Army expresses caution as immigration arrivals dip
Monthly immigrant arrivals
The army is reluctant to offer an opinion on what appears to be a lull in the number of immigrant arrivals throughout May, saying there are no clear reasons for the slower activity.
Even though the number of African migrant arrivals since the beginning of the year, 890, is a record, the anticipated influx of immigrants at the start of warmer months has not yet materialised despite good weather conditions. Just 66 people reached Malta in May, the lowest number in five years.
Major Andrew Mallia from the Armed Forces of Malta operations branch was reluctant to read too much into the situation.
He also declined to offer an assessment of the joint patrols between Italy and Libya, which started in the beginning of May, since the AFM was "not privy" to the agreement.
"We know there was a handover of boats to Libya, but we are not aware of their rules of engagement, how they are conducting their operations, where and whether they have been effective," he said.
Italy and Libya reached an agreement to jointly start patrolling the Libyan coast in a bid to stem immigration flows. Apart from this, Italy is applying a policy of forced repatriation, returning rescued migrants to Libya.
These efforts, coupled with Libya's apparent crackdown on human smugglers, coincided with the slowdown of immigrant arrivals in May.
However, the army remains cautious. Major Mallia said: "If you look at statistics from the beginning of January to the end of May, this is actually the worst year in terms of arrivals.
"But we know this was due to the arrival of a smaller number of larger boats. There does seem to be less activity but I would be reluctant to draw any conclusions on such a short timespan."
Major Mallia explained that the cyclical trends in immigration could not be explained. He highlighted 2003 as a case in point.
"In that year, only 500 immigrants arrived, when a year earlier we had almost 1,700 people. The number shot up again in 2004 when we had almost 1,400 arrivals. The drastic variation in pattern that occurred in 2003 remains unexplained till today," he said.
The army will continue to monitor the situation closely, he said.
"Until now it does not result that there has been an upsurge of arrivals in other areas of the Mediterranean. There has not been any shift in the routes used by immigrants," Major Mallia said.
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11 Comments
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Raymond Sammut
May 31st 2009, 22:42
@ Major Mallia
Routes are not used by "immigrants". Routes are used by human smugglers who move "immigrants" illegally. Routes may not have "shifted" only because the political decision makers kept doing the same thing all these many years, thus paving the way for these smugglers. The only political decision maker who has shown some common sense, decency, and resolve is Mr Maroni. All others have shown to be irresponsible wimps who should not remain in office. Hundreds of lives, including those of children, are on their conscience.
Denis Catania
May 31st 2009, 20:16
Pressure Pressure and more Pressure. It works. Groups like Save Malta From Illegal Immigration, AN and true Maltese who pound on their computer keys day in and day out on the timesofmalta.com against the invasion of our beautifull islands. Keep up the pressure. We can't let the government forget, they are OUR employees and they can be replaced.
Ivan Attard
May 31st 2009, 19:05
June 6th will be the day when the FLOODGATES unleashing the ILLEGALS will be re-opened. Naivety is no excuse for self-imposed ignorance.
It will then be too late to feel frustrated with having NOT voted or voted for the parties pushing their wannabees to the EU gravy-train when the going gets tough again and the 'debates' re. illegal immigration continue in vain.
fbonello
May 31st 2009, 15:37
@ louise Vella
Yes, you are 100% correct
@ Robert Callus
Just wait and see my friend !!!!
john borg
May 31st 2009, 15:16
YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY???
SOME TIME AGO IT WAS , REACH ITALY MALTA OR DIE
NOW IT IS REACH MALTA , BACK TO LIBYA OR DIE
David Seychell
May 31st 2009, 13:59
@Robert Callus
"Human smugglers don't care about Maltese or Italian politics. They only care about money, just money and profit"
I agree. But that is why what Ms Vella said makes sense. The human traffickers know that for the good of their illegal business, it would be better if the Maltese vote for those in favour of the EU-wide-sharing of the smuggled human beings. The human traffickers know that it would be bad for them if the Maltese elect parties that want to stop illegal immigrants from entering europe and send them back. I am not saying that Ms Vella's hypothesis is correct, I am saying that it makes sense. To know if it's true or false, we'll have to wait and see after 6th June.
Isobel Mcgonigle
May 31st 2009, 13:52
@
Louise Vella
At last someone has had the guts, to say what everyone else is thinking
Good on ya girl.
Joanne Micallef
May 31st 2009, 12:04
What if all of a sudden, right after the 06th of June MEP elections, the influx will resume? Wouldn't that be a clear indication that something fishy is going on?
Regarding the coming months, if Italy will continue to refuse illegal migrants from landing, what will be Malta's line of thinking? Should the Maltese brace themselves for an inevitable illegal immigrant invasion?
lgalea
May 31st 2009, 11:53
louise vella
You are perfectly correct.
Just wait and see how the massive invasion will start again just after the EP election.
Robert Callus
May 31st 2009, 11:48
@Louise Vella
Human smugglers don't care about Maltese or Italian politics. They only care about money, just money and profit.
Unless you have evidence, or strong basis for suspicion that they are being paid from some Italian or Maltese party or entity to stop temporarily, your comment is just a wild idea that came into your head
louise vella
May 31st 2009, 11:22
It's only the calm before the storm. Traffickers in human beings and their accomplices know there is an election going on in Malta and Italy. They are not overdoing it for now. But the flood will start again after 6th June.
Please choose the reason of your report below: