All Tunisian migrants repatriated

Alfred Bugeja

Apr 1st 2009, 16:29

Kenneth Galea, since you are an expert in the field, then you should know that in order to send these illegal immigrants to Libya or Yemen (or any other country that is not their country of origin for that matter), apart from the relevant travel documents, you also need a repatriation agreement with the country in question. In this case we don't have one with Libya, and the Libyans don't seem to be too enthusiastic about signing one either. So you're back to square one.

And BTW, I never used the race card, nor defended this illegal activity as you imply in your comment. I merely listed the facts that you are still ignorant about. I never said that these people should be allowed to stay here, but merely that it is hard to send them back. Geddit?

louise vella

Apr 1st 2009, 15:00

On 1 February DOI issued a press release (http://www.doi.gov.mt/EN/press%5Freleases/2009/02/pr0152.asp)

Il-proċess ta’ ripatrijazzjoni tal-immigranti illegali li waslu dal-għodu jibda immedjatament

Il-Ministeru għall-Ġustizzja u l-Intern jirreferi għall-wasla ta’ grupp ta’ madwar 260 immigrant illegali fuq bastiment kmieni dal-għodu f’Marsaxlokk… Il-grupp ta’ immigranti illegali huwa magħmul fil-maġġoranza assoluta tiegħu minn persuni li ġejjin mit-Tuneżija, Alġerija, Maroc, Eġittu, India, Pakistan u Bangladesh. Persuni ġejjin minn dawn il-pajjiżi m’humhiex eleġibbli għal status ta’ protezzjoni umanitarja u għalhekk ma jistgħux jibqgħu f’Malta…Fi-fatt, immedjatament diga inbdew il-proċeduri neċessarji biex dawn il-persuni jiġu ripatrijati kemm jista’ jkun malajr.


I thank Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici for having proceeded with the repatriation of the illegal immigrants and for having kept the public informed of the numbers repatriated. By my count 71 Tunisians and 35 Egyptians have been repatriated (= 106). That leaves 262 – 106 = 156 still in Malta. Can the Minister keep us regularly informed of the nationality of those remaining, their numbers and the efforts being made to repatriate them? Two weeks after these arrivals another group of 227 illegal immigrants arrived. Where are we with the process of repatriation of those up to now?

John Meilak

Apr 1st 2009, 13:26

@Alfred Bugeja

Diplomacy clearly does not work with these people. Espescially with Colonel Gaddafi.

lgalea

Apr 1st 2009, 12:37

Alfred Bugeja
Then they should be kept in indefinite and strict detention until their countries provide them with the relevant papers. Maybe they will hasten the process if they know that their citizens will not be allowed to roam in Malta but kept in indefinite strict detention until they are repatriated.

"A number of the Tunisians had escaped detention, while others had caused disturbances, while demanding repatriation, and were taken to court."

Were all the Tunisians who escaped detention caught and repatriated or are they still roaming around at their own free will?

victor vella

Apr 1st 2009, 12:22

Thank God at least we are looking forward now.One thing that irritated me was the news about those boats that sunk off Libya, it was sad to hear about the loss of life but good to hear Libya admit thatthe boat sailed from its shores.
Unfortunately only Italy was mentioned by foreign news agencies as having a problem with the migrants,so basically we do not exist as far as other countries are concerned.

Kenneth Galea

Apr 1st 2009, 12:17

@Alfred Bugeja
I assure you I am well informed before you launch personal attacks. This shows me that you are in the wrong.
The West African countries that we have people from residing in Malta are not at war. These people should be indeed deported to their first port of call which is often Yemen and Libya. So stop talking in favour of this illegal activity or simply stop playing the race card as you are detrimental to the national interest.

Paul Bonnici

Apr 1st 2009, 11:33

Malta does not have embassies in most obscure African countries, but there are EU representative offices in most African countries and also Italian, German and French embassies who could help Malta in this case.

Alfred Bugeja

Apr 1st 2009, 10:47

Kenneth Galea, illegal immigrants, particularly those who fail to obtain some form of international protection can ONLY be repatriated if their country of origin supplies their travel documents to the Maltese authorities. In this case, the Tunisian authorities collaborated with the Maltese authorities because of the strong diplomatic relations that exist between our two countries.

Now, since the other illegal immigrants not entitled to protection hail from obscure countries such as Burkina-Faso, Nigeria, Ivory coast and other West African Countries, it doesn't take much to realise that diplomatic relations between Malta and these countries simply do not exist and that consequently, obtaining travel documents for these people is a rather difficult task.

So please stop over-simplifying matters and jumping to wrong conclusions based on your ignorance of the facts.

J. Grima

Apr 1st 2009, 10:38

Some good news this morning though as the weather calms down and summer approaches, all I can think about is guessing the number of illegals coming in this season.

Lee Micallef

Apr 1st 2009, 10:33

"A number of the Tunisians had escaped detention, while others had caused disturbances, while demanding repatriation, and were taken to court"

If they caused a disturbance because they wanted to be repatriated... WHY ON EARTH COME HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE !.....it beggars belief !!

Michael Neville Cassar

Apr 1st 2009, 10:02

Well done, and that's how it should be. These last few days I was running around Malta and Gozo which I haven't done for a few years, and to my dismay I am shocked with the building and over crowed congestion I saw and met. There is no doubt that Malta and Gozo are too small for more people.

Kenneth Galea

Apr 1st 2009, 09:55

@d borg
Exactly my thoughts. You realise that Carm and Dr Gonzi live in fear of the EU and UNHCR otherwise they would have deported all those who should not be here. The UNHCR is giving the impression to these illegals that the crossings from Libya are legal and justified. They should make it clear to these illegals that they do NOT qualify to reside and work in the EU.

d. borg

Apr 1st 2009, 09:40

A bit of good news this morning. It would be nice to hear that all others who should not be here anyway are gone too. Ghadni qed nohlom dalghodu.