Ten NGOs that work with migrants have been invited to a meeting with the prime minister at the Auberge de Castille tomorrow in the wake of the alleged killing of a migrant in a Detention Service van early on Saturday.
The invitation came after the organisations this morning expressed their shock over the death of the migrant.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Prime Minister also annoucned that Judge Jeffrey Valenzia has been appointed by the Prime Minister to head an inquiry into what happened on Saturday.
Judge Valenzia was asked to investigate whether there was negligence, non-observance of procedure or abuse of power.
He was also asked to investigate whether the recommendations made after an inquiry into the death of Nigerian migrant Infeanyi Nwokye in April last year had been taken up, and to what extent. He was also invited to look into related aspects of both cases, the organisational structure of detention centres and what procedures are followed.
NGOS' STATEMENT
The statement by by the NGOs this morning was issued by Aditus Foundation, the Jesuit Refugee Service (Malta), SOS Malta, Integra Foundation, the Migrants Network for Equality, the Emigrants’ Commission, GetUpStandUp, the Organisation for Friendship in Diversity, KOPIN, the Foundation for Shelter and Support to Migrants.
They said they were appalled and saddened by the tragic death of Mamadou Kamara in Detention Service custody and they insisted that the government must take all the steps necessary to ensure that his death, not the first to occur in such circumstances, is the last.
"We believe that these and other violent incidents that have occurred over the years demonstrate that Malta's initial reception system has repeatedly failed and that the costs of the mandatory detention policy far outweigh the potential benefits for all concerned,” said Katrine Camilleri, JRS Malta Director.
"We are also concerned that political discourse on the part of the Government and the opposition has contributed to the dehumanization of asylum seekers. The consequences of this are nothing less than horrific. Malta's human rights obligations demand that the individual officers involved in the incident are called to account for their actions, yet we believe that this alone is insufficient
Dr. Neil Falzon, aditus foundation director said Malta is duty-bound to ensure that all persons deprived of their personal liberty - for whatever reasons - are effectively protected from torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
"Their right to life must be safeguarded and any alleged violations must be investigated and perpetrators brought to justice. Importantly, any institutional failures should be addressed in order to prevent future violations."
The NGOs called on the government to ensure that the inquiry into Saturday's incident is truly independent and effective, and that its findings, recommendations and any consequential actions are made public.
They called for a comprehensive and inclusive review of Malta's policy of mandatory detention, including implementing non-custodial alternatives for asylum seekers and migrants in an irregular situation for whom there is little or no prospect of removal.
Other recommendations included strengthening the mandate and capacity of the Detention Visitors Board, the body established by law to monitor conditions in detention.