MP links migration with Libya oil plans
Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando said yesterday the Libyans could be using illegal immigration to put pressure on the Maltese authorities to limit the island's territorial waters.
He argued that if Malta reduced its "enormous" search and rescue zone, Libya could then leverage a reduction of the territorial waters, which, in turn, would mean that Tripoli would be able to use the area to drill for oil.
"At the moment we are hypothesizing, although certain facts are being handed to me... Libya will definitely gain from this because it depends almost completely on oil and our waters have enormous potential for oil," he said.
Dr Pullicino Orlando was speaking on 60 Minuta, a television programme on Favourite Channel, aired last night.
"Could it be that they are putting extra pressure on us by using these poor people so we would consider reducing our (territorial) waters," Dr Pullicino Orlando asked.
When asked whether he was convinced of this theory, Dr Pullicino Orlando said he had heard it before from "very responsible people" and the facts he was recently shown continued to confirm it.
Dr Pullicino Orlando had spoken candidly about illegal immigration in two articles published on The Times, where he said Malta should consider opting out of its international obligations and start sending migrants back.
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11 Comments
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J Spiteri
Apr 17th 2009, 07:29
mmmm this makes sense....thanks JPO
James Formosa
Apr 16th 2009, 17:23
...and if Libya and Gaddaffi really put the pressure on what is the solution JPO? U hallina Jeff....if reducing our territorial waters helps to keep immigrants out then reduce now to just 10km all around or less!!! Coz we don't have the guts to solve any of our problems be it oil drilling or illegal immigration. And if the potential is so high why hasn't a commercially viable oil well been found!!!!
Charles Sammut
Apr 16th 2009, 16:16
I think that JPO has got some terms mixed up. Malta's territorial waters extend to 12 nautical miles from the coastal baseline. He must be referring to the 'exclusive economic zone'. A country's SAR area is something else altogether.
It pays to be accurate when you are levelling such serious claims and accusations. Unless it is the usual attitude of "U iva, mhux xorta fhimtni."
Anthony Formosa
Apr 16th 2009, 14:19
He's right, it's like kicking the farmer out to build a night club, yes same tactics, wake up and leave Libya out of this mess, why not starting to help Libya with their illegal immigration before we talk nonsense. You think that Libya needs that oil if any that is in the international waters. Libya needs support as well, and no one is ready to help?
Paul Caruana
Apr 16th 2009, 11:14
Well, it is one of those "conspiracy theory" discussions that some people just love to get into! Just how realistic such comparisons between SARs and territorial waters are, on the other hand, is another matter.
However, such discussions are important in one vital area: Finally, more and more people are pinpointing the origin of our immigration problems, i.e. Libya. We should not mince words here. Fanciful conspiracy theories aside, we need to get the EU to apply REAL pressure on the Libyan authorities to stop this inhuman practice, which after all is originating from its shoreline.
George Caruana
Apr 16th 2009, 10:59
I reckon JPO's favourite authors are Tom Clancy or Frederick Forsyth.
Gervais Marcel Cishahayo
Apr 16th 2009, 10:43
This is highly speculative and tantamount to fuelling the fire of various negative sentiments that distract us from wiser positive thinking! If anyone knows where the oil is...s/he should come forward and tell and show it to the people... Lets hope we would not then forget about the immigration challenges and start fighting for the oil!
Geophysicist
Conrad Vella
Apr 16th 2009, 10:29
If only all other MP's had the guts to speak as Jeffrey does. !!!
The problem has been escalating over the years and no concrete action has been taken. Yesterday there was another massive landing at Lampedusa. With the improving weather, we can expect more waves of illegal immigrants. Time has come to take proper action by either not accepting illegal immigrants on our shores or by IMMEDIATELY repatriating them.
Keep it up Jeffrey, maybe someone will finally take heed and pass to concrete actions.
simon james schembri
Apr 16th 2009, 10:25
Jeffrey m' hawnx bhalu ...li hemm bzonn jinghad u imbaghad isir qieghed jghidu bla tlaqliq...prosit Jeffrey.
You are born to stand out, not to fit in ! (among cowards)
GaleaL
Apr 16th 2009, 10:07
Malta's zone has already been decided by the International Court of Justice, so any pressure should be met with the biggest NO that was ever given.
P Debono
Apr 16th 2009, 09:31
Never thought I'd say this but Dr. JPO has just hit the nail on the head there. Thank you for speaking for the common people in a language that ALL the common people understand and are talking about. We need more people like this man to speak up, regardless of what he did in the past or where his interests lie.