Malta ‘just a spectator’ in migrant exodus – Frattini

Mr Joe Xuereb

Jun 9th 2011, 16:26

pologies!
My last comment here was meant in response the a ToM's reader's letter - date not to hand at the moment - outlining an incident on a bus where an (illegal?) immigrant was harassing tourists and how helpless and intimidated the letter-writer felt. And the implications of this and also, all the other passengers on this bus were immigrants. The comment was submitted against this tread in error. Apologies!

Mr Joe Xuereb

Jun 9th 2011, 03:50

A rule of thumb in First Aid is that the First Aider must ensure his/her own safety while helping the 'injured' person on the road, for instance. Otherwise, both first-aider and the victim of the accident will both end up dead on the road.
When an immigrant/refugee/asylum seeker who, in a small place like Malta is under some sufferance at least, starts to push his weight around, unafraid, that is a danger sign. When an immigrant is illegal and therefore his misbehaviour and threats are even more poignant. This is even more worrying. Eventually it will be a question of population balance. There will come a time when sundry apologists like ultra-christians and jesuits will have to rethink their attitude.
I am sure that there are many who deserve our help (but having said that, whatever is making them flee their country had better be put right at source. We can not have have the world's planet mobilise just because they got it into their heads that what they want to do. It is a big mistake to assume that just because they are human - and they are, no question about that - they process in their minds life's events in the same way that Westerners do. Talking over the whole continent of Europe may be impractical and hopefully, even impossible. The immigrant who is vocal about 'his' intent to overrun Europe may be stupid or not. The point is, he believes he can and when his obnoxious public display goes unchallenged he is getting the message that his intention can indeed come to fruition. From then on it's a question of numbers - only yesterday we read of a frightful incident in Gżira involving a hundred Libyans and Syrian, some living here since the early 2000s; and that is a lot for a country the size of Malta , especially considering thatt Syrian and Libyan have no automatic to reside in Malta unless of course, they are married to Maltese women. And that's another story - with the Maltese, meanwhile, seeing their quality of life deteriorating. This scenario as described is very disturbing. The hassling of these tourists may be a one-off, maybe not. The tourist industry here has already taken a few knocks. The last thing we need is tourists being 'attacked' by aggressive immigrants threatening to take over.

bryan sullivan

Jun 8th 2011, 14:52

http://kufra.co.tv/

this site might be of interest as to the reasons behind the exodus of immigrants to Europe. Before the second world war Kufra in Libya was first attacked in a cowardly fashion by General 'Butcher' Graziani and its' defendants massacred. in recent times ie. 2005 Italy has financed a detention centre in Kufra for immigration from Sudan etc. these poor souls are turned into slaves and no wonder that they act as they do trying to escape their wretched lot . Italy has a lot to answer for before pointing fingers at others !

Paul Borg

Jun 8th 2011, 10:58

Yesterday as I was riding the bus home from Birkirkara to Bugibba, a belligerent immigrant keept hassling passengers and even went as far as to hurl faul insults and give obscene gestures to a group of young tourists on the bus. The Immigrant keept screaming at the tourists that black people will take over Malta and that the police cannot do annything to him, at some point the bus driver had to intervene to calm the immigrant down. I was naturally scared as it seemed that the immagrant wanted to start a fight, as I looked around the bus to see if there is anyone who would intervene I was shocked to find out that the bus was full of immigrants and that I was probably the only maltese onboard, excluding the young tourist the immigrant was hassling. Is this a glimpse in the future of Malta ? I'm always glad to give a helping hand to immigrants of any country but something must be done to stop this influx of immigrants to Malta.

Ms Maria Abela

Jun 7th 2011, 19:35

Italians what a load of poseurs.Funny how so many of Frattini,s compatriots live and work here. My biggest sorrow is that this government, against the wishes of most of the maltese, has given and will give money to Renzo Piano for a project which we did not want.Shaeme on whoever is responsible

Ms Maria Abela

Jun 7th 2011, 19:35

Italians what a load of poseurs.Funny how so many of Frattini,s compatriots live and work here. My biggest sorrow is that this government, against the wishes of most of the maltese, has given and will give money to Renzo Piano for a project which we did not want.Shaeme on whoever is responsible

Mr Alex Buds

Jun 7th 2011, 18:54

Frattini knows well that Malta is too small to take in even a fraction of the ones it is ALREADY taking in.

But let's propose a deal. We'll do it if he hands over Sicily to Malta. (First he has to clean up the mafia there of course, and pay off all its trillions of euros in debt.)

The Italians are lazy and insensitive good-for-nothings. No wonder their economy is in the tank.

Chris A. Park

Jun 7th 2011, 16:01

Italy under the Berlusconi government has undertaken the mission to dissect the central Med area for sake of the sly underhanded energy deals it has struck up between Pier Silvio Berlusconi and Saif Islaam Al-Ghedaffi, if somebody is choosing to forget this!
Frattini forgets his softy-softy words and miserably feable efforts as an EU Commissioner, amidst big cheesy smiles and warm handshakes or embraces between our key Maltese politicos who keep on playing EU-lapdog to the major powers in Brussels, who WON'T come to Malta's help with their patheticly hypocritical frequent abuse of the (now insignificant) word 'solidariety'.
The pretentions the Italian state has on the Maltese FIR/SAR region WILL IN NO WAY solve the flows of illegal migration from North Africa, and neither will it save more lives or divert rescued ones towards Malta. Somebody in Rome is shooting themselves in the foot if they persist in pushing this pointless agenda, as SAR conventions on the high seas remain what they are when rescuing lives; and with a warped FIR/SAR region as the Eyeties want it, it won't thrust migrant boatloads more towards Malta rather than some other Italian territory.
Noisy as they always are, the Italians would best put their house in order, and address Africa's problems IN AFRICA, without wedging themselves between the British or French oil interests as a former colonial power of Libya.
At the rate the irksome rhetoric is being drummed up, the locally based Italian Military Mission's future in Malta brinks more towards a soon sudden closure, as it slid into a low-key modus-operandi given its severe downsizing since Malta's entry into the EU.
Parking the US 6th Fleet just outside our waters or in our harbours will surely be more advantageous for Malta all round, then who would need the neighbours like the ones we have now!

Mr J Curmi

Jun 7th 2011, 15:30

What's Italy's hidden agenda? Perhaps they're after the mass of sea that we're responsible for and with all the possible oil deposits that come with it? Doesn't the Frattini fellow know that if Lampedusa cannot cope....how much more can Malta take on before we're in the same situation as Lampedusa? Italy has by far more resources and manpower to handle the immigrant crisis along with other much larger Eurozone countries....don't bully Malta.

Mr Joe Xuereb

Jun 7th 2011, 15:06

@ Stanley, Colin (today 12:00), at the risk of repeating myself and your good self as we seem to be in agreement, and not knowing whether you are a Maltese national or not, may I say.....
The Maltese have always loved and in many cases, preferred to be in the presence of exotic foreigners or dull Europeans. These last, being mainly trusted Christians, are accepted, no questions asked. The exotic (Greeks and their 'filthy country' for instance, Turks (and ditto, their country, plus dangerous, non-believers, and still unforgiven after five hundred years. And of course in popular imagination, black-skinned, a kind of bogey-man to keep unruly children in check. Really. If you don't believe me ask any Maltese aged 50+ - they'll tell you).
I was saying, the Maltese can draw the cream off the otherwise 'black-booked' and I shouldn't complain about a kebapci (kebab+ci = he who makes/sells kebabs) or two (Turkey being a wonderful country, with plenty of god-given fresh water when Malta could do with a drop). I may be wrong but I think this preference for foreigners stems from the oppression felt living on a small island. An undetected inferiority complex could also be at work here. Which is a shame as the Maltese can be as great a people as any anywhere. Apart from the rotten ones, as you rightly point out. Anyhow, this immigration, planned or not, is like no other human translocation experienced ever anywhere since classical times (any similar phenomenon is not likely to ever have happened on a similar scale as the world's population was in its infancy so numbers would have been negligible by today's count). Many people make their concerns heard but it feels like a cry in the Namibian Desert.

J. Debono

Jun 7th 2011, 13:58

Solution is really very simple.

Use Lampedusa as a sort of Alcatraz!! Keep immigrants there with all they need like food etc. and they will be free to roam the island. Once the problems in there country is solved, they will be sent back!!

Or else give Lampedusa as a free present to Libya, in that way they will stop using it as a stepping stone to Europe.

Mr Andy Farrugia

Jun 7th 2011, 13:02

First it was Giletti; now it is Frattini. The row seems to have reached the upper echelons.

Tonio Bugeja

Jun 7th 2011, 13:01

Mr Frattini, I hope your ambassador will read this column and maybe passes over the messages penned by the Maltese People. Amnesia? Remmeber the Hero`s welcome your prime minister gave Gaddafi some months ago? And sars or no sars, does Malta have the means to do what you say we did not do?
YOU say that we are responsible for our Sars area and stamp your feet so that somebody may believe your argument. You wish that we take all the people picked up from our Sars area when things are different...... They are returned to the nearest safe port... whatever you say! The Law is the Law and it will not be bent....

Mr Edmund Azzopardi

Jun 7th 2011, 12:36

What a cheek! Are we together in this or not? One day ministers from both countries are shaking hands and smiling and the following day we are at each other. And of course the EU looks on.

ronald mifsud

Jun 7th 2011, 12:26

Dear Mr. Frattini. Since you have no guts in bullying bigger countries like France and Germany you take it on Malta because we are small! The more you speak that way the more you belittle yourself and the more you humilate your country! So do yourself a favour shut up!

Mr Dominic Fenech

Jun 7th 2011, 12:20

It took almost seven decades of painstaking work and co-operation to build a superb bilateral relationship between our two countries. These people are risking ruining everything with their stupid remarks and actions.

emmanuel scicluna

Jun 7th 2011, 11:57

We will do it if you give us Sicily, Lampedusa and Pantelleria

Mr Alistaire Gill

Jun 7th 2011, 11:50

Dear Mr. Frattini & Co.
The world is fed up with your hypocricy and arrogance.
Up to a few weeks ago most european heads of state were rubbing faces with the colonel. Most were after lucrative arms sales to your ex friend Qhattafi.
Now those irrational countries that opted to destabilze Libya should take the brunt of the problem of the immigrants emerging from Libya. Do not expect other countries to shoulder the damage caused by your stupid actions.

Mr Peter Azzopardi

Jun 7th 2011, 11:50

Just a short note Mr Frattini, just go through the BIBLE and try to find the story about the shipwreck of st Paul the apostolic and then you have an idea who we are........ You better shut up. and do you home business.

Mr Patrick Bellia

Jun 7th 2011, 11:39

What you say about the rest of the EU countries? mention France if u if u can because they closed the borders with you, but you mentioned us because we are the small fish.

Mr John Azzopoardi

Jun 7th 2011, 11:14

WE maltese in our vast majority are fed up with all this illegal migrant issue. We didn't ask for this situation on our doorsteps, we didn't create and we do not want to be burdened with it. However, the burden has fallen on us I might say. And the NGOs and the media better wake up and do a better job of reporting what is going on on the illegal migrant front. As for Frattini, why isn't he picking on someone larger than than Malta. His aim should be at the bigger EU countries who are doin nothing to take part in burden sharing. Shame on your Frattini.

Mr N. Agius

Jun 7th 2011, 11:09

If Malta is just a spectator, what about the guys in Brussels? Malta is doing more than enough. We ll continue to do our best with or without help from the EU. Take a look at this to see how some countries in the EU are helping Africa ... dumping dangerous waste!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/front_page/newsid_9481000/9481923.stm

Tony Borg

Jun 7th 2011, 10:50

He is saying all this because Malta took the EU money and ordered the SAR boats from Australia and not from Italia. It all boils down to power and Money. We are being heard in the EU while Italy is being shunned about all the fuss they have been doing about the immigrants.

Mr d cini

Jun 7th 2011, 10:39

if the maltese are 'just spectators, then the italians are unwilling actors, aren't they?!!

G. Borg

Jun 7th 2011, 10:37

Just go nd get a life Mr. Frattini, just shut up and stop moaning, grow up please................

Mr Joe Xuereb

Jun 7th 2011, 10:35

We have just been through an (unnecessary) referendum that had Malta's religion all the way from its core to the outermost layer. I think there should now be a referendum to test people's views on immigration OF ANY SORTS and what this means to the daily fabric of Maltese life. Keeping in mind that, whereas immigration has always and everywhere(?) been the norm (Malta having been a prime contributor to countries that NEEDED immigrants); and Malta itself has had its FAIR SHARE of incoming immigrants. But this migration, like the annual wildebeest rampage but never ending, and with no benefits to the host countries that I am aware of...this migration is different to any previously experienced. The people must be given an opportunity to air their views. And the Church could contribute financially towards this referendum to show that on this one at least, it can be pragmatic. It could even entreat the intervention of the Vatican, via Frattini if needs be, to do its bit.
Maybe a poll would suffice, a poll that is already in place for all I know. This effort need not be duplicated so a poll might be a better idea. With divorcr out of the way (should never have been an issue, certainly not to anyone not likely to use the resource) the Maltese can concentrate on where their country is heading and show their concern because this really matters.

N Mifsud

Jun 7th 2011, 10:15

Oh Yes Egregio Dottor Frattini...And where will we place these thousands and thousands of immigrants? Ghar Dalam, Ghar Hasan...???

Mr Joseph Brincat

Jun 7th 2011, 10:13

Why pick on such a small nation like Malta, Sig. Frattin, perhaps to deviate home problems?

(jb)

Godfrey F. Ellul

Jun 7th 2011, 10:07

We could take them in, give them the Schengen permit and a free passage on the Virtu' Ferry to Sicily. Some of the Italians' own medicine, no?!

Mr Denis Pace

Jun 7th 2011, 09:51

Frattini is a prisoner of his coalition with the Lega Nord.
He can't speak differently.

Charles Micallef

Jun 7th 2011, 09:51

We shift Malta's geographical position to accomodate Frattini & Co!

B Agius

Jun 7th 2011, 09:45

Mr. Frattini should know by now that Malta has done (and is doing) more than enough considering its limited resources. . Accusing Malta is unfair, unjust and downright bullying.

Victor Rodenas

Jun 7th 2011, 09:43

Can an ant bear the same weight as an ox.

Mr John Bonnici

Jun 7th 2011, 09:40

Time to show some guts, and reply back hard to these unjust accusation. The government needs to show some stamina and show Italy that we don't take any rubbish!!!

Joe Degiorgio

Jun 7th 2011, 09:29

Bear in mind that Frattini was the one who openly claimed Malta should be the detention centre for immigrants arriving in Europe.

Ms Louise Vella

Jun 7th 2011, 09:06

Frattini said the truth about these matters only once. That was when he said that Malta and Cyprus should be turned into refugee camps to settle all the sub Saharan illegal immigrants coming by boat from Libya. Some Maltese NGOs even agreed with him.