Labour leader Joseph Muscat has refused to concretely explain how he would tackle the current immigration issue in a way that respects human dignity but places Malta’s interest above all else.
Dr Muscat surprised many on Sunday when he said Malta should do as Italy had done and put its national interest first. He also failed to condemn the fact that Italy had refused to rescue or accept migrants in distress just off the Italian island of Lampedusa last week.
The Times sent questions to the Labour Party’s office to establish what Dr Muscat would do if he were Prime Minister: whether he would let the migrants drown, send them back to Libya, or give them food and petrol to resume their journey to mainland Italy.
Dr Muscat was also asked whether he was concerned by racism and xenophobia and how he proposed to tackle the issue, in light of the Prime Minister’s harsh condemnation.
The Labour Party replied but did not offer any concrete proposals.
“Human dignity should be respected at all times and by all countries. This is clear and unequivocal. Whoever tries to say otherwise is being deceitful,” a spokesman said.
However, he added, the EU had still not delivered a concrete and strategic plan on how to manage the predicted exodus of biblical proportions from North Africa. The government should have ensured the solidarity system was in place by “forcefully” putting forward the argument that mass migration was not Malta’s or any other single EU state’s problem.
“The failure of the EU to intervene in such a dire situation is putting into question the whole solidarity principle upon which the EU is based. This situation led to Italy, France and Germany putting their national interest first. It is in this context that Malta should do the same.”
Malta has been pushing to activate this solidarity mechanism for weeks but European Home Affairs Commissioner Cecilia Malmström ruled out this possibility, saying “there weren’t the necessary numbers” to trigger the Temporary Protection Directive, put in place in 2001 but never activated. The island’s request, made jointly with Italy, was officially overruled yesterday. Reacting to Dr Muscat’s comments, the Nationalist Party issued a statement saying these were extremist, populist and shameful because he wanted Malta to stamp its feet in the face of a human tragedy. Referring to the influx as “irregular immigration”, the PN said the government was strong and insistent with the EU but stressed that no compromises should be made with regard to human life.
Dr Muscat, the party said, preferred to side with Italy which had the moral obligation to rescue the 171 migrants which Malta ended up saving.
“In light of this human crisis, the PN, unlike Joseph Muscat, places respect for life and human dignity as the first priority.”
Reacting, Labour reiterated its sentiment, adding that the Prime Minister should admit his policy on illegal immigration had failed.
“While other countries are placing their national interest at the top of their agendas, Lawrence Gonzi’s government is repeatedly being weak.” While respecting human dignity, the government should not allow anyone to make a doormat of Malta.
Meanwhile, the Jesuit Refugee Service said the lives of human beings in danger should take precedence over political confrontation. It applauded the authorities for taking the courageous decision to save people rather than letting them drown.
“Although the events in Libya are bound to put more pressure on Malta’s limited resources, in the long term, the national interest is better served when in times of a crisis a nation rises to the occasion rather than dumps its values.”
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees too said upholding key principles of international law and human rights were “well in line with the national interest of this country”.
“The right to seek asylum is a fundamental one and in its essence it is not a matter of shifting policies or priorities. It is also important to be aware that what is often lumped together under the misguided heading of illegal migration can incorporate different people and different situations.”
It pointed out that the situation in Italy was partly different to the one facing Malta since most people leaving Tunisia were not seeking protection but better labour and opportunities. In Malta’s case, returning people to Libya was not an option.
The UNHCR reiterated its call for the EU to express broad solidarity with the countries at the front line of the Libya situation.