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Friday, April 8, 2011, 07:49 by

Kurt Sansone

Angry Maltese reaction as Lampedusa bars entry to AFM patrol boat

Updated - Adds details, picture of sinking migrants' boat.

Home Affairs Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici this morning accused Italy of having reneged on in its legal and humanitarian obligations after a Maltese patrol boat which had just rescued 171 migrants was not allowed entry into Lampedusa - the closest port to the scene.

Using uncharacteristically strong language, Dr Mifsud Bonnici explained how the rescue took place on Lampedusa's doorstep. Yet the Italian authorities replied to Maltese calls for help in the rescue operation some two hours after the rescue started and only after it was complete.

After the Maltese boat picked up the migrants, it steamed towards the island of Lampedusa, just 54 nautical miles away. However, the Italian authorities refused entry and the patrol boat stood outside Lampedusa's territorial waters for some 90 minutes. Given the rough seas and the Italian authorities' refusal, a decision was eventually taken to bring the rescued migrants to Malta - 91 nautical miles away.

"This was not correct behaviour by the Italians," the minister said.

The migrants, for the first time, included Libyans.

The minister explained that the rescue operation started at 3.55 p.m. yesterday. P61 happened to be in the area looking for survivors after another migrants boat capsized on Wednesday.

At 4.32 p.m. Malta asked the Italians to assist in the rescue. The Italians only replied at 6.15 p.m, when all the migrants had been taken on board the patrol boat.

The Italians refused entry to the Maltese patrol boat at Lampedusa because they argued it was not safe as it was 'full up' and medical assistance could not be provided.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said he could not understand this as, according to media reports, only 84 migrants remained at Lampedusa.

The patrol boat arrived in Malta at 5 a.m. carrying 151 men, 17 women and three children.

815 migrants arrived on two boats last week, the first arrivals in over a year. All are believed to have left from Libya.

JOY AMID THE TRAGEDY

Meanwhile, 50 of the 53 migrants rescued from the sea on Wednesday this morning were taken by plane to Brindisi. Among them were 'Mimi' and her boyfriend 'Peter' whose story was the only happy aspect of the tragedy.

Each had thought that the other had perished in the rough seas, and they then embraced each other warmly when they were finally reunited by the rescuers.

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M. Antonio Formosa

Apr 10th 2011, 16:38

No doubt the Maltese captain did a superb job. But wouldn't his achievment have been more humanitarian vis-a-vis our children and our grandchildren if he had deposited the people somehwere in North Africa. I know there must be some masochistic EU law somewhere but isn't our first responsibility to our own children and grandchildren

Marco Cremona

Apr 10th 2011, 21:28

@ M Antonio Formosa.

I do not think that the fact that these people (I repeat, people) were saved from drowning and some of them needed assistance passes through your 'patriotic' mind. And you suggest that the captain should have taken a 2 day trip to somewhere in war-stricken Libya (endangering his crew and the survivors) to seek a hospital somewhere to attend to the survivors.

No, and the likelihood that you posted your comment just after coming back from Sunday mass. You should be ashamed to call yourself Maltese!

Joseph Galea

Apr 8th 2011, 20:31

U izjed minn hekk jibqghu jivvotaw lil partit taghhom fl-elezjoni generali ,ghalkemm ikunu jafu xi tkun l-agenda tal partit. Jien nighdilhom lil dawn ,li lanqas biss ikun baqaghlhom id-dritt li jilmentaw fuq l-immigrazjoni u wisq aktar jipprotestaw.

Zachary Stewart

Apr 8th 2011, 20:36

Amen to everything you said. In a real union, indifference can cut both ways.

Joseph Farrugia

Apr 8th 2011, 17:47

Absolutely right! Only for the bad things we are in Europe. Today in Romania it was stated that the tax on imported second hand cars was declared illegal and urged people to claim their money back from the government. Actually 12,000 people around europe already won the case against the government and took their money back with interest.... We Maltese need to wake up...

Peter Korsten

Apr 8th 2011, 23:44

@Louis Cassar

Do you honestly believe all the anti-EU mantras you've been spewing out? Are you sure you live in the same Malta as I do? Because I've found that food has either made a jump in quality, or become cheaper, or both. Ireland, Portugal and Greece are in a mess because they've been spending money they didn't have.
Don't even get me started on Greece: as a state railways employee, the average salary is something like €60,000. And civil servants are the only ones who pay their taxes. Is it normal for a train driver to earn €100,000? No, I don't think so.

Corinne Vella

Apr 8th 2011, 16:51

The moral obligation is independent of anyone's religion.

Stephen Farrugia

Apr 8th 2011, 13:39

I wish to draw your attention to inform you that I Stephen Farrugia from Hal Farrug is not the same Stephen Farrugia that usually puts his comments on this newspaper. As I am an ex Warrant Officer of the Armed Forces this might give the impression that we are the same person. Kindly could you at least mention that he is from Sliema. Kind Regards Stephen Farrugia ID 606457 M

P Gatt

Apr 8th 2011, 13:13

so true.

C Grech

Apr 8th 2011, 15:01

That's exact. The Maltese go to Italy and Sicily to spend money and nowadays the Italians come here to earn money. Albeit its a fact that they treat us like a third world country.

Last October I had just arrrived in Sicily. After 15 mins driving we (my brother and I) were stopped by the police and asked to get out of the car. The police checked our IDs, log book etc and phoned to verify. We were asked the reason for visit and if we had gone to sell something (LOL). After about 40 mins they decided to fine us since my brother had forgotten his licence (he was driving my car since I felt unwell). Eur 35 - so far so good. Problem is that a couple of months later I received another fine of nearly Eur 400. That very same week I had watched on TV that Tonio Borg had signed some bilateral agreements on fines.

We were driving well. I have a good and upmarket car with no fancy bells or whistles, casual but well dressed ,well educated and more money in my pockets than 95% of Italian tourists. The only problem was I am Maltese.

V. Portelli

Apr 8th 2011, 13:23

as if we care about what you think Corinne. Ormai we know you and we know that you would sell malta to best offer. No problem with your opinion as this is only yours.

Carm Pulis

Apr 9th 2011, 21:06

Stop constantly disparaging your fellow maltese and try getting off that high horse of yours Corinne.
Malta is a microcosm of the rest of the world, no better and certainly not worse.
Grow up, travel lots and see reality in all its shades, time and experience will give you an answer.

Corinne Vella

Apr 10th 2011, 09:59

@ Carm Pulis I mentioned no nationality or country, so it’s telling that you believe I’m talking about ‘the Maltese’. Why would I wish to include myself, and the many others who share my views, among those who revel in nastiness and unpleasantness? It is the latter to which I refererred, and they are not only Maltese.

@ V Portelli – It seems you care more than you wish to admit. You’re labouring under the illusion that mine is a minority opinion. That is only because your sort have squeezed out any kind of rational debate here.

Carm Pulis

Apr 10th 2011, 23:00

@ Corinne Vella,

You are constantly disparaging Maltese people on the Times and other blogs if they don't have your immature world view and they are either mintoffian hamali or out and out racists to you.
And don't try to weasel out Corinne, of course you meant Maltese people, as the majority of the writers of these blogs in the T.O.M are Maltese, they certainly are not Italian or Mohawk Indians.
It is a nasty world out there, always was, always will be, get use to it and get real.

gcForte

Apr 8th 2011, 12:43

A very sensible solution. I add that I will make it more easy for them, and give them a free air travel ticket and a 1000.00 euros each. Considering that once they stay here, still we have to fork more money to keep them. Wake up government before it will be to late. We are being abused and bullied.

B Barbara

Apr 8th 2011, 14:15

gcForte better to send them to Brussels at the EU quarters or to Sweden to see what Malmstrom would them do.

D. Cachia

Apr 8th 2011, 15:46

Sure, let's turn Malta into the refugee gateway to Europe. That should rid us of migrants! How very short sighted.

The only solution is to assist the boats and tow them to their port of departure. Once this is done once or twice, they will think twice about undertaking the voyage. We know already that different groups of migrants have open lines of communications between them (in fact many times it is other migrants who advise the AFM of a boat in "distress"), so you can rest assured that word will travel.

We need to send a clear message - stay where you are!

O Callus

Apr 8th 2011, 17:09

D. Cachia we do not care anything about Europe. They are destroying us so we reciprocate in the same manner.

T Barbara

Apr 8th 2011, 17:25

D. Cachia I agree that we should tow the boats back to where they left, but how can you determine whether they are saying the truth? What if Libya or Tunisia do not accept them back? What we should do is to prevent them from coming to Malta by towing them back out to sea and if any manage to enter they should be given a schengen pass as suggested by others and send them on to Sweden and see how Commissioner Malmstrom would react. We must not allow any illegal immigrants to stay in Malta so yes, give them a schengen pass and send them on their way.

MT Caruana

Apr 8th 2011, 13:47

Naqbel mieghek perfetamant.

Giletti ma tejd xejn ???? Jew biex tigdeb u TPARLA FIL VOJT BISS QIEGHED HEMM.

Joseph Aquilina

Apr 8th 2011, 13:16

I think you are exaggerating. Maltese are not against welcoming illegal immigrants, Maltese are against having a neighbour - who says is our friend - that continually stab us in the back and insults us with every comment they say!! It is time that our Ministers take action and not just talk. Create a report and present it to the International Community so that this can act and force Italy and other nations to act responsibly and not escape from their duty!! Talk is good when someone is listening... however at the moment no one is listening and therefore Malta should take other roads!!

Corinne Vella

Apr 8th 2011, 12:16

What would you do about the boat in the picture?

SPace

Apr 8th 2011, 14:16

Once seen, save them and bring them in. However, our government should reduce patrol boat operations down there to the bare minimum, or to nothing, and if requested to go there by the Italians, he should not fall to their traps, under no circumstances.

This should be a one-off situation where our boats were 'caught' searching for people in that area. It should not happen again. Once bitten, twice shy.

Michael Spiteri

Apr 8th 2011, 14:31

Being a black person in Libya right now in enough reason to get killed with the presumption that they are Gaddafi's mercenaries, so stop dreaming that they are safe over there. No wonder for this fresh wave of immigration.

Corinne Vella

Apr 8th 2011, 16:50

@SPace
Malta is obliged to assist anyone in distress in its search and rescue area. That is why it is called a search and rescue area.

It is useful to arm oneself with the relevant fact when forming an opinion, more so when one proposes that Malta should renege on its international obligations.

L Vella

Apr 8th 2011, 17:29

No excuses Michael Spiteri. They can easily go through the borders from Libya to the other 6 countries that have borders with Libya. There are no border posts but thousands of unguarded kilometres where to slip through without being detected.

R. Gauci

Apr 8th 2011, 11:47

Very good point Mr. Caruana, at this point in time Italy is very vulnerable. Ehh if only Mintoff was prime minister right now!

Raymond Camilleri

Apr 8th 2011, 11:53

What a stupid comment...it isprecisely because of right wing governments that there is no cooperation between EU countries.... 'national interest' means NO solidarity... rightist goverrnments are Europes scourge

frank grech

Apr 8th 2011, 13:36

Malta would still have been obliged to accept/rescue illegal immigrants if it was not a member of the EU. As for staying out of the EU, the consequences would have been dire for Malta,to say the least!

Anthony Falzon

Apr 8th 2011, 10:29

I quiet agree with calling a press conference, inviting foreign press. For the italian government Malta is doing nothing in these difficult days.

Cellul

Apr 8th 2011, 10:16

Colonialism at its very best.

I am looking forward to Mr Gonzi's statement that as usual will lead to nowhere.

PS Zammit

Apr 8th 2011, 10:19

Emmmm, for your information many illegal immigrants entering Lampedusa are from Tunisia, the place where the dictatorship has in fact lately been wiped out and "democracy" installed therefore your argument, I'm sorry, but is wrong. It would be the ideal scenario but the truth is much different.

K. Degabriele

Apr 8th 2011, 10:34

So true!!!!

CEllul

Apr 8th 2011, 09:52

I am sure that they will be terrified by such threat.

Meanwhile while Simon Busuttil writes his millionth and one article about burden sharing, we keep on accepting immigrants. Now we'll also accepting immigrants which are close to Lampedusa. What par idejn sodi this government has. Oh yeah, around the locals neck.

G. Mangion

Apr 8th 2011, 11:46

@ gcForte

Il Vera ilqat il - bull's eye 100 % Agree very well said.

If Italy wants to play foul on Malta then........................... TWO CAN PLAY AT THE GAME.

G. Mangion

S. Formosa

Apr 8th 2011, 09:39

Well said. Hope that finally the government of malta will follow italy, france and all the others. It's stupid that the biggest countries close their borders and we as the smallest open all ports to accept this irresponsible illegal immigration.

totally agree with you.

d. borg

Apr 8th 2011, 08:27

Ma nessagerawx ta. With open arms when almost a thousand arrived in one week? And if more keep on coming we'll remain lampa stampa not open arms Hallina tridtx!!

d attard

Apr 8th 2011, 08:44

I think that good christians like you should help these people by opening their houses to accomodate them in their home. Otherwise I dont think that a good christian would impose such "goodness" on other people by enforcing them to pay for their accomodation. I have my children and my own worries and expences that come 1st and foremost.

Economic migrants should be returned immediately and those threathened with violence should be returned when such threat cease to exist.

George Joseph

Apr 8th 2011, 08:50

This is not about christianity, it's involve space on the island ,something we have't got.

Charles Sammut

Apr 8th 2011, 08:59

God will be providing us with many more opportunities to flaunt our Christianity in the next days as excellent weather is expected. Let us be grateful for these blessings. We do not mind losing our country as long as we do not lose our souls.

Moira Heath

Apr 8th 2011, 09:12

Better than hearing of babies and small children drowning at sea. How horrible, poor things.

I M Dingli

Apr 8th 2011, 09:14

What does Christianity have to do with this? Are the Maltese more Christian than the Italians? Have we got to consider the Italians as barbarians because they clearly refused help to these persons (not the first instance of such cases)?

The situation gets more ridiculous as time passes by. I admit that there isn't a solution which will be accepted by all entities involved but for the past years, it was always the Maltese Government that gave way.

Joe Borg

Apr 8th 2011, 09:22

I fully agree this is our chance to practice the true meaning of beeing a christian. We have plenty of Churches. Lets open the doors and make them heal the wounds close to the lord. All priests chould take part in this.

Kenneth Galea

Apr 8th 2011, 09:32

We hardly heard anything about illegal immigration during the last 18 months thanks to the Berlusconi and Gaddafi agreement. This nasty nightmare is back on our screens and media now. If the Italians want to play tit for tat, GonziPN should take the bull by the horns and refuse to cooperate in any circumstances. The AFM should not have brought these illegals to our country, where is the Swede Cecilia now? Is she having a nice cup of tea with scones and cream too? The only way these people are going to listen is only if Malta refuses to dispatch the AFM boats for the rescue of these illegals. We have to do something on our own very urgently, the island is full up. If the do-gooders say a single word on here everybody should tell them to host these illegals at their homes and pay for their upkeep too.
This was widely expected to happen when Libya was thrown into chaos by a bunch of armed rebels who are terrorists. Yes that is what the BBC are now calling them.

CEllul

Apr 8th 2011, 09:54

That's a good idea indeed Joe. While we're at it lets organize charter flights for immigrants to Rome. They can settle in the Vatican if they want.

PS Zammit

Apr 8th 2011, 10:22

@kenneth Galea

I really agree with you.

The problem is that what used to be civilians now have turned up to be equal as Gaddafi arms as they got armed too, therefore it is not anymore troops against civilians.

R Salilba

Apr 8th 2011, 10:37

Ohh, Come off it Kenneth. They NEED help. Leaving them stranded is out of the question. The best thing is to help these people. If the Eu won't listen, there can be a simple solution. Grant all of them a visa and give them a free one way ticket to Europe. It could be an expense, but deep down we will know that a good deed has been done to these poor souls.

T. Cardona

Apr 8th 2011, 10:37

@ Joe Borg
Francesco d'Assisi would have done precisely that.
All Organised Religions have become nothing less than other large business enterprises. But then again, Francesco's ideals were already forgotten while he was still alive. If Francesco was with us now, he would have opened all churches including the Vatican for all those who are roofless.

H Bartolo

Apr 8th 2011, 10:51

ASpiteri if you expect me as a Christian to welcome my country's invaders than I shall leave Christianity rather than allow them to invade my country. Catholic Church, if you keep supporting the illegal immigrants I and my family shall renounce to my Catholic faith like others have been doing and even requesting that they be removed from the Church baptism registers.

Stephen Farrugia

Apr 8th 2011, 10:52

I think we could take another two or three million people. Like this we shall have more funds to give the Jesuits. It's a good business after all.

Raymond Cachia

Apr 8th 2011, 12:23

Well the Italians have a saying "troppo bonta, bestialita", they are no fools.

But we here in Malta and especially our Government seem to think that being 'christian' whatever that is supposed to mean, compels us to take in more and more of these people without a thought for our own welfare and wellbeing and commit national suicide.

And the Church in Malta is not looking out for our interests either, with the Jesuits in charge of the Refugee Services for which they get EU funding. When are the Maltese people going to realise that this is all about money - but using Christain charity as an excuse? There is plenty of money to be made by being in charge of operating an illegal immigration service, and of course later on, more money to be made by the businesses when these 'refugees' start to compete with and under-cut the Maltese in employment. What a dirty little scheme! And by the way, when are the Maltese going to take to the streets in protest?

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