Malian’s mental problems ‘started when in detention’
Police at Għar Ħasan after the shooting incident last Friday.
A Malian man critically injured last Friday when he was shot at by police officers first started exhibiting signs of psychiatric problems while in detention, a number of migrants who knew him have said.
Suleiman Samake, 26, was involved in a skirmish with a number of police officers last Friday. The officers were investigating reports of a man living in a cave by Għar Hasan.
Mr Samake is said to have reacted aggressively towards the officers, at one point waving a nine-inch knife in their direction. According to Police Commissioner John Rizzo, officers were forced to fire on Mr Samake when efforts to quell him using pepper spray and warning shots proved futile. An inquiry into the case is underway.
Allegations that Mr Samake had a history of psychiatric disorders – there are unconfirmed reports that he previously underwent treatment at Mount Carmel mental hospital – have now been confirmed by Ali Konate, a spokesman for the Migrant Network for Equality.
“Everyone who knew him knew about his mental problems. He was suspicious of people and didn’t like being near others. He didn’t have any friends – he’d say hello or goodbye but that was it,” said Mr Konate, who like Mr Samake hails from Mali.
According to a number of people who knew Mr Samake from his arrival in Malta, sometime in 2008, his mental problems began when he was held in detention.
Mr Konate said: “People who’ve known him since those days have told me that he was fine before that. It all started in detention.”
Malta’s mandatory detention policy, through which irregular migrants landing on Maltese shores are detained for up to 18 months while their asylum application is being processed, has attracted strident criticism from human rights bodies both nationally and internationally.
The policy has been described as amounting to “inhuman and degrading treatment” by a Council of Europe committee, while a 2010 report by the Jesuit Refugee Service found that 80 per cent of those detained complained of deterioration in their mental health due to detention.
Despite the criticism, Malta’s detention policy enjoys widespread political support, with both major political parties having gone on the record defending the policy, saying migrant influxes necessitate control. A recent UN report found that Malta has the highest per capita influx of asylum seekers in the world.
Initial reports on Mr Samake suggested he had been living rough in the Għar Hasan caves. But Mr Konate said that according to his sources, Mr Samake lived at the Ħal Far open centre and used to go to the caves to pray.
“Bit by bit he moved some items into the cave – things like a pot and pan – but he was living at Ħal Far.”
He also noted how Mr Samake was hampered by communication difficulties, saying the injured Malian – who is currently at Mater Dei hospital – only spoke Malian and very little French.
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Colin Stanley
Apr 3rd 2012, 14:50
@ C. Xuereb. just in case you read these comments, We are still waiting for you to tell us where the 5290 immigrants whose application had been refused,are . still here or sent back. I think this is the 7th. time I asked this question.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Apr 3rd 2012, 14:02
@ Joe Fenech (today at 11:51) & Jeneba Caruana.
From my medical experience in the tropics I am convinced that a reliable psychiatric history of this illegal immigrant does not exist and it is mischievously stupid to restrict the onset of any psychiatric disturbance he may have to the period of his stay in Malta.
Joe Fenech
Apr 3rd 2012, 12:07
WELL DONE TO THE POLICE FORCE WHO IS TAKING REALISTIC STANCES.
Joe Xuereb
Apr 3rd 2012, 12:01
@Gervais M. Cishahayo (2nd April 15:05). M. Cishahayo, where in your god's name that I belittle Mr. Samake? Here is what I said, and I quote: Mr. Samake, having got himself in this situation through ignorance, NEEDS AND DESERVES ALL THE HELP HE CAN GET (and let us hope he is amenable to treatment). Plain enough English I would have thought but people with agendas and to my mind, sick-thinking, are known to choose to misunderstand or misinterpret according to their taste.
I am glad you are contributing to my country. What do you want? a medal? You sound clever enough so it begs the question, why not return to your country and help build it up? More importantly, what would you say to the idea that I, and any number of my own, turned up in YOUR
country even if we ended up contributing, like your good self, to your country wherever that may be? This is not a trick question but please remember, that you yourself said that we are all god's children, we are only temporary passengers and, by implication, we should be free to roam wherever it takes our fancy to roam. As we say in English (if your knowledge of the lingo stretches this far), what is good for the goose is good for the gander. Now Mr. Cishahayo, do not be surprised at what I write. You and I come from different stables. You quote god's plans with incredible facility because it suits you. I, on the other hand, quote myself. I recognise that in life, passenger or not, I have to take responsibility for my life as should all of us. That includes a love of sorts towards my country and how it fares. And so should you. Especially considering that wherever it is you come from - and I really don't give a monkey's where that is - is actually quite prosperous, if possibly dangerous. Like everywhere else these days. But that is hardly any of my doing, and even less my business.
Mister, before you start whinging and playing the racist card, let me tell you that I have been known to have live-in lovers of colour. We come from the same stable so there is no nonsense talk. Self-serving nonsense I will not abide. Quite apart from your condescension wishing people well so that they will live to see the light. I presume you mean the light that you are wallowing in. Thanks, but no thanks!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Apr 3rd 2012, 08:58
@ Jeneba Caruana (2 Apr at 22:05)
Are you better informed? If so, please do tell - otherwise his psychiatric medical history prior to his illegal emigration to Malta remains idle conjecture on your part and on the part of those who think like you and who think it is charitable to denigrate Malta.
Joe Fenech
Apr 3rd 2012, 11:51
To talk about his medical history, you need to have all his history from when he was a baby (please correct me if I'm wrong). I find it so miserable that people with seemingly little experience of the world shoot their mouth off about everything.
John Azzopoardi
Apr 3rd 2012, 02:33
Nonsense. We are a small island and we need to start concentrating on the local problems that are afflicting this little island. WE cannot solve the world problems and we don't want them. We have enough problems. Our hospitals and social services now have to cater to thousands of non tax paying citizens. This is not what a government should be doing. We the people of malta and gozo deserve better. Europe is huge. These people should be sent to Europe if they want them and back to their homelands if the EU is not willing to take them. Enough nonsense already. You can help a few people but we cannot help the whole world. An island of a little over 300 kilometers with just 450,000. How can we handle thousands
carlos ellul
Apr 2nd 2012, 19:41
@ Mr Cishahayo
Its true that immigrants have been migrating for centuries and Im sure that if we abide to these century old rules the locals wouldn't complain. You just have to look around you. In Malta you'll find all type of 'races' and everyone had been integrated perfectly. We've been a cultural melting pot for centuries, we have adapted to multiple circumstances without ever causing a civil war and throughout that time, we didn't had one far right party member in parliament. The trick is hidden behind one simple concept. Those who didn't adapted, went on to search new pastures. After all Malta is a small island, with little resources, therefore its natural for those who can't find a job or who feel that they deserve better to leave.
What changed everything is what the Maltese call Illegal immigration. Its an unappropriate phrase to be honest because 'illegal immigrants' is the consequences of a problem and not the reason behind it. The true cause behind what is going on in Malta is the Dublin 2 treaty. Such treaty puts your argument in peril, since it stresses on having Europe's southern region acting like some sort of detention center for immigrants, forcing us to force immigrants to stay here against their will. Just think about it, Malta tops world list of immigrants per head. Can you believe that? A small island, with an already overpopulation problem and no natural resources had been reduced to Europe's unofficial detention center. And believe me, I am not exaggerating. Former European Commissioner Frattini suggested such 'idea'
Joe Fenech
Apr 2nd 2012, 19:25
What a joke! So you're saying that this guy presented his Malian medical records! I didn't know such thing existed there.
jeneba caruana
Apr 2nd 2012, 22:05
that's because you're not informed!!
Joe Fenech
Apr 3rd 2012, 12:07
Jeneba,
Do you and others have all his medical history since he was born? If not SHUT UP !
Louise Vella
Apr 2nd 2012, 19:18
Among the sources quoted are the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Migrant Network for Equality. So the motive behind this article is clear - to say that the detention system is bad.
twanny borg
Apr 2nd 2012, 17:19
li kieku malta ma kelliex it-18 il-xahar detention kieku malta spiccat. minhabba f'hekk qed jevitaw lil malta. min ma jaqbilx ihallas huwa u jzommom huwa ghax malta ma tiflahx kemm fi flus u kemm fi spazju. dan mhux razzizmu ghax fic-cokon taghha malta dejjem tat aktar minn pajjizi ohra.
fred sammut
Apr 2nd 2012, 15:06
IL- PULIZIJA huma persuni li xogholhom huwa li jipprotegu lis socjeta minn kull agressjoni. Mentali jew le, nahseb li hadt ma jixtieq jara lil xi hadt gej ghalieh b sikkina.... u ma nahsibx li kien juza biex jaqtal fjuri. Kieku din il kummidja issir , l Amerka, Ingilterra l istess kien jigri bid differenza li Pulizija jkun l Eroj imma hawn Malta nahsbu li dawn in nies li il-hin kollu jisugraw hajjithom u familthom,qedghin hemm ghal xi 1200 ewro fix xahar BISS, jkun manga passiga!!
Jien nghid GRAZZI lil kull minn fil KORP huwa serju u jaghmel xogholu bhall dawn il Pulizija.
M. Cachia
Apr 2nd 2012, 14:51
It is very convenient to blame it on the Maltese detention centre!
Sadly all the illegal migrants go through wars, rape, and violent deaths in their country and on the route they take to come to Europe but looks like this have been ruled out as the cos of Mr Samake's mental instability.
Correct me if I am wrong but looks like there is no control on the mental state that the migrants are in before they are left roaming the streets.
Is it possible that the Eu reaches an agreement with one of the African countries to have a proper detention centre there?
Such a place could be protected and maintained by the EU and NATO not to mention that in such centres migrants can be trained in languages, skills and customs of the countries that they are going to be relocated to.
James Tyrrell
Apr 2nd 2012, 14:49
To be totally realistic about this situation the police had to deal with this person as he was obviously a threat to the general public if left to his own devices. However they should not have used a firearm against him. They should have called for officers with Tasers to attend the scene and waited. It's wrong to say that the officers were 'forced to fire.' It's not as if he was aiming a firearm at them and threatening to shoot. I'm glad that no police officers were injured and obviously that no members of the public were injured but I feel that in this case the police over reacted.
Ronald Cauchi
Apr 2nd 2012, 14:46
If three police officers cannot control one man with a knife without the use of firearms they are either not well trained or trigger happy. Knowing how arrogant the wearing of a uniform makes any man, Id suggest the latter. After all this is not the first time that this has happened. Peolpe have been known to fall over a desk at Police headquarters, fall or jump over a bastion, get shot at Qormi or now at Ghar Hassan. One has to be very naive to believe that all these show no evidence of gross police abuse.
twanny borg
Apr 2nd 2012, 14:45
hafna jippretendu li l-pulizija jissogra hajtu. taf x'naf li l-pulizija bla hlas xieraq, bla hlas ta' overtime, bla insurance, bla union, bla shift allowance bhal haddiema ohra, bla hlas tal-extra jekk ma jhallasx min jordnaha, tnaqqis fil-penzjoni ghax ghandek penzjoni li hdimt ghaliha, bla hinijiet xierqa, jahdmu aktar minn 46 siegha fil-gimgha, qrati kontrik ikisrulhom ix-xoghol li jgibu, la tista' tkun membru f'xi ghaqda, permess lil min se jizzewgu, iridu jghidu fejn se joqghodu barra meta jsiefru biex f'kaz ta' bzonn jigu msejha, xoghol 24 siegha kulljum ghax jekk tkun mall-familja u jigri xi haga iridu tintervjenu, tkaxkir is-saqajn biex jiddahlu ligijiet biex jipproteguhom fejn il-gudikant ma jkunx jista' jaghti sentenza sozpiza jew tergax lil min isawwathom u mitt haga ohra. taf x'jonqos xi hadd jigri warajk b'sikkina biex joqtlok.
James Dimech
Apr 2nd 2012, 14:07
So what ? We should let everyone and anyone who lands here run around and do whatever they like without us knowing who they are ? We have enough problems with many Arabs, Russians, Bulgarians, Romanians, Turks and the like who are somehow in Malta and who are always up to no good.
Edward Gatt
Apr 2nd 2012, 14:03
A couple of years ago the police were faced with the same situation in Qormi where a person with mental problems was shot when he branded a knife toward the police.
I seem to recall that at that time the general feeling was that the police had over-reacted to the situation and they should have used other methods to tackle the situation.
So what is different now from then? Is it perhaps just that the person in Qormi was Maltese and this time he is from Mali?
And they say that there is no racism in Malta!
Robert Agius
Apr 2nd 2012, 14:40
the only thing in common being they both had a knife and got shot. The rest - just guesses. The video clips should help. I haven't seen the video. have you?
You are right about the increasing racism in Malta. Do you think you comment helps?
Edward Gatt
Apr 2nd 2012, 15:14
@ Robert Agius
I have not seen the video but then no-one ever saw a video about the Qormi shooting.
All I am saying is that when a Maltese man with mental problems was shot by the police there were lots of comments in favour of the man shot while now that the man shot is a Malian it seems that the police did the right thing!
Joe Xuereb
Apr 2nd 2012, 14:01
@Gervais M. Cishahayo (2nd April 12:05). I never assume anything so It is a bit awkward to respond to someone with a name like yours, so I will not comment inappropriately.. Let us hope that wherever you are, Malta or elsewhere, you are making your own way in this world, and responsibly so. If you see what I mean.
Of course I would tend to agree with you that we are all passengers on this, god's earth. And that, I'm afraid, is where you and I part ways. Are you, by any chance, one of those sick-thinking individuals who think that the earth should have no frontiers, and that people should roam around at will? Of course, quoting god and all that in your comment, I am in no doubt that you hold by the story of the earthly paradise, the Garden of Eden, where everything is peaceful and where there is no need for frontiers. Maybe you haven't noticed Mr. Cishahayo but we are in the third millennium and the world has moved on somewhat since them there days of talking snakes and rotten apples.. You are as much as saying that, since we are but passengers on earth, and still of the bountiful-god mindset, we should all lie down and let anybody else come in regardless of their needs and intentions. And this because we are all passengers in the waiting room, and next stop, Piccadilly Circus. I mean, god's kingdom.
@John Paul Cauchi (2nd April 12:23). Mr. Cauchi, don't you think it better not to rationalise in this manner. You are implying that anybody who is unhappy in Africa - and this includes anyone who lives their life on a whim - should be filtered somehow through Malta? And equally bizarre is your claim that 90% of Maltese citizens would agree with you, never mind anybody else. Did you count this percentage? That said, it wouldn't surprise me as the Maltese, strictly speaking, bow to a greater being and will do/say/think anything to keep in his good books. If you see what I mean. Held over a barrel, they are. And enjoying it. Like not.
Gervais M. Cishahayo
Apr 2nd 2012, 15:05
'Joe' don't bother about my name, and try to understand what I am saying if you can: I must have forgotten to turn my winter clock time and I am thinking but not sick, except when I read comments like yours that belittle someone with mental illness.
You must have realised that as soon as this person has been identified as suffering from mental illness, the usual anti immigrant discourse has been dampened to a great extent and/or filtered by more responsible editors!
RE: ".... Are you, by any chance, one of those sick-thinking individuals who think that the earth should have no frontiers, and that people should roam around at will? ......Maybe you haven't noticed Mr. Cishahayo but we are in the third millennium and the world has moved on somewhat since them there days of talking snakes and rotten apples..."
By the way, I am neither a missionary nor "illegal immigrant", but whenever I am healthy, I am a net contributor to your motherland and my adopted homeland.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Apr 2nd 2012, 13:27
@ Joseph Muscat (today at 12:45)
Somehow I do not think that an alleged violent criminal lunatic would be more tractable in a hospital atmosphere. Or do you suggest that we prepare a list establishing priorites as regards dispensability of disposability among peaceful citizens according to whether they happen to be members of the general public, hospital staff or police constables?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Apr 2nd 2012, 13:16
@ P Pace Balzan (Today, 10:20).
That is at should be. In a civilised society, it is infinitely better that way rather than an aggressive strongly suspect criminal sticking his knife into any one of the three policemen who were only doing their duty widowing their wife and orphaning their children!
twanny borg
Apr 2nd 2012, 13:07
mentali jew le sewwa ghamlu l-pulizija iddefendew lilhom infishom minn ragel b'sikkina ghax li gew imfella hadd ma kien igibhom lura. il-bqija kollu paroli fil-vojt.
Joe Abela
Apr 2nd 2012, 13:30
Dawk li jzejnu l'istejjer min xejn ma jinpotahom, ghax huma ma jirriskjawx, u rispett lejn huthom Maltin li jkunu jaqdu dmirhom, ma jezistix.
Eddie Vella
Apr 2nd 2012, 14:25
naqbel maghkom
joseph muscat
Apr 2nd 2012, 12:45
The people who should be brought to account are the ones who let him out of the mental hospital how about if it was`nt the POLICE might have been civilians whom he might attack it could have been a different story.Then what? one department BLAME the other department.
Anthony Arpa
Apr 2nd 2012, 12:45
Whatever, everyone have the right to defend himself by all means from agression on him .
.
John Paul Cauchi
Apr 2nd 2012, 12:23
@ George Vassallo
"besides he should have stayed in Mali as it's a safe place to live in." - Clearly somebody hasn't been reading the news at all recently. Or ignoring the African news, at best.
As for force - it was necessary, but not to that level! There are people at mental hospitals who, unfortunately, get aggressive and can grab any item that can be used as a weapon but are not shot at. Also, living in detention can drive anyone into mental illness.
@ Louise Vella - give up. 90% of the people are more sensible than you are.
carlos ellul
Apr 2nd 2012, 13:00
I highly doubt that patients in a mental hospital would run around with a 9 inch knife.
Joe Xuereb
Apr 2nd 2012, 12:10
Most of the time, mental breakdown does not just happen overnight, out of the blue. The individual's thought processes are showing cracks long before the onset of the illness. These cracks are imperceptible to the person concerned and those around him. The sick thinking would only be perceptible by a psychiatrist which I doubt would have happened back in Mali in this case.
I also doubt that such services would be widely set up in a country like Mali.
Mr. Samake may have had his reasons to want to leave his country. He decided to do what so many others were doing and head for Europe. He thought, I imagine, he could be a successful economic migrant. A bit difficult I imagine with only Malian and a smattering of French his only resource. So the sick-thinking was already evident even then, way before he even started his journey North (it is quite a distance between Mali and Libya, if that was his route, I believe.
Unfortunately people tend to think of illness as physical illness or injuries. As long as they feel fine, or think they do, they have no perception of how fragile ones state of mind is. How the mind reacts under duress, often self-imposed. Fleeing terror is one thing. Fleeing on just a whim is quite another.
Mr. Samake, having got himself in this situation through ignorance, needs and deserves all the help he can get (and let us hope he is amenable to treatment). Apart from this, he sounds very unstable, paranoid, and a danger to anyone who approaches him. He would not, for obvious reasons, confine himself to his cave. And before spouting nonsense (and this includes the Jesuit Service and the Ryan Cauchis and other bleeding hearts of this world) people really should look at this, and indeed any other situations, holistically. Refusing, or being incapable of doing so, could be sowing problems for them in the longer term. As in, sick thinking, sick mind.
Congratulation to the Police Force for the appropriate management of a tricky situation.
Patrick Zammit
Apr 2nd 2012, 12:09
The illegal entry of mostly economic immigrants in Malta (and Europe) is already uncontrolled and is being made easy by an accommodating army which is mobilized within minutes to bring in illegal immigrants from the open seas, at times even from Libyan waters with all the resulting problems falling on the Maltese taxpayer.
If detention is removed, Malta would become an easier target for economic migrants and traffickers who would see Malta as a more attractive destination to abuse of.
joseph saliba
Apr 2nd 2012, 11:29
A very sad story.
Gilbert Lia
Apr 2nd 2012, 11:21
First of all I congratulate the police for all the efiicient work they did in this situation.Not an easy one to handle.If this person is suffering from mental problems and went for treatment,I think its only fair to say that he was not recovered after going for treatment in Mount Carmel Hospital.With regards to the 'inhuman' detention he had to go through, well thats a good excuse for his behaviour.
Finally I wish the police involved in this incident to recover from this shock quickly since its not an everyday experience to shoot at someone when being in a life or death situation.
A. Zammit
Apr 2nd 2012, 11:41
I disagree, I feel that the police used a disproportunate amount of force when they could have easily subdued him with a taeser gun.
Gervais M. Cishahayo
Apr 2nd 2012, 12:05
If I were you, I would not make a piecemeal over someone with a mental illness, or any illness for that matter.
Irrespective of the root causes of the illness, anyone who has a relative or a friend with this (or any) kind of ailment will disagree with your comments.
illness does not discriminate between native citizens others, you only have to wait for your turn for one day I assure you it will to realise that we are all passengers on this God's land. But I wish you good health so that you see the light!
Gilbert Lia
Apr 2nd 2012, 12:45
@ A Zammit ... the police did well since this was a moving target, there was a chance that the taser would have missed the target and its a one time shot only since you cannot shoot twice the taser for your information.If they went close to him and shocked him directly,they could have got hurt with his knife.So well done again to the police.
@ Geravis M Cishahayo I cannot understand what you meant with your comment.I beleive that many illegal imigrants used to go to MCH for all sorts of reasons, and then they would go out in the streets again well.In this case this did not happen.So this patient was not cured properly.But its not fair to say that he had mental problems due to his detention ONLY.
A Galea
Apr 2nd 2012, 13:16
@A Zammit: I'm sure you are very experienced in subduing angry people carrying nine inch knives!!
Gervais M. Cishahayo
Apr 2nd 2012, 13:42
@ Gilbert Lia
Irrespective of the root causes (now I can add the timing or location) of the illness, anyone who has a relative or a friend with this (or any) kind of ailment will disagree with your comments. Please stop capitalizing on other people misfortunes to foster your negative perceptions of others, for tomorrow it could be a close relative or friend, if not yourself! I wish you good mental health Mr Lia!
James Tyrrell
Apr 2nd 2012, 14:30
@Gilbert Lia. You have obviously never fired a Taser. Of course you can fire it more than once. It comes with cartridges which attach to the front, if your first shot misses you discard the cartridge and load another. Takes a few seconds.
A Galea
Apr 2nd 2012, 17:53
@James Tyrell. Obviously you have fired a Taser. But have you ever fired it against an angry man running at you with a large knife? "Takes a few seconds". Right, because a man running at you takes a few MINUTES to stab you I am sure!
Gilbert Lia
Apr 2nd 2012, 21:33
@A Galea ...you answered for me @James Tyrrell
James Tyrrell
Apr 3rd 2012, 01:08
@A Galea. Lets just say I've never been stabbed, and I've never been shot, so what does that tell you?
Ryan Gauchi
Apr 2nd 2012, 10:53
If the man refused help from the police they should have left him not tried to arrest him.
J.C. Borg
Apr 2nd 2012, 11:15
Are you sure he would have stayed in the cave all day and night???
M Cachia
Apr 2nd 2012, 11:16
How nice. I suppose you'd be happy with a mentally unstable person wielding a knife on your doorstep would you.
Peter Bonello
Apr 2nd 2012, 11:23
i dont think he owned the rights for ownership of that cave. and he tried to assault the police with a nine inch knife - thanks goodness they shot him in time - im sorry but id rather have a mad immigrant injured rather than a policeman dead while doing his job!! imagine what would have happened if an unarmed person tried to approach him? he would not have gotten away - on his own feet for sure!!
FRANK MERCIECA
Apr 2nd 2012, 12:12
Of course they should have left him alone. This must be an every day occurance for the police, but perhaps because of who he was, they had to interfere and annoy him.
A Galea
Apr 2nd 2012, 13:19
@ Ryan Gauchi Of course. Then if a couple of kids wander in and startle him, we would be reading a different headline wouldn't we? Your foresight is impressive!
@FRANK MERCIECA Are you serious?
Joe Fenech
Apr 2nd 2012, 10:50
What a joke! So you're saying that this guy presented his Malian medical records! I didn't know such thing existed there.
george vassallo
Apr 2nd 2012, 10:02
Why should I believe that problems began when he was held in detention? What about the time when he crossed the dessert on foot and little supply of food and water? And the detentions in Libya? I am sure that he was treated well in Malta, besides he should have stayed in Mali as it's a safe place to live in.
P Pace Balzan
Apr 2nd 2012, 10:20
Please!
We are talking about a person who has suffered ;
1- bullet wounds
2-pepper spray (not onion spray) in his eyes
3-by 3 trained people.
Jonathan Camilleri
Apr 2nd 2012, 10:33
Well, psychiatric problems, are psychiatric problems, Mr. Vassallo.
Pauline Thompson
Apr 2nd 2012, 11:33
It's irrespective when the problems started be it in Malta or Mali. What you seem to disregard is the actual illness itself - mental illness which is a very serious illnessindeed. Your comments are very compassionate and possibly you call yourself a christian???
Gervais M. Cishahayo
Apr 2nd 2012, 13:15
Mr George of the Mediterranean (jungle?)... So according to you all these people should be detained because they are exercising their human right to seek better life elsewhere because they are lighter skin colour or because they are not native citizens of those countries they move to?
Surely Europe is a safe place! But security has more than one dimension and people instinct.
The only bottom line should be the respect of fairly established rules of the host country and not arbitrary discriminatory rules based on negative perceptions or by people like you who cannot see any good any other human being. I thought that you and me we are good christians!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/series/europe-migration-after-the-crash
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/21/europe-migrants-crisis-irish-portuguese
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/28/us-greece-emigration-idUSTRE79R18O20111028
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8616434.stm
http://www.grreporter.info/en/new_wave_greek_emigrants_seeking_their_happiness_abroad/2703
Louise Vella
Apr 2nd 2012, 09:10
The two big political parties in Malta support the detention system for illegal immigrants. If anybody has any doubts, let's have a referendum. I would bet that at least 90% of Maltese voters would vote against the position of the Jesuit Refugee Service and the Migrant Network for Equality.
Gervais M. Cishahayo
Apr 2nd 2012, 12:58
It seems that you must be living in a closed vase world of your own. People emigrate for different reasons which are all subtended by the survival instinct.
Have a look at this and may be you will understand that when disaster strikes, it triggers human survival instincts that know no human boundaries.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/series/europe-migration-after-the-crash
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/22/mozambique-portuguese-migrants
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/22/young-europeans-emigrate-argentina-jobs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/interactive/2011/dec/21/european-emigration-map-interactive
All these people have the human right to seek better life elsewhere and no one should should be discriminated against or treated as a criminal. So now please do not come with the crap of visa...
Chris Mifsud
Apr 2nd 2012, 13:17
@Gervais M. Cishahayo
You are missing the point, that being that at least 90% of the population agree with the position that both the government and the opposition have taken.
Also, most of the illegal immigrants who come to Malta do so for economic reasons and not because their "survival instincts" were triggered.
If it were a case of survival instincts kicking in they would have gone to the next safe African country and NOT traveled to Libya (and in many if not most cases spend months there working) and then crossed the Mediteranean sea.
A Galea
Apr 2nd 2012, 13:23
@ Gervais. True that every person has a right to find a better life elsewhere. Also true that a Government should expel anyone who is living in a country without a permit. Same as you would be expelled if you failed to get a visa to go to Dubai for example. If this is discrimination, than we should just dispense with the law as it discriminates against the criminal.
Robert Agius
Apr 2nd 2012, 15:17
@Gervais M. Cishahayo
I suggest you try migrate somewhere, anywhere, without a passport and see how far that takes you and what happens to you.
A Galea
Apr 2nd 2012, 18:00
@Gervais M. Cishahayo - Apparently you are intent on not understanding the concept of country laws. As you say people can migrate as they wish, but one must follow the country's laws. How many Europeans are going to Argentina without a visa? How many Europeans are going to other continents claiming refugee status? So there is a difference isn't there?
Charles Grixti
Apr 4th 2012, 06:09
@Gervais M. Cishahayo
There are two issues here and you are getting them confused. Immigration laws have existed and most Europeans who emmigrated had to go through these channels when a call for immigrants was issued by these countries or territories. Then there is the Refugee laws, which allows refugees to be taken into a country without satisfiying the Immigration laws on humanitarian basis.
Now what has happened is that economic immigrants have seized this chance and invade a country claiming to be Refugees and therefore entitled to all the protection and benefits. Nice work if you can get it. And most do not want to stay in Malta, they want to reach the shores of Northern Europe where the benefits and social services are much more generous.
And by the way, Europeans moving to another country in Europe and being citizens of the EU are not the same as third-country economic migrants posing as refugees.
And of course I agree with you that we are all passengers on this earth, but realistically does that entitle anyone to squat on anyone's land or property? I hardly thinks so, otherwise I would be calling on the Queen of England and avail myself of her many palaces, claiming that her majesty and me are both passengers. And we all know how far that would get me.
Please choose the reason of your report below: