Updated: Maroni, Mifsud Bonnici to have talks in Libya

Mikela Smith

May 9th 2009, 18:59

I am sick of hearing so many racist comments. I cannot believe how anyone can forget that these are PEOPLE who we are talking about, a number of whom have serious difficulties which cannot be ignored. It is unethical to play chess games with people's lives.

Please anyone who holds human rights as a fundamental value, make your voices heard too. Just as everyone has the right to freedom of speech, so do humans have the right to a life with dignity.

Marlene Vella

May 9th 2009, 16:20

While we're all wasting time in all this rhetoric and blaming the EU etc. to the detriment of all parties, the UN has had enough resources and clout to investigate weapons of mass destruction that have never been found (or so we hear) and be used to justify a war in the process. With the risk of sounding simple can't they up the same intelligence to track down human traffickers or are we too terrified of what might be digged up about these shameless monsters 'mejtin ghal-sold'? Roughly speaking, 2000 for Malta, 40000 for Italy, all paying say 800 euros each to get on a worthless boat, not to mention those who perished at sea. I'll let you work out the maths. What an insult to humankind. Instead of just moaning about the dangers of repatriation, is this how the UN wants to serve asylum seekers?

Michael Galea

May 8th 2009, 11:29

Finalmente una luce di speranza... to all those crying for the fates of those sent back whining about how they will be tortured..... you must really want the destruction of malta/europe if you choose to forget how these ppl had probably been in libya for the last 5 years waiting for the ferry....and the torture/raping issues only rise once they are sent back....

lgalea

May 8th 2009, 09:57

Moses Mula
If you read the report by the refugee appeals board you would know that they have been living in Libya for years and were none the worse after living there.
If you want to end all sorts of discrimination etc that you mentioned in your post you are free to go to those countries and help them there, but they have no right to be in OUR country. Whenever we have problems we face them and not run away. Ad if there are such problems, why do they leave and leave their wives and families behind them? Many people have been taken for a ride for far too long but many are now realizing it and want an end to all the illegal immigrants invasion no matter what.

lgalea

May 8th 2009, 09:52

Joseph Caruana
Forget it. If you still allow them to apply for asylum all Africa will continue to try to invade us and Europe. If they have been living in Libya for years as evidenced by the refugee appeal board publication, why should they not continue to do so now? They have also crossed other countries to go to Libya and could also have stayed there. All of you do-gooders stop using the Christian values card, It is way past its use-by date like the refugee convention.

victor caruana

May 8th 2009, 08:59

It is good Maroni is holding Carm Mifsud Bonnici's hand in dealing with the Libyans. Maroni seems to get results while we moan and groan and let others make fools of us.

J S Borg

May 8th 2009, 08:57

It seems that most of the international media is living the moslem calendar because many years ago the small islands off Italy including Lampedusa were Malta's dependencies.

Sandro Pace

May 8th 2009, 08:22

Lobbying has led us to nowhere and will not lead us to anywhere. The status quo has no bargaining power. The asylum system is overwhelmed with even those rejected staying here. And with 50% approvals, we were not coping with those neither.

This is now the best path so far. And Malta has to pursue. So far it has the backing of the Commission, cause it knows that enough is enough. This has been brought by both Italy and Malta holding tough and not by any moral grounds. Italy is considering it as deporting Malta's immigrants, so we are in it too. Lets hope it continues.

Anyone against such moves is against the country and its people.

Saviour Pisani

May 8th 2009, 08:19

UNHCR is saying that among the illegal emigrants ( who were taken back to Libia by Italian vessels ) some may qualify as refugees. This is not correct and it is not acceptable. These people arrived in Libia, stayed there and earned money to be able to do the crossing and during this time ( God knows how long these people have been there) they have not been persecuted or otherwise ill treated.This means that when they decide to do the crossing they do it for other reasons. this definitely does not qualify them for refugee status. The Govt. is in duty bound to utterly reject their argument as Moroni of Italy did.

lgalea

May 8th 2009, 07:34

Joseph Caruana
Forget it. If you still allow them to apply for asylum all Africa will continue to try to invade us and Europe. If they have been living in Libya for years as evidenced by the refugee appeal board publication, why should they not continue to do so now? They have also crossed other countries to go to Libya and could also have stayed there.

Joseph Caruana

May 8th 2009, 00:55

You are arguing against the 'illegality' and then act to solve it through illegality. I believe in approaching north African counterparts such as Gaddaffi but on the grounds of push him to join the dublin agreements.
option two is to push the EU to do more as it will be doing soon with the setting up of the EASO. But then it has to take it further. Further enough to take the action to the source of the problem that is the countries of origins of these illegal immigrants.
But not to send these people to Libyan prisons. They must be provided the option to apply for asylum!

PS I firmly believe malta would gain by not joining in Maronis chorus of far-right approach and do what PN have been best at for the last decades and stick to their christian values/ This would give them the bargaining power and the media coverage to lobby the EU to do more than is being done right now.

Vincent Pace

May 8th 2009, 00:34

Dear Dr Gonzi
may I respecfully suggest a commission set up purely to handle illegal immigration, headed by a Commissioner nominated by BOTH parties, with 4 members, 2 nominated by Govt and 2 nominated by the opposition.
That will depoliticize the whole issue, and then we can get on with our lives.

Michael Neville Cassar

May 8th 2009, 00:29

I hope that this will continue, and the goody people around these islands can have enough courage to go with them, to help them make a better life in their own country .Yes love your neighour (but do not love one and damage the other, dear goody) .

Dennis Zammit

May 7th 2009, 22:05

Why is Euronews repeating over and over again that the illegal immigrants where rescued off Malta? Did they learn any geography to recognise the island of Lampedusa which is part of Italy? Or now, they want to say that Lampedusa forms part of the Maltese Islands?

Shame on you Euronews and RAI TV.

Sandro Zahra

May 7th 2009, 22:00

@ Jason Debono

I wish to update your post by saying that last year the number of illegal immigrants exceeded the number of births in Malta

Denis Catania

May 7th 2009, 21:33

This can be a step in the right direction as it will put traffickers out of business.

@J Martinelli: SAYS, And who persuaded Italy to act? Why don't you call a spade a spade?
Don't even try to say that the Gonzi administration persuade Italy to act. Sandro Pace told you who persuade the Italians.
It's true Maltese who complained, e-mailed Castille and commented on this site that pointed out the problems that made Gonzi realize that it's OK to act on the behalf of the Maltese. Not that we are there yet. But we are starting to see the light through the tunnel, unless this is a pre election sham. The campaign that you, ABC and the so called do-gooders (which I call oppressors, who keep Africans against their will for their own agenda) failed or I should say is failing.

V. Zammit

May 7th 2009, 21:06

Okay.
But is the problem is about illegal immigrants?
The illegal immigrants will go out of Europe but racism is staying.
The cancer (racism) will be directed to legal Africans immigrants in a country like Malta. While racism in Italy is targeted to Romans (fellow EU citizens) would we ask the Romans to quit the EU?

Alfred Cassar

May 7th 2009, 21:04

That's the ONLY way it could and should be done in order to stop this illegal human trafficking. Italy and Malta should agree to start a daily chartered plane leaving Italy with 150 illegal immigrants, stopping in Malta to collect another 50 and off it goes to Libya.
This operation should be repeated daily and the expenses shared between the two countries 75%/25%. Anybody objects?

L. Gauci

May 7th 2009, 20:57

I cannot understand why so many people are congratulating Italy. Italy only approached Libya to take back the immigrants when it realised that Malta had stood firm against its bullying. Before that Maroni had declared that Malta would have to take all the illegal immigrants arriving in Lampedusa. And what about the stand that Simon Busuttil took in the EU parliament and the way that Minister Mifsud Bonnici held firm? Why do we always have to denigrate our own people and glorify foreigners?

As for MSF, why are they suddenly so concerned about the immigrants? When they were in Malta they did not do much to help them. They just turned tail and left them to the "terrible conditions", which they said existed in Malta's detention centres.

UNHCR, on the other hand, seems to approve of illegal human trafficking. These poor people are being abused by the traffickers, who take advantage of their ignorance, and fill their minds with promises of a better life in Europe. Does this not bother UNHCR?

Charles Sammut

May 7th 2009, 20:23

@ Julian Cassar

An emigration office in Africa will only serve to rob the continent of good, professional and capable people. This is the last thing that Africa needs, an organised mass brain drain.

@ Laurence Schembri
The shame is all on you and those who reason like you. It is not a case of humane reasoning. It is a case of doing what's good all round.

Moses Mula

May 7th 2009, 20:03

@Igalea, ` whatever libya does with them is none of our buisness`. You must be a real champion of human rights. So I guess your way of thinking is that we should not care about the millions of people that live in countries where dictators rule, who are tortured, raped, killed or turned into soldiers at the age of twelve in war torn countries, and all those who are suffering from hunger and are not as lucky as me and you who had the luck to be born in democratic countries. The world would do much better without people sharing your sentiments. Your comment was very col bloodied, regardless of the position that Malta and Italy are taking on this issue. And by the way, when you sign agreements and receive millions of euros to keep these agreements, you should abide by the rules or not sign in the first place. Let me remind you that Ghaddafi is a dictator, anti-democracy, and not very well known for his human rights record. He even funded terrorists, for crying out loud. And Maroni? A neo-fascist.

J. Debono

May 7th 2009, 20:01

Reading some of the comments, most of you are happy that Italy sent the illegal immigrants back to Italy, whilst a minority are arguing that they are human beings and they should be helped and not sent back to Libya, where no human rights exist.

In my opinion there is only one truth.

We cannot cope with the enormous influx of illegal immigrants.
We are the most densely populated country (after Gibraltar) in Europe.
We have between 4,000 - 5,000 births a year and an influx of more than 2,000 illegal immigrants per year.

Therefore we have to stop them coming to Malta by any means possible, and if they need help, we'll help them in their own country like we always did.

Julian Cassar

May 7th 2009, 19:38

Joseph Galea, I very much agree with your proposal.

An office in Libya would finally give Africans a means for coming to Europe legally. It would save many lives too.

Commentators who focus on the word 'illegal' are pedantic - there is currently no other way to be a African emigrant. You do it illegally or you don't do it, which for many is no choice at all. An office in Libya would certainly help.

In America in the 1800s they reviewed immigrants' applications in New York, but this caused too much hardship so eventually they started reviewing applications in Europe before the migrants boarded the ship.

laurence schembri

May 7th 2009, 19:20

Totally agree with David Thake, Julian Cassar and David Betts. Not even a hint of humane reasoning, all aplotical rubbish, Shame on you all.

Franco Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 19:10

@ Sandro Pace: However, let there be no mistake .... we should hide our heads in shame, all of us, particularly everyone in the EU except us, the Maltese. We have failed! The EU has failed. The fact that we don't know, nor do we care - which is worse! - about what's happening to the returned immigrants, is not a good certificate for the EU as far as morality and humanity go. Let there be no mistake. Let nobody start praising the right!

Charles Sammut

May 7th 2009, 19:04

Contrary to what the usual do-gooders are saying, this development will save hundreds of lives every year. It will also save us tens of millions of Euros annually.

Once this dangerous and risky crossing from Libya to Europe is blocked, few will attempt it. It will also help Libya in the sense that less illegal immigrants will be tempted to cross the desert in the hope of eventually reaching the promised land.

So it is a win win situation all round. It might even prove to be an incentive for these people to do something to put their houses in order insted of abandoning their land and family in search of El Dorado.

@ Edwin Mifsud

Yes that phrase does ring a bell. Norman Lowell said it years ago and was ridiculed and labled racist. He also got awarded 2 years imprisonment suspended for 4 years for his pains.

J. Bonnici

May 7th 2009, 19:03

Attention Laura Boldrini, spokeswoman of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and Loris de Filippi from Medecins Sans Frontieres:--
Since you are so concerned about the illegal emigrants being returned to Libya, the land they left by boat, because that country has not signed the 1951 Geneva convention on refugees, why don't you convince the European states that have signed the 1951 Geneva Convention to share amongst them these illegal immigrants as they promised to do through the "burden sharing" (but never did) and the illegal immigrants picked up at sea will be handed over to them for safe keeping. But as we say in Maltese "Hadd ma jrid il pulizija wara biebu!"

Marlene Vella

May 7th 2009, 18:57

It's essential for Malta to work with Italy on this issue despite Maroni's extremely racist and xenophobic policies. Some people laughed stupidly when Prodi's government with Maltese Cassola as an MP had to resign. As they say - chi la fa l'aspetti!
The outcome in the political groups in the EP is yet to be decided:
The largest single contributor of MEPs to the UEN group, the Italian National Alliance, merged with Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia party into The People of Freedom on 29 March 2009.[25] PdL inherited FI's membership in the EPP; a single list of PdL candidates will be run in 2009 which would then take their seats in the EPP-ED (or a purely EPP) group, substantially reducing the potential MEPs that a UEN group could draw upon.[26] This move will come after a series of attempts by National Alliance to abandon more staunchly nationalist and Eurosceptic parties and move towards the moderate European centre-right, including a previous application for EPP membership.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament_election,_2009

Chris Borg

May 7th 2009, 18:50

Is this a temporary fix in attempt to eliminate any competition for the MEP elections?

No immigration issue = no votes for candidates basing their campaign on this issue.

I wonder if the authorities will put so much effort in tackling this after june.

Joseph V. Grech

May 7th 2009, 18:50

Well done to Malta and Italy. All illegal immigrants should be immediately returned to Libya's shore since they depart from there. Europe either does that or risks being irremediably distabilised through uncontrolled immigration. It was a shame to see Malta and Italy quarreling over the problem. They cannot and will not accept other arrivals and all those presently in malta without legitimate rights should be returned. The UN Commission for Refugees should not be ''concerned'' about the development - it should be ''relieved'' that Europe will not be overrun. Laura Boldrini should not put pressure on Malta and Italy to receive these illegals. If the Commission wishes to help the asylum seekers it should have the decency to collect them from Malta and Italy and look after them itself. The same goes for ''Medecins sans Frontires'' and other irresponsible NGOs who try to get to heaven over the backs of others - whether individuals or countries. Shame on them! De Filippi should act more responsibly towards his country and countrymen. Let not the Maltese authorities backtrack; they are not to move back an inch if they want to have the country behind them! We hold them responsible for Malta's welfare.

A.Gauci Cunningham

May 7th 2009, 18:48

I was tempted not to say this but being a guy who adores the truth I have to......is this the same Minister and these the same commentators (only a few of the below) and the same government/party which brought out its loose canons and fired indiscriminately at one of their own i.eJeffrey Pullicino Orlando when he said exactly the same things that Maroni has done today and for what he has been heartily congratulated??????????/ Truly hypocritical......

L-aqwa li lil Jeffrey pprovaw ikissruh (wara li uzawh!!!!!!)

Dr. Savior Tortell Pisani

May 7th 2009, 18:42

The UNHCR and MSF are really missing the woods for the trees... I can’t believe their short sightedness. They should know better!

Can't they see that a Libyan agreement preventing people from leaving Africa is EQUIVALENT to immediate repatriation to the point of origin?

Can't they see that immediate repatriation is the only effective form of deterrent for such human trafficking?... Can't they see that this is the best way to make the journey unattractive?

Can't they see that allowing illegal immigration to continue unchecked leads to a HUGE human risk and often loss of life??

And what's best? Beating the odds in your native Somalia (Nigeria, Ethiopia etc... ) or beating the odds against the fierce Mediterranean Sea in a flimsy overcrowded boat?

The only solution is to create an environment where it is unprofitable, unattractive, insurmountable and totally **NEEDLESS** to ever leave your native Africa!

The UNHCR and MSF and anyone else who cares to help these people should do so IN THEIR HOME - AFRICA!!! International conventions might need to be revised if they lack common sense.

Charles Debono

May 7th 2009, 18:40

The agreement reached between the Italians and Libya is BAD news for us. VERY BAD NEWS.

Malta can never reach such an agreement with Libya simply because we have nothing to offer them.
What the Italians are not saying is how much in terms of money and GOD knows what else it cost them for the Libyans to accept repatriation. I am sure Gaddafi’s heart is not bleeding for the Italians.

Now the illegal immigrants have only one option left for them. Head straight for Malta. From tomorrow we can expect them in flocks of 400 outside the Grand harbour. Our prime minister is so afraid of UNCHR and its followers in Malta that he will have no option but to accept them under the excuse of conscientious rightness and continue dreaming of burden sharing.

stephen farrugia

May 7th 2009, 18:37

@ Edwin Mifsud

Yes, it does ring a bell..... does it ring a bell for other people?

G. Mangion

May 7th 2009, 18:33

A big welldone to the Prime Minister Gonzi and Minister Mifsud Bonnici aswell ,

They sure are letting all know, that were Malta's interest is at stake they can stand up and
and fight in a very Professional way, and Polite way.

Stephen Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 18:33

@ Joseph R Aquilina

Libya asked the Africans to enter their country. The whole story was always a lie.

Edwin Mifsud

May 7th 2009, 18:28

"There is only one solution to this problem. We have to stop them 14 miles out."

Does this phrase ring a Bell?

V. Zammit

May 7th 2009, 18:27

Adieu Human rights.
Were illegal immigrants humans?
Does the EU has own definition of humans?
EU should not breach Africa any longer human rights and seriously follow Zimbabwe human rights style. This is exactly what Gaddafi is proving that EU breach something and acts the opposite. I mean, Gaddafi or Africans never boosted up them as a human rights custodians but the EU does and here lies the difference and the hypocrisy of EU.

Joseph R Aquilina

May 7th 2009, 18:24

The operative part of Minister Mifsud Bonnici's statement is that "Libya should be assisted through a comprehensive programme so that this problem could be resolved." That is the way forward to solve the problem on a tri-partitie basis. By the way, that is also what the Libyan Government has been requesting for some time - so hopefully Malta championing the Libyan cause within the EU should result in some tangible action in this regard.

john fenech

May 7th 2009, 18:22

Hope that Malta & Italy will share the same boat! Today’s events are the result of varies episodes, a few are listed:

May 7, 10:29am GMT
Moroni said: The deportations were made possible by deepening ties between Rome and Tripoli, which earlier this year signed an accord compensating Libya for Italy's colonial-era misdeeds.
That pact is meant to boost cross-border investments and cooperation, and Libya has already become an important investor in Italy's banking and energy sectors.
Full report: http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE5460C220090507

October 31, 2008 | FoxNews.com
ROME — The Italian government gave Libya early warning of the 1986 U.S. airstrikes launched in response to a deadly attack on a disco in Germany, Libyan and Italian officials said Thursday.
Full story: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,445450,00.html

10 May 2008
SILVIO Berlusconi, the Italian prime minister, faced his first crisis in office after a notorious leader of the xenophobic Northern League was named his "minister for simplification of legislation".
Full Report at: http://news.scotsman.com/world/Libya----issues.4070257.jp
05/07/2009 - 09:19

Malta must respect international rescue accords, Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said Wednesday after Valletta refused to pick migrants near the southern Italian island of Lampedusa.
Maroni said Italy and Malta had ''different interpretations'' of international treaties.

Full report at: http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/immigration/maroni-must-respect-rescue-accords

Stephen Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 18:20

The Italian newspapers are saying a lot of lies and their readers are passing a lot of false comments. Register at the five big newspapers, La Republica,La Stampa,CDSera,il giornale(most of all) and il mattino and answer their accusations.

J Busuttil

May 7th 2009, 18:16

This issue brought out how wise our Govt is. He didn't sent any immigrant back but by a strong resolute against Italy things are changing. MARONI-MIFSUD BONNICI-BARROT=European Union. So it counts being in the EU because we are not going ALONE in Libya.

r cuschieri

May 7th 2009, 18:07

For the record it has to be noted that the UNHCR in its statement repeated the lie spread by Italian media that the illegal immigrants had been picked up from Maltese territorial waters (sic) (Source : Corriere della Sera). Can somebody from the Maltese side tell these people to act responsibly and seriously and get their facts right before trying to give their unsolicited and unwelcome comments or advice to others?

Sandro Pace

May 7th 2009, 17:58

@ J Martinelli

Voters who voted Maroni persuaded Italy to act. I dont think that even if given the clout, our present politicians could also have done the same. We need more people like such politicians.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To all who brings the rights arguments, immigrants overwhelmed the asylum system and the UNHCR did nothing to prevent the unsustainability of it all, especially in relation to Malta.
They went by 'the more in Europe the better', making traffickers richer at our expense.
So now they have to suffer the consequences. Draconian measures are required.

Joseph Galea

May 7th 2009, 17:54

To get over the issue of having to deny refugee status to those who deserve it, cannot an office be opened up in Libya by UNHCR to process these claims. Those who deserve such status should then be distributed to countries (both EU and beyond) in accordance to the size of that country. These refugees would then become de facto legal immigrants of the country to which they are sent. This way every country contributes according to its means and no country is made to suffer simply because of its geographical location. Some creative thinking is required.

Kenneth Galea

May 7th 2009, 17:52

The UNHCR should come up with concrete solutions. The illegal immigrants/economic migrants the UNHCR is defending can claim asylum at their first port of call that is Yemen or Libya. Both countries are stable and safe therefore there is NO need for these economic migrants to claim asylum in Italy or Malta.
Libya, Malta, Maroni etc do not succumb to the UNHCR unreasonable demands. It is time that the governments stand up to the UNHCR.

Alfred Bugeja

May 7th 2009, 17:52

I can't believe that UNHCR and MSF are supporting an illegal trafficking of human beings that has led to transforming the Mediterranean into a tomb for thousands of desperate African people!

Are they real??? Can't they see such an obvious flaw in their argument???

If they really want to help these people they should get busy in the countries of transit and origin. UNHCR has been conspicuous by its absence in Libya.

Sandro Pace

May 7th 2009, 17:44

This has set a lot of precedents for Malta. And they have to be used. Malta cannot afford to be less tough than Italy now, or become a soft loophole. Even if Libya not permitting. If immigration became unsustainable for Italy, so it is for Malta. We cannot wait for any EU clout neither. That is fantapolitics. Barot and Barroso are Portuguese and French, and dont give a hoot for Malta. But some people persist in being naive.

Boats can be fixed on site or replenished, and turned. If they can be 'helped' to Italy, they can also be 'helped' to Libya.

lgalea

May 7th 2009, 17:42

Joe Micallef So are you suggesting that we submit to such threats since we have nothing to offer Libya although we did give them lots of support when they were isolated? Or are you suggesting that we do away with our S&R area and continental shelf and give them to Libya among other countries? If Libya does not accept our illegal immigrants we should take the matter up at the UN and ask for sanctions because Libya would be discriminating and holding us at ransom.

g.c.Forte, Saviour Sam Agius, Julian Cassar, What Libya does with them is none of our business.

Boldrini and De Filippi, MSF, UNHCR and th erest of the Dogooder NGO's we do not care what you say and stop interfering in our internal affairs.

r ferriggi, David Thake Refugees can stay in Libya. How many countries do they cross to come here? Is it possible they are threatened in all countries? As if!!

N Borg Totally agree with you.

I will only believe our government when the first boatload of illegal immigrants approaching Malta is turned around towards Libya or the illegal immigrants picked up are taken straight back to Libya.

Wayne Hewitt

May 7th 2009, 17:42

I expect Arnold Cassola to publicly congratulate Mr. Maroni for this move....

Come on Arnold, impress us

John Betts

May 7th 2009, 17:26

Mr. Julian Cassar, Mr. David Thake, I agree with your comments.

Gareth Buttigieg

May 7th 2009, 17:22

Bravo Ministers!!
Agreed!! Libya needs assistance (not neccessarily financial) with these illegal immigrants as much as we do because they are the point of origin to this problem. UNHCR, Medecins sans frontiers et al can criticize all they want. Where were they when we needed them???

malcolm seychell

May 7th 2009, 17:18

Well Done to Maroni and also finally to the government.

I am waiting for a statement by Alternattiva Demokratika

As far as I know they do not want illegal immigrants to go back to Libya!!

I suggest both to Mifsud Bonnici and Maroni to ignore UNHCR.

They never acted in our interest.

Franco Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 17:18

After Doctors without Frontiers left Malta high and dry, they have the temerity to criticise this move. Shame on them!

CLIFFORD VELLA

May 7th 2009, 17:17

THE ILLIGAL IMMIGRANTS PAID MONEY FOR NOTHING THIS TIME.

Andre' Callus

May 7th 2009, 17:16

Disgusting! Sending migrants back to Libya means sending them back to torture or even death. Remeber what happened in 2002 when Malta sent 200 Eritreans back to Eritrea? They were all imprisioned and tortured, and tens of them died. This is what Libya does on a regular basis, and this is the fate that these migrants sent to Libya will face. Libya deports migrants to countries such as Eritrea, Sudan and Somalia, and hands them to those Govenrments from which these persons had escaped. Furthermore, migrants are severly abused (with many cases of rape and torture) in Libyan detention centers.

Michelle Dali

May 7th 2009, 17:16

@ John Fenech

Thank you for the link to the BBC news report of this story. I noted there was an error in their report. They said that the illegal migrants had been picked up in waters off the island of Malta. Pity there is no facility to comment on the BBC website, or I would have made it clear that the migrants had in fact been picked up off the Italian island of Lampedusa!

The error is misleading and comes at a time when Malta is already coming under much unfair criticism and undeserved bad press.

As to the MSF and UNHCR complaining about the actions of Mr Maroni, it would seem that these two organisations are totally in favour of human trafficking. They oppose every effort put these criminals out of business! One wonders if there is a hidden agenda involved....

Muscat.Pat

May 7th 2009, 17:12

It is too early to sing VICTORIA, the situation is still evolving. We do not know what rich Italy has promised Libya. Libya is in the same predicament as us, land of passage. Italy, is at the receiving end too. The problem is the rest of EU friends. One thing for sure, this situation has been foretold six years ago, but the Government hoped that our "good" friends will come to our needs. At least there was a predicament with the Social Democrats in Europe who did agree that Malta is a special case. This is inded a step forward. However, let us hope that this is not just an other election gimmick by Lega Northon one side and PN on the other. Finally, the leader of the Opposition and 80% of the Maltese population has set the ball rolling! Good luck!

C Mallia

May 7th 2009, 17:11

@UNHCR and Doctors without Frontiers

If Libya has not signed the 1951 Geneva convention, then what about negotiating with Libya and the EU to come to some agreement to make at least some reception centres on Libyan shores and manned by the EU itself. Like this maybe Libya does not have to sign the convention, it solves the problem from people needed to take dangerous trips, there is no scope for human trafficking and true refugees can still be protected and repatriated to the EU under a burden sharing scheme.

K Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 17:10

Has anyone ever stopped to wonder why it is moslty men who make the crossing? Isn't this strange? What about their wives and children back in the country from which they are fleaing?
Could this be some kind of tacit holy war that will evnetually turn into a revolt against Europe?

I think the UN, and MSF should ask these questions and open an investigation into the matter. After all is was Gaddafi who said Muslims will win the holy war not with swords or battle.

I am not at all racist, I have some of my close friends who are black people, but an invansion is an invasion, there is no use beating round the bush.

Alex Ellul

May 7th 2009, 17:10

This is exactly how John Howard, the Catholic ex-Prime Minister of Australia solved the illegal immigration problem during his great premiership. No sufferance to the humans involved, no more people drowning in the high seas.

Stephen Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 16:56

So when a boat arrives in Malta directly, they cannot land in Malta and will be turned around at 14 miles out at sea, back to Libya..... right ?

Starting from yesterday.

louise vella

May 7th 2009, 16:56

Malta must put the national interest first and simply ignore what UNHCR, MSF and other do-gooder NGOs say. We have had more than enough of their intrusion.

A. Vassallo

May 7th 2009, 16:49

Can you tell me why some of you are making so much fuss and congratulating Mr. Maroni for what he did?

He had no other alternative. He realized that he could not dump these illegal immigrants in Malta anymore because he saw that the Maltese Government was going to hold fast on this one. So Ministers Borg and Mifsud Bonnici together with PM Gonzi should be congratulated.

J Martinel;li

May 7th 2009, 16:47

@ Wayne Hewitt

And who persuaded Italy to act? Why don't you call a spade a spade?

Stephen Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 16:47

"But then Libya chairs a UN Human Rights Committee?!?? Who believes the UN and it's resolutions?"

He got you..... :)

L.Attard Bezzina

May 7th 2009, 16:39

"You can't send people back to a country like Libya that hasn't ratified international humanitarian conventions like the Geneva convention on human rights," De Filippi said.

But then Libya chairs a UN Human Rights Committee?!?? Who believes the UN and it's resolutions?

Wayne Hewitt

May 7th 2009, 16:38

A clear example of putting national interest first. If the problem of illegal immigration from Africa is eventually solved we have to thank Italy and not our Government.

It's good that Italy has finally seen the light and focused on a more long sighted solution of stemming the problem from source rather then bickering ridiculously with a small neighbouring EU country.

Libya has always been the issue here. Italy was merely putting its national security first, something that our Government has so poorly failed to do on illegal immigration.

Now I expect the Government to release a statement saying that it will support this initiative from Italy.

Needless to say, MSF and Ms. Boldrini should take their empty threats elsewhere. Malta is the 2nd most densely populated country in the world and there is no way the Maltese will accept to abandon their country to sure misery.

Franco Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 16:30

@ Gianninu Saliba: May I politely ask you to comment without the usual partisan vitriol? Perhaps, if only you could remove those blinkers and comment dispassionately, then, perhaps, and only perhaps, your comments will be taken with less than the pinch of salt that otherwise they are wont to be.

David Thake

May 7th 2009, 16:23

I'm sorry. I disagree with people's potential right to refugee status being denied.

This may be a solution that addresses the selfish needs of our country and Italy, but it falls short of protecting the human rights of people who may need and may have a right to protection from persecution.

Two wrongs do not make a right.

Julian Cassar

May 7th 2009, 16:21

Dear Mike Farrugia,

I can tell you why. Europeans (Poles, Italians, Swedes, etc.) who migrated to America in the 1980s had to travel first to Liverpool or Antwerp, and then take an uncomfortable and dangerous ship to New York.

They did not stop in Antwerp. They had heard that the streets in America were lined with gold. If they were going to make the effort to leave their homes, then they were going to get to the gold-paved streets even if it killed them.

Why would anyone want to go to Libya - a corrupt and racist country which has no laws to protect the immigrants from discrimination at work? These are normal people with brains - NOONE would want to go to Libya.

Sure sure, we cannot handle them all... but surely we should be concerned about these peoples' fate, surely we should not jump with glee because they are being taken to Libya?

Or are we just happy to be rid of them? Not our problem after all, nahslu jdejna...

R. Caruana

May 7th 2009, 16:21

"the UN refugee agency said it was "very concerned" over the development. The migrants were unable to make any demands for asylum..."

First of all, the UN refugee agency missed the word 'ILLEGAL' in front of 'MIGRANTS'. Secondly, if there are genuine cases, they should apply for asuylum before leaving, and if granted they can then leave without risking their lives.

One thing is sure, another few boatloads like these returned to Libya, and human traffiking in that country might come to an end as these poor souls will not part with their money to pay such criminals.

MARIO GELLEL

May 7th 2009, 16:20

Libja and Italy have done a milestep forward in this issue.Is our goverment involving himself to assure and rest our minds that the same will happen if a load of illegal immigrants enter our teritorial waters? Till now he is mouth zipped,or maybe he will tell us it is not in the public interest to know????

N Borg

May 7th 2009, 16:15

Dunno what the fuss is all about. The italians had the guts to do what we should have been doing for ages. if we are too concerned about human rights of these criminals who are breaking the law, we will soon forget about the human rights of our citizens who have the basic fundamental right of living in their own country, without this unnecessary inconvenience. we and our ancestors have been trying to build a strong nation with a lot of sacrifice and these parasites then come and suck out all the benefits. let events like this be hailed!

malcolm azzopardi

May 7th 2009, 16:11

I think we should do the same in the future...intercept the boats at sea and take them back to Libya, then they won't even dream of crossing !!!!

john fenech

May 7th 2009, 16:09

Do not rush into wonderland as yet, what Moroni got was paid for by Italy in hard cash and political back scratching over a period of 4 years. I eternally hope that when the time comes for Malta to ask the Libyan authorities to accept the visitors back we will be allowed to so.
The link is to the news about this saga from the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8037803.stm

Stephen Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 16:08

Now you will see that people who make money from illegal immigration, oppose the idea. This will one day, have to be followed up.

@ Ray Buttigieg

I 100% agree with you and we will send a strong message.

r ferriggi

May 7th 2009, 15:54

I am all out in favor of this new development, as i am sure most Maltese are.

but may i suggest to out government to propose ( after discussing with Libya) the opening of a refugee screeening office in Libya, for genuine cases of refugees.

We have to remember that A FEW ARE truly victims. we can NEVER forget them.

Mike Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 15:50

Why are Medecins Sans Frontieres in favour of human trafficking? Do real refugees have to make all their way to northern Europe to become a refugee? Why don't they go to Nigeria where they can find a richer country than us and do not suffer any culture shocks?....and its less risky, cheaper, same climate, oil producing companies will accept them.....why?

Saviour Sam Agius

May 7th 2009, 15:47

What will Libya do now? Send them back to Chad, and Chad to Sudan, etc etc etc... We'll all be playing an international ping pong game with human life pretty soon.

c.camilleri

May 7th 2009, 15:43

Actions speak louder than words. This action should have been taken long ago by both countries, Italy and Malta. Here one has to congratulate the Italian Interior Minister Sign Roberto Maroni for having the guts to send back these refugees. Well done. WE hope that this is only the first step.

F. Abela

May 7th 2009, 15:42

Whilst I sympathise with the migrants who leave their countries because of wars, etc. I ask the U.N. Refugee agency and MSF whether they expect Malta and Italy to house the millions of migrants who flee their countries. Would it not be better for the U.N, Refugee agency and MSF to put pressure on the United Nations that they impose sanctions on those corrupt governments who disregard their people and let them fight between them and live a hell of a life. One solution could also be that countries do not send monies direct to the governments who do not most of the time use it to help their people. The solution to the problem is not passing on the buck to other countries but try and solve it by being really a united nations.

Julian Cassar

May 7th 2009, 15:41

So much for human rights, hux hekk Maroni? Human rights apply only when we talk about the president of Sudan or the president of Iran?

'One half of the world does not know how the other half lives... It did not know because it did not care.' Jacob Riis, Danish immigrant to the US (1870).

Joseph Cauchi

May 7th 2009, 15:33

.

“But the UN refugee agency said it was "very concerned" over the development”.

If the UNHCR is so “very concerned”, then it shouldn’t worry, as it can easily house them in their offices either in Geneva or at the UN head-quarters in New York.

Problem solved.

Q.E.D.

../..

John Spiteri

May 7th 2009, 15:22

But the UN refugee agency said it was "very concerned" over the development..

Besides the EU Commission,The UN is probably the most unaccountable and inefficient supranational institution. only this week yet another scandal involving it and the EU has been exposed. it involved Massive fraud with thousands of millions of funds that European taxpayers were supposed to be paying to 'rebuild Kosovo'. The EU decided to drop the investigations..

It is disgusting that whilst these supranational and bureaucratic institutions fret and worry about people seeking voluntarily to place themselves at risk in order to break other countries laws - they have never said anything about our rights. Whilst the EU and the UN echo each other on the need for europe to import 50 million illiterates from the third world, they happily preside over the ANNUAL slaughter of 1.2 Million of our own innocent European children through abortion.

whichever way you look at it - it seems the UN and to an extent the EU, worry about everything but our demise and actually expect us to support and subsidise it..

J Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 15:21

refugee agency keep out of this matter for your own good. You should help Malta not Africa.

Carmel J Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 15:19

I cannot understand MSF's and the UN refugee agency's problems. We do not have any reports of persecution of Somali and Eritrean refugees in Libya -- so why do they have to come the Italy and Malta. They can remain in Libya and make their life there.

Gianninu Saliba

May 7th 2009, 15:11

Dear Mr. Bugeja, am I the one who is confused or is it a fact that you fail to understand what you read? Did you notice that Mr. Maroni said: "the dispute between Italy and Malta on the intake of illegal immigrants will be resolved because regardless of the waters where the boats are found they will be sent back to Libya from where they left". By the way, how dare you doubt the government's "guts"? It was the Nationalist Party that stood firm against the socialist aggression and threat to democracy and that is a historical fact. Now It is our PN Government that made it clear to Italy's Maroni: "No we will not take the migrants if they are closer to your ports". This is why Maroni is licking his wounds and swallowed his bride by stating that Libya's move could help resolve the conflict between Italy and Malta. Yes, as Mr. Maroni said, this is a historic day. Well done Dr. Gonzi. Say something Dr. Muscat.

Charles Sammut

May 7th 2009, 15:11

Dear Laura Boldrini

None of these illegal immigrants came directly from their country of origin. Therefore, according to the 1951Geneva Convention on refugees which you love to quote so much, none of them are eligible for refugee status.

If Boldrini and De Filippi are so concerned about Libya's non-ratification of international conventons, they should put pressure on Libya to ratify those much abused conventions which have been used to destroy our societies in recent years.

Then if these people feel so strongly about moving the whole African population to Europe, they should set up a pro-immigration party and do it democratically through politics.

Mark Piscopo

May 7th 2009, 15:10

Well done Italy!!

g.c.Forte

May 7th 2009, 15:10

I do not want to be pathetic, but I wish to know what Libya is going to do with them. Repatriation I think it is out of the question, to keep them locked up, I do not think so, to leave them running around, living there, I do not know, what about giving them another boat, maybe this time they will succeed entering Europe, who knows through Malta .............forsi.

Etienne Bonanno

May 7th 2009, 15:08

Hands off, UNHCR! When you have set up migrant processing centres in AFRICA (out of UN funds, of course), we can talk again about (controlled) migration. In the meantime, we have to defend ourselves - we have no choice!
Libya may not have signed the Geneva convention, but that does not mean that the migrants will be tortured or discriminated, or whatever else - not more than they would be in Europe, anyway.
If Italy keeps it's word and repatriates all the migrants immediately back to Libya (without foisting them on Malta), then we might have the solution to the entire problem. Illegal immigration would gradually peter out as they realised that they do not have an easy backdoor into Europe.
On the other hand, if Italy DOES foist them on Malta, then we might as well start packing...

Joe Micallef

May 7th 2009, 15:01

@Anthony Bugeja

There is a simple reason why this happend - The Italian govenment paid huge sums of money to Libya and hence it has leverage. Are you ready to pay addtional taxes for this purpose - a rough estimate would be some €945 additional tax each year for each working soul.....and that would not even match all that is paid by the Italians.

Gheddafi can be very accommodating………..with the right offer

Ray Buttigieg

May 7th 2009, 14:55

well done Italy. I hope malta and italy can work together and increase this direct repatriation of migrants. The UN high commission for Refugees and the MSF can complain as much as they like and accuse human right abuses till eternity, but the only way to stop this criminal activity is forced repatriation. People need to be discouraged from entering another country illegally, be it Italy, Malta, Libya or any other country. Any person in any circumstances crossing national borders illegally is acting in a criminal manner and this activity has to be stopped.

Unfortunately the EU has not been much help in this situation and the Maltese should give a clear massage in June elections and vote for Norman Lowell. Send him to Brussels as a sign of our dissatisfaction and not as an approval of his policies

jamie pace

May 7th 2009, 14:51

The italian Governmnet has set the ball rolling...I hope our prime minister will be watching the latest development ....maybe we ve finally arrived to a solution to these immigration problem....once the migrants realize that they would be sent back to libya after paying the human traffickers and hence loosing their money...alot of them wld deffinately go back to their country of origin ....Now we expect frontex to do same,stop them at sea give them neccessary assistance and return them back to libya....

d. borg

May 7th 2009, 14:51

I hope the govt is not influenced by what UNHCR says. We are sick and tired of this situation and if this is the only way to end it so shall be it. What hypocrites the MSF are, have they already forgotten that they themselves abandoned the immigrants in Malta? At this point we have to do what is best for our country.

Godfrey F Ellul

May 7th 2009, 14:50

This is a development which should discourage would-be immigrants to invest in Europe. To the illegal immigrants stuck here in Malta who I am sure are following developments, I say: Please tell your fellow countrymen through an SMS or phone call, to desist from trying. It's a bad investment , a waste of hard-earned money, and a life-threatening venture that doesn't pay any more... ending up back in Libya is no joke

Andre` Micallef

May 7th 2009, 14:48

This episode should serve as a guideline to the Maltese Government, namely that our Armed Forces be given the go-ahead to repatriate any boats with illegal immigrants coming our way back to where they came from, i.e. Libya. If Italy can do it, then there is no reason why Malta should not follow suit. If only this strategy had been adopted earlier, the current bickering between the Maltese and Italian governments about who should or should not assume responsibility for the immigrant's boats would in all probability have not materialised.

Daniel Muscat

May 7th 2009, 14:45

Well done to Italy!
This is the only solution to the problem.. Only in this way will illegal immigration stop once and for all. All other countries should follow Italy, including Malta and forget about burden sharing because that would only spread the problem.

David

May 7th 2009, 14:42

What should have been the practice years ago, finally started to get going..may we follow the Italian way.

Joseph Sammut

May 7th 2009, 14:40

While applauding Italy for its stand, this could spel illegal immigrants choosing Malta as an entry point.

Albert Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 14:38

MSF and the UN should not worry. The Malta Government has declared that it will give migrants' boats the help they need to continue their journey, as they have a "right of safe passage". So while Italy sends them back, we will help them on their journey. We DO have the high moral ground dont we?

Alexander Morana

May 7th 2009, 14:37

Finally something good came out of this charade. No why the Malta government could not have done in the past 7 years what the Italian Minister Maroni has done in a few months?

R Sammut

May 7th 2009, 14:35

GOOD WORK ITALY!!

Hopefully Malta will start to do the same!!

It is interesting that Medecins Sans Frontieres always have to say something!!

Franco Farrugia

May 7th 2009, 14:22

I disagree with Doctors without Frontiers and they have a real cheek to comment about this matter, after the way they behaved in Malta!
I think that the Italian way is THE way to bring a stop to this illegal immigration business.
I think that Malta should now follow suit and not allow migrants to come onto the island unless they are in peril of their lives; and instead, intercept them, give them what they need, and ... on the way to Italy so that thanks to the agreement between the Italians and the Libyans, these migrants will find their way back.
At the end of the day, Malta was never a European country behind any actions of imperialism and colonisation of African countries - Italy was! So was the UK, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Denmark and others that now escape me.

Anthony Bugeja

May 7th 2009, 14:21

Hope our politicians have the guts to do the same because otherwise we should brace ourselves for an invasion.

Mario Tabone-Vassallo

May 7th 2009, 14:19

PROSIT TASSEW. Hekk xieraq u hekk jitlob il-haqq. CONGRATULAZIONI ITALIA