Monday, 16th March 2009 - 10:56CET

Migrants stand-off: Italian warship turns back

The Minerva, which was refused permission to land migrants in Malta.

(Updated)

An Italian warship which had been heading for Malta with a group of 65 illegal migrants on board has turned back and is heading for Sicily.

The frigate Minerva had rescued the migrants from a dinghy 40 nautical miles from Lampedusa and had intended landing them in Malta, but the Maltese authorities refused it entry into Maltese waters, saying that Lampedusa was the closest port.

The migrants were picked up some 40 nautical miles south west of Lampedusa in what the Italian authorities say are waters falling within the Maltese rescue region. Malta, however, insists that since the migrants were closer to Lampedusa - and 115 miles off Malta - they should have been taken to Lampedusa.

"As Lampedusa is the nearest safe port, Malta has indicated that the rescued persons should be landed in that location as per international obligations," a spokesman for the AFM said when contacted this morning.

Meanwhile, Corriere della Sera reported that a further 237 migrants were rescued and taken to Lampedusa early this morning.

Parliament is today due to start a two-day debate on illegal immigration, requested by the Opposition. The debate was requested after the influx of of migrants in the past three months.

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Article © Allied Newspapers Ltd., printed on Saturday, November 21, 2009. This article is for personal use only, and should not be distributed.

Comments

Clive Gerada (on 18/3/09)

Well done AFM :-)

Ray de Bono (on 18/3/09)

Joining the EU is nota cliché. We are not in it simply for gains. We have obligations as a developed nation to assist other countries around us if and whenever needed. We have partner countries like Italy that we ought to respect and cooperate with, I trust - even more. We cannot remain neutral and assume that if something happens to us, all will flock to help us cos we are little small, sweet Maltese. Cos if as a nation we play in the top league - we must act like them too. I still believe that we need to GROW UP!

Christopher Grainger (on 18/3/09)

This really is an EU problem, and to place the burden of enforcement and accommodation on the islands is as plainly wrong as saying, Lampedusa, Linosa, or Pantelleria should do likewise. At the very least, the EU should be in the forefront of processing and repatriating these unfortunate people, and remove the pressure from the Maltese national state within the EU.

Ivan Attard (on 17/3/09)

Brownie points earned for the Maltese Government here. I only hope that this stand is to be the norm in the coming weeks and months sending a clear message that we are FULL UP.
I also hope that no one feels the need to whine that this may be an inconvenience and a stressful ordeal for the ILLEGALS!!!

Rod Abela (on 17/3/09)

Donny Zahra naturally suggests the building of a 'first class coast guard' but the authorities simply do not know how to do it! You do not surely do it by ordering four INSHORE 22mt aluminum auxiliaries (they are not even defined as PATROL BOATS by their Australian builders!). You do it by investing in OFFSHORE CORVETTES/Light Frigates similar to the 88mt Minerva of the Italian Navy. And what about the Offshore Patrol Aircraft? Oh I forgot piston engined Islanders are the answer..:)
And I ask once again - what happened to the UH-72A Lakota helicopter that was supposed to arrive in Malta last November??? Why are the AFM silent about this matter?? What has the lady heading the Directorate for Defence at Castille to say about it??

Donny Zahra (on 17/3/09)

I think, it is time, now than ever to build a first class coast guard, with ships, and navy personel. It will create more military jobs, and we will be safer. This situation has become an outrage, and since the EU is doing NOTHING except talking, bashing us the we are racists, and stabbing us in the back, we should take law in our own hand by, 1. minimize our SAR to just 50 miles around the islands, 2. every migrant ship coming in that SAR should be pushed out, not helped in, and 3. send the bill to the EU with the costs Malta is facing. If they dont pay then we veto every law they try to pass even if not in relationship with this phenomena! With the ones already in, I will suggest open a boat shop and let the migrants build their own, and let them out gradually back to Libya, or the EU, and that if always that the EU don't take them from us!

Kathy Elliot (on 17/3/09)

@ Antoine Grima

*winces* No matter what your views may be, please don't use words like 'dump'! Unwelcome and illegal as they are, they are still people. I am just as worried and angry by this situation; more so perhaps, because I have family history of clashes with these people of crimes done against my and my family's persons. But I still realise they are people, and refuse to afford them the same lack of respect they show us.

@Article

Ah, hypocrisy! We were told off so many times for simply saying that we could no longer sustain such a large influx, but perhaps, was this just the same in a way? I follow Italian television quite assiduously, and there's often a speal of complaints about the situation there. But as N.Grima pointed out, we really don't know maritime law, and its useless to point at one another. These people are pawns; we have to get at the big fish to stop this situation. Unfortunately, no one really wants to stick their neck out; we all know it would become really dangerous for whoever tried it.

cassar i (on 16/3/09)

Full up....i fully back the govt on this issue. keep firm.

James Bray (on 16/3/09)

@ steve elliott,uk . Its not just the Italian that can turn back, remeber the Brits, in the 70's, when you turn back on Malta, using Mintoff as an excuse? Both the Italians and Germans were willing to pay for British Bases on the Island - but you turned away. I am sorry to hear you make fun of the Italians or any nation for that matter. You would say the same about the Scots or the Welsh I guess too. Not funny, rather an illusion of superiority. Turn back, my foot. At least the Italians do not seperate illigal imigrants from their children as we do in UK?? Italians were trying to offload them on a friendly shore Malta.

Joe Grima (on 16/3/09)

Joseph Ellis: Since it was one more money-hungry cabinet that refused to consider a reduction of the Med area which Malta inhertied from the British, then the next Maltese Minister seen wandering around Brussels looking for shoulders to weep on because "Malta cannot cope" ( with the influx of illegals) should be directed to the first available exit

Rod Abela (on 16/3/09)

The SAR region boundaries are exactly those defined by the Malta FIR region. It is true that some time ago the Maltese authorities considered the reduction of the Malta FIR region in an attempt to reduce our SAR region but back tracked fearing loss of revenues from international flights cutting through our FIR. The funny thing about all this that we are generating 10 million euros worth of air traffic revenues only to spend them all feeding, clothing and housing ILLEGAL immigrants!!

Do you remember when some years ago the Italians had a massive problem of illegal immigration from Albania? Do you recall how and when it stopped? It stopped when an Italian Navy corvette RAMMED an Albanian trawel carrying 250 illegal immigrants sending them all to the bottom of the Adriatic. To this day Albanians still blame Italians that the ramming was no accident - but following an initial international outcry all was quickly forgotten and very few Albanians were brave enough to cross illegally into italy following that incident. Lesson learnt.

a darmanin (on 16/3/09)

How can it be the Marina Militare (considered among the five major navies in the world) and the Aeronautica Italiana (the biggest air force that hold the most aircrafts in the world) doesn't intercept the mother ships?

Alfred Camilleri (on 16/3/09)

(ont) Oh, shame on Giuseppe and Gabriella for attacking Malta's detention policy. How inconsiderate of them, unlike all their colleagues in the EU, UNHCR and the rest who, in their regular visits to our detention centres, always have fine words and praise for Malta's work in this regard, never criticising or condemning us for our management of these centres.

Alfred Camilleri (on 16/3/09)

Oh! How stupid of us all. It had to be Louise Vella to make us see the light. Why didn't we recognize where the immigrants problem was coming from, when all this time it was staring us in the face. Italy is the culprit. Don't you see? The immigrants are coming from former Italian colonies, from those countries who were 'messed up' by the Italian empire in Africa.

But then, how strange that people who were 'messed up' by a colonizing power, would still be dazzled enough by their former colonial masters and take all those risks to life and limb, in order to join their former oppressors in Europe.

And yet it seems, to Ms Vella at least, that other European powers, especially Britian and France, with their huge and long-lived empires in Africa, have no blots on their consciences. They do not seem to have created messy colonies, but only war-torn, economic limbos and general backwardness, causing their former subjects to risk all in search of a better future in Europe.

Joseph Ellis (on 16/3/09)

Park, Barrett, Maloret, Flask, Sinagra, Portelli, Lane, Press, Morana, Formosa, Dali, Catania, Boswell, Richards and Ellis are all very Maltese names dating from the days of the Ggantija. Let not the ethnic purity of this nation be adulterated by the African hordes ! As someone put it, Malta is not a "dumbing sight". And since so many are now so concerned about illegalities, what about illegal hunting and trapping.

@ Stephen Elliott. The Italians are shouldering more than their fair share of the immigration problem. Your comment is typical of the Brit tabloid mentality which passes aspersions on all and sundry.

Dr Francis Saliba (on 16/3/09)

When all Maltese join forces behind their elected government whenever the nation's interests are at stake we will cease to be Europe's doormat.

steve elliott,uk (on 16/3/09)

Typically Italian, turning the other way. however on this occasion i applaud them. keep the illegals far far away

Joseph Ellis (on 16/3/09)

Joe Grima is terribly misinformed. Malta's extensive SAR area is a relic of colonial times and the country derives substantial revenues from it through overfly rights. This has been pointed out by the AFM commander. When a proposal went up to cabinet to reduce the area some years ago, the proposal was not approved. I suppose cabinet must have had its reasons for not approving the reduction in the size of the SAR. While we continuously whine for EU aid to be in a position to honour our most elementary humanitarian obligations as a country, our politicians always neglect to mention the revenue that we derive from the SAR area. Typically Maltese indeed. I wonder what would have happened had we not joined the E.U. as several who are now trying to capitalize on this issue wanted and from whom we would have sought financial assistance to house these immigrants.

Antoine Grima (on 16/3/09)

Is Malta a dumbing sight ??????????????

G. Mangion (on 16/3/09)

Welldone Goverment, keep the the good work up. Malta is behind You ! Grazzi.

Margaret Richards (on 16/3/09)

I agree wholeheartedly with George Caruana. But it seems that a good number of others do not have anything better to do except to flaunt their mediocre limited wisdom. If you have nothing better to do i suggest you try for a day imagining yourself on a dinghy on a winter night trying to find a country who will host you, and not let you drown, after escaping from a nightmare in your country. Maybe it will trigger off some humanitarian instincts if you have any.

Joe Boswell (on 16/3/09)

There you go...back stabbed by our Italian cousins! I am not surprised that the Italians are impotent in this crisis and prefer to take the easy way out and pass the buck to little Malta! There's only one solution to this problem - a firm stand. A large ship should be made available, anchored 20 miles offshore-West; anyway clever persons can get my drift. Any illegal immigrant putting foot on the Maltese shores will be transferred to this ship and given food supplies and a cabin - but that's all. Others will think twice before attempting to cross the Med. Lampedusa should do the same. Having 1%+ of illegal immigrants is a recipe for disaster in such a small country. The majority of Maltese are reluctant to host illegal immigrants. We simply ain't big enough.

N.Grima (on 16/3/09)

1. Since maritime law directs to the *closest* port of call, the size of the SAR area is *irrelevant*. 2. A warship is not full of lawyers specialised in international Maritime Law... it is a very easy mistake to make in good faith, let's not make a storm in a teacup. 3. One needs to take into account the legislative process within the EU. Laws usually take around two years from drafting to signing. This is why expecting a signed written commitment in the form of collaborative law is equal to a daydream, why the voluntary agreement is so important, and why Barrot's comments on introducing legislation over 2009 for introduction in 2010 is such a breakthrough. 4. This has nothing to do with refusing rescue to illegal immigrants. Malta is not inviting these people over... most are having to be rescued en route to Italy. It is a problem which needs to be tackled, but letting people die at sea is not a solution. Furthermore, this whole anti-EU uproar is pointless since Maritime Law and Italy's position have not changed since 2004! To whom would we have turned without the EU? //N

Denis Catania (on 16/3/09)

Malta must do this with every boat that tries to come in, until the EU implements burden sharing. The EU shouldn't have a problem since we only have to wait till NEXT YEAR. Maybe they will stop playing the next year game.

Stephen V ella (on 16/3/09)

They should have been towed back to Libya, after all that is where they had set off from and Gaddafi is just taking the money, supposidely to monitor his coast but he is doing nothing (his intention is to flood europe with these africans). How many times can we clash in this way with the Italians??? If we keep picking them they will keep coming again and again..

Michelle Dali (on 16/3/09)

Well done to the authorities who gave the order to refuse entry into Maltese waters! This is the attitude needed from now onwards - Malta is not in a position to accept anymore illegal immigrants - this has been reiterated time and time again by various politicans, ministers, ordinary people and even indirectly by NGOs. Hopefully the government will begin to show some mettle and common sense will prevail in this dire situation our tiny country is facing. Let us not forget that the other 26 EU countries are far bigger than Malta and therefore able to accomodate the illegal immigrants in better, more spacious conditions. I hope that Dr Gonzi and his ministers bear this fact in mind before they start their debate. The attitude of 'we're helpless, there's nothing we can do to stop the invasion' must become a thing of the past. We're not doing these people any favours by bringing them to Malta. By allowing this invasion by illegal immigrants to continue, the government is destroying our country for us and future generations.

John Lane (on 16/3/09)

Joe Grima notes that the huge size of Malta's search-and-rescue zone was discussed at the time of EU accession but nothing was done and then "forgotten". I had not caught such a discussion at that time and am not aware that the government has raised the issue in all the years since. My suspicion is that the multi-million annual income from aircraft overflights makes the government quite reluctant to reduce this income through a reduction of the search-and-rescue zone.

r spiteri (on 16/3/09)

good on you maltese authorities.well done!

a darmanin (on 16/3/09)

@Edwin Mifsud
I quote "If we do not accept them, well how many immigrants under the voluntary pact will Italy and other counties take from Malta?"
Did you ever heard that Italy ever took illegal immigrants from us? Because I don't. (Don't tell me that they took a few tens of them).

@A Grech
I quote "Migrants diserve better"......so are the Maltese Mr./Ms.Grech.

@Anthony Formosa
I quote "we must take the 65 and they'll keep the 237. It seems that soon we're going to enter into conflicts with Italy over illegal immigrants and the right or refusal to keep these people."

Entering into conflicts with Italy?? Who told you that we aren't already about this issue?
And if you have a mansion or a château with a 5 acres gardens you can welcome them and keep them all, not only the 65 you mentioned.

v.pulis (on 16/3/09)

The italian warship should have sailed towards Libya and put the migrants ashore there after all it was to muammar that the italians gave their billions.

George Caruana (on 16/3/09)

Recession, contempt towards immigrants, populist politics, anti-trade activism - all reminiscent of the 1930’s. Everybody recall how that decade ended? This is what Parliament should discuss tonight, and how to counter the dangerous fervent running among the population. Nothing else matters at this stage, as parliament can do nothing (legal and humane) to counter the problem at seas.
People must note Berlusconi and friends give much attention to Lempedusa because it visual and a popular media blog. Immigrants landing there are a fraction of all the ILLEGAL immigrants entering Italy.

Dr. John Zammit (on 16/3/09)

Well done Malta! At last we are defending our country. The Maltese government should inform all immigrants in Malta that enough is enough and it is useless for them to phone their relatives to come to Malta like what they are doing. I happened to hear a group of them near City Gate at Valletta doing this. Even they go to internet cafes and e-mail their relatives. This is being done every day. The Maltese government should give notice to all illegal immigrants personally that Malta is not going to accept more of them and also put a notice to be read in the world news around the world and even inform all governments from where they are leaving that MALTA IS FULL UP.

louise vella (on 16/3/09)

Italy should remember that Malta is carrying part of the burden left
by the messy and short-lived Italian empire. Somalia, Eritrea and
Ethiopia, the countries of origin of many of these illegal immigrants,
were Italian colonies. So was Libya from where these illegal
immigrants depart. Their country of destination is Italy, the country
they know best and which dazzled them with its imperial glory. They
come to Malta by mistake. Italy has no right to dump these illegal
immigrants on to Malta.

For those who believe in coincidences, let's not forget that the two
members of Medecins sans Frontiers who attacked Malta's detention
policy last week were Italian nationals (Giuseppe and Gabriella by
name) though they addressed the press conference in English. What a
coincidence!

apgrech (on 16/3/09)

.... and the mother ships are never caught - how come?

Joe Grima (on 16/3/09)

John Lane. The story was addressed at the time of accession to the EU. by several local journalists We missed the boat when we did not rectify this gross injustice against Malta which binds the country to cover most of the Mediterrean area with its own limited resources and then we missed the boat again on accession to the EU whe the issue was simply "forgotten".

Alexander Morana (on 16/3/09)

Surprise, surprise, well done to the Malta Government, (Parliament is today due to start a two-day debate on illegal immigration, requested by the Opposition). We don't want to look like little chicken, do we?
However shouldn't this Italian warship be looking for the mother ship which disposed these 65 souls in the middle of nowhere?
It is a known fact that these people are being ferried by a mother ship and than transferred to smaller boats, as has been the case of the Yohan tragedy. As reported recently by this newspaper, the photos of well dressed and clean shaven and healthy looking migrants.

The Italian Navy, the AFM and the Libyan coast guard should make it their priority to capture these traffickers and destroy their infrastructure once and for all.

john micallef (on 16/3/09)

finally, some 'par idejn sodi' actions are seen from the government

dusty william (on 16/3/09)

I Ask

is this another well timed government manouvre knowing that today the parliament is due to duscuss illegal immigration with the oppostion? Is it to make us think that Gonzi & friends know what they're doing? just to bring to nothing the opposition proposals? Is this one of the PL proposals?

This remind me of last months Gonzi & friends UTURN regarding the Valletta Cathedral.

You should have been doing this ages ago Dr Gonzi.

Joe Grima (on 16/3/09)

Well done Maltese Authorities especially Minister who gave the order. Next time it should be " "sorry we're full". (copyright JPO) That would bounce the problem back at the EU. Afer all, The Europeans, British and Italians especially, know the full meaning of "We're full". When it was in their country's interest to damage our tourism, the instructions that went from the foreign tour operators to their counter clerks were that if anyone asked for a holdiay in Malta they were to answer "Malta is full". Now the shoe's on the other foot and the Europeans can begin to feel what "we're full" means literally. . Play the card Minister. Show your mettle.

malcolm azzopardi (on 16/3/09)

First of all I would like to say Well Done to the authorities for taking a firm stand. This is the approach they should take in all cases regarding illegal immigration

Ramon Zammit (on 16/3/09)

This should not end here but keep holding firm. We can no longer accept immigrants on our Island.

We suffered this invasion long enough now.

Alex Sciberras (on 16/3/09)

WELL DONE goes to those who were involved in this great work...hope 2 see more of this firm attuitude!!! WELL DONE AGIN..GOOD WORK!!!!!

David Buttigieg (on 16/3/09)

@Joseph Cini,

you DO know how much money we get for having a SAR so large don't you? No, didn't think so - alas the amount of people who speak before they think!!

Sandro Pace (on 16/3/09)

Maltas' SAR is very wide, and almost on the threshold of Lampedusa. Up till three years ago, the nearest port was responsible to recieve distressed people. However, three years ago new SOLAS regulations (rescue at sea), stipulates that the country responsible of the SAR will have to recieve them, even if it is not the nearest port. (as in this case).

Yet while Italy signed these, Malta, in a bold step did not , and is not bound by these new regulations. And insists that they go to the nearest port rescued from. So here, well done government.

Anyhow, Malta should refuse in anycase. The only two places Italy should take them is to Italy, or Libya.

Rita Spiteri (on 16/3/09)

As I see it when it comes to illegal immigrants all the Mediterranean belongs to Malta But when it comes to Fishing and even more so to oil drilling, not even the limpets and sea urchins on our rocks seem to belong to us.

John Spiteri, Information Secretary, AN (on 16/3/09)

Burden sharing in action! Malta stand firm!

Muscat Pat (on 16/3/09)

I don't blame the Italians for trying to off-load thier duties. What I cannot comprehend is the inertia of the Dr Gonzi who notwithstanding this national emergency, does like the proverbial gallozz and puts his head in the sand so that he would not see,nor hear! He is being helped by the local media in this cul- de- sac. Only yeaterday, we had editorials criticising Dr Joseph Muscat because of the balanced stand and realistic approach to the problem. A month ago, a leading think-tank for the British Government warned that at this rate, the Med Sea from Gibraltar to Malta will be a no -go area for cargo and tanker ships because of piracy and lawlessness. And yet, our Government's consultants simply want us to accept the inevitable; to be inundated by wave after wave of illegal people! Some consultants!

Phil Press (on 16/3/09)

All well and good reading this, but "they should have been taken to Lampedusa". So does this mean they were brought to Malta ?.

Anthony Formosa (on 16/3/09)

Indeed, that what means burden sharing, we also have to take our share, Lampedusa is a smaller island than Malta and we should help them, we must take the 65 and they'll keep the 237. It seems that soon we're going to enter into conflicts with Italy over illegal immigrants and the right or refusal to keep these people.

Anyway to all those that are happy because someone is standing up, just wait another month or two, the more burden sharing we discuss the more they come, and its better to prepare accommodation for them

Charles Sammut (on 16/3/09)

Never mind these 50, the AFM is searching for a boat with 200 on board right now.

And according to the prime minister, this does not warrant emergency debate in parliament.

Stephen Farrugia (on 16/3/09)

This is worse then the world financial crisis for us. I like to thank all those people that supported immigration for getting us into this serious situation. One more point, we are not going to give up any of our sea to anyone.Forget it, believe me.

Christopher Briffa (on 16/3/09)

Ahseb u ghara kemm se johdulna imigranti bil voluntary burden sharing scheme. Monsieur Jacques Barrot please note !! I just hope that the Malta Government stands it`s ground and not concede anything, after all it knows that the vast majority of the maltese are behind them on thios one.

j.schembri (on 16/3/09)

WE.......ARE......FED.....UPPPPPPPP!!!!!!! AFRICA......DO......SOMETHING!!!!!!! AND SUMMER IS COMING!!!!...........SHAMEFUL!!!!!!!

D Spiteri (on 16/3/09)

Studio aperto said that the Italians has accompanied imigrants on an italian war ship to Malta

If Malta cant take a stang against Italy cant imangine discussing with the EU

Kenneth Galea (on 16/3/09)

Enough is enough!!! Trying to be diplomatic does not work so it is about time that we start using force to send a clear message. We all know what happened in Bosnia and Kosovo when the Serbs sent in the paramilitary to deal with the situation. The AFM should do the same but I think they won't get the green light from our spineless government!

Chris Mifsud (on 16/3/09)

I really hope/wish that the government keeps this firm stand , not just in this case , but in all cases where illegal immigration is concerned .

This is the first positive thing to come out of the government for a long time immigrationwise . Let it not be the last .

Let us show the E.U that we will not be bullied by anybody and that we put our country first . Let us send a clear message to the traffickers that we will not tolerate their illegal activity .

The government has the backing of nearly all the Maltese population if it takes a firm stand .

joseph cini (on 16/3/09)

Look at the size of Malta's S.A.R.-250,000 sq Km! Ridiculous.
http://www.sarmalta.gov.mt/sar_in_Malta.htm
Why is it so huge? Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I have a feeling that this is the legacy of when the R.N. ruled these waters. It doesn't take a genius to work out that this is illogical and unsustainable.Malta's S.A.R. must be the same in size as our territorial waters, while our pedantic neighbours of "mare nostrum" fame should recognize this and be a little more considerate!

John Lane (on 16/3/09)

Joe Camilleri asks: "how come that 40 nautical miles south east of Lampedusa fall within the Maltese rescue region??" How come, indeed? Here is the story:

The Maltese search-and-rescue (SAR) region covers more than 250,000 square km, taking in a substantial swath of the Mediterranean. The size and shape of the region was established by the British authorities.

Why didn't Malta, upon Independence, request a smaller SAR in line with its resources, you might ask. Here comes the interesting part - the SAR also covers aircraft overflights. And each plane crossing the vast area pays a fee into the Maltese Treasury. That adds up to several million euros annually.

I don't know of any Maltese journalist or politician who has addressed this story.

John Portelli (on 16/3/09)

If those migrants are on board an ITALIAN WARSHIP it means that they are on the territory that OWNS THAT WARSHIP. When I served in the US Navy back in the 80's we were told that even a direct attack on a WARSHIP is a direct attack on the country that owns the warship.It seems like our Italian brothers want to use Malta as their detention center

Louis Sinagra (on 16/3/09)

Let's Hope that the Authorities stick to their position on this and other times . We have had ENOUGH .

Charles Micallef (on 16/3/09)

This is confirmation that every country looks after it 's interests first and when it comes to push and shove it will 'dump' on little Malta and conveniently forget international obligations…………………….

Unlike Malta, who sticks to its obligations at a cost to the MALTESE people and then get told that we have to do more?

Mike Farrugia (on 16/3/09)

I am really curious to know how, when and who decided to grant such a massive sea territory as our responsibilty. Do we get any right to drill for oil in it????

marco spiteri (on 16/3/09)

Thats the way to go !! The EU has to recognise the fact that we cannot take up more immigrants.

C.Sammut (on 16/3/09)

In my opinion these matters should be seriously handled with the heads of the nations these migrants are stemming from.

maria aquilina (on 16/3/09)

With the rate of illegal immigranta that are coming to our island we will soon be outnumbered.The government must take a very strong stand and refuse to take these 50 immigrants. We wait and see.

Joseph Cauchi (on 16/3/09)

Well done, Malta!

These illegal immigrants should remain on board this Italian ship or transferred to Lampedusa.

After all, they are on an Italian ship; and that means they are on Italian territory already!

Malta is FULL UP!

../..

A Grech (on 16/3/09)

Let's not forget that we're talking about human beings who have their dignity - their basic human rights. Migrants deserve better

Edwin Mifsud (on 16/3/09)

Did you hear of the expression Xafra taqta min Zewg nahat?

If we accept these Illegal Immigrants we would add to OUR problem.

If we do not accept them, well how many immigrants under the voluntary pact will Italy and other counties take from Malta?

I still believe that the only option is for the E.U. to close its borders from the North African coast where no wars are going on.

The E.U. should take J.P.O.'s advice.

Ludwig Flask (on 16/3/09)

"Meanwhile, Corriere della Sera reported that a further 237 migrants were rescued and taken to Lampedusa early this morning"... add 50 or 76 whatever, ie take them to Lampedusa, it won't make much difference to the Italian Government!

Brian Maloret (on 16/3/09)

Surely the fact that this latest group of illegal immigrants were taken aboard an Italian warship makes them the responsibility of the Italian and not the Maltese Government.

c balzan (on 16/3/09)

Let's unite and back the AFM. They need our backing and not try to play the hero here. We are all Maltese, let us forget unite. Please...............

Paul Barrett (on 16/3/09)

It is a cruel world.
A lot of this stems from the cry to help the starving millions in Africa. Food was sent, the millions were fed and breed into more and more millions until they can not be supported either by the land or charity. The millions follow the food and really I cannot blame them.
Unfortunately there is no nice answer to this problem - rebellion/war or evolution will take its own course in the end for the Earth to sort out and support only what it can.
Give a man a potato and he will eat for a day, teach a man how to grow a potato and he will breed and his off-spring will want more and take yours.

D. Borg (on 16/3/09)

According to the Corriere web site the number of immigrants is 76 and amongst them there are 13 women. Keep refusing their entry minister.

Joanne Micallef (on 16/3/09)

Keep objecting it's bad enough that we have to take those illegal immigrants that make it to our shores.

Charles Sammut (on 16/3/09)

What will the AFM do, fire warning shots across the Italian warship's bows? Will Carm Mifsud Bonnici stamp his little feet to scare them away?

The joint Italian Libyan patrols are yielding tangible results.

L..Galea (on 16/3/09)

Take them wherever you want but DO NOT BRING THEM TO MALTA.
WE ARE FED UP WITH THEM AND THEIR ANTICS.

http://euobserver.com/tickers/4945
Britons hostile to jobless migrants
Today @ 09:03 CET
Some 78% of Brits think that immigrants not having a job should be asked to leave the country, and a majority opposes the right of other EU citizens to work in the UK, according to a FT/Harris survey. "The poll figures are not a surprise, they are a concern," UK immigration minister Phil Woolas said

Chris Park (on 16/3/09)

The problem displacememt of the Central Mediterranean illegal migrant phenomenon has now kicked off with Italy trying to shed their shared problems fully into Maltese laps. They have miserably disregarded international maritime law obligations when they rescued these migrants and refused them landing on Lampedusa, basing their judgement on the migrants status.
Malta must stand firm its ground, especially considering the underlining factor that Lampedusa was the nearest safe port for the Italian navy vessel to disembark them.
If Malta gives in to this incident, it will fast become the vacuum-cleaner of the Central Mediterranean, with or without the help of FRONTEX.

Joe Camilleri (on 16/3/09)

how come that 40 nautical miles south east of Lampedusa fall within the Maltese resce region??

d. borg (on 16/3/09)

The govt. should take a firm stand on this matter. Let us not be bullied by anyone in our own country. We do not want more immigrants no matter what anyone says.

Migrants stand-off: Italian warship turns back

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