Give migrants decency
Our detention centres are cauldrons, and not just in the sweltering summer heat. They bring migrants and their guards face to face every day in the most unpleasant of circumstances in conditions that are suitable for neither.
Detention officials have to put up with the frustration of men who are incarcerated and angry. They have to contend with abuse and occasional physical violence. Their job is undoubtedly one of the most difficult and there is evidence to suggest they are not receiving sufficient training to carry out this unenviable task.
For migrants, detention is a living hell. The majority of them risk their lives to cross the water in search of a better life. When they arrive they are thrown behind bars – their only ‘crime’ is their attempt to improve their lot, sometimes to get away from wars and famine – and they can spend up to 18 months in this oppressive atmosphere. The sight of black people behind bars only serves to reinforce the horrendous opinion held by some that they are criminals.
Given these circumstances, it is little wonder they try to escape. It is little wonder they do things they shouldn’t in desperation. People who do not sympathise with their plight should not consider themselves to form part of the civilised human race.
Last weekend one of these immigrants, Mamadou Kamara, died as a result of injuries he received following what seems to have been a violent episode. Last Sunday, two soldiers were charged with the migrant’s murder and another was accused of tampering with evidence.
The authorities should be commended for the speed with which they acted on this case, despite initially vague statements. However, one cannot help but feel that details of what actually took place would have emerged more quickly had the victim been a Maltese national.
We need to know the circumstances, if nothing else to counter any rumours that are unfair to the deceased and on the accused. We need to put measures in place to try to ensure that an untimely death does not happen again.
But beyond that, the government must review the approach to irregular migration. Lawrence Gonzi has, at the risk of electoral harm, been consistently vociferous in defence of their rights. The same cannot be said for the opposition leader. But two factors mar the good work.
One is the unquestioning acceptance of the agreements Italy has signed with Libya to push migrants back to their point of departure – when there are no guarantees that their rights are being respected.
Secondly, it is time to do away with the mandatory detention policy which only serves to sow the seeds of resentment on both sides.
The bishops made a most welcome foray into the social arena last week not only when they called for answers on the Kamara case – but just as pertinently when they called for a review of the detention policy. It is important that they carry their message to the pulpit.
In a measured response to Mr Kamara’s death, the UNHCR also questioned the detention policy and offered its assistance to establish a workable alternative.
There is no longer any justifiable reason not to achieve this. The most reasonable first step would be to put new arrivals in non-custodial reception centres until their claims for refugee status are heard.
It is not yet clear whether irregular migration will this year reach the proportions we have experienced in the past.
But while we wait, it is all the more important to get our house in order to ensure we treat all irregular immigrants with the decency they deserve.
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Kurt Waschnig
Jul 8th 2012, 15:05
My comment on this editorial should be published because migrants need support. There are lot of comments that do not support migrants in Malta.
I would like to express my gratitude to the Times of Malta for this excellent editorial.
This editorial shows the Times of Malta as defender of human rights especially in one sentence at the end:”But while we wait, it is all the more important to get our house in order to ensure we treat all irregular immigrants with the decency they deserve.”
Freedom of speech and a free press are decisive tenets of a liberal democratic state. In a democratic, liberal and open society a breach of human rights is unacceptable.
Newspapers like the Times of Malta deserve respect to uphold human rights and to defend them.
According to an Amnesty International report conditions in detention and open centres continued to worsen last year and migrants´human rights were still being breached as a result of the mandatory detention policy.
The Amnesty International 2012 annual report pointed out that the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights had criticised living conditions in reception centres for migrants, particularly in Marsa and in the Ħal Far tent village and hangar complex. The commissioner suggested measures to improve refugee determination procedures, called for a programme to address the social exclusion of migrants and others and for a strategy to promote local integration and combat racism and xenophobia.
Even. vulnerable people – pregnant women, children and sick people – are all kept in detention centres and are only eligible for release once a decision is taken based on their individual case.
Detention officials must receive better training in order to carry out their unenviable task They face day by day the frustration of men who are incarcerated and angry.
This editorial is right. The majority of illegal migrants risk their lives to cross the water in search of a better life.
After arriving in Malta they are brought to detention centres or better said “thrown behind bars” though they never committed any crime. Often illegal migrants try to escape wars and famines,
Migrants are kept for 18 months at detention centres.
Mamadou Kamara, a Malian immigrant died as a result of injuries he received following what seems to have been a violent episode.
The authorities charged two soldiers with the migrant´s murder and another was accused of tampering with evidence.
The death of Mamadou Kamara caused international condemnation as two top Council of Europe parliamentary representatives decried the incident.
And reacting to the death of Malian migrant Mamadou Kamara last week, Archbishop Paul Cremona and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech called on the Maltese to reflect on their attitudes towards migrants.
The bishops said:”“Racist or disparaging comments, speeches and behaviour go contrary to the dignity of humanity and the teachings of the Gospel.”
It took time till the Church raised her voice and expressed concerns how migrants are treated in Malta.
And it is very important the bishops called for a review of the detention policy.
Living conditions at detention centres are a breach of human rights. Life at detention centres is a living hell for migrants.
A breach of human rights can only be avoided by putting illegal migrants after arriving in Malta in non-custodial reception centres until their claims for refugee status are heard.
Best regards
Kurt Waschnig Oldenburg Germany
e-mail: [email protected]
Kurt Waschnig
Jul 8th 2012, 13:39
I would like to express my gratitude to the Times of Malta for this excellent editorial.
This editorial shows the Times of Malta as defender of human rights especially in one sentence at the end:”But while we wait, it is all the more important to get our house in order to ensure we treat all irregular immigrants with the decency they deserve.”
Freedom of speech and a free press are decisive tenets of a liberal democratic state. In a democratic, liberal and open society a breach of human rights is unacceptable.
Newspapers like the Times of Malta deserve respect to uphold human rights and to defend them.
According to an Amnesty International report conditions in detention and open centres continued to worsen last year and migrants´human rights were still being breached as a result of the mandatory detention policy.
The Amnesty International 2012 annual report pointed out that the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights had criticised living conditions in reception centres for migrants, particularly in Marsa and in the Ħal Far tent village and hangar complex. The commissioner suggested measures to improve refugee determination procedures, called for a programme to address the social exclusion of migrants and others and for a strategy to promote local integration and combat racism and xenophobia.
Even. vulnerable people – pregnant women, children and sick people – are all kept in detention centres and are only eligible for release once a decision is taken based on their individual case.
Detention officials must receive better training in order to carry out their unenviable task They face day by day the frustration of men who are incarcerated and angry.
This editorial is right. The majority of illegal migrants risk their lives to cross the water in search of a better life.
After arriving in Malta they are brought to detention centres or better said “thrown behind bars” though they never committed any crime. Often illegal migrants try to escape wars and famines,
Migrants are kept for 18 months at detention centres.
Mamadou Kamara, a Malian immigrant died as a result of injuries he received following what seems to have been a violent episode.
The authorities charged two soldiers with the migrant´s murder and another was accused of tampering with evidence.
The death of Mamadou Kamara caused international condemnation as two top Council of Europe parliamentary representatives decried the incident.
And reacting to the death of Malian migrant Mamadou Kamara last week, Archbishop Paul Cremona and Gozo Bishop Mario Grech called on the Maltese to reflect on their attitudes towards migrants.
The bishops said:”“Racist or disparaging comments, speeches and behaviour go contrary to the dignity of humanity and the teachings of the Gospel.”
It took time till the Church raised her voice and expressed concerns how migrants are treated in Malta.
And it is very important the bishops called for a review of the detention policy.
Living conditions at detention centres are a breach of human rights. Life at detention centres is a living hell for migrants.
A breach of human rights can only be avoided by putting illegal migrants after arriving in Malta in non-custodial reception centres until their claims for refugee status are heard.
Best regards
Kurt Waschnig Oldenburg Germany
e-mail: [email protected]
GL Calleja
Jul 8th 2012, 15:53
So Mr Kurt Waschnig of Oldenburg Germany. When is your high and almighty country going to take some of these mistreated illegal immigrants like they promised in their share burden agreement. It is very easy for you and I and the editor to comment from our plush seats, after all it is a free country, but the reality of it all is that the EU is using Malta as a scapegoat while trying to protect the other 26 EU States, and that includes your beloved Germany. Talk is very cheap Mr Waschnig.
M Sciberras
Jul 8th 2012, 12:17
We are being inexorably being led down the road to a state where our tiny and overpopulated country has several thousands of immigrants living in our midst who are not integrated with the rest of society. Either match the fine words of this editorial with action - spend the millions necessary in education and training to help thousands of people integrate - or face the reality of the ghettoised and marginalised communities common in many cities in Europe within the next ten years. And unlike these big cities, tiny Malta's ethnic ghettoes will be very very visible. Malta's detention policy is only effective insofar as the intention to move illegal immigrants on - through deportation or relocation - is not an illusion. If, through the constant annual renewal of the 'temporary' humanitarian refugee status that the larger proportion of immigrants are eligible for, large numbers of illegal immigrants in effect remain on the island permanently, then our refusal to face reality will cost us dear in the near future.
carlos ellul
Jul 8th 2012, 11:57
It would be wiser discussing how many immigrants can Malta take. What's the point of giving immigrants freedom when there is no future for them here?
Louise Vella
Jul 8th 2012, 10:54
Your editorial does not tackle the crucial question: Is it in Malta's national interest to go on being at the receiving end of an unending flow of illegal immigrants whose number seems to be infinite? Given that we all are expected to do some charity, how many illegal immigrants is Malta expected to keep as part of its charitable work for the benefit of humanity? Surely the number cannot be 100 000. But then how many? 10 000? 50 000? Migration is a demographic question and demography means numbers. Incidentally we have now moved from refugees to immigrants. Previously we used to be told that refugees are fleeing war and persecution. Now it is has become obvious that we have a different phenomenon, that of sub-Saharan Africans wanting to move for a better life in Europe which is itself suffering from 10%+ unemployment. As for UNHCR, for the last ten years it has been on an unending campaign to vilify Malta. I wouldn't take what it says at face value.
GL Calleja
Jul 8th 2012, 15:34
If the UNHCR are serious they would make sure the EU follows the burden sharing agreement and help ease Malta of this illegal immigration congestion. The problem is that the other 26 EU States don't want these people either. Gaddafi was right when he said that all of Europe will become Muslim.
Sean Grima
Jul 10th 2012, 22:26
first of all human rights are not limited by the vague concept of a national interest. secondly, it's not up to you to decide what the national interest is. it definitely is not to be xenophobic or isolationist.
Please choose the reason of your report below: