Claudia Calleja
Doing away with detention 'would spell disaster'
The government will continue to detain illegal immigrants on arrival in the interest of public safety, despite recent harsh criticism of the policy.
"Given Malta's small size you cannot expect the government to release illegal immigrants into the streets, especially in light of increasing numbers. This would send the wrong message and spell disaster for the country... As a minister I am responsible, first and foremost, for the protection of Maltese citizens," Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici said yesterday.
On Thursday, the international humanitarian aid agency Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) launched a scathing attack on Malta's detention policy during a session of the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee.
It followed Gozo Bishop Mario Grech's recent criticism of the government's detention policy in the light of Catholic morals and his call for an "honest, sincere and level-headed assessment" of long-term detention, which he said was leading to mental breakdown.
The agency, which recently withdrew its services from Malta's detention centres due to "appalling" medical conditions and overcrowding, presented its report to the EP describing the centres as a "threat to human well-being".
The humanitarian organisation decided to quit detention centres because it felt its work was made ineffective due to the absence of pharmacies and proper facilities to isolate people with infectious diseases.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he was receiving mixed messages from the agency since, on the one hand, it had withdrawn some of its services while on the other he recently received a letter from MSF saying it wished to increase its services in Malta.
He did not contest that the conditions in detention centres were "not optimal". However, the government was working to improve the situation.
"The government cannot work miracles. We are trying to make improvements but the increasing flow of immigrants slows things down," he said.
It was easy to criticise Malta, especially since its small size made everything more visible, he said, adding he expected international organisations such as MSF to help Malta cope with the problem.
The ministry also issued a statement saying it was disappointed that MSF was persisting in criticising Malta in the most unfair manner by publishing a dramatised report, which was nothing more than a "thinly-veiled attack" on Malta's detention policy, a matter outside MSF's remit.
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13 Comments
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D.Galea
Apr 18th 2009, 14:49
As much as it has every right to an opinion at the SAME level as EVERY other Maltese citizen, Religious interference with the state will ALWAYS spells disaster.
v.pulis
Apr 18th 2009, 14:42
The alternative to detention is freedom of movement ergo illegal migrants with no identity and no police record roaming all over malta. They may be bona fide citizens in their own country for all we knowbut they could also be crininals, terrorists, pirates or whatever. The Maltese have a saying Ahseb fil hazin biex it-tajjeb ma jonqosx in English they say better safe than sorry. Let's not be sorry. detention must stay if anything it should beextended to make malta less attractive.
F Borg
Apr 18th 2009, 12:58
Before we joined the EU, a clause was agreed upon in order to cushion the blows from any invasion and stress in the Maltese labour market. Now we have recession, a financial crisis, an unrelenting record high inflation (the highest in the entire eurozone for a long time), persistantly the lowest wage growth in the entire EU for several years, rising unemployment, an increasing trade deficit, a rising budget deficit, violent crime, assaults on the rise, more hold-ups and people being shot at regularly etc etc etc... Whatever the MSF says should be at the very bottom of our priorities. The government should not be bothered with rebutting blatant lies.
Joe Grima
Apr 18th 2009, 11:43
Detention policy must be adhered to. The Government is right on this and should not even think of giving in either to the Gozo Bishop or to MSF who I suspect have an agenda in all this. If MSF do not approve of Malta's detention policy and the way immigrants are kept here , let MSF take the illegals elsewhere and care for tjhem themselves.
Stephen Vella
Apr 18th 2009, 11:31
The detention period should be extended to an indefinate period until repatriation is possible. This will deter more arrivals as are expected in the coming season.
d. borg
Apr 18th 2009, 11:26
We know what's best for our country and no matter what anyone says the detention is a must. We have enough immigrants roaming about in our streets. If MSF want to return they are welcome but not to meddle in our affairs. They will be here on a purely voluntary basis and not to make political statements and reports.
Paul Barrett
Apr 18th 2009, 11:18
Detention is essential what is more, unless these poor people are qualified for asylum, they should not be released into open centres but remain in detention until they declare where they come from and voluntarily agree to return there (with assistance from the EU).
Anything less than the above and you might as well disband all controls on arrivals to the Island and indeed to Europe.
Anyone who disagrees with this policy - no problem, open up your residence to house and feed them and just work a little harder so that you have the income to be able to support them and your own family until they take over (Cuckoo in the nest syndrome). There is a limit to charity and when it is a clear and present danger to the survival and future of you and your family, the limit has been reached.
Stand firm - there is too much to loose - a line in the sand has to be drawn.
John Spiteri, Information Secretary AN
Apr 18th 2009, 11:02
Detention to stay and it should be indefinite when necessary.
T Mifsud
Apr 18th 2009, 10:58
MSF has had their credibility plunge into a political disaster for them. How can, a voluntary group of doctors, whose exact mission is to offer international medical assistance where it is difficult to achieve, abort a mission they had here because they found an excuse to blame the government instead of facing reality and say that the influx is uncontainable?!
Very bad publicity for MSF. The goverment does not have to justify at all its position because there is nothing it can do. We are a small island blessed with our position for business, cursed at the same time due to illegal immigration while being prostitued by the EU.
Joseph Galea
Apr 18th 2009, 10:44
Detention is essential, as are better conditions in detention centres..
Mario Tabone-Vassallo
Apr 18th 2009, 10:42
Naqbel 100% mal-Gvern fuq dan
Charles Sammut
Apr 18th 2009, 10:27
I find it pathetic of the Minister to feel obliged to justify the government's (and opposition's) policy on detention to persons and organisations who are answerable to no one and represent only their own interest.
Franco Farrugia
Apr 18th 2009, 10:27
I agree completely with the Government's policy on detention.