Refugee appeals drop 80 per cent
The refugee appeals board last year saw an 80 per cent drop in applications over the previous year.
The sharp decline, from 827 appeals in 2009, was partly the result of an agreement between Italy and Libya for an automatic push back of immigrants, the economic crisis, which means less migrants were attracted to Europe, and because more of those seeking asylum were given temporary protection when they first applied so there was no need for them to appeal, according to board chairman Henry Frendo.
Of the 162 people who actually applied, only two Sudanese migrants were given full refugee status on the basis of a “well-founded fear of persecution” according to law.
Other reasons for asylum requests included instability in the country they came from, poverty, political, religious or tribal tensions.
The three most common countries of origin for migrants reviewed by the appeals board were Nigeria (22 per cent), Ethiopia (16 per cent) and Bangladesh (14.2 per cent).
In terms of profile, 83 per cent were aged between 18 and 35 and, while the majority were Muslim (46 per cent), they were closely followed by Catholics (40 per cent).
Males dominated the appeals group representing 78 per cent of applicants; 18 per cent were females and 3.7 per cent were unaccompanied children.
Although most migrants appearing before the board were illiterate or semi-literate, there was a marginal improvement in the degree of education at all levels, the board pointed out, with about 40 per cent claiming to have attended primary school, up eight per cent on 2009. Some 35 per cent attended secondary school and six per cent went to high school and one per cent went to university.
Human rights concerns
Extracts from Amnesty International’s 2010 Report on violations in the three most common countries of origin
Nigeria
The police continued to commit with impunity a wide range of human rights violations, including unlawful killings, torture and other ill-treatment and enforced disappearances.
Some people were targeted for failing to pay bribes. Several were tortured to death in police detention. Prisoners were held in appalling conditions, many of whom had been awaiting trial for years.
Violence against women remained endemic and abuses against people suspected of same-sex relationships continued.
Forced evictions affected thousands of people across the country.
At least 58 people were sentenced to death.
In the Niger Delta, clashes continued in the first half of the year between armed groups and the security forces, resulting in many deaths, including of bystanders. The security situation improved after the President offered an amnesty to members of armed groups in August.
Ethiopia
Opposition party leader Birtukan Mideksa, who was re-arrested in December 2008, continued to serve a life sentence in prison.
Some 26 people were convicted in November in the trial of more than 30 former military officers and Ginbot 7 party officials accused of plotting an armed attack on the government. Ethiopian security forces continued to carry out periodic arrests of Oromo political leaders, businessmen and their family members, who were often detained, sometimes without charge, for prolonged periods.
Sporadic fighting continued between Ethiopian National Defence Forces and armed opposition Ogaden National Liberation Front in the Somali Region (known as the Ogaden).
Some 6.2 million Ethiopians required emergency assistance because of severe drought.
Bangladesh
At least 74 people, including civilians and army officers, were killed during a Bangladesh Rifles mutiny in February 2010. After the mutiny, over 3,000 BDR personnel were detained, at least 48 of whom died in custody.
The police and security forces were implicated in the alleged extrajudicial executions of up to 70 criminal suspects. At least 64 people were sentenced to death and at least three were executed.
Women continued to be victims of acid attacks, rape, beatings and other attacks, with little preventive action from the authorities.
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Louise Vella
Feb 12th 2011, 14:41
The sharp decline … was partly the result of an agreement between Italy and Libya for an automatic push back of immigrants …” The agreement to push back the boats has done a lot of good to Malta. But what happens if Libya changes its mind? “Other reasons for asylum requests included instability in the country they came from, poverty, political, religious or tribal tensions.” Unfortunately, half the population of the world is still living in poverty. Should they all be given refugee status to stay in Malta or in the EU? “ … most migrants appearing before the board were illiterate or semi-literate …” Do you remember those articles about some illegal immigrant starting “Mr X, an engineer by profession” or “Mr Y, a psychiatrist by profession”? All of them, by coincidence, had lost their certificates, but there was no stopping the advocates of illegal immigration from trying to persuade the Maltese about their infinite good luck in receiving an influx of illegal immigrants.
Sean Grima
Feb 16th 2011, 08:42
so should we only help professionals?
Louis Gialanze
Feb 12th 2011, 14:03
Why is it that these people do not move sideways to one of the 53 african countries which make up Africa? Why do they undertake the perilous journey across the Med when it's so easy to for them to head for other african countries? Simply put it's GREED and the promise of El Dorado fed to them by the leftists and the NGOs.
Sean Grima
Feb 16th 2011, 08:43
why don't you put your question directly to them? don't you think they would have done so if it was so easy?
Tony Zammit
Feb 12th 2011, 11:27
http://www.l-orizzont.com/news.asp?newsitemid=70157
Feriment fil-Ħamrun: Ħelisha ħafif minkejja li fetaħlu żaqqu
Louise Vella
Feb 12th 2011, 11:07
According to the BBC's country profiles, Nigeria has a population of 158 million, Ethiopia 85 million and Bangladesh 164 million. That makes a total of 407 million. Granted that there are human rights violations in these countries, does it follow that their 407 million inhabitants should all be accepted as refugees in Malta? Or in the EU which has a population of about 500 million? AI should start from the beginning and try to improve the human rights situation in these countries and not militate to bring millions of Africans into Europe.
Sean Grima
Feb 16th 2011, 08:45
in fact, only a few thousand have come, not the millions you mention.
Louise Vella
Feb 12th 2011, 11:00
“The sharp decline … was partly the result of an agreement between Italy and Libya for an automatic push back of immigrants …” The agreement to push back the boats has done a lot of good to Malta. But what happens if Libya changes its mind? “Other reasons for asylum requests included instability in the country they came from, poverty, political, religious or tribal tensions.” Unfortunately, half the population of the world is still living in poverty. Should they all be given refugee status to stay in Malta or in the EU? “ … most migrants appearing before the board were illiterate or semi-literate …” Do you remember those articles about some illegal immigrant starting “Mr X, an engineer by profession” or “Mr Y, a psychiatrist by profession”? All of them, by coincidence, had lost their certificates, but there was no stopping the advocates of illegal immigration from trying to persuade the Maltese about their infinite good luck in receiving an influx of illegal immigrants.
Louise Vella
Feb 12th 2011, 10:57
I This influx has been totally negative for Malta. We've had higher expenditure by government on the backs of the Maltese taxpayer - expenditure on the refugee appeals board, on free legal aid for the illegal immigrants, on their board and lodging etc etc. On top of it all, we have sown the seeds of social unrest in future. Multiculturalism has failed in Britain, Germany and France and wherever it has been tried. It will fail also in Malta.
Sean Grima
Feb 16th 2011, 08:44
no wonder, with such an attitude.
Twannie Chircop
Feb 12th 2011, 09:50
acid attacks, rape, beatings and other attacks are ingrained in their society and culture and they bring their culture with them wherever they go. Witness what are called "family honor killings" in Europe by Asians because their daughter started living according to western standards or rejected a pre-arranged marriage.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-12416394
Murdered by her father for becoming a Western woman
Examples abound in the Western media. Witness the Female Genital Mutilation being carried out in Western countries by African immigrants who like their Asian counterparts import their social culture with them.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/search/news/?q=female%20genital%20mutilation
Female Genital Mutilation
Kenneth Galea
Feb 12th 2011, 13:23
Hey Twannie, you hit the nail on the head. Of course they want to come to Europe because they want the commodities of Western Europe, howerever they have no intention to integrate and embrace the Western culture. The appeal system must be scrapped for the refugees who come here with fairy tales, they only want a better life. What a waste of time and money. Alla hares ma kienx Berlusconi, the EU and frontex did NOTHING for Malta regarding this issue.
Sean Grima
Feb 16th 2011, 08:46
racism is the product og ignorance.
Paul Gatt
Feb 12th 2011, 09:39
Since when is the world protecting or expected to protect Mutineers as in Bangladesh?
Victor Cuschieri
Feb 12th 2011, 09:37
Asians can move to another country in Asia.
Africans can move to another continent in Africa.
Sean Grima
Feb 16th 2011, 08:47
kemm hu bravu!
Louise Vella
Feb 12th 2011, 09:10
II
Amnesty International report is based entirely on the say-so of illegal immigrants who have an interest in describing their conditions in the worst possible colours in the hope of getting access to some European country. The reports of Malta's Refugee Commissioner say repeatedly that one of his problems are the unverified and unlikely stories told by applicants for asylum. Amnesty International is one of the do-gooder organisations that believe everything illegal immigrants say.
Sean Grima
Feb 16th 2011, 08:42
that is to balance out people like you.