A simmering problem

E. Azzopardi

Feb 27th 2009, 15:08

Then do nothing about it, keep accepting them, feeding them, etc etc at the detriment of the Maltese people after all. Of course, we should help but there is a limit. This article could not have a better title. We ALL know that it is simmering ( accepting it is another matter) and what simmers eventually boils. Sadly enough, I do not know the feelings of the MHRA about this. I have never seen any. What does the MHRA think of all this? And let us all face facts. The sooner the better. Shifting problems under the carpet never worked.

Miriam Webster

Feb 27th 2009, 13:28

1. Regardless of what his stand on migration is, there is nothing that JPO can do to redeem himself over the Mistra case, except resign. Pubic figures have a duty above and beyond private citizens to be squeaky clean, and JPO will never be able to wash away the stain. Come on, JPO, do the only honourable thing.

2. While I have always felt, and still do feel, that the migration issue is a humanitarian one, it is clear that there are economic forces at play here. And I'm not talking about the migrants themselves. Clearly, the earlier boatloads of 18 at a time were pilot runs, to test the system. The boatloads of 200+ are unequivocal proof that this is a case of human trafficking, and not humanitarian migration, and last I checked, human trafficking is against international law.

Let's stop trying to tackle the migration issue, for that is a no-win situation. Let's start talking about tackling the human trafficking problem. I would challenge any country, EU member or otherwise, to tell us that we have no right to stop illegal human trafficking.

Dr. Savior Tortell Pisani

Feb 27th 2009, 01:24

Another way of putting pressure on those that matter and causing a much needed stir is to stop taking new immigrants and instead giving them food and fuel and a GPS programmed for Spain, Italy or France!!

We like to Quote International Law a bit too much on this issue. But we all know that the law was written by people who never contemplate the repercussions of their deeds. These are people who talk a lot and think very little. So we should interpret the law in the interim (until it is amended formally)... There needs to be a quota assigned per country relative to its current population.

So say any country can only accept a maximum of 0.1% of its population in terms of illegal immigrants per annum and can only retain half of that as permanent refugees *IFF* they agree, vow and sign to abide by the laws and social customs of the hosting country.

The rest are automatically and immediately passed on to our next nearest neighbour to do the same. This would guarantee a stable, sustainable situation that facilitates social adaptation.

Dr. Savior Tortell Pisani

Feb 27th 2009, 01:06

@Sylvana-Debono
What do you propose then? Waiting for the big northern nations to lift their responsibility? That will never materialise!... It doesn't pinch them where it hurts, that's why! So I suggest to give up waiting for the manna to fall out of the sky...

Just take the bull by its horns!.. First things first... If needs be we could always withdraw Malta from the UNHCR. We should FIRST DIVERT the problem and ONLY THEN spend our time chatting about it... Not the other way round.

If for nothing else this will cause a good stir on an international level and perhaps (just perhaps) other countries will begin to wake up to the problem!!!

Sitting on our ass pontificating is not going to solve it. EVER! And don't talk about humanitarian issues... We currently offer ONE CRAP OF A SERVICE!

So like JPO rightly said, If we can't offer an acceptable humanitarian service then suspend the service altogether until the issue falls within our capacity. If for nothing else it will save much international indignation on mistreating immigrants on our turf.

Mario Debono

Feb 26th 2009, 21:41

First national - THEN international obligations! Charity begins at home!

There is a limit for the help that can be given! One cannot simply open one's door to all the sick, poor, unfortunate, beaten, etc. persons in the world, nothwithstanding their very grave needs. Otherwise one will just get mingled in the whole mess in a way that one will not be able to help oneself . . . let alone others!!!!!

Raymond Sammut

Feb 26th 2009, 21:11

"If we send a Somali who, by law, is entitled to humanitarian protection status, back to Libya,... [Neil Falzon].

Dr Falzon should not say "we". As a UNHCR employee, he is not representing the Maltese people.

It is not "law" as, for example, International Maritime law or International Migration law, which is in question here, but more precisely "convention" from which Malta can very easily opt out.

Keep a Somali in permanent detention and you can rest assured that he will want to go back to Libya in his own accord. You will not need Dr Pullucino Orlando to ship the Somali out for you.

Dr Pullucino Orlando is misleading the Maltese people by what he is saying. The Maltese people should not listen to him because what he is saying is simply in violation of International Maritime law. Please do not allow him to confuse the issue of illegal immigration.

Malta must opt out from the relevant conventions at the earliest, stop processing asylum claims, and keep all illegal immigrants in permanent custody. It would not take long before they stop coming, and those in custody will want to leave in their own accord.

J.Scicluna (Rabat)

Feb 26th 2009, 15:40

@.apiano

"At least the PN members (JPO, Arrigo) are trying to do something and act. What is the PL doing?"

Wake up, my friend. Dr J Muscat asked for a discussion in Parliament BUT the PM turned it down because Illegal Immigration is NOT a problem!

C.Sapiano

Feb 26th 2009, 10:34

@P.Schembri

At least the PN members (JPO, Arrigo) are trying to do something and act. What is the PL doing? Does it have an alternative? Here is an abstract from the editorial of Maltatoday which you should consider (definetely not a PN Newspaper !):

Far from an “earthquake of change”, it looks as though the new PL leadership will continue offering little in the way of a serious alternative government... condemning the country to a mediocre future for many years to come.

T. Pace

Feb 26th 2009, 10:22

So according to the UNHCR rep we are to wait till peace reigns in Somalia. Can he venture any idea how long it is going to take, 20, 30 ....... years.

Has it occurred to him that that country is somewhat larger than Malta and that there are patches of land where there are no hostilities going on.

Has the UNHCR tried to identify another country that would be willing to lease land 'till hostilities cease' where the illegal immigrants could be hosted?

s.galea

Feb 26th 2009, 09:53

Sylvana Debono has nailed it. The notion that by a populist knee-jerk reaction Pullicino Orlando has redeemed himself is too ludicrous to bear intelligent scrutiny.

Denis Catania

Feb 26th 2009, 08:04

Until we decide what we or can't do with the illegals that have arrived on the Island. We must stop anymore from entering and stop the bleeding. We than can start the healing by deporting and or invite the UNHCR to take the ones that DON'T want to stay in Malta. Malta is full, we did everything we could.

Joe Galea Farrugia

Feb 26th 2009, 07:48

The only solution is to put aside all the goody goody rhetoric about international obligations and catholic values and conscience and just grab the confiscated boats supply them with enough food & drink, put the invaders in these boats and return them back to sender...i.e. Libya. The EU never lifted a finger for us including all other countries. So why do we have to follow their rules?

Just do it!!!

Finally JPO is redempting himself from the Mistra issue.

Victor Vella

Feb 26th 2009, 00:06

@ Alfred Farrugia Are you sure they are not haressed in Libya?I heard it from the imigrants themselves that they are beaten by soldiers there .
@Luise Vella you mean the blah blah yapping of uninformed persons?
@ D Mangion.True my friend,I used to respect JPO but now the truth is materialising.
Let us hear what the opposition is suggesting, without copying others of course,I still have to hear what Dr Muscat has come up with, or maybe the so called working together stance he was so fond of has melted away and he is keeping his ideas for when he is Prime minister.

Alfred Farrugia

Feb 25th 2009, 17:47

Malta does not need to renounce the Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees.
It is doubtful whether the current situation is covered by the Convention. Article 31.1. states, among other things, “ … refugees who, coming DIRECTLY from a territory where their life or freedom was threatened in the sense of article 1, … provided they present themselves without delay to the authorities and show good cause for their illegal entry or presence.”

The Convention applies to refugees not economic migrants. The U.S., which is a party to the Convention, has applied the wet-foot dry-foot policy probably to distinguish between inflows from Cuba to those from Mexico, with which it has a border.

http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/wetfoot-dryfoot.html

Although Libya is not a party to the Convention, it is still bound by the principle of non-refoulement – force people to return to countries where they face persecution. If Malta returns people who come from Libya back to Libya, it will not be violating Article 33 on this issue.

UNHCR has the machinery for the resettlement of refugees. Refugees have a right to resettle, and the Convention does not provide for automatic permanent asylum.

http://www.unhcr.org/refmag/148/index.html

L Saliba

Feb 25th 2009, 17:22

Send them back? Mind you, the crisis is helping the Gonzi-PN government in that it diverts people's attention from the problems in Malta's economy, education, health care, etc. It's convenient to blame the lack of financial resources to tackle these problems on illegal immigrants. Nonetheless, they are not costing the country enough to do away with plans for the construction of an unnecessary parliament-building. How about tackling the problem at source? Opening a few embassies in sub-Saharan Africa and funding effective development projects would be a good start. The EU also needs to do more (much more).

P.Schembri

Feb 25th 2009, 17:18

@L. Galanza. From my point of view it was the PN who betrayed us when the (in)famous pact was signed with the EU, making it voluntary for them to take on the illegal immigrants which land in Malta.

The PL begged the Government not to sign that pact, but obstinacy won, and the pact was signed. And now the PL already raised the issue in Parliament, but was shot down by the Great Know-All himself, GonziPN.

Dare you call PL a traitor after this?

Davidf Muscat

Feb 25th 2009, 17:04

Australia has had a policy of sending them back for ages. It sent four boats, then the boats stopped coming. Why can't we do the same.? Do we have different international obligations or do we lack the courage to defend our own people?

Sandro Pace

Feb 25th 2009, 16:11

@ Carmel Camilleri

Perhaps I didnt explained correctly. The principle counts. The patrols have not started due to something between Libya and Italy, not that the UNHCR or the EU mentioned that they should not be done.

If in principle, Italy can turn boats to Libya, there is no holding Malta to fly back illegal immigrants to Libya without processing, of course pending an agreement with Libya.

louise vella

Feb 25th 2009, 16:07

Dr Borg Olivier, what are the rights of the Maltese people in their own country? Don't we have any? Do you and Dr Gonzi want to know more about Maltese values? Then ask the common people of Malta, they know very well. Common Maltese women have had enough of being annoyed on buses and in the streets. Dr Borg Olivier, if you want to know what the government's obligations are to the people of Malta, you should come and hear mothers speaking as they wait for their children outside school; you should come to hear women speaking at the truck where I buy my fruit and vegetables, or in shops where I queue up. A PN secretary general who speaks like PBO shows that he is spending too much time in his office and not enough listening to the common people of Malta. PBO, you and your leader should stop preaching and start listening.

C Tonna

Feb 25th 2009, 14:16

All this is hardly surprising. Give me 5000€ and I promise not to be back in 5 years' time, unless a family member passes away.

Louis Gialanze

Feb 25th 2009, 14:15

The PNPL have betrayed us all, having sold their soul and country to the EU for personal gain.

A Camilleri

Feb 25th 2009, 14:01

The illegal immigrants asking for refugee status because they are Somalis is just an excuse for them to get into Europe through one way or another. Africe is such a big continent, why don’t they travel to other neighbouring countries instead, where there are no conflicts, and where they can enjoy their customs more freely. Is not thriving South Africa an ideal country for them to settle?

The Government has a good bargaining hand if it refuses asylum seekers since it is not being earnestly helped in stopping this influx of illegal immigrants.

But then our Government is TOO SOFT to use its available resources because otherwise it would taint its repute with the EU Commission. It is no secret that such a policy is a priority even at the expense of its own citizens.

Charles Sammut

Feb 25th 2009, 13:54

Only those persons who arrive DIRECTLY from the country where they claim to have been persecuted are entitled to refugee status. Not a single one of these boat people have any right to be here.

Dr Neil Falzon, as a lawyer and UNHCR representative knows this but chooses to fudge the issue by trying to hide behind "international treaties".

The government has lost control of the situation completely. Nobody knows how many, from where or who they are. Nobody knows how many have since left illegally.

Malta is like a pressure cooker without safety valve. There will be only one outcome.

Paul Caruana

Feb 25th 2009, 12:56

Obviously the solution is not to send them back, but rather to prevent them from leaving the Libyan coasts in the first place. Trying to do anything else simply will not work.

The real focus of our attention should be how to get the EU to interviene forcefully on our behalf to get Libya to stop this illegal practice. If the EU cannot help in this regard then, frankly, what is the point of our EU membership?

Azzopardi Alfred

Feb 25th 2009, 12:52

One of the arguments brought forward by defenders of illegal immigrants is that we need them as certain sectors are not finding locals who want to do certain jobs like cleaning, construction work, etc. This is an excuse lobbied by business people who want to exploit the labour market, I'm sure that locals would do any type of work if wages and conditions are decent and compatible to today's quality of life.
Also, I'm in agreement with the Govt that Malta must honour its international obligations however our sense of responsibility is being abused of by the international community and the Govt should consider withdrawing from the relevant signed conventions as a protest.
The Govt should take the opportunity of the forthcoming councils' and MEP elections and measure public sentiment on this issue and act accordingly thereafter before the situation gets worse or out of hand.

robert micallef

Feb 25th 2009, 12:49

So here we have a country Libya who is not a signatory of The UN convention which is to all intents and purposes being protected by UNHCR. On the other hand we have tiny Malta, the epitome of christian charity which is sinking under the weight of illegal immigrants and who can do nothing becuse of the law which is there to protect the law abiding citizens! What is the solition? When the national interest is at risk and the law is working against us we are in duty bound to protect ourselves especiallt when other countries are reluctant to come to our aid.

M. Galea

Feb 25th 2009, 12:27

This Dr Falzon, does not respond to the Maltese poeple and has no right to tell us what to do. We have elected a Goverment to run the country properly and live in peace and security. This has now gone to the dogs, the vast majority of people are very worried and feeling unsecured with all these large number entering our country illigally. The Goverment is not doing it's duty towards the electorate just to look nice towards the EU.
By now Dr Gonzi should have realised that the EU is pulling our leg. Both Josie Muscat and JPO were correct and the line of action stated by them is the only way Malta has to show, that we mean business. Do not try to integrate these people into our society, if we do this we will loose our country, our culture, our religion, our blood line. One last thing, if this Dr Falzon, the UN, Red Cross etc, like them so much they have two options ,eithet take them and keep them, or go and live with them.

edward bartolo

Feb 25th 2009, 12:24

The first obligation of the Maltese Government is to protect Malta's territory and resources. By giving more importance to foreign policies and treaties, the government is betraying the Maltese people.

This situation cannot be solved by childish gibberish, but by taking the necessary actions in the best interest of Malta and its people.

Paul Vella

Feb 25th 2009, 12:24

Slating Dr Neil Falzon is a waste of time, just useless baking up the wrong tree. He is doing his job and I do not doubt his good intentions. It's the powers that be who should be addressed, all our members of parliament who swore allegiance to the Republic and who were elected thanks to our votes!! It is up to them, each according to his / her role to do something about this whole mess. Australia shows the way...what is preventing us from following

Carmel Camilleri

Feb 25th 2009, 12:09

@ Sandro Pace

You say that Italy is going a step further. And how is it doing that on the ground?

Apart from the fact that Italy is actually BUYING Libya's co-operation on the matter to the tune of hundreds of millions of Euro, it is also worth noting that the much anticipated Italo-Libyan joint patrols have not materialised yet and Minister Maroni has recently even conceded that Italy will not see any tangible results from the patrols before the end of summer at the earliest.

It is evident that the Libyans are only interested in bartering. So unless you find something we can barter with, we cannot aspire to do what the Italians are still trying to do.

P Debono

Feb 25th 2009, 11:55

My sincere thanks go to The Times and its journalists because they are the only newspaper to keep us in touch with an impartial view of what is really going on here. In addition, it gives the man in the street the chance to air his views in the Comments section.

But anyway, I agree with one poster who said that international obligations come second to national obligations. Neil Falzon is just profiting from the situation.

e.cortis

Feb 25th 2009, 11:41

We must have the guts to make it clear to one and all that , unless immediate actions are taken by international bodies, Government will be compelled to act according to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. Article 44 states clearly ,"Contracting States may denounce this convention at any time by a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the United Nations. Such Denunciation shall take effect one year from the date upon which it is received by the Secretary General of the U.N ". Act NOW.......

d.agius

Feb 25th 2009, 11:26

National obligations first!

International obligations second!

Joe Buttigieg

Feb 25th 2009, 11:23

The least I am asking for is that, before pointing its fingers against us; UN, EU, and whoever feels itchy about our situation should come up with solutions to our problems.

The first option, the one which from a humane point of view makes most sense is burden sharing. It was only entered in a recent treaty after Malta threatened to use its veto. It's high time that they (EU Countries) start implementing what they have committed themselves with.

If no one is willing to help, then they should not be amused if we throw them out of our country. How more of these can our taxes afford? Not much.

It is very easy to comment and find weaknesses on one's system, yet it is much harder to come up with answers and solutions, especially when dealing with such a sensitive subject.

T Mifsud

Feb 25th 2009, 11:22

Mr Falzon, though you are very altruistic in your vocation, you are acting against your own country's interests, the Maltese citizen's welfare and that of our children.

It is very evident that there is a major flaw in applying the convention because it actually is saying Malta is open for any Somali, with or without visa, legal or illegal, so long as he/she applies for refugee status. What's the population of Somalia? And this is just Somalia! Can Malta afford a milion refugee applicant over 10 years? 60% of those makes 1.5 times the Maltese population. I am sorry but unless you act in favour of the Maltese first by lobbying to chage the laws (or force other countries to proportionally intake immigrants) then you are acting against Malta and the Maltese.

I am not a fan of JPO, however, now I have to say that his words are the first indications of action (not rhetoric yawns of PBO escaping answers hiding behind political unworkable signitures and failing to promote hard action). On this I am fully with JPO and support his action call.

@JPO Now let's do SOMETHING about it!

Gerard Cassar

Feb 25th 2009, 11:06

quote"It could also set up a local(in Libya) screening teams and then pick up countries ready to accept citizens of countries where it is not dangerous to live in " end of quote
In the above sentence the last few words are to read"where it is dangerous to live in"
Apologise for the overlooked mistake. Gerard Cassar

Chris Borg

Feb 25th 2009, 10:48

This problem has been boiling rather than simmering, and for a long time.

Unfortunately the maltese culture has always been "mill-ghatba 'l gewwa" and nobody actually does anything concrete (except grumble), untill it effects them directly or somebody gets killed.

G. Scerri

Feb 25th 2009, 10:32

The PM in Parliament repeated phrases like: "vittmi innoċenti, aspett uman, kuxjenza, dawn mhumiex skart, valuri umani." in relation to illegal immigration. All this is true and I have no doubt that there are few Maltese if any, who do not share such values with Dr. Gonzi. But don't these words apply equally to the Maltese? If we follow the logic it means that we are doomed, in the name of "kuxjenza, valuri umani, aspett uman" to open our arms to all who force their way into our country. And the PM said he is expecting worse to follow. Where does all this humanistic talk leave us? Does the PM understand how difficult it is for most people to have to utter phrases like "send them home"? But is there an alternative short of a bleak future where this island faces being divided along ethnic lines?

Gerard Cassar

Feb 25th 2009, 10:27

The UNHCR should also have a policy towards receiving countries’ safety. Once illegal immigrants break the law then UNHCR should also keep that in mind. If it encourages citizens of dangerous countries to break the law of a third country it is at fault and responsible for any action taken against those who break laws. Were Malta to become a dangerous place, as it is happening, to live in, following a reaction by the citizens, will Malta still have the duty to accept illegal immigrants or should UNHCR publicise world wide that Malta is a dangerous place for illegal immigrants to live in as it is too small and overpopulated, and the reactions of its citizens may result in serious difficulties for any illegal immigrant.
Being an UNO agency it has all the power to stem illegal immigration by hitting the criminal organizations on the spot. Does not the UNO send troops in dangerous areas; it should deploy some special forces to prevent the market of human beings: i.e. illegal immigrants. It could also set up a local(in Libya) screening teams and then pick up countries ready to accept citizens of countries where it is not dangerous to live in

D.MANGION

Feb 25th 2009, 10:22

@Mr. Joseph Attard,

Why choose Comino or Filfla for your planned detention centre?

Why not Mistra Bay??? I believe that there could be some plans somewhere there.

Never trust JPO. His words are woth nothing.

Joseph Attard

Feb 25th 2009, 10:10

Well done Dr.Pullicino Orlando. All people who love Malta are behind you.

If we cannot send them back to Libya, we should build a detention center on Comino or Filfla and increase the detention sentence for illegal entry to 10 years. This is the only deterrent we have against loosing our country.

Malta cannot make miracles. We, the Maltese population are a minority when compared to the volume of immigrants coming from Africa. We cannot safeguard our country if we don't act fast. These people have no documentation with them. We might be allowing all sorts of criminals to roam our islands.We need to protect our islands, not only for our own safety but also for the most important businesses. Who on earth would like to visit Malta if we loose control over this illegal immigration problem?

Are there any reliable statistics from the government? A study should have taken place long ago to identify how much illegal immigrants we can handle per year, and if this quota is exceeded then yes there is no other option to send them back to international waters if UNHCR does not want us to send them to Libya!

Sylvana DeBono

Feb 25th 2009, 10:02

Well, well. The good old 'I'm all right, Jack' mentality strikes again. Why not build Mistra...I'a all right. Why not give them petrol and set them adrift...I'm all right. The sense of responsibility required from public figures goes way beyond riding an opportunistic wave. While some may opt to do so, the silent majority are observing quietly in the wings, toting up the stands on principle against the stands from opportunistic fortune.

While it is true that the country needs help in this matter, and our MEPs in Brussels, notably Simon Busuttil and the Perm Rep have been doing their utmost to help sort it out (with some sucess one might say) the ever increasing influx can be stemmed only if the richer countries seek to help out the poorer ones.

But then, why bother Jeffrey. We're all right, no?

Michael Galea

Feb 25th 2009, 10:01

upss sorry I mean AZZJONI NAZZJONALI

Sandro Pace

Feb 25th 2009, 09:56

Neil Falzon says we cant do this we cant do that, we need to observe this we need to observe that....Spare the Maltese people anymore of what we cant do.

The government has no intention or the courage to take a real stand, short of waiting for solidarity that is never going to come. By this indifference he will not have the support of the people.

Besides, Neil Falzon is wrong in his arguments. Italy is going a step further, it is trying to stem the flow from Libyan ports, which means that anyone on a boat including somalis will return to Libyan ports. Only the go-ahead from Libya is holding it, and not any UNHCR or NGO. Italians voted for Maroni and not UNHCR.

So yes we can....Dont try to mask the govt.'s lack of courage with such usual talk.

Michael Galea

Feb 25th 2009, 09:53

the only solution is what ALLEANZA NAZZJONALI is proposing...
the goverment and the opposition have no idea or do not want to have an idea how to handle the situation..
Dear Ministers, look at AN's proposals and implement them as soon as possible..
give us some hope.......

M Sciberras

Feb 25th 2009, 09:52

I hear the word international obligations again I will vomit. Send them back or tow them back to international waters. This is a crisis unlike any other in any EU state, given the numbers relative to our tiny size, and hard decisions need to be taken.

d. borg

Feb 25th 2009, 09:41

At this point the Maltese majority prefer to opt out of conventions binding us with international obligations in order to save our island from this invasion. Is Borg Olivier living in Malta or not? When have we seen any 'practical and concrete solidarity' from EU or the International Community? They don't care about our huge problem and so we have to solve it on our own. I agree with what JPO said and today even Arrigo expressed his ideas. Neil Falzon, our country is more important to us than any international obligations. We must make important decisions before spring arrives. These two winter months have already given us proof of things to come.

Leo Said

Feb 25th 2009, 09:38

The best possible solution could possibly be to relocate Malta's geographical position to some other paradise on planet Earth.

Michelle Dali

Feb 25th 2009, 09:35

One very practical solution is for Frontex to do its job and protect Europe's southern borders by turning back boatloads of illegal immigrants. If they destroy their boats or dinghies, then a spare vessel should be provided loaded with supplies to ensure their safe return to their point of departure. Ships suspected of carrying illegal immigrants should be checked out by Frontex personnel and their captains prosecuted if they are found to be engaging in this criminal activity.

In the meantime, the government must vigorously step up the processing of applications for illegal immigrants already in Malta, so that the genuine refugees can be given help and the others can be deported as soon as possible.

The current situation is unsustainable and it is highly irresponsible for the government to carry on with its current policy of letting anyone who chooses to do so, enter our country illegally, completely unchallenged!