Archbishop concerned over 'victims' of state disputes

The Archbishop has expressed concern over African asylum seekers who are sometimes "victims of state disputes on territorial waters", in the wake of the tragic circumstances surrounding five rescued Eritrean migrants.

In a rare statement, Archbishop Paul Cremona yesterday said he was compelled to publicly "reflect" on the latest tragedy involving migrants in the Mediterranean.

Without entering into the political merits of the issue at stake, Mgr Cremona appealed for a "higher ethical standard" when the government negotiated with other countries on the issue of immigration.

"Migrants have a fundamental right to life and this needs to be safeguarded by everyone," he said.

Mgr Cremona said any discussions on the limits of "territorial waters" "should not focus on who is not responsible" for the safety of people at sea when their lives are in danger but rather on which country is responsible to help "wherever they are found".

He was speaking in the wake of claims made last week by five rescued Eritrean asylum seekers that they witnessed the death of 73 people on board their dinghy after spending 20 days lost at sea.

The Armed Forces of Malta has insisted the five Eritreans were not in distress and refused to be brought to Malta when they were approached by a patrol boat. Soldiers then refuelled the craft, gave them food, water and life jackets and monitored the dinghy as it continued on its journey towards Lampedusa.

The Italian authorities are accusing their Maltese counterparts of denying rescue, a charge flatly refuted by the AFM commander.

Italy has also used the incident to suggest that Malta cannot cope with its vast search and rescue region (SAR) while Malta has ruled out any discussion on the matter, saying it had nothing to do with the latest migrant incident.

Although both countries have jointly been calling on the European Union to get more involved in finding a solution to the illegal immigration problem, they have been at loggerheads over this and similar incidents in the recent past, sometimes arguing over who should take responsibility for migrants rescued at sea.

Malta has always insisted that rescued migrants should be taken to the closest safe port of call - which is often the Italian island of Lampedusa - while Italy disputes this position, maintaining it is Malta, as the country in charge of the SAR, which should do so.

Yesterday, the only Eritrean woman on board the dinghy did not shed much light on the moment when they were spotted by the AFM. She insisted with the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera they had been at sea for 20 days and their calls for help were ignored by other passing vessels.

She reiterated that 73 people died and at least two of them were pregnant women who aborted their babies on board the dinghy after which they also died.

Meanwhile, the story, which has made international headlines, is also being looked at closely by President George Abela.

"The Office of the President is monitoring the situation so the President can be kept abreast of any developments as they occur," a spokesman for the President told The Times.

On Saturday, a senior Vatican official deplored what he described as indifference with regard to migrants after the Eritreans' case.

"Our so-called civilised societies have in reality developed an attitude of rejection towards foreigners, resulting not only from ignorance but selfishness and refusal to share what one has with others," Archbishop Antonio Maria Veglio told Radio Vatican.

ksansone@timesofmalta.com