Updated: Migrants in second attempt to cross from Libya
Migrants who issued an SOS call from a boat in the Sicily Channel late yesterday afternoon were using the same satellite phone which was used when another boat tried to make the crossing from Libya on June 6, the Italian authorities have established.
The Italian media said the call yesterday was made to migrants resident in Sicily. Italian patrol boats and a helicopter found no trace of the boat.
Later, sources quoting Rome rescue coordination centre said the call could have been a false alarm.
Advert
Popular Stories
Update 3: Woman found dead in car,...
Updated: Woman dies in car crash
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Part of Dwejra 'Azure window' collapses
The end of the bar that ‘never closed’
Bundy does not know whether to...
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
This WAS the night - Kurt makes it...
'No need for early election if PM's...
In Discussion
Updated - Jason Micallef demands...
Gozo tunnel could take 5-7 years to...
CABS remote controlled aircraft shot...
Carm Mifsud Bonnici resigns after...
Joseph Calleja condemns portrayal of...
Updated: Labour would give...
CABS drone shot down
Second group of migrants arrives
Adrian Vassallo in scathing...
Advert
24 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Tony Caruana
Jun 17th 2010, 17:39
I thought that people who are sent back to libya are tortured , molested, Murdered, Put in muky dirty jails !
Obviously not true !
j cachia
Jun 17th 2010, 16:06
The UNHCR was obviously colluding with the human traffickers. Once the UNHCR got caught in the act and as a result 'kicked out' of Libya, the illegal immigrants stopped doing the crime they are best at. Well-done, Libya and Italy.
lgalea
Jun 17th 2010, 15:33
At least some good news
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/africa/10338790.stm
How Libya became a dead end for migrants
Kenneth Galea
Jun 17th 2010, 14:30
@Dennis Catania
Absolutely my thoughts. The Italian authorities if they intercept these illegals should without any hesitation drag them back to Libya where they were safe. This non-sense of these illegals must stop once and for all. A large number of austerity measures are being taken across the EU right now due to debt and economic woes. Last thing the EU countries or its residents want is to be lumbered with these illegals. Deport them Mr Berlusconi to Libya!
Denis Catania
Jun 17th 2010, 13:18
Once they are in a safe country and they leave and or another country illegally , that's when they cross the line from refugees to criminals.
Robert Callus
Jun 17th 2010, 16:11
Libya is not a safe country. Once cannot be a refugee in Libya since the state does not give refugee status to a person even if (hypothetically) authorities witness a militia shooting at him across the border. Instead of pushing Libya to recognize its human rights obligation, countries like Italy are just appeasing the colonel and donating him millions of Euros.
Denis Catania
Jun 17th 2010, 17:14
@Robert Callus: Most can't be refugees anywhere as they don't qualify. I would have to consider Libya safe. Just a month ago Maltese were going crazy trying to get back to Libya. I agree with you that Libya is not safe to rapist, crooks and drug dealers. But the majority of illegal immigrants are safe in Libya. Not only they are safe, they work and save money to buy designer cloths and pay a hefty fee to traffickers. So please Robert take your story and or lie that Libya is not safe, somewhere else. WHEN IS YOUR GROUP GRAFFITI GOING TO PROTEST AGAINST UNSAFE LIBYA ON BEHALH ON THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ?
Peter Spiteri
Jun 17th 2010, 17:36
Robert Callus That's what those who defend illegal immigrants say, most probably because they are benefiting from employing them as slave labour on the black economy. No Callus, they must be returned back to Libya or to their own countries as should those who are already here.
Robert Callus
Jun 17th 2010, 17:49
@Dennis
We can never agree on this. I am sure there are people fleeing persecution, you are sure there aren't. Fair enough
@Peter
Your comment is most worrying, especially since I have read many similar comments. Who are these benefiting from human trafficking? Enough mudslinging. Names of the organizations and proof. Are you saying human traffickers are making donations to Graffitti, JRS or UNHCR? Please let's be realistic.
It's Ok to disagree on the issue. But to make false accusations on organizations whose goals you don't agree with is another thing
Louise Vella
Jun 17th 2010, 12:45
Is there a way of knowing that the phone call is really coming from people in a boat? The circumstances of this and the last incident make one doubtful. Suppose the phone calls are being made from the Libyan shore before the boat actually leaves to ensure, or at least hope for, some Italian patrol boat will take them to Italy? And in this case, would not UNHCR be serving as a link in the chain of human traffickers?
Sean Grima
Jun 17th 2010, 12:56
you should think more about the implications of your writings. nobody can thow about unsubstantiated allegations like those.
J Farrugia
Jun 17th 2010, 13:04
sean grima since when did you qualify as a lawyer for lost causes? Are you one of those who are giving their own residences to these illegal immigrants and letting their maltese brothers rot in hell?
john borg
Jun 17th 2010, 13:04
not sure if satellite phones give also gps position.....however it should have been confiscated the first time they returned to libya .
M Vella
Jun 17th 2010, 13:08
What Louise said is food for thought
lgalea
Jun 17th 2010, 13:18
Very good observations Louise. I hope that the Libyan Navy gets them before they manage to sneak out and compound our illegal immigrants problems.
S. Camilleri
Jun 17th 2010, 13:20
@Sean ... That is a very real possibility. It has happend before and may certainly be happening now, even if UNHCR may not realise that they are being manipulated. And btw, if allegations are substantiated, would they remain allegations?
Joe Bugeja
Jun 17th 2010, 13:23
Mr Sean Grima, are you now suggesting that people should not be allowed give any indications or opinion to the authorities about possibilities that may stop illegal immigrants from reaching Malta?
Sean Grima
Jun 17th 2010, 14:04
what i am attacking is the allegation that the call was made from the UNHCR..this is mere conjecture and speculation.
i am not hosting any immigrants in my house, and neither is any one of you, for that matter.
J.Scicluna - Rabat
Jun 17th 2010, 12:42
Can someone answer a simple question?
As far as I know, purchasing a satellite phone is not as easy as buying a prepaid mobile phone. Don't the authorities KNOW who provides these sat phones?
How difficult is it to "follow the money" to get to these human trafficers?!
T Camilleri
Jun 17th 2010, 13:20
J.Scicluna a friend of mine traced the number of an outboard motor back to the company in Japan and it resulted that it had been sold to their agent in Libya less than a month before it was used to transport a boatload of illegal immigrants to Malta. How about the Government concluding an agreement with Libya to take back all illegal immigrants when there is so much proof that they had left Libya?
S. Camilleri
Jun 17th 2010, 13:21
Go to any electronics or mobile phone outlet in any European and more so, Gulf country and you can see sat phones available to anybody with cash to spare ... off the shelf
Ramon Casha
Jun 17th 2010, 13:31
In Malta you'd be right. However, elsewhere in the world where there are vast empty spaces without any mobile antenna coverage, these satellite phones are much more popular.
Sean Grima
Jun 17th 2010, 14:10
@T Camilleri: such an agreement would be illegal. you cannot prevent people from applying from asylum and having their case heard.
T Camilleri
Jun 17th 2010, 17:38
Mr Sean Grima, since when have you become an expert in asylum law, international law and illegal immigrants? As others have asked before me, why do you always defend illegal immigrants?