Reports: Defecting Libyan warship near Malta, AFM denial

Dave Begent

Feb 24th 2011, 10:16

I see on your web cam a warship entering Grand Harbour right now is it Libyan?

DGalea

Feb 23rd 2011, 12:25

The international news media keep referring ot TWO Libyan warships heading our way. The local media deny it. What is the truth? Two warships are hardly a couple of dolphins or lampuki. Either they ARE in the vicinity of Malta or they are NOT. There are no two ways about it.

James Schembri

Feb 23rd 2011, 10:40

@ j grech, unless the "government" supplies the AFM with adequate equipment they have no choice but to use what they have, and I'm sure they always try their best with the meanest of help given. Money is wasted rather on the Eurovision.

@ Denis Catania, I agree with you.

j grech

Feb 23rd 2011, 09:33

we were told that a war ship was heading towards maltese waters and the AFM denied it?
we were told the italians were monitoring the war ship, the AFM denied it?
last night apparently news was broadcast around the world that two war ships entered
maltese waters the AFM denied it.
today however the AFM claim they are monitoring a war ship off the coast of malta
were the AFM asleep when everyone else claimed the ship/ships were here or if not
why lie to the maltese people ? we have done nothing wrong so we have nothing to fear
but for arguements sake if the ships were here to use against the maltese people what would the AFM do what could the AFM do we have no powerful weapons, no properly trained personel for an attack on a grand scale and malta would be wiped out before anyone else could get to our aid, we are nuetral but we should still be armed and trained to expect the unexpected so our AFM should wake up to reality be trained and equiped for battle not road blocks this is police work

Dion Borg

Feb 23rd 2011, 08:07

And where are the Americans in all this?? apparently as H Clinton quoted,"watching these events with alarm"..it's all business,America has not intervened because they only buy1% of their oil from Libya so not too much worry for them,it was all different in Kuwait,from where 79% of their oil is bought...it's all about the MONEY..!! USA don't care about all these attrocities..and wondered if GONZI's invite to Gaddhafi is still on??!!

martin saliba

Feb 22nd 2011, 23:19

. All major news networks are reporting a libjan milatary vessel defecting and is close to maltese waters. Who is lying ?

david galea

Feb 22nd 2011, 21:23

Let the military assets defect here. A few more jets, a warship or two, brilliant, we can keep them and finally have a navy and airforce of our own. Hehe

D.Portelli

Feb 22nd 2011, 20:49

Mr Bezzina, I agree with you but on the other side what solution do you offer.There must be one deffinately cause i don't think a tiny island like Malta can take 5000,10000,15000 or 20000 illegal immigrants in such a short period.
And that was a message that immigration through the mediterrenean is a failure.

j attard

Feb 22nd 2011, 20:24

Libyan ship spotted off Malta coast
Italian navy says it is monitoring a Libyan "naval asset" in the Mediterranean, but is not clear about its intention.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/02/2011222152359147622.html

A.Camilleri

Feb 22nd 2011, 20:04

acassar, you are spot on, the worrying starts when AL QAEDA takes over these countries.

Gerard Cassar

Feb 22nd 2011, 19:45

It would appear that some contributors fear some sort of attack from Libya and are calling for help. Cowards already. Malta was bombed by Italy andGermany and did not give up. Are we worried because Libya is in trouble, not Malta.
There will be no sort of an attack, ,remove this from your minds. All the writings against a head of state are not called for. It is a Libyan problem. Why do you thing that Gaddafi is ready to involve foreign countries. Libyan population does not count a lot of milions like Egypt or even Tunisia.European countries are not involving themselves. there are a number in Malta who still have a colonial mentality. What Dr Portelli is suggesting is childish. Things like he wrote about are not done in international relations. Should we send back the George Cross some day or other? Child's mind.

C Borg

Feb 22nd 2011, 19:41

This is really shameful that our democratic government is keeping numb in all this chaos around us. What is exactly happening? Who are the pilots that landed here? What news are they relaying from their home country? Is Europe on guard to help us if we are invaded?

Please stop abusing your power and being paternalistic. The people are intelligent enough to sift through the news. Why do we need to rely on International News Agencies to know the facts?

Darren Buttigieg

Feb 22nd 2011, 19:26

The maltese, like myself, have been welcomed abroad for centuries. Our very own DNA is a sign of how many different people migrated to Malta, and most recently migrated from Malta

You guys collectively kiss the heels of all the Italian men who flood Malta every summer, turning it into the maltese version Jersey Shore. But god forbid anyone with a darker complexion than a northern Italian ever comes to Malta

It is in times of need when peoples' true colours come out, and your collectives colours are a disgust to look at

Charles J. Buttigieg

Feb 22nd 2011, 19:20

. The Libyan officers abandoned their station on a sea worthy vessel. On my books they are bigger rats than the rest. Their place is at home to protect the destitute souls from the tyranny of Gaddafi. Like cowards, they abandoned their responsibilities and ran in search for a safe haven.

Franco Farrugia

Feb 22nd 2011, 19:10

Everyone hurries with comments, most of which are ridiculous. One of the things that I note is that it is in times such as these when one would really need a 'par idejn sodi' at the helm of the country. I am no fan of Dr Gonzi but I pity the man and would not wish to be in his shoes right now. But nobody takes note of these things - we tend to take many things for granted.

Katriel Coppola

Feb 22nd 2011, 19:05

italy, Spain,france, Portugal, Germany,usa pls send some soldiers because we need protection!!!!!!!!!!!

A Bezzina

Feb 22nd 2011, 18:32

Remember when, a few months back, commentators were happily cheering the Italian government for taking asylum seekers back to Libya?! Perhaps we now know better what situation the people were facing when being taken there! The people of Libya are themselves being persecuted and killed ... can you imagine what was happening to asylum seekers who were being taken back there?! The message is clear ... just because we did not know what was going on in Libya, does not mean that all was well! Guess it cannot be more blatant at this point ...

Joseph Calleja

Feb 22nd 2011, 18:02

Where there is smoke there is fire. That ship is there out there somewhere and I hope the Maltese Government will offer help if and when that ship arrives. These people are looking for asylum and not asking for a better life. Can you imagine if this ship or the two brave pilots were to return to Libya? That guess is as good as mine. The Libyan people are our friends, the government?????????

Denis Catania

Feb 22nd 2011, 17:43

Most Maltese also denied a LIBYAN had something to do with the bombing of the Pan AM flight. As an American Citizen I only hope that we stay silent on this situation and just sit back and watch this situation on CNN while drinking a good cold American beer.and pray our beloved Malta wont be affected. In saying that watch out for the next wave of illegal immigrants to enter Malta and hopefully this man in Tripoli wont drop any weapons on Malta that Europe provided him with. My prayers are with Malta and the Maltese but not way I will pray for Libya and anyone who burned American flags on the streets of Tripoli. May Allah be with them.

Jonathan Grech

Feb 22nd 2011, 17:30

Btw I'm concerned about the military apparatus that is being used on civilians and am not particulary purturbed by defecting warships.....(to the extent that they won't be targetted by the regime's militia if they get close to our shores)

Jonathan Grech

Feb 22nd 2011, 17:24

My stand on the subject at hand? Easy.....I joined in the protest in front of the Libyan embassy (both yesterday and today). I am totally against the use of force against innocent civilians by a tyrannic despot (unless I'm living in cukooland and all the broadcast images have been fabricated by the US!!!). No graffiti banners to be seen where I was standing from though.....wonder why???

Clifford Farrugia

Feb 22nd 2011, 17:09

Jonathan Grech, what do you suggest that Graffitti (and other NGO's) do about this? While it's not a good thing that this craft is arriving over here, it's worth noting that it's arriving here due to defections. It's not arriving here to support its use - it's actually arriving here because of refusal to use it! Before asking others to take a stand, it would make sense to let the public know what your stand is and what message you're trying to portray.

MARGARET RICHARDS

Feb 22nd 2011, 17:03

Right now the less said the better for one and all. It's a waiting game, and no comment, hilarious or serious or nonsensical will change anything. So just keep fingers crossed, the less comments the better, and we'll just wait for things to take a turn for the better. Certain comments are better left unsaid, as the climate right now is cold weather-wise but extremely-hot on global issues!!!

wally vella-zarb

Feb 22nd 2011, 17:02

I don't understand how some people seem to delight in blowing things out of all proportion and deriding our national capabilities. Danger from what? From a Libyan attack? Attack on what?

Surely it doesn't take much 'melħ' to conclude that the Libyans have more important things to worry about at the moment than two stolen Mirages (that will eventually be returned anyway) and a small group of protesters (who are possibly from the same Eastern tribe) in front of the embassy at Attard.

As for neutrality and independence, these are here to stay regardless of the nostalgia of some servile people who seem to have a chronic case of inferiority complex.

Andrea Demarco

Feb 22nd 2011, 17:00

AFM is denying...so what is this all about?
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/02/2011222152359147622.html

Jonathan Grech

Feb 22nd 2011, 16:52

A small question for the Graffiti activists who are normally at the forefront when protesting about the use of military force and other such matters: "Where are you now?" Is this a case of two weights two measures?

Ray Buhagiar

Feb 22nd 2011, 16:46

And the reaction from USA, EU and Russia is minimal almost utter silence. Shame

Joseph Attard

Feb 22nd 2011, 16:38

These people are real refuges. If it was the other way round you would not be thinking about the sitiuation in the same way. This time we cannot call these people false refuges. We should do whatever we can to help them. Whenever Libya asks for this military equipment back, they can come for it whenever they want. The Maltese people are holding noone and nothing against the will of their owners.

Whenever the situation will calm down over there, they will be glad to return to a free nation. With all its resources, if managed well Libya can offer more than it currently offers to its citizens. For the moment all we can do is help them together with all the support ofthe EU. Didn't they help us before when we were in need? Now it's our turn to help.

R Calleia

Feb 22nd 2011, 16:35

I do agree with you, Mr.Farrugia , but how are the Maltese Authorities going to stop any warplanes and navy ships ? I think the government needs to seriously consider military help from our European Allies, as a prevention of course ! We have no military capabilities to intercept fighters or large frigates.

David Darmanin

Feb 22nd 2011, 16:33

A foreign Al Jazeera correspondent has just reported that he has been in touch with Tonio Borg over this issue - and Tonio Borg seems to be well aware of the sighting of the vessel. They are so far unsure whether or not it is a warship. It has also been reported that the Italian Airforce is monitoring it closely.

Point it - who's thwarting information: Al Jazeera, the AFM, the Italian Military or Tonio Borg?

Adrian Camilleri

Feb 22nd 2011, 16:30

Gaddafi is not Ben Ali nor Mubarak........when the situation is once again under his control, he will tackle Malta later on.....that's my concern........not via military action obviously.......

tipo immigrants, oil etc........

Malcolm Farrugia

Feb 22nd 2011, 16:23

The Maltese authorities should not allow any more military warfare to enter our shores, because this situation is putting our country in great danger.