Labour leader Joseph Muscat yesterday expressed shock at the death of a Malian migrant in custody and regret that his 2009 immigration plan had been ignored.

The government has to be strong with European politicians and not with the migrants

Interviewed on One radio, the party’s station, Dr Muscat said the Malian’s death – he did not mention Mamadou Kamara by name, noting that court documents gave the migrant a different name – could not be justified in any way.

Mr Kamara’s death was the third case in four years of someone dying while in the custody of the security forces, he said, adding this created serious concerns.

On Sunday, two soldiers were charged with Mr Kamara’s murder and another was accused of tampering with evidence. They denied the charges.

Dr Muscat cautioned against tarring all soldiers with the same brush because most of them did their job with “great humanity”.

“It is unfortunate that soldiers who work at the detention services feel this is a punishment,” he said, adding it created unnecessary frustration.

In the wake of an inquiry ordered by the government into Mr Kamara’s death, Dr Muscat noted that the judge was tasked to look at the detention service as a whole.

He expressed regret that proposals made by Labour in 2009, which included measures to ensure better management at the detention centres, were ignored.

The proposals included a highly controversial suggestion to suspend Malta’s international obligations if solidarity was not forthcoming from EU member states.

Dr Muscat insisted the government had to be strong with European politicians and not with the migrants. He also urged more education to counter racism in society.

Reacting, the Nationalist Party accused Dr Muscat of harbouring extremists in his party.

“Muscat should be ashamed of himself. He insists on using populist rhetoric,” the PN said, adding the 2009 recommendations risked putting migrants’ lives at risk.

The PN said its first priority was to save lives and give protection to those who really needed it.

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