Migrants rescued, others insist on right of passage

Joe Xuereb

Jul 5th 2012, 12:09

@Theresa Bartolo Parns (4th July 17:28). Ms. Parns (or should that be Parnis), you are so outraged that you even misspelt your own name. One of those apologists I see. But at least you have one thing in common with these people with their sob-stories. They adopt multiple aliases to confuse the authorities and you misspell yours. Anyhow, they are helped (via your very taxes I shouldn't wonder; you do work dont you Ms. Parns?)because of some daft man-made law: as opposed to natural law that evolved in such a way that people, for self-preservation, are wired in such a way that they are wary of people who are too different. That is my take on integration and I am sticking with it because I know what I am talking about, unlike some. We may have advanced in leaps and bounds but our primitive instincts (to survive) are always there just below the surface. I imagine you practise this yourself unless you are terminally daft, a 'fidila'.


Back to your comment, something about you being speechless. Unfortunately not speechless enough by the looks of it. But that is more your problem than mine.

About the picture accompanying this article. The little angel sleeping in his mother's lap - isn't he adorable?! He is asleep and in any case, he has no choice in the matter of where his mummy decides to take him. Now, these women may or may not be fleeing terror. At this stage we do not know. But one thing I am sure of. What, in god's name, does his mother think his future in Europe is going to be. A bed of roses is won't be if nothing else because more and more people in Europe are sleeping on fewer and fewer beds of roses. Of course they could strike lucky
and be made to jump the queue for housing, medical care, benefits, etc. This won't benefit them much as they will be coerced into a life of dependency. They will not integrate for a hundred and one reasons. And they will be resented by the indigenous people who will lose out in the queues for whatever. Be it Housing, doctor's surgeries, and the encroaching lowering of living standards that have made some areas of London definitely Third World. Maybe Malta is not degraded to this extent yet but the time will come.


Apologists for illegal immigrants (for that is what most of them are) should get it into their heads we are dealing with a people whose mindset is totally different to ours. What these 'illegal' people are doing is to bow to the current trend - Europe at all costs. They do not consider anything else. That said, a little deeper analysis of the situation by our own apologists would not go amiss.


These people are now claiming that they have right of passage. Yes and NO. That they have right of passage on the seas is possible but questionable. That they have right of passage into any country they choose - definitely not! What?! with no documents. And even if they were allowed in, with or without documents, do we really need a world where frontiers mean nothing and are treated just like one going from one's sitting room into the kitchen, etc. I don't think so. No in the state the world is in. Not ever in fact. Millions of years ago frontiers became necessary. I really cannot see a frontier-less planet. What does it take to understand this? Of course one could argue that the future is globalisation with free passage to anyone who chooses it. This would include anybody who decided that their life is in danger because of despots, drought, floods, earthquakes, famine, extreme cold. Ninety per cent at least of these people would have no skills to offer the West other than those that create further an underclass and we already know the problem THAT creates. Do we really want more of this?

Barney Camilleri

Jul 5th 2012, 08:59

Someone please help me understand?
This morning, July 5th, 2012. I understand as reported on Italian TV, the Libyan authority stopped and forced an Italian fishing boat to unload its catch they made in international waters between Libya and Italy. With the result these fishermen returned to port empty.
The question is: If Libya has such a big coast and are able to muscle an Italian fishing boat in international waters why is it she almost never able to keep those illegals leaving their shores?
or, Is this another way to Islamatise Europe with the Brotherhood of Islam blessing?

Ms D. Borg

Jul 5th 2012, 08:46

Tajba wkoll. Do they think they are on a bus and they can ring a bell where to disembark? The AFM should not approach any boat containing illegal immigrants unless they really are in distress. We are not a ferry service and we should stop playing the Samaritan of the Mediterranean. Charity begins at home and God knows how much we need it at the moment.

J Cassar

Jul 5th 2012, 08:42

Poor baby!! 3 weeks old in that heat - travelling the open seas! Just goes to show how desperate these people are for freedom!!

Joe Fenech

Jul 4th 2012, 23:55

So these "insisted on their right of passage to Sicily." It seems that they're experts in maritime law. Then if they're so learned, why don't they use their intelligence to build their countries instead of trespassing on other people's property (illegally)?

nikki dawson

Jul 4th 2012, 23:13

@gl calleja if that person is in need of help yeah you do take them in and help them.only a heartless person would just let this woman go with kids in this heat .just imagine if this was your family and kids would you want that to happen to them? .These people leave their country because they don't have other choice .Im sure nobody likes to leave his country he's born in.

Alfred Falzon

Jul 4th 2012, 21:16

May they have a safe passage always.

Mr Tony Gatt

Jul 4th 2012, 18:49

Do they have their own lawyers with them now?

GL Calleja

Jul 4th 2012, 18:21

If somebody asks you for directions, do you stop them and take them home with or point them towards their destination? The Maltese government stops them and invite them to come into our house instead of giving them directions on how to get to their intended destination. On the government's behalf the government has to abide by the EU rules and bring these illegal immigrants to Malta so they won't be able to reach any other EU State. Makes sense in order to protect the other 26 EU States..... How pathetic and real is that?

I Mercieca

Jul 4th 2012, 18:14

Malta ghandha l-emigrazzjoni miftuha jaqaw?
Sa fejn naf jien le hux?
Allura dawn mhux emigrani (Migrants) imma emigranti Irregolari (Irregular Immigrants) ghax hemm differenza kbira ! Dawn jigu fl-ewropa kontra l-ligi, qed jiksru l-ligi u mhux billi jghidu huma, Hadd m'ghandu dritt jidhol fl-ebda pajjiz minn jeddu.

Louis Craus

Jul 4th 2012, 18:03

X ' jigu jaghmlu hawn, daqs kemm hawn tgerfix !
Nahseb anke dawn indunaw issa.

stephen koludrovic

Jul 4th 2012, 18:02

I did say this quite some time ago.

We have no right to just go out, if not asked by them, that they are in distress and sinking.,

Should we go out, not explaining to them the conditions that they will face once they land on the island, that is, a mandatory 18 months detention without the possibility of reaching their intended destination, is turning us out to be pirates,

All we need is a slick lawyer starting a class action against our government for the breaking of their human rights of free passage, and then the crap would really have hit the fan.

Ms.D. Galea

Jul 4th 2012, 18:00

Did it occur to anyone on just how desperate these people must be if they rather willingly risk their lives on a small boat under this blazing hot sun?

Anthony Borg

Jul 4th 2012, 17:49

At this rate, in a decade or so, we will be fleeing from our own country, as this Island will be swamped.

Come this next general election, I will scrutinize each political party's manifest and make sure what their policy will be in respect to Illegal Immigration. No hazy notions or promises, else my vote will go to the bin.

Joseph Sammut

Jul 4th 2012, 17:37

Most of those writing below speak of rights; these people do not have a right to impose themselves on other countries, that is why they are illegal immigrants!

Alex Buds

Jul 4th 2012, 17:31

Finally some migrants I agree with. Give our regards to Italy, the country that thinks we shoot at you guys.

carmel cassar

Jul 4th 2012, 17:24

If the problem sharing is not taken seriously, our boats should follow them at a distance for their safety, and let them be.

angelo cilia

Jul 4th 2012, 17:23

The AFM should have a fuel tender always at sea to give these poor souls fuel, halal victualing and water and see them on their way to the main continent for some easy living and not interfere with their right of passage to the land'o plenty.

T.F. Busuttil

Jul 4th 2012, 17:17

good, they are learning their rights, after all is their right to continue with their passage to where ever they want to go. I dont think it is the duty of the Maltese authority to go on boat and ask for visas or passports.

A. Zammit

Jul 4th 2012, 17:11

Watch RAI this evening as I am sure this episode will result in another flare-up with Italy!!!

Joseph Borg

Jul 4th 2012, 16:49

Excellent choice. Keep it up and SMS others as well to do the same thing.

Alex Ciantar

Jul 4th 2012, 16:25

No problem, just give them water, fuel and a compass, and let them go on their merry way.

James Dewar

Jul 4th 2012, 16:21

Yes even migrants in mid ocean have rights and if their intended destination was somewhere other than Malta then their right to travel there should be respected. I have no doubt that the Sicilians will welcome them with open arms and true Italian hospitality.

GL Calleja

Jul 4th 2012, 15:55

Good for the immigrants, Malta and the AFM have no right to stop them in continuing on their intended journey. Come to think of it, maybe the Maltese government created their own problem when they starting interfering with the immigrant's journeys in the first place. Minding our own business might solve a lot of the illegal immigrants problem in this country. If Italy and or any other EU State is their intended destination, who are we to stop them and make them come to this most hated detention centre? They tell you themselves that Malta is not their intended final destination so why are we even questioning that fact? Fix their motor, give them enough fuel and supplies and let them continue on their journey. Don't force them to come to Malta. Ever wonder why the EU, the UNCHR and some NGO's insist on bringing them to Malta?

c. hansel

Jul 4th 2012, 15:41

Thats interesting "their right of passage" .... didnt know they had that. Well good luck in Sicily.