It’s all about a plea for freedom

Susan Spiteri

Aug 21st 2011, 17:47

The Ivorian said he was not a criminal, yet he is in malta illegaly. That is criminal. He voiced his frustrations by rioting. That is criminal. He said he was fleeing for his life. Why didn`t he return home then? How can he be trusted to roam the streets of Malta freely?

Phil Humphries

Aug 20th 2011, 17:35

It used to be that Africans sought 'Freedom' in Independence, but now it seems that freedom has moved to somewhere in Europe.

For me, it was the Ivorian that summed this up when he said, "Our people in Africa depend on us for a living.” - In other words he, and many more of these detainees, are economic migrants posing as a displaced 'Refugees'.

There are as many ways out of Libya as there are ways in, but it seems that many Africans have magnetic brains that only point North.

Mary Ann Borg

Aug 20th 2011, 14:10

Many thanks to Charles Cassar and V Sammut (further down below) for offering a different aspect as to why the young journalists amongst us are all churning out the same message and them being journalists, get ample space in our newspapers. Having said this, I'm sure they must get a real shock each time they meet people in the streets who speak their mind and show the true feelings of the ordinary Maltese who feels threatened, not defended enough by the authorities and bombarded by a press that is surely not mirroring Maltese feelings, however hard such journalists and opinion makers try. On The Times today il-Bocca told us, our rather taught us, to see the whole thing in a human-being concept. Sure enough, and us being human beings we feel threatened, abandoned and rightfully being burdened by illegal immigration. Or does il-Bocca think that we are less human than the illegal immigrants? Why do I feel that some opinion leaders and journalists think that we Maltese and people who come from the hard-working families are way down their priority list? Why do I get this feeling that illegal immigrants, birds, turtles, fauna and everything else comes way before us, the common people who work for our living, try to enjoy ourselves in the best way we can afford and pay our taxes? Is it because we call a spade a spade and not try beating around the bush, and dont have to fill pages day in day out, week in week out, to try to justify our superior intellect?
The UK press that is presently trying to crucify the bench for sending riotors to jail has failed to report that the riots stopped after the 4th day because ordinary people took to the streets in other areas of Britain to stop any rioters starting their destructive rampage. Ask anybody living in the UK and will tell you they were prepared, stayed vigilant and were prepared to defend themselves and their property when they realised they could be next. But of course, the UK press missed all this and instead kept showing us the same picture of a while female punk in tattoo walking away from a rioting scene.

j camilleri

Aug 20th 2011, 14:04

So why is it that impossible to send them back on a boat and carry on with their desired destination to Italy? Nobody asked them to come here and they don't want to be here anyway ...

Mr joseph cini

Aug 20th 2011, 14:00

What is the church going to do Mr Svensson? Which one? There are 365 in Malta, and as they are built of masonry, I'm not sure what they are able to do.
Mr Svensson, though, might like to volunteer and teach them some Nordic language as I hear they are keen to integrate within a cooler country where the food is good and there are no mosquitoes (?) - as far away as possible from the hellhole that gave them refuge.

Gustav Svensson

Aug 20th 2011, 13:37

What is the Church doing to help these poor souls? The integration must start now. It's time to open the gate and let them in.

Colin Stanley

Aug 20th 2011, 13:26

One migrant said that there are mosquitoes, I live in a fairly decent home with a garden, and we are full of tiger mosquitoes in our garden. so buy some spray to kill them

Mr John Azzopoardi

Aug 20th 2011, 13:24

I love it when people inject religion here. Malta is simply too small to accept all the come here. WE are small and burned with any additional group of people. Whether they are white, europeans, arabs, blacks or otherwise. By having all these people living among us, it puts a strain on our social services (health care, free schools, unemployment benefits, welfare, future pensions, etc, etc) will spell doom for malta in the next generation. WE all need to come to the realization that freedom comes at a cost, but should not be at the expense of our own people, the maltese. Anyone who advocates keeping one and all that come is not realistic.

Michael Gamble

Aug 20th 2011, 13:01

As I sit here in the UK and read this article, I am confused as to what the Maltese people and Goverment are doing wrong!

Although its frowned upon here in the UK to openly admit we have an imigration problem as you are likely to become branded a 'racist' but quite simply, we do!

Protecting your borders is nothing other than sensible and, if you have a policy and guildlines for this matter which have been agreed by that countries Goverment and they are complied with, how can this be 'wrong'!

If you don't agree with that countries policies, don't go there, it's that simple! And, in the rare situation where you wind up in a country by means beyond your control, when that country then offer to send you home, how can you possibly complain.

These people do not have a 'right' to be in Malta, the countries they come from would have them back and they are not 'displaced' people. If you want to be in another country you abide by their rules, it's quite simple.

It is my intention in later life when I retire to try and move to Malta. When I do this I will have to comply with any restrictions or rulings the Maltese Goverment impose at the time. Some of them may even seem alien to me but, non the less, if I want to live in Malta, I will have to comply. If I don't like, I will probably (and rightly) be told that I can go back to the UK if I prefer!

You're doing nothing wrong by protecting your country and identity, don't let those cretins in Brussels tell you otherwise and please don't wind up allowing the problems to happen in Malta that are now common place here in the UK!

Mr Jimmy Magro

Aug 20th 2011, 12:46

For some indepth analysis about the wastage of foreign aid, I recommend reading this report from the CATO Institute:

http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa065.html

and this from Ron Paul, Republican Senator:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul327.html

Mr Jimmy Magro

Aug 20th 2011, 12:36

From what is stated by the people, it is quite evident that reports by such unknown and unidentified persons do more harm than good. I highly recommend to journalists to play a low profile on these matters as in Malta the majority of the citizens sees all this as an illegal industry of human trafficking and there is very little sympathy with persons that state their fled their country and enter Malta through illegal means.

I would like to know the billions of dollars, STG, Euros and Yuan that have gone into Africa, have ben spent. From the news feeds it is evident that these billions have been hoarded in banks of African leaders, purchase of armaments, wars, unsustainable projects and so on. It is a pity that in Africa there is no single leader that has a vision for his people.

I see no future for this continent and the more billions is placed in Africa the situation gets worse and worse. Unless there are real political leaders that can be trusted, there should no be no more foreign aid.

Kenneth Galea

Aug 20th 2011, 12:25

@Tony Camilleri
Doubt it Tony if there were any illegal immigrants who took part in the UK riots. They want to stay well away from the authorities in fear of deportation. In the UK, deportation is much easier than Malta because they have ample funds to organise flights to most African countries. Shame these flights do not stop over in Malta to pick the ones who are listed for deportation.
Most rioters in the UK were born and bred in the UK and a lot of whites participated in them too, in particular the city of Manchester. This was a result of the austerity measures and severe cuts imposed by the present UK Government. The underclass has risen and they are now being punished accrodingly. The general public in the UK is very angry about the riots but the Government is making the rioters pay dearly for what they've done.
I think here in Malta we are talking of something totally different to the recent riots in the UK.

Benjamin Tonna

Aug 20th 2011, 12:11

If they want freedom...............Go back to your country.........They come to our country and they want everything their way....Is that right?

Gerald Grech

Aug 20th 2011, 12:05

It seems that when our illegal friends get refugee status they can sell goods in the street without permits and paying tax (watch out for the wooden elephants on the Sliema promenade)! Talk about rights and unfair treatment!!

Mr Tony Camilleri

Aug 20th 2011, 11:37

Maltese authorities, take a cue.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/8711621/UK-riots-Its-not-about-criminality-and-cuts-its-about-culture...-and-this-is-only-the-beginning.html
UK riots: It’s not about criminality and cuts, it’s about culture... and this is only the beginning

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/266044/We-ll-kick-out-foreign-rioters-to-ease-jails-crisis-vows-Minister
WE'LL KICK OUT FOREIGN RIOTERS TO EASE JAILS CRISIS VOWS MINISTER

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/8711623/England-riots-foreign-rioters-will-be-deported.html
England riots: foreign rioters will be deported

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2027973/More-150-people-caught-rioting-swept-UK-foreign-nationals-deported.html
More than 150 people caught after rioting swept across UK ‘were foreign nationals and will be deported’

J Cassar

Aug 20th 2011, 11:31

There's no freedom when you enter a county illegally, stay in your own!

Alfred Bugeja

Aug 20th 2011, 11:17

Libya was full of foreign workers of all kinds and flavours... Asian, from the former Soviet Countries, American, Chinese, British, Pakistanis, Indian, Maltese what have you. When trouble broke out in Libya, they dashed back home, one way or another. Some countries even organised rescue flights and ships to pull their citizens out.

People from other nationalities, like the Somalis and Eritreans had nowhere to return to because of civil war or persecution in their country and took a boat to cross to Lampedusa or Malta and they deserve humanitarian protection.

But the Ivorians, Nigerians, Ghanaians, and the rest of those coming from West Africa, those had a country to go back to once trouble broke out, just like the Ukrainians, Maltese and Chinese had. They could have even walked or driven back home if they wanted! Maybe things are not as rosy there as they are in Europe, but what the West African countries need is talented people who can work hard to build a better country for their children, just like the Maltese had done in the 1960's and 70's after gaining independence.

This is the cardinal point that must be understood by all the immigrants who have been refused asylum and are now raising hell and giving interviews to The Times. It's as simple as that.

joseph gaffarena

Aug 20th 2011, 11:17

A PLEA FOR FREEDOM, I, agree withy this, give them freedom by sending all of them to their own country.

Mr Jesmond Farrugia

Aug 20th 2011, 11:10

It would seem to me, that migrants ought to have more control over the way their lives are lived, for instance by official promotion of cultural activities which can be as simpls as the way a meal is prepared and shared. We have as much to learn from migrants, as they do from us. Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote about the dangers of becoming a non-person in The Gulag Archipelago, which might be of passing interest to some readers.

Mr Robert Callus

Aug 20th 2011, 11:05

"They did it wrongly but we also have human rights"

On this he is right, completely right. And being given shelter and free food is no justification. Even Circus animals are given free shelter and food. And animal rights activists (including myself) want them banned.

Mr B. Cachia

Aug 20th 2011, 10:53

I fail to understand why illegal immigrants whose application for refugee status has been rejected are allowed to reside in Malta anyway, after waiting out the 18-month detention period. If they have no right to be here they should be kept in closed centres until their repatriation, which could happen quickly if they cooperate. The current 18-month limit to the detention period obviously means that they have a strong incentive not to cooperate in the repatriation process.

The authorities should explain why they insist on maintaining this irrational policy. If changing the system requires modifying our international commitments then the authorities should have the courage to do this, in the national interest. Politics is about taking difficult decisions.

G Falzon

Aug 20th 2011, 10:50

"“When I talk to friends of mine in Italy and tell them about this situation they are shocked because they live in open centres. I can understand Malta is small but we never wanted to come here and we also have human rights.”

The fact is that you came here. Where you wanted to go does not matter. And you have to obey all our laws. Who are you to request a change in the local legislation because of your likes and whims?

Next time we offer you a "menu" of countries so that you can select :-)

Mr carlos ellul

Aug 20th 2011, 10:43

Its not surprising that they want to be treated differently. I mean they get free shelter and 3 course meals ie more then any other homeless Maltese would ever get. These people deserve a different set of rules don't they?

I wonder what do they expect us to respond to the "We never wanted to come to Malta" pleas? They are here now, living on our taxes. Once out many of them will end up working either on minimum wages (ie they won't pay income tax) OR they'll work through illegal means. We can't complain (or else we risk of being labelled as racists), we can't allow them to leave Malta (thanks to some genius who signed the Dublin 2 treaty) all what we can do is to keep on paying. I wonder when will Gonzi step up and say that subsidies are there for those 'who need it' (ie those who don't pay for them)

Mr Tony Camilleri

Aug 20th 2011, 10:31

A migrant from West Africa housed in Block B said the place was full of mosquitoes, some of the fans did not work and the food was not good.

Didn't you have any mosquitoes in your own countries?
Who wrecked the fans?
Do you expect us to provide you with a seven-star hotel with the widest choice of food.
Why don't you thank us and your lucky stars that we are feeding you when you came here illegally without any identification. Try doing that in the USA and see where you end up.

Detention should be unlimited until you decide to go back to your own countries and they actually take you back.

Mary Ann Borg

Aug 20th 2011, 10:23

Amazing how each time the illegal immigrants turn violent we get pages upon pages on The Times for the rest of the week/s trying to portray Malta, the Maltese and the Malta government as some insensitive lot who are out to make life miserable to people who come to our shores illegally. Ever since the first day we have seen pictures of the riot all we have seen since are pictures of illegal immigrants hanging out behind barred windows. If we are not careful, what happened in London last week will happen in Malta too in the not-too-distant future.

G Falzon

Aug 20th 2011, 10:23

Does this Ivorian, or anyone else Maltese or stranger, mean that frustration is a blank cheque to break the law? Those who break the law must face the consequences of Justice, Maltese and strangers alike.

Visitors to a country must obey the rules of that country. If they do not like it, all they have to do is turn back from where they came. A notice I saw recently in an Austrialian airport read (soimething in this sense): "This is a sterile area. Those who refuse to submit to all the searches required at law are free to turn back. But if they want to enter Australia they have to pass through these checks."

The pity is that whether in detention or in prison, it is the Maltese citizen who is paying for these immigrants!

Kenneth Galea

Aug 20th 2011, 10:18

These illegal immigrants know that there is a risk of ending up in Malta where there is NO future for them. They could have easily headed sount into Niger. It suites Italy to keep them in open centres so they can escape from Italy and head to countries further North. It is absurd when one says that the economy benefits out of these illegal immigrants taking into account that what they earn is sent back home. However in Malta's case as wages are limited, the Government is probably better of letting them out and give them jobs to clean up Malta, earn the money and they can do whatever they want with it. This is the only alternative to detention. All West Africans do not qualify for humanitarian protection because they have functioning Governments back in their countries. And watch it Eritreans you are next, your Government wants to end the country's isolation meaning that it is safe to return you.

Mr walter camilleri

Aug 20th 2011, 10:14

Viva Malta Cattolica!

Walter Camilleri

Mr Joe Gatt

Aug 20th 2011, 10:02

“I appeal to the Maltese authorities not to send our friends to prison because what they did was not because they are violent but because of frustration,”

Thing is I never intended to Visit this Hellhole called Malta.

I am unhappy with my free accomodation and utilities, free Medical, the food well ....., though free, could be much better for sure.

Sure, next time I feel frustrated, I myself will go out and throw rocks at Police, and will do my best to CLEAN their Garments out, with CLORINE and HOT Water.

Rest assured this was well intended, and not to take their EYES OUT.

I promise that if I get away with it this Time I`ll do Worse next Time, as I understand I May even Get A BETTER DEAL if I feel frustrated and Turn Violent.

This almost always produces the results we expect in European Countries,, and others should join in.

Beats being idle all day, anytime, there`s nothing to loose, it`s a win win situation, unlike back home.

But more than likely,to Gain

Stephen Koludrovic

Aug 20th 2011, 09:45

It would help if some NGO would advise this person to take the voluntary repatriation scheme.

This would save him 18 months of being locked up, and ending up with no possibility of leaving the island, for mainland Europe.

On his return back to Abidjan, he could apply for a tourist or student visa for France, buy himself an airline ticket and off to Paris he could go.

Of course this is just my opinion, maybe other liberal well wishers might have a better solution.

Charles Sammut

Aug 20th 2011, 09:07

Italy's policy of setting illegal immigrants free is irresponsible. The Italian government knows that most of them will move north into other European countries, hence the 'open centres'. This selfish policy has been the cause of the breakdown of the Schengen Treaty with a number of EU countries reinstating border controls.

But it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. The demise of Schengen will help preserve the national identity of the various European countries, something that Brussels is keen to destroy to tighten its hegemony on the members of the European Soviet Union.

Ms Louise Vella

Aug 20th 2011, 08:57

II

“A migrant from West Africa … said the place was full of mosquitoes, some of the fans did not work and the food was not good.” West Africans do not qualify for refugee status anyway. They are free to go back to their countries.

“We ran for our lives when we escaped from Libya.” They are free to run back to their countries.

“Reacting to the claim that the food given to migrants was not good …” It’s given for free, paid for by our taxes and probably better than what they had in their own country.

“Another migrant … lamented the fact that they were taken to hospital in handcuffs like criminals.” How many cases have there been of illegal immigrants trying to escape during an “outing” to hospital?

“ … migrant arrivals dropped drastically over the past two years.” And if they increase, will that be a reason for letting them roam the streets of our towns and villages?

Ms Louise Vella

Aug 20th 2011, 08:56

I

“ … being treated like a criminal”. Not a criminal but illegal anyway. If you’ve come into the country illegally and your unfounded claim for refugee status has been twice rejected (including on appeal) then you have no right to be in Malta.

“kept locked up for 18 months”. That’s in accordance with the EU directive. Italy has just increased the period from 6 to 18 months.

“I appeal to the Maltese authorities …” Malta has laws which apply to Maltese and foreigners alike. Foreigners who break the law cannot be exempted from its consequences.

“Freedom”. Once they are either liberated by the court or serve any sentence to which they may be condemned, they will all be free to go back to their country or to any country that wants them.

“The Ivorian … said he had a residence permit in Libya and had been working for four years there”. That puts paid to all the talk that sub-Saharan Africans in Libya are tortured etc.

Claire Busuttil

Aug 20th 2011, 08:52

ohh great they are also pleading to get along with no penality for what they did??!??!?
simply insane

Mr Joe Camilleri

Aug 20th 2011, 08:51

ED IO PAGO.

They do not want to stay here, most (if not all) of the maltese do not want them, so what are we waiting for, open their doors and let them go.