France wants other countries to follow burden-sharing example

anthea doughty

Jul 11th 2009, 08:45

@Margaret Richards
Louise's comment is hardly nasty!

I'm afraid Ms Richards you are in the minority whether you like it or not. I and many of my European fellows will never accept illegal invasion by foreigners. Nobody does have the right actually to burden themselves on others. I do not see why we have to feed, house, clothe, medical care, educate their children and give them social benefit to live on each week. My children come first - born in Britain, me and their father working tax payers, taxes that are used to support people that enter illegally and scrounge off the rest of us. As far as genuine refugees, that is all very well, but our countries are FULL UP! Our infrastructures cannot cope, doctors surgeries full,hospitals full, schools full, no spare housing! When is the onus on Europe going to end? We can hardly take the whole of Africa! I am sure they are going off to a wonderful new life in France! I personally resent even paying their air fares to get there, let alone their new accommodation etc. Outrageous!

lgalea

Jul 11th 2009, 08:40

Corine Gatt
NO corine, we do not need third world country workers to do our jobs. Maltese workers will do all jobs if they are reasonably paid and they are given good working conditions. Immigrants especially from third word countries undercut the Maltese workers and lower the Maltese workers working conditions. Those who take the risks to enter ILLEGALLY into Malta should face the consequences and we should not put our soldiers lives at risk to save them and they should NOT be allowed to claim refugee of humanitarian status and should be repatriated forthwith. Since you said you are studying international law you can join them back in their own countries and help them there with your expertise.

A Cassar They can go back to Libya from whence they came. They were under no threat there since some of them have been living for up to 10 years in Libya as stated in the Refugee Appeals Board report.

David Wain They are simply ECONOMIC migrants as exemplified by those who were taken by France who on being interviewed said they were simply looking for a better life.

Let's take Berlusconi's example and turn their boats back.

Denis Catania

Jul 11th 2009, 07:16

@margeret richards Please use capital M when refering to Malta.

@Corinne Gatt: I'm one who appreciates Stephen Farrugia's group.

@a cassar: I somewhat agree with you. But last I checked Libya is a safe country for them to stay in. When they leave safe Libya they become illegal immigrants.

@ Michelle Dali: This illegal immigrant understands Malta's problem and the do-gooders don't.
I'm baffled.

@louise vella; You are the best. Keep up the good work.

Michelle Dali

Jul 10th 2009, 23:40

.@ Margaret Richards '...the very hostile environment in our christian malta.'

What are you talking about? Didn't you read the article? Do you realise that these very people are saying that the Maltese helped and respected them?

Why are you always so quick to pick on and discredit the Maltese? Are you so blinded by your hatred of the Maltese people that you can't see any good in us at all? Who is really the racist here, I wonder?

I would just like to remind you that there is good and bad in every country in the world. Open your eyes and you will see....take off your blinkers for one moment, if you would.

margaret richards

Jul 10th 2009, 20:21

Louise and co, please stop your racist comments and nastiness. All I would like to say is that these people deserve kindness, acceptance, and a better life after the hell they have passed thru' in their countries, the sea crossing, the very hostile environment in our christian malta. They deserve to live in peace, in a place where they are respected, accepted and why not start afresh - a new life of peace and stability. Good luck to all the immigrants who are chosen to leave Malta - May you have the best of everything as you deserve it. I'm not saying this out of a feeling of non-acceptance but if your wish is to go to Europe is accepting you, is ready to give you a better life, peace, stability, education - then go ahead and take what you are being offered. Good luck to all.

A Cassar

Jul 10th 2009, 20:15

@Robert Callus I know it's a waste of time....but I can't believe there is so much hatred out there! Every time there is an article about immigrants, teenage pregancy, drug adicts, prisoners, people with AIDS or TB (i.e. anyone we don't like or who is creating a problem in society), the amount of hatred that people come up with is astounding. Instead of hating the problem.....they hate the human being!

Robert Callus

Jul 10th 2009, 19:00

@A Cassar I definitely agree with you. However don't waste your time expliaining this to the same few people who could not arrive to terms that their own opinion is not the law. As long as they abide by the law, let them think so if it makes them happy @Stephen Farrugia 'Now we have to remove the 10,000 illegal immigrants in Malta and ask questions about the national loyalty of some people. ' From where did you get your statistic? Are you including East Europeans, cause as far as I know, African migrants, legal and illegal together were about 5,000 a month or two ago. May I assume you invented the number? What does national loyalty mean for you?

Corine Gatt

Jul 10th 2009, 16:52

@stephen farrugia...who gave you the mandate to speak for us?....I am a Nationalist and very proud to be one.....hence I urge you to speak for yourself,as much as I am against uncontrolled illegal immigration,I still maintain that humanitarian assistance should be given at when due.....Distress people found at the sea should be brought inland,Given health care and those that genuinely qaulify for refugee status should ve their application processed and the other few can be helped back to their point of departure.....Malta aswell as the larger Euroupe still need people from the third world country to do certain Jobs that our people will always refuse to do.....

A Cassar

Jul 10th 2009, 16:09

These are NOT illegal immigrants we are speaking about, but people given refugee status. The UN has decided that it is unsafe for these people to go back to their country and were given refugee status.

In any country (including Malta) which signs the Geneva convention, it is NOT illegal to enter the country to ask for refugee status.

That Malta has a problem, everyone agrees.
That a solution must be found to prevent this influx to protect us and them, everyone agrees. That, if possible, they should remain in their country....I think it is every refugee's dream to be home, in safety and without danger.

But anyone who doesn't care about the safety and wellbeing of other human beings doesn't deserve to be called one!

David Wain

Jul 10th 2009, 15:46

These are not economic migrants but genuine refugees. Some refuse to acknowledge the distinction, but one does exists. I agree that economic migrants should be repatriated, however genuine refugees should be given all the asistance necessary to start their lives anew.

m azzopardi

Jul 10th 2009, 15:07

We want Europe to follow Berusconi's and Maroni's example of sending the boats back to Libya.

If we follow France's example , europe will end up like them with Ghettos and no-go areas everywhere

Michelle Dali

Jul 10th 2009, 14:00

'...the Maltese helped and respected us.'

It is so nice to read that this man, who came to our country illegally, is grateful for what Malta and its people have done for him. After all the criticism that has been showered on Malta, which has been struggling to cope under the strain of an unending influx of human beings, this comment is like a breath of fresh air.

However, he himself admits that in Malta 'there is no space', which is one of the very valid reasons why people are so concerned about the illegal immigration problem this country faces. We have been saying this to the government all along. Malta is already overpopulated. We cannot take in anymore illegal immigrants. For this we have been called racist and xenophobic.

Let us hope that the illegal arrivals have finally stopped for good and that the ones already here can be reallocated to larger countries or preferably back to their own homeland where they can work to build a better life for themselves and their children.

d bugeja

Jul 10th 2009, 13:52

if other countries follows France's example they would surely encourage illegal immigrants to come. they would think that maybe they would stand a chance of being sent to Europe.
if it werent for Berlusconi we would have been swept by illegal immigrations

James Dimech

Jul 10th 2009, 12:08

This is a positive step. However from this article it seems that the French have taken the ones which were the least burdensome, the ones who were "settled" and had a job. This is a pity

lgalea

Jul 10th 2009, 10:53

louise vella, stephen farrugia
Agree with both of you.

stephen farrugia

Jul 10th 2009, 10:24

No, we do not want Europe to follow your bad example because they should not be in Europe. In fact, they all have to be sent back to their homeland.
I would like to thank Maroni and Berlusconi, for stopping the boats 14 miles out at sea. You are heros.
Now we have to remove the 10,000 illegal immigrants in Malta and ask questions about the national loyalty of some people.

Stephen Farrugia
( Nationalist majority against illegal immigration)

louise vella

Jul 10th 2009, 09:58

Bon voyage! But how many of them are still left in Malta?