Matthew Xuereb
Army photo lends credibility to migrants' account, UNHCR spokesman says
The Armed Forces of Malta yesterday released a photograph to prove there were only five Eritreans on board a dinghy when it was intercepted in the Libyan search and rescue area a week ago.
"The image clearly shows the excellent and clean state the intercepted rubber dinghy was in as well as the good state of the occupants," the AFM said.
Commenting on the photo, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman Laura Boldrini said it gave more credibility to what the Eritreans were saying: that they were the only survivors of a group of 78 immigrants who left Libya 20 days earlier.
The group - two men, a woman and two teenage boys - said the others had starved to death or died of thirst and were thrown overboard.
Mystery still shrouds the rescue of these Eritreans. While they claimed the Maltese soldiers gave them fuel, food and water and refused to take them on board, the AFM insisted it was the migrants who did not want to be brought to Malta. When contacted, Ms Boldrini said the photo did not show the migrants were in good spirits or in good health. She did not comment on the fact that the boat looked clean.
"The boat, according to the photo, seems to be 12 metres long. On March16, 67 arrived in Lampedusa on a 10-metre dinghy like this one. On April 4, 70 migrants arrived on another 10-metre dinghy and, three days later, another 12-metre dinghy arrived in Lampedusa with 75 people on board. This picture shows how, when seen in the context of previous arrivals, it was possible that 80 people were on board this boat and it wouldn't have been the first time," she said.
Ms Boldrini said the Eritrean story was credible: "I don't know what the AFM is trying to prove with this picture. The survivors told us they did not refuse help. They were given fuel but got no reply when they asked to be taken on board the AFM patrol boat".
She said she did not know whether it was the Eritreans or the Maltese authorities who were telling the truth. "It is important the investigation is concluded as soon as possible so we can know what really happened," she said.
As Malta and Italy continue to squabble over this incident, an AFM patrol boat escorted a boatload of Eritrean migrants to Lampedusa in the early hours of Tuesday morning after providing them with water, food and life jackets. These migrants also refused to be brought to Malta.
The Italian authorities are accusing Malta of denying rescue to the five migrants who made it to Lampedusa last week, an accusation both the government and the AFM rebut.
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Dr Francis Saliba
Aug 29th 2009, 06:45
@DavidFarrugia
I can tell you why la Boldrini does not enquire from immigrants where they came from. It is because the UNHCR has complained that Italy has embarked on a policy of forced repatriation without prior enquiry regarding the nationality of the illegal immigrants or their refugee status (if any), confiscation of any identification documents so that no body else could investigate and because this official Italian government policy would inevitably frighten any potential rescuer from taking on board any immigrants in genuine distress. All this results from Boldrini's UNHCR bulletins. But when it concerns Malta and the AFM, Boldrini's office does not even mention that it was our Malta's AFM that spotted the dinghy in Libyan waters, that it gave emergency assistance and escorted it to the safety of nearby Lampedusa. That UNHCR report gives the false impression that the rescue was carried out by the Guardia di Finanza. Boldrini is now trying to appease her country's government by using Malta as a scapegoat.
Alfred Farrugia
Aug 28th 2009, 01:34
Do we have a UNHCR Field Media Officer in Malta? If in the affirmative, what is his/her position on this controversy? Does the UNHCR’s right hand know what the left hand is doing?
Are our authorities contributing to UNHCR’s Field Media Office office in Malta? Should the authorities take any steps to put on record their disapproval of what the Field Media Officer in Italy has stated?
The official version published by the UNHCR in Italy is as follows:
http://www.unhcr.it/news/dir/22/view/649/unhcr-allarme-per-una-nuova-tragedia-del-mare-64900.html
david farrugia
Aug 27th 2009, 23:58
IF MRS BOLDRINI BELIEVES WHAT THE ERITREANS SAY, WHY NOT ASK THEM FROM WHERE THEY CAME FROM AND REPATRIATE THEM?
Graham Crocker
Aug 27th 2009, 21:45
I didn't know the United Nations employed guappi.
Mrs Boldrini, if your country wants the SAR zone, we want the Italian owned areas with Oil and your Natural gas. To take you must give something in return.
Mrs Boldrini, I know that you know that 78 people on that dinghy for a long enough time to die would make it very dirty and of course smelly. I also know that your country wants our SAR zone to cash in, and I also know that you are a Tool. No better than a screwdriver.
It seems the Italians never change. They're incompetent at everything other than cabaret shows on TV.
Joseph Cauchi
Aug 27th 2009, 18:27
My Goodness Me!
Where is Malta’s pride, dear Prime Minister?
Are you going to allow an employee of the UNHCR in Rome to cast doubt on our credibility?
This is really humiliating for our country for an incompetent employee to ridicule us in such a way that she is giving more credibility to five illegal, thus law-breaking persons, than to our Armed Forces.
This is serious, dear PM!
Malta is being taken for a ride and we should not let this continue.
The PM should ask the UNHCR to publicly apologise to the Maltese nation for their arrogant behaviour towards us.
It is about time for our Prime Minister to stand up for Malta’ rights, NOW!
JC.
K Cortis
Aug 27th 2009, 17:07
Dear UNHCR,
So what is prompting you to believe the version given by the illegals, as opposed to that given by the AFM?
Please stop interfering into Malta's policies with regards to illegals, you'd better strive to give some credibility to your own organisation.
d. borg
Aug 27th 2009, 16:40
Laura Boldrini, why don't you take the immigrants to your own country since you believe everything they say. Well, we don't and frankly we don't want them either.
Wilfred L Camilleri
Aug 27th 2009, 14:23
So United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees spokesman Laura Boldrini believes refugees who show up without any identification over what the AMF says. Is she extremely naive and gullible? Pretty soon these so called refugees will show up wearing suits and carrying iPhones and the UNHCR and the Italians will believe that they are poor refugees.
O. Gauci
Aug 27th 2009, 14:04
So the photo clearly shows that when the illegal immigrants were first intercepted by the AFM, they were already 5. And so I ask Laura Boldrini, what did AFM had to do? If they died before its not Malta's fault? Should we now also go and great them on board immediately as they leave Lybia? And if they were five, as evidence is indicating, then doesn't she ask for a reason why Malta might have refused to take 5 (only 5) illegal immigrants, when she knows that we do grant entrance to hundrends of illegal immigrants when they want to and when it is Malta's duty to grant them such entrance? It seems there is no logic why Malta didn't grant access to our island. And yet she still believes the illegal immigrants rather than Maltese authorities. Shame on her.
Joanne Micallef
Aug 27th 2009, 13:14
Ms Boldrini should have commented on the state of the dingy rather than cunningly overlooking this only to focus on the size and it’s capacity.
Mario Attard
Aug 27th 2009, 13:00
Illegal migration to Malta has only brought us trouble. It is clear from Ms. Boldrini's words that she doesn't believe our version of the facts but instead believes illegal migrants who are ready to put their lives in danger let alone bother to tell a couple of lies.
I have no doubt, that like so many, many other times, the AFM would have brought them in if the illegal immigrants wanted to.
Meanwhile the rubber dinghy is reported to have been destroyed by the Italian authorities. Why destroy the only evidence? To hide the truth?
Raymond Sammut
Aug 27th 2009, 12:42
If the dinghy of these 5 Eritreans was inside Libya's SAR area (as claimed), then the AFM personnel did not have the authority to remove the occupants from their vessel. They were also not obliged to render assistance since it is clear that the dinghy is not in a "Distress" or an "Emergency" status (both of which under Maritime Law would require immediate assistance to be rendered by the nearest vessel).
This photo shows date and time, but it does not show coordinates. In a court setting, the AFM could be required to provide this information. There is also the question as to whether the AFM informed the Libyan authorities of the presence of this vessel in the Libyan SAR area. If they didn't, then why not? Why the Libyan authorities were not informed by the AFM?
mario spiteri
Aug 27th 2009, 12:42
Dear Ms. Boldrini.
Are you an employee of UNHCR or of the Italian Government which is doing nothing to help but just picking on a small island which withstood its military might 60 years ago?
Albert Spiteri
Aug 27th 2009, 12:37
These illegal invaders do not qualify for any protection by UNHCR simply because they came out of Libya, a law-abiding civilized country that respects all basic human rights.
"The 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees is the key legal document in defining who is a refugee, their rights and the legal obligations of states. The 1967 Protocol removed geographical and temporal restrictions from the Convention. In July 2001, UNHCR published a special edition of its Refugees Magazine dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the Convention."
Vide unhcr.org for some enlightening reading about UNHCR abuse of powers and our patience.
Anthony Baldacchino
Aug 27th 2009, 12:28
As the Maltese say, the AFM dropped the stone on their feet by showing this photo
Enzo Caruana
Aug 27th 2009, 12:13
Ms Boldrini should get enough funds from the UN and other sources to buy enough seacraft and launch a search and rescue service of her own or better still to observe at close quarters what is going on in our waters. Sitting in the comfort of an air conditioned office in Rome leaves Ms Boldrini in no position to pass judgements just by comparing pictures. Just hop on a boat and come to investigate yourself Ms Boldrini
malcolm seychell
Aug 27th 2009, 11:48
If there is a person on earth not credible is the Miss Boldrini and her agency.
you believe the immigrants,we believe our armed forces
Joseph Cauchi
Aug 27th 2009, 11:19
My Goodness Me!
Where is Malta’s pride, dear Prime Minister?
Are you going to allow an employee of the UNHCR in Rome to cast doubt on our credibility?
This is really humiliating for our country for an employee to ridicule us in such a way that she is giving more credibility to five illegal, thus law-breaking persons, than to our Armed Forces.
This is serious, dear PM!
Malta is being taken for a ride and we should not let this continue.
The PM should ask the UNHCR to publicly apologise to the Maltese nation for their arrogant behaviour towards us.
It is about time for our Prime Minister to stand up for Malta’ rights, NOW!
JC.
louise vella
Aug 27th 2009, 11:09
Boldrini would do us all a favour if she were to remember that Malta pays its subscription fee to the United Nations and contributes to pay for her salary. It would also be nice if she were to stop poking her nose into the affairs of sovereign and independent Malta.
John Inguanez
Aug 27th 2009, 11:00
Ms Boldrini, can you for once believe our Armed Forces? Why you have to believe the Erithreans and if they were speaking our of the Bible. If you don't hasve faith in our forces, how can wecooperatte?
Joseph Vassallo
Aug 27th 2009, 10:55
Can the AFM please show us a photo of what a dinghy looks like after it has had 70 or 80 weak and suffering people on it for 20 days and show us the video as well please? This dinghy looks very clean to me. I'm not too sure about it but doesn't it look like somebody's washing is spread out to dry on the sides of the dinghy? 73 people suffering so badly that they actually died would leave more evidence of them ever having been there. What about the belongings of the deceased? They must have had something that was worth not throwing into the sea along with the corpses? I believe the AFM is being truthful and that Ms Goldrini is talking nonsense. Whose line is she towing?
Dr Francis Saliba
Aug 27th 2009, 10:51
Laura Boldrini may choose to wear blinkers or she may be truly incompetent to interpret photographic evidence. Other persons of average intelligence would realize at once that the uncluttered condition of that dinghy excludes completely the possibility of its having been at sea for about three weeks initially carrying some seventyfive illegal immigrants most of whom died without leaving any trace of ever having been on that dinghy! Illegal immigrants have every inducement to lie and they are known to lie consistently so as to gain illegal admission into mainland Europe. UNHCR officials have responsibilities not only to these lying illegal immigrants, few of whom are genuine refugees, but also towards the maligned nations who carry the brunt of paying the salaries of UNHCR employees and of housing the refugees while these UNHCR officials leisurly take their time in weeding out the minority of genuine refugees from the majority trying to enter Europe illegally. Boldrini's surname suggests another motive why she is aiding and abetting Frattini and his ambitions to extend Italy's sphere of influence at our expense.
louise vella
Aug 27th 2009, 10:26
Illegal immigrants and applicants for asylum are famous for fabricating stories that improve their chances of being given refugee status and being accepted in the country of their choice. UNHCR is known to support illegal immigrants and asylum seekers in all circumstances because it sees it as its mission. UNHCR and illegal immigrants has the same (low) level of credibility.
D Schembri
Aug 27th 2009, 10:24
Well Said I Galea!
We cannot force them to come to Malta.
Ms. Boldrini should look into the route of the problem like why they are leaving there country.
I can imagine that 70 people can squeeze into the dingy but why is it so clean?
lgalea
Aug 27th 2009, 09:50
Laura Boldrini should stop criticizing us and tell her own country which was their colonizer to take them instead of us.
As for the truth I shall NEVER believe a single word from the ILLEGAL immigrants.
Stanley Fenech
Aug 27th 2009, 09:48
One thing this photo proves is that at the time the AFM intercepted the boat, only 5 persons were on board. Had there been more, they had lost their lives before. With the supplies given to the persons still alive, they managed to make it to the closest port. Why is it that the international community is always giving more credibility to the migrants (who are still illegal immigrants) and the Italian authorities and not the Maltese?
It is very easy for countries away from such migrant paths to point fingers. If the problem was equally shared between all the European countries there would be less losses as the migrants would not be in a position to refuse help. Unfortunately, the few countries that took over some of these migrants, did so after resorting to interviews, which meant that we are only keeping those not suitable to such countries. Well thanks a lot.