopardi
Feb 20th 2009, 11:06
The illegal immigration issue keeps getting bigger and bigger. How can an island of 122 sq miles with 420,000 keep dealing with this situation. When people speak, they are labeled racists/xenophobic. Could it be that these people who are composed of over 90% of the Maltese population are genuienly worried that things will be getting out of hand one of these days. You are talking about thousands of single man among us, who will get frustrated at having little to do on our barren island. The silence by the government is defeaning. Do we hear of the government coming up with solutions. No. No NO. We Didn't Gozni say, I am the government. As a PN member, I believe, it's up to the Prime Minister to tackle this issue. We have been giving him a great deal of ideas, but illegal immigration issue is now getting out of hand due to inaction. Don't try to blame the opposition on this issue Mr. Prime Minister. This is now your problem as well as ours, but your are the government. The maltese have had enough of the EU talk. We want to see results. Abd quick.
d. borg
Feb 20th 2009, 10:58
you see, Mr Prime Minister, what we get in return for picking them up and not letting them on their way to wherever they want to go. They are violent, destructive and ungrateful people. If they feel so patriotic they should have remained in their own country. Kienu jaghmlulna pjacir.