Human rights commissioner calls for migrant boat inquiry

The Council of Europe's Commissioner for Human Rights has called for an investigation into an incident involving a migrant boat that was left adrift in the Mediterranean Sea for over 20 days last August.

Thomas Hammarberg yesterday published letters he sent to Justice Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici and Italian Home Affairs Minister Roberto Maroni last August.

The incident took place that month and involved a boat that had left from Libya with more than 70 people on board, mainly Eritreans. It got into difficulty and was adrift for 20 days. No passing vessels came to the boat's aid, resulting in only five people surviving.

Mr Hammarberg said: "I publish these letters in order to reopen the discussion on the need to fully align migration practices with human rights standards. This serious incident should be effectively investigated.

"Four of the five survivors have been granted refugee status in Italy and one is waiting for the decision on her application. This is good news. However, there is still an urgent need to take all necessary measures to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies. Regrettably, the authorities have not replied so far."

The commissioner emphasised in his letters that the responsibility of authorities to rescue people at sea had been neglected. He recommended that Malta and Italy cooperate with each other to patrol the sea in such a way that respect is paid to human rights and humanitarian principles.

He added: "The protection of the human rights of migrants needs urgent attention. Every European country should act in a spirit of solidarity towards other countries, discharge its responsibilities under international law and effectively protect migrants, whose fundamental rights are at serious risk."

The Justice Ministry refuted claims made by Mr Hammarberg, saying the government had acted appropriately through the Armed Forces of Malta.

The migrants aboard the vessel were insistent on continuing their journey to Lampedusa and did not want to be rescued. The vessel was also deemed seaworthy, the ministry maintained.

The AFM did all it could by providing supplies and humanitarian assistance to the migrants and keeping track of their vessel all the way to Lampedusa, where they landed safely.

The ministry also said it would have been illegal for AFM personnel to rescue the migrants against their will.

The mysterious case had ignited a huge controversy after Italy accused Malta of reneging on its responsibilities.

AFM commander Brig. Carmel Vassallo had admitted soldiers provided fuel to five Eritrean migrants who were stranded at sea on a rubber dinghy but insisted there were no indications that any other people had been aboard the vessel.

Later, a picture was released showing the dinghy and five migrants aboard in rather good condition.

The survivors, however - five emaciated Eritreans who were eventually picked up at sea by the Italian coastguard - claimed they were the only survivors of a group of 80 migrants who had left Libya 20 days earlier.