20 migrants arrive
A dinghy carrying 20 migrants was intercepted off Filfla last night and is being escorted to Hay Wharf, the AFM's Maritime Squadron base.
The dinghy was reported at 9.20 p.m. some 12 miles off Filfla.
The AFM said the migrants refused to board its patrol boat and are being escorted to port.
The migrants said they are Somali and had left from Tunisia. The group is made up of 15 men, three women and two children.
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Joe Xuereb
Jun 22nd 2012, 10:58
Surely, the fact that they refuse to come to Malta means all this is by design (ie trafficking).
Some here said they are Tunisians. That is like saying the Maltese are Swedish merely by saying so.
If they refuse to come to Malta, I would seize the opportunity. For humanitarian reasons I would ask them what they need (hopefully they wont ask for money but I wouldn't be surprised if they did). Make sure there satellite mobile phone is topped up AND SEND THEM NOT BACK WHENCE THEY CAME BUT WHEREVER IT IS THEY WANT TO GO TO. In other words, call their bluff. See what they say. See how they react and scrutinize their behaviour and gain valuable knowledge. Who knows, it might even lead to the traffickers. There! and all above-board.
My bet is that they will refuse - fear suddenly sets in - and they will start to negotiate to the point of absurdity. But at least Malta will show who is master in these situations.
Note. This strategy only applies with those who refuse to come ashore. With anyone else, as we say, may good help us. And our children. And THEIR children. Beyond that, the Maltese, as a nation, will have petered out without a trace. Or gone to Sweden. Are you there Deborah - your English is excruciating (to you that means very bad) dear, and I'd be more concerned about that if I were you. And I'm so glad I'm not you - Schembri?
@Gerry Cowie (21st June 20:46). Go back to the solstice Mr. Cowie. As confused and as ambivalent as ever I see. But then, that is the nature of the beast of choice.
Sammy Borg
Jun 21st 2012, 23:28
Our politicians are none better then yours. They are not doing anything but squabbling like little kids while the boats keep coming in, sometimes with deadly consiquensis. A few years in parliament on an astronomical salary and a healthy retirement on an even better pension, is all that concern them.
bhttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/an-asylum-seeker-boat-has-capsized-north-
of-christmas-island/story-fn7x8me2-1226404645552
Gozoroo
Gerry Cowie
Jun 21st 2012, 20:46
Louise Vella should provide absolute proof of what she accues Dr Gonzi of. What does she use as her personal measure of public opinion? - Louise Vella?
Whilst it is glaringly obvious that Malta cannot sustain a continued influx of people in this way, it is insulting in the least to refer to them as "an invasion".
How fortunate that we are not "in the same boat" as these people, however long they remain here.
Claire Busuttil
Jun 21st 2012, 20:43
19 telqu ghal usa, 20 gew lejn malta...
Andy Farrugia
Jun 21st 2012, 15:22
Yes, spending hours on an open boat in this kind of heat....... no one would last more than 2 hours! There must be something fishy going on and it involves people trafficking! Are the authorities aware of any ships in the region moving close to port of calls and releasing scores of refugees/immigrants under cover of darkness? What with sophisticated surveillance equipment and all, this should be a piece of cake really!
Louise Vella
Jun 21st 2012, 15:17
Dr Gonzi is responsible for all this because in the last 8 years he has failed to speak clearly about our country’s gradual invasion by illegal immigrants. He has failed to reflect public opinion. If anything he has been making welcoming sounds which the illegal immigrants and their traffickers interpret as a willingness to put up with their goings-on. The only time Dr Gonzi soft-pedalled on his favourable discourse on illegal immigration was in the run-up to the elections to the European Parliament. He made another favourable gesture towards the influx when he appointed a Refugee Commissioner
proudly presented to the press as “a former Jesuit”. We see the result. Malta gives refugee or humanitarian status at twice the rate of any other EU country. To top it all Dr Gonzi is now minister for home affairs, including the AFM. And so on and so on.
Joe Xuereb
Jun 21st 2012, 15:17
@Debbie Schembri (21st June 10:18). Is this the Debbie Schembri who took Louise Vella to task a couple of days back, calling her stupid if my memory serves?
This time round it is only twenty. Things are looking up.
Francis Bonello
Jun 21st 2012, 14:34
Welcome to Malta.Just tell us what you need and we will give it to you for free, but paid from our taxes!!
Michelle Abela
Jun 21st 2012, 14:05
It seems like they are coming every day now.
Peter Kennedy
Jun 21st 2012, 13:46
God bless them, I am glad they made it safely and can make a good life for themselves in Malta.
Colin Stanley
Jun 21st 2012, 17:13
are you trying to take the mickey?
carlos ellul
Jun 21st 2012, 18:53
Its such a shame that the Maltese government still sticks to the Dublin 2 treaty. Why should they make a decent life in Malta if they can make a magnificent life in Britain, off on the British taxpayer's back?
Peter Kennedy
Jun 22nd 2012, 09:19
Colin in all sincerity I will tell you this, Refugees be they economic or fleeing terror or war are at the same time the Product and Victims of the geo political climate and environment that we in the Western Nations have created in this world.
As the gulf widens between rich and poor nations we will see an increase in the movement of peoples from the poorer areas of this world, whose people find themselves powerless to change the economic systems in their own countries, who are themselves enslaved in crippling debt to the same organizations who are well under way to enslaving the rest of us at this very time.
Be assured these refugees are a symptom of the plague that will shortly infect us all. These people are truly Victims.
Joanne Micallef
Jun 21st 2012, 13:35
Has anyone noticed that the Italian media haven't reported any landings in ages, does anyone know why, cause usually the coast guard at lampedusa are pretty busy at this time of year.
Anthony Arpa
Jun 21st 2012, 13:23
Dear Debbie,
Invest in a big mansion and keek them all in and well fed then .... Yes these are all getting here from Libja or Tunizia both these countries got rid of their dictatorship ... so why we must not send them back .... Debbie please make good for the marssive sums that the Maltese Citizens agains their wish that are paying for them to keep them here.
Mr Neville A Cassar
Jun 21st 2012, 12:38
Tunisia to Malta, by sea is about 300 km ( 165 Nautical Miles ) according to google maps. That dinghy got them here? Seriously?
What's the fuel consumption on such engines?
stephen koludrovic
Jun 21st 2012, 13:01
They probably used their hands to paddle the boat when the 20 litre tank of fuel ran out. I suppose anything is possible.
Peter Kennedy
Jun 21st 2012, 13:50
I think it is 300 km to the gallon.
Lucky Okocha Achebe
Jun 21st 2012, 15:13
we had 15 gallons (20 liters each) of fuel.
Kevin Attard
Jun 21st 2012, 11:27
Ħadd ma jagħżel li jkun refuġjat
http://takeaction.unhcr.org/
Antonia Vella
Jun 21st 2012, 10:33
Mela tajjeb ax 19 telqu u gew ghoxrin lol
Debbie Schembri
Jun 21st 2012, 10:18
Dear all we can't tell the illegal immigrants to go back because they are not coming from a safe Country if we were like them we want somebody to help us. I will not stop telling this thing the Maltese people they are very very close mind it.
Deborah Schemberi
Steven Smith
Jun 21st 2012, 10:26
tunisia is a safe country.. !
Jessica Smith
Jun 21st 2012, 11:23
Debbie Schembri dan minn meta t-Tunisija m'hijiex safe country?
Iddahhaqniex Debbie Schembri
stephen koludrovic
Jun 21st 2012, 11:41
Of course Tunisia is a safe country. Even Somalia is now safer than it was ever before, They have a building boom going on in Mogadishu.
Andy Farrugia
Jun 21st 2012, 11:58
"I will not stop telling this thing the Maltese people they are very very close mind it." Deborah Schemb(e)ri!
Full marks for coherence and accuracy in expression! I don't think!
Guido Farrugia
Jun 21st 2012, 12:07
Can't you see we have our own problems? I very much wonder who the close- minded (please note close-minded) is.
Colin Stanley
Jun 21st 2012, 14:12
come Election time , don't expect my vote
Alex Buds
Jun 21st 2012, 19:28
Please open YOUR mind to good spelling and common sense Ms Schembri.
j brincat
Jun 21st 2012, 10:12
@c. hansel
"please explain why gonzi is responsible for the illegal immigrants? I sure he didnt invite them"
I would presume as part of his ministerial duties now that he has taken them over following the resignation of CMB.
(jb)
j brincat
Jun 21st 2012, 10:10
Who a few days ago said that the situation is not yet alarming?
When will it get alarming?
What is Dr Gonzi (now that he has taken on the duties from CMB) going to do?
(jb)
Louise Vella
Jun 21st 2012, 09:23
Does Dr Gonzi realise that he is responsible for all this?
c. hansel
Jun 21st 2012, 09:47
please explain why gonzi is responsible for the illegal immigrants? I sure he didnt invite them .
laurent caruana
Jun 21st 2012, 09:59
I think rather YOU are responsible for what you say
Charles Mizzi
Jun 21st 2012, 10:05
Always blame Dr Gonzi explain why please ?
Nazzareno Cortis
Jun 21st 2012, 14:18
Chansel & Charles Mizzi-----can he do as Italy has done------???? How come no more illigal emegrants in italy------can our prime minister do as the italians did with the libyan authorities?????some kind of agreement??? some real reasoning with our beloved E U friends ????where is the "everyone equal in the european union????? Has Malta the same say as any other EU member state????? Are we 3rd class citizens in EU???? Is malta a yes sir to what ever is imposed from brussels????Have we got rights or not??? Can our prime minister tell the EU at least about a decision to be agreed on the number of illegals that malta can actually handle????Sure there are things that can be done -------but no authority from malta seems to care about its own citizens!!!!!---- Has illegality changed its meaning????
Joe Mifsud
Jun 21st 2012, 09:22
Ghalfejn ma nibghatuhomx Brussels ghax meta tisma il prim ministru jghid li minn Brussels ghandna l appogg morali tal EU tibda tidhaq jew ahjar tibki.Dalwaqt joqtluna bil guh.Kumbinazzjoni dawn il klandestini jaslu Malta b dinghies u outboards tal l istess ditta .Kurjuza l bicca. Kollox gdid.Ghandna gvern tccassat ma jafx x ser jaqbad jaghmel.
carlos ellul
Jun 21st 2012, 09:32
Oh the government's plan is clear enough. Appeasing the EU at all costs.
R. Cilia
Jun 21st 2012, 09:21
Last summer we had CMB worrying that more immigrants might come to Malta and they did and are still coming. Nothing has been done to stop them or sent them back.The latest PL billboards says it all.
anthony sultana
Jun 21st 2012, 09:19
Uppa, what a nice way to start a day,more and more friends are coming to enjoy our little space we have,how nice.
carlos ellul
Jun 21st 2012, 09:15
Don't worry. I am sure that our beloved MPs and MEPs will come out with another rapport pretty soon!
Louise Vella
Jun 21st 2012, 09:08
What do you expect? Malta is twice as generous as any other EU country in dishing out refugee status and humanitarian status. So they come to Malta. UNHCR keeps telling them that they are welcome in Malta. So they come to Malta. UNHCR has been telling the Maltese to expect more and more of them. So the Maltese have been conditioned to expect more of them. All this shows there is a network led by UNHCR trying to turn Malta into a refugee colony.
carlos ellul
Jun 21st 2012, 09:26
I guess its more about the case, then while our government was busy doing rapporti, promoting voluntary burden sharing and keeping his own men into power, the Italians had worked wisely to secure some real pacts with Libya and Tunisia. The end result is there to be seen. The Italians are the EU wolf who protect its own interests while we are the Mediterranean nurse filled with certifikati mil Unjoni Ewropeja and illegal immigrants.
We'll soon be bailing Spain out. No ties attached of course.
Gustav Svensson
Jun 21st 2012, 08:59
Nice and shiny dinghy and a brand new outboard engine and not too crowded either, probably dropped from a ship just outside Malta's waters. The safety is getting better and better.
Joe Gatt
Jun 21st 2012, 09:23
Relatively Small Outboard Motor for such a large craft? Just enough for 20 people, not such a short day trip either.
Wonder how they made it all the way from Tunisia.
Anthony Arpa
Jun 21st 2012, 08:58
No one have the right to enter our waters .... We have to advise port autorities to leave our harbours for a day out with our boats ... The simple way in my opinion is to send them back from where they come from ...
carlos ellul
Jun 21st 2012, 09:31
Everyone has a right over Malta. We keep immigrants against their will, we bail nations who are richer then us, we can't help Airmalta etc. All is done with no ties attached and in the name of a solidarity which is pretty much one way.
When I was a kid I used to consider the national anthem as obsolete. Words about "Aghti kbir alla d dehen lil min jahkimna" sounded so out of place in an independent country. I don't think that anymore. We've become a colony once more, in the hands of nations who don't give a damn about our security and future. God save us.
Mario Tabone
Jun 21st 2012, 08:42
So these people refuse to board the patrol boat. Even before they are brought here they are being militant !!! They are from Tunisia even though they claim to be Somali. The simple fact they refused to board the patrol boat shows they don't want to be here in Malta so why force them to come here. Weather conditions are good so give them supplies and let them carry on to where they want to go !!!! This is not as if they were on the high seas in the middle of a storm, so why make them come here? Doing things by the book is good most of the time but not all the time !!!
Anthony Arpa
Jun 21st 2012, 08:39
As far they admit that they came from Tunisia ..... Why the Autority will not send them back to Tunisia ....
Peter Kennedy
Jun 21st 2012, 14:02
Because the authorities have to establish their identities and their citizenship, they are not allowed to stuff them into just any country, of course these folk will have no papers with them as per the advice of the people smugglers who put them on their way, and without paperwork they will be able to spend years in the refugee system, being fed and housed and educated and finally ending up in a place where they want to be.
Tunisia will deny that they are their citizens, and refuse to take them and the roundabout will continue, without identities no country will accept them as citizens.
Please choose the reason of your report below: