Simon Busuttil
Why the hypocrisy must stop
The first arrival of migrants this year caused an uproar of a different nature to what we were used to. Several organisations poured scorn on the fact that only about half the migrants saved at sea were brought to Malta. The other half were taken on board a Libyan patrol boat that participated in the rescue operation.
Some charged that Malta breached international law because Libya is not a safe place since it has not signed the Geneva Refugees Convention and conditions in its detention centres are bad.
I fully understand the position of these organisations because it is their job to stand up for migrants, especially those seeking international protection. But this is not to say that the Maltese government, or even our maritime squadron, acted improperly.
Over the past years, I have consistently adopted a moderate line on immigration and received my fair share of opprobrium from hard-liners. But on this case I stand with the government.
Before explaining why, let me bring some information to your attention.
A few days ago, a debate was held in the European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee on the plight of a group of Eritreans in Libya. It was alleged that some of them had been repelled by Italy under its agreement with Libya. The new Director General of the European Commission's Home Affairs Department, Stefano Manservisi, was summoned to reply to MEPs. He made a number of compelling points.
On the Eritreans, he announced that Libya had agreed not to repatriate them to their country of origin.
On Libya, he said that although it is not a signatory to the Geneva Convention, it is nevertheless a signatory to the 1969 Addis Ababa Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa. This binds Libya with substantially the same principles as the Geneva Convention, including cooperation with UNHCR.
On bilateral agreements, such as that between Italy and Libya, he said that the Commission prefers European agreements. However, he conceded that the Italo-Libyan agreement had proved to be effective because illegal migration to Europe, via Italy, had been stopped. Moreover, the Commission had been notified with the agreement and had found it to be "perfectly in conformity with EU law".
His words not mine.
Let me now explain why I support the government's stand on the recent incident involving Malta.
First, the idea that Libya has no obligation to respect the rights of potential asylum seekers is clearly debunked because it has signed up to these obligations. Whether it actually does so is another matter. But, frankly, that suspicion can be raised on some European countries too.
Second, many migrants who cross to Europe had lived and worked in Libya safely enough for months, if not years, to earn the money to pay for their illegal trip. This point is ignored by those who claim that Libya is not safe.
Third, I personally visited the Tripoli detention centre twice as part of European Parliament missions. On both occasions, we spoke at length to different detainees without the presence of Libyan security personnel. Having seen the conditions in some other countries, including Malta, I am in no position to condemn Libya.
Fourth, it is reasonable to expect that, in the difficult context of a life-saving rescue operation on the high seas, the migrants should have been shared among the two patrol boats participating in the rescue, more so if lives could have been compromised. And if you are saving someone from a sinking dinghy, it is not like you have the luxury of asking him where would he like to go. You just save him. It follows from the above that the claims that Libya is not safe or that Malta breached international law are highly dubious.
Fifth, a European agreement with Libya is certainly preferable. I have long insisted for that in Brussels. But we do not have one yet and, until we do, bilateral agreements and ad hoc practical arrangements must be an acceptable second option.
For there is no doubt that bilateral agreements have, so far, proved to be the single most effective instrument in stemming illegal immigration, in combating the criminal networks behind it and in preventing further loss of lives at sea. These three achievements are significant and it would be irresponsible to relinquish them.
There is one final point that I stressed during the debate in Parliament.
It is all too easy to condemn and to play the moral card. But there is more than a hint of hypocrisy in those who do so at the international level. For they have no reply when we ask them who is going to shoulder the responsibility.
Malta's policy on immigration might not be perfect (I will return to this next week). But it should not allow itself to be pressured by criticism that is hypocritical at best and demagogic at worst.
Next week: Now what?
Dr Busuttil is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.
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Alison Bezzina
Jul 29th 2010, 12:17
Mur obsor li Simon backs Gonzi.....
Now that's a surprise
JPO wiehed hawn ta.... u nahseb wiehed ser ikun hawn ghal hafna zmien.
Basta "we should not make a difference between people who arrive in dinghies or cruise liners! (Gonzi) http://www.alisonbezzina.com/same-difference/
Sean Grima
Jul 29th 2010, 13:17
of course, we should not, if at all, those in dinghies need our help even more than the others do, if the latter do so at all!
Sean Grima
Jul 29th 2010, 11:30
the hypocrisy is pitying africans seen on TV but not wanting to help them when they are here.
Stephen Farrugia
Jul 28th 2010, 20:17
The prime minister and you have lumped us with a very serious problem of thousands of illegal immigrants and let us not forget how offensive you have all been towards us who defended our country at all cost.
This mistake cost us millions of Euros, a sharp increase in crime and social problems. It is your responsibility to mend the nation you broke with your fairy tale stories of intergration and burden-sharing.
Our political position does not only stand but is fortified with every sunrise.
Stephen Farrugia ( Rightwing)
Sean Grima
Jul 29th 2010, 13:16
yes, because of the dreams you would just have had!
Muscat Pat
Jul 28th 2010, 16:47
Why did.nt you mention "burden sharing" meaning " burden dumping" which you and Dr Gonzi burdened us with? You have changed tune as quickly as the snake charmer!
Charles Sammut
Jul 28th 2010, 16:11
Dr Busuttil has at last shown his true colours. Up to recently, his solution was the mirage of "burden sharing". That failed miserably, and just as well because the repercussions would have been catastrophic.
Now that Berlusconi and the Lega Nord have achieved what should have been done by others, years ago, it is OK by Dr Busuttil. Like this someone else does the dirty work and neither he nor Gonzi blemish their immaculate conscience and bring down the wrath of the Church upon themselves.
So please, Dr Busuttil, practice what you preach and stop the hypocrisy.
Joseph Calleja
Jul 28th 2010, 15:14
Dr Busuttil, usually I am one of the first to criticize you, but this time I applaud you for what you are saying. I would also like to add that the the people should appreciate the AMF for the risks they take to save these people in an obvious set up and very well orchestrated operation. First it was the shanty boats with eight or ten people, all men. Then the numbers increased and included pregnant women and children. The sad part is, now they show up in a brand new dingy with brand new motors and they all happen to be in distress in the middle of the Mediterranean. They all carry that ship to shore radio which keeps them in touch with their com padres in Italy and or Malta to alert them that they are stuck in the middle of nowhere and to please alert the authorities. I say it is a very well organised operation and the sooner we find out where and how it's done the better. The big sin is that there are these human traffickers out there and nobody is going after them. To think some of these scumbags might be Maltese.
lgalea
Jul 28th 2010, 14:23
I am certainly no supporter of the present government but I not only fully support it in this stance but hold that it should have gone further and sent all the illegal immigrants back to Libya.
albert leone ganado
Jul 28th 2010, 12:52
Now that the DG of the EU home affairs Department has pronounced itself unequivocally and with reasoned argument on the repatriation of would be immigrants back to LIbya many of us who have for long shared the same opinion as Mr Manservisi welcome Mr. Simon Busuttil to our side of the illegal immigant debate.
We should also thank our lucky stars that the DG of the home affairs Dept is an Italian who no doubt fully understands the problems which illegal immigrants create.
We should all thank Mr. Frattini the Italian Foreign Minister for having reached such an important agreement with Libya.
It is also important that we learn the lesson that the national interest always comes first and that while we should show understanding with those dogooders who ride a moral high horse (often at taxpayers expense) we have to remind ourselves that charity should always begins at home .
Sean Grima
Jul 28th 2010, 14:14
the EU only said that repatriation would not be in violation of EU laws, precisely because they do not regulate this issue. however, it would be in violation of maltese law.
Evarist Saliba
Jul 28th 2010, 11:21
I have not always seen eye-to-eye with Dr Simon Busuttil, but in this instance I fully agree with him, and I find the counter-arguments in the editorial very feeble and far from convincing. I cannot accept that Arab-speaking persons who had lived and worked in Libya for years would not have been aware that they were being rescued by a Libyan boat, or that they were led to believe that this boat would then take them all the way to Italy when they were so close to Libya.
One point which I have stressed again and again in my comments, and which has never been refuted, is that the persons and bodies who encourage Malta (or Italy) accept freely all individuals to leave Libya illegally to migrate to Europe are also encouraging the criminals who organise this activity for their personal gain, irrespective of the danger to which they expose their clients.
It is the people behind this TRADE who are treating migrants as "merchandise" or "sacks of potatoes" and not the Maltese government.
Sean Grima
Jul 28th 2010, 11:14
i agree that european countries should not be criticising malta. HOWEVER, migrants, who are the victims of civil war, lack of education, disease and so on, should not be made the scape goats.
simon points out that they have been working for years in libya - that does not imply they were working safely, or in decent conditions.
these people are merely trying to reach a minimum standard of living, something which we all take for granted.
Philip Cassar
Jul 28th 2010, 14:22
Sean Grima Is all Africa in civil war sean. No, so they could have stayed in another African country and not come here.
Sean Grima
Jul 29th 2010, 14:21
simplistic reasoning
Emanuel Cilia Dbono
Jul 28th 2010, 10:49
Congratulations Dr. Busuttil for your excellent report on the present situation.
Much as I sympathise with the plight of the poor migrants I feel that the local NGOs who tried to blame Malta and target AFM ( for a scape goat) are being hypocritical and cheeky. In my opinion, if they really want to help Afrrican migrants they should join meaningful international dialogue and promote international co-operation.
ASpiteri
Jul 28th 2010, 10:46
I guess u know a thing or two hypocrisy Dr Busutill!!
First you play the Christian card for the political failure of your government re immigration. “We have to help them, they are human beings, we are Christians”. But unfortunately for you the Maltese never swallowed this pathetic cry!
Then propose to share the burden of illegal immigration with our European cousins and now that you idea has miserably failed, and i’m quoting your friend Gunter Verheugen, you want to play the tough boy and sending back to Libya!
Who’s the hypocrite Dr Busutill?!?!
E.Muscat
Jul 28th 2010, 12:00
With the generous golden pensions that the EU gives to its ex this and that,Verheugen must be still in some nudist camp with his girlfriend, enjoying the fruit of his labours.
Dr.Busuttil knows the EU game very well and how to prick their consciences so we must continue to play the game.
It is the northern EU 'nimby' game:we are all for migrants 'rights' but we will make sure that they stay away from our back yard and condemn the mediterranean states to be their keepers!We are even prepared to pay some money to keep them away!
What will the EU do when all this becomes a flood?:it will just give up, in the best tradition of
alienating the rights of the indiginous population but 'respecting the human rights of others' .
And all this is not coming from christian traditions and teachings but from pure hypocracy!
We are OK in Brussels:you 'great unwashed' deserve this future,since you are all spoilt kids anyway.
A french style revolution will not go amiss ( the British missed this and are now paying the price!).
James Dimech
Jul 28th 2010, 12:27
Spiteri the hypocrites are your Labour Party who talk tough on immigration in Malta whilst their MEPs are nowhere to be seen abroad on this important issue.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 28th 2010, 13:07
@ E muscat: My, my. First you come as a knight in shining armour, in favour of freedom of expression; in the same breath, or almost, you are advocating violence and revolution. Where are you? Wither do you go?
ASpiteri
Jul 28th 2010, 13:28
@James Dimech...call me whatever u like...but never a Socialist!
Louise Vella
Jul 28th 2010, 10:15
Now what? The government of Dr Gonzi must put the interests of the ordinary people of Malta above everything else. The current online poll by timesofmalta.com shows that more than 80% of the people want the illegal immigrants to be sent to Libya. 80% is a big majority. It shows that Malta is full up and that the people are fed up. Dr Busuttil should go to Bugibba, B’Buga, Marsa, Balzan and other places. These illegal immigrants are taking over the place. They started with a few genuine refugees and then became an organised traffic. Malta already has enough of them. The government must make sure, one, that no more of them come in and, two, that those that are here are repatriated immediately.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 28th 2010, 10:31
Online polls have no scientific value and are nothing to stand up on. Louise Vella, with all due respect, is the last person who should be heard in matters related to migrants.
E.Muscat
Jul 28th 2010, 12:05
@F.Farrugia:Louise Vella has every right to express her opinion as she has been doing all along!
Franco Farrugia
Jul 28th 2010, 13:04
@ E Muscat - I am in now way stopping Louise Vella from expressing her opinion - what I hope for is that she would take a very long holiday, but that's by-the-by. I think that Vella can well speak for herself without having you to butt in and speak in her stead. And then, again, I have as much right to express my opinion as much as she does.
George Fenech
Jul 28th 2010, 14:25
Franco Farrugia let the politicians disregard the online pools and see what happens at election time.
Franco Farrugia
Jul 28th 2010, 17:31
@ George Fenech: Well, let me put it this way: I will never be a politician. However, if I had to be one, I would never be swayed by what the 'kotra' tells me , in such matters. To hell with polls which have become like pools, you're quite right, actually. Since when was it that what the majority of the people said was right? Eh? Look up your history books and ask yourself. Quite the contrary.