Sarkozy talks tough about migration
"I will not let France lower its guard against a wave of migrants arriving on rafts, as happened in Italy," - Sarkozy
President Nicolas Sarkozy has warned more than 100 Kurdish migrants detained in France will be expelled if they are not genuine asylum seekers.
The migrants had faced possible deportation when they were detained after fetching up on a beach in Corsica in a rare mass landing on French soil, but judges ordered they be released so they could apply for asylum.
"Those who are political refugees will be welcomed," Sarkozy in a televised interview on Monday evening. "Those who are not will be sent home."
The 123 adults and children, most of whom say they are ethnic Kurds from Syria, were found on a beach on the Mediterranean island after being landed by traffickers, who have not been caught.
They told French authorities they were brought by truck from Syria to Tunisia for up to 10,000 euros (14,000 dollars) each, and put on a cargo vessel which dropped them near southern Corsica on Friday.
The migrants were transferred to processing centres on the French mainland but judges in southern Marseille, Nimes and northwestern Rennes ordered 94 to be freed on Sunday, ruling that the state had no legal grounds to detain them.
In eastern Lyon a judge freed a further 10 on Monday and 19 others were also released in the southern city of Toulouse.
Migrants told the court in Lyon they fled Syria because, as Kurds, their rights were abused there and that they planned to file for asylum.
"In Syria I was not considered human," 35-year-old Jumsid Ali told the court. "I risked my life to come to France and I am sure that if I return to Syria, I will risk death."
At least 61 of the 81 adults in the group have already filed for asylum, the immigration ministry said, and the others were expected to follow suit.
The interior ministry told AFP that as soon as the migrants filed for asylum applications, any local procedure to deport them was overruled. The asylum process can take months.
It was Corsica's biggest known mass-scale landing of migrants, who tend to try to enter Europe by sea via Italy, Malta, Greece or Spain's Canary Islands.
Migrants from Africa have sometimes landed hungry and dehydrated after days at sea on dangerous flimsy vessels and many have died in the attempt.
However officials who questioned Friday's arrivals in Corsica said the migrants were in good health and spirits, the men were clean-shaven and some of the women were even wearing make-up.
Immigration Minister Eric Besson said it was still not certain exactly how they had made their way from Syria to Corsica.
One source close to the investigation said they may have sailed not from Tunisia but from nearby Sardinia, an Italian island.
Besson announced plans to boost patrols to stop illegal migrants reaching the European Union and to target traffickers.
After a meeting with maritime and immigration authorities, he said he had ordered them to develop a "coordinated strategy to fight illegal immigration by sea".
He also called in a statement for "new measures at a national, European and international level".
Sarkozy's right-wing government has taken a hard line on immigration. In September it closed down a major camp for Afghan migrants in the channel port of Calais.
"I will not let France lower its guard against a wave of migrants arriving on rafts, as happened in Italy," the president said.
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sean grima
Jan 31st 2010, 21:38
malta may not be the richest country on earth but the average is still much higher than the african average. i am sure that if i were in these people's place, living in countries where there is very little hope for stability - especially places like somalia - i would act in the same manner. the fact that we are now facing the stark reality of the tragedy of the african continent should spur us to take a more active role in demanding that europe push african governments to put the interests of their average citizens first, and take concrete steps to better their situation. that, and not deporting these people and scare mongering, is the long term solution to these people's problems.
joe Xuereb
Jan 30th 2010, 13:15
3) The Holocaust should not have happened, no argument. Nobody deserves to be exterminated.the same token, people should be responsible enough not to behave irregularly and hope to gain by that. That is unfair on whoever ends up expected to proffer compassion and 'tolerance' when their own house, the host's that is, is not exactly brimming with bounty. If the problem in the west is a decreasing birth-rate, then that should be addressed. To boost dwindling numbers of tax-payers by inviting what are often 'dead-weights' to replenish the decreasing supply is short-sighted, unfair to host and 'sperm-donating 'guest' alike. Identify the problem and identify a proper, appropriate solution. If this is not done, one will only reap and harvest 'rape-seed' and horrors.
Joe Xuereb
Jan 30th 2010, 13:04
2) With friends like these,.....as we say, 'beware of the Greek bearing gifts' (the Greeks, such nice people with a strong identity and wisdom but beleaguered, like tiny Malta, by inappropriate immigration. I understand that Greece in the EU has a voice and is respected. Not so Malta I understand. Malta does not take itself seriously so why should anyone else? Malta is tiny and begs for crumbs and proffers tolerance. France and Spain - Catholic countries both are much larger and do not tolerate nonsense and blatant irregularities.
The mentally mature will grasp this idea of tolerance as a dirty word with no problem whatsoever. Sadly, not so those with a sickly, pseudo 'do-gooding' agenda hoping to be rewarded for, what exactly?, those who avoid like the plague whatever terrifies them, whatever they cannot face. As it would turn their agenda on its head and they would end up identity-less). Ah! none so blind as those who...........
Joe Xuereb
Jan 30th 2010, 12:47
1) This is a general comment meant for other commentators, any commentators, generally. Responses are welcome as long as they are reasoned and mature. Age is immaterial - average intelligence can strike one at any age.
Tolerance. It is only a word and as such, it is open to in-depth interpretation. I learned this at an early age via unbiased teachers, books, etc. Allow me to explain.
If somebody, a friend say, told me: 'Joe, I know you are homosexual, but you're a nice guy, I like you '. On the surface, all this sounds well-meaning enough. But not good enough for me. I'd say: 'You tolerate me? (and offer me platitudes, stabbing me in the back, the front and whichever way, without flinching, unashamedly, in the same breath?). Who the hell do you think you are to tolerate me or anyone for that matter, you arrogant little git'. And that, of course, would be the end of the friendshop. As we say, with friends like that, who needs enemies.
(the mentally mature will grasp with no problem whatsoever. Sadly, not so those with a sickly, pseudo 'do-gooding' agenda, those who avoid like the plague whatever terrifies them).
cont./
sean grima
Jan 30th 2010, 10:13
i do not see any incoherence between my last comment and the previous one referred to. in any case, yes, i re-assert my belief that immigrants can and will integrate into maltese society, as has happened in other cases both here in malta (indian people, to quote an example that come to mind) and abroad. paternalistic attitudes such as yours are now archaic. you should be using your life experience to teach younger people the values of tolerance and respect for other cultures, and the value of tolerance and willingness to integrate. the fate of jews during the war is the classic example of the result of lack of tolerance.
Joe Xuereb
Jan 29th 2010, 23:28
2) Grima, quoting you: 'and that it is wrong to make sweeping statements, such as that most, if not, all immigrants are lazy people who do not want to do anything'. How very right. Apart from the fact that I never said anything of the sort - you can quote me if you like, and I will not even be bothered to check my own comments as the very idea is too preposterous. Besides, people who read and understand my comments will know instinctively that I would never say such a stupid thing. But then not everybody is capable of understanding my language, simple and straightforward as it is. You are of course implicitly exhonerated; you're but a product of a certain type of environment still beleaguering our little rock. And that's not meant as sarcasm. That's a fact. Malta is not France, UK, France or even Crete. Malta's so tiny, a Haiti - may it never happen! but I ain't god - would wipe it off in a nanosecond. In case this too has escaped your immaturity.
This ends any exchange with you. Maybe one day when you're more mature. But then, I'll have moved on. Hopefully, you too.
Joe Xuereb
Jan 29th 2010, 23:17
1) Grima, for your own sake, try not to lose credibility with every comment that you post. Your last comment is continents away from your initial assertion - albeit on another but similar tread - that in future immigrants will seamlessly be assimilated into Maltese culture which they will adopt as their own. I am sure you remember this but I say it for the benefit of readers unfamiliar with your ideals there and then. You start a discussion and in no time at all your are all over the place. Not very constructive. In fact a symptom of confused thinking, a lack of conviction. Second-formers are like that in my teaching experience.
continued
sean grima
Jan 29th 2010, 18:08
i never said i have friends from each of the 800 ethnic groups (not countries) in africa. i have described the comments made by people who share your view on this matter as shameful, so i have no regard for their opinion in my respect. my point is that reasonableness and other virtues cut across races and nationality, and that it is wrong to make sweeping statements, such as that most, if not, all immigrants are lazy people who do not want to do anything.
Joe Xuereb
Jan 29th 2010, 14:59
My black friends are my friends because they are reasonable and I would not mix with people who weren't. We get on fine. I suspect that the black friends you claim to have, one from each of 800 different countries, do not and are not sharing a similar life experience. Yours will obviously stand behind you with their vested interest. You are after all so good at proferring compassion and pity and condescension. If I were condescending to my lot, of whatever colour, they would soon tell me where to get off. No Grima, I was thinking more of your Maltese friends. One, - not a friend to be sure - has already called you shameful on another tread. They cannot be the only one. While I am here. You, and anybody else who cares to listen, learn to differentiate between 'friends' and 'people you spend the time of day with'. There's a continent of difference I can assure you.
Note. What I know to be shamful is that in Malta, the country that has spawned, I believe, 'The Palace of Thinking', learning how to think logically is still not on the curriculum. Thinking is empowering - so a no-no!
sean grima
Jan 29th 2010, 11:02
in this case my opinion is backed by facts. i do not understand how my friends come into the picture.
Joe Xuereb
Jan 29th 2010, 01:51
Sean Grima. You are of course entitled to your opinion but that is only a fraction of the story. Are you not afraid of losing what friends you might have?
sean grima
Jan 28th 2010, 13:16
forced repatriation or turning boats back is in violation of the international legal obligations of Malta, and most, if not all, EU member states. consequently it cannot even be considered as an option
Paul Xuereb
Jan 28th 2010, 08:33
Sarkozy should get advice from Gonzi on values and stuff.
malcolm seychell
Jan 27th 2010, 21:45
Well done Sarkozy, Europe needs a rightist movement to solve all our problems.
Is socjalizmu qered l ewropa
E.Muscat
Jan 27th 2010, 21:11
Malta should encourage all the affected european nations(Italy,Spain,Greece,France,Malta,and Cyprus) to have a joint naval force to forcibly repel/repatriate all illegal immigrants before they reach EU coasts.
All immigrants who are illegally in Europe should also be repatriated:this can be done in many ways.Forcing the countries that are sending them to take them back by:
a)tying EU financial aid to this condition b)using a financial inducement to send them back
c)if a and b do not succeed put them in massive detention ships until they accept to go back to their country of origin.
sean grima
Jan 27th 2010, 16:27
meaning that gonzi is to be admired more than sarkozy, given that it is easy to talk tough and get the applause from the hard liners, but harder to keep to the path of what is ethically correct.
Adriano Spiteri
Jan 27th 2010, 15:42
Malta needs a Prime Minister.
N. Borg
Jan 27th 2010, 13:25
If only our Government had Sarkozy's attitude.
Being politically correct is getting us nowhere!
louise vella
Jan 27th 2010, 12:37
While Sarkozy talks tough about migration Dr Gonzi talks about christian values.