Despair of soldiers in ‘obscene’ Safi centre
‘You have to catch escapees using just your bare hands’
Inside the Safi centre. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
A soldier working within Safi detention centre has vented the fears and frustrations he faces and warned that unless changes are made the next victim “will be one of us”.
“The problem with the system is that there is no system,” the soldier told The Sunday Times on condition of anonymity.
Michael* and former soldier David* who worked in detention centres for several years spoke of the mounting frustration faced by the guards as well as the asylum seekers cooped up in detention camps.
In a candid interview, Michael described “obscene” understaffing problems, bemoaned soldiers’ lack of equipment and sympathised with poor conditions faced by detainees.
“Two have died so far. The next time, it will either be one of us or a member of the detention service.”
Ifeanyi Nwokoye and Mamadou Kamara died while in the custody of detention officials over the past year, prompting many to discuss whether the strict migrant detention policy was really working.
An inquiry into Mr Nwokoye’s death in 2011 is yet to be concluded but has found that he was dealt multiple blows, while two men have been charged with the murder of Mr Kamara, who died last month. Both Mr Nwokoye and Mr Kamara died shortly after being recaptured following botched escape attempts.
Michael stopped short of defending his colleagues’ actions – “they’re now in court, let’s give them a fair trial” – but could relate to the situation.
“A man escapes and you have to catch him using nothing but your bare hands and handcuffs. He’s obviously not going to come easily. What are you going to do? Putting soldiers in that situation is asking for problems.”
His perspective was backed by former soldier David, who said soldiers were trained to use force only when it was justified, legitimate and in the minimum dose necessary.
“But gauging what exactly is the minimum force necessary can be problematic. Soldiers, like everyone else, get genuinely scared sometimes. What are they meant to do if all they’ve got is their fists?”
David continued: “Soldiers are currently tackling a 21st century problem using tools of 40 years ago. Times have moved on and the authorities should be looking at disabling technology such as tasers.”
Inadequate staffing levels were also taking their toll, he said.
“Last week there were four AFM soldiers for all of Ħal Far and Safi detention centres. We never have more than five soldiers on duty at Safi during a single shift, for 800 detainees.”
Such numbers were a significant downgrade from his time in the army, David said. “We had plenty of soldiers in my time. At the very worst, you’d have 10 to 15 soldiers on every shift, guarding 300 migrants.”
Soldiers are assigned to detention centres by their superiors. Members of the Detention Service, on the other hand, are civilians who have signed up for the job.
According to Michael, the Detention Service is also impossibly stretched. “I sometimes get to work in the morning and find Detention Service workers slumped over, asleep. They’ll have worked from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and then again from 7 p.m. till 7 a.m.”
Escapes happen more regularly than people think, he said. “But they don’t tell you guys [the media] about it. The day after Mr Kamara died, two people escaped. It’s not that uncommon.”
The deaths of Mr Nwokoye and Mr Kamara and subsequent media attention had taught him and some of his colleagues a lesson, he said.
“If I’m told to go one way, I just go in the opposite direction. We’ve all got family at home: why should I get myself into unnecessary trouble?”
That reaction garnered some sympathy from David. “A soldier who messes up while fixing a truck gets a slap on the wrist. Making mistakes in detention is a bigger problem.”
It did not help that soldiers often considered being assigned to detention duties as a second-rate job, he added.
“Perhaps it would help if there was a separate army service explicitly dedicated to detention duties. And I imagine private security companies might eventually get involved,” David said.
Michael waved away suggestions that detention personnel were racist. “You get bad apples on both sides of the fence. We get called ‘white dogs’ by some migrants. Isn’t that racist?”
The cultural sensitivity training offered to detention personnel was “banal”, he said, making soldiers feel “as though we’re the enemies of the state”.
“But really, it’s useless trying to paint either us or them as saints. Some are good people, others aren’t. I feel sorry for some of them, they don’t deserve this. If you walk into the warehouse at Safi right now, you’d probably faint with the heat.”
Both Michael and David had harsh words for some of the NGOs working within the field. Although both acknowledged that some served important roles, others only served to antagonise, they said.
“They promise migrants the earth, but then they go home and we’re the ones who look like the bad guys,” Michael said.
David added: “Organisations like the Jesuit Refugee Service do great work, but some NGO types empathise so much that they end up painting an unrealistic picture.”
As the interview drew to a close, Michael threw his hands up in exasperation.
“It’s never been so bad. Morale is down the drain and I know many of us dread having to go to work now.”
He held out little hope for improvements. “What did the previous minister do? Nothing. Not that the opposition seems to have many ideas. And as for the head of the army, with him it’s...”
David was less inflammatory. “Politicians have to make do with limited resources, while army commanders often have to shield their superiors. But they have to look out for their soldiers’ needs and make the case for them politically. Commanders can’t simply look after their own stripes.”
“I’m done trying to change things,” Michael told The Sunday Times. “Now I just go to work, keep my head down, and hope there isn’t any trouble. Then I clock off, go home – and do it all over again the next day.”
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Joe Xuereb
Jul 25th 2012, 12:07
@John Azzopardi (24th July 01:15). Mr. Azzopardi, your response is most welcome because it affords me further insights into the Maltese psyche. Your English is not bad, not bad at all, but unfortunately you sound like an enraged individual blindly shooting from the hip who still refuses to understand that this one is your 'friend'. Calm down and see the light, Mr. A. As I said, being naive is not a crime and you most certainly are not. Like me, you are defending your country exactly like I am. Now I cannot do more spoon-feeding than that. Get it? And if you still don't, I would start worrying if I were you.
Mr. Azzopardi, I haven't been to Safi (or Kirkop) all my life but they are now on my 'to do' list for my next visit. Unfortunately, the sleepy tiny villages of once-upon-a-time are now forever tainted with Detention Centres. You are in a better position to know these places first hand. Have YOU worked at the Centres? Or do you just rely on accounts you hear about them? Maybe you spending your waking days on the free side of the tracks, observing and getting yourself more and more into a twist, and getting your knickers in that state as a result. Learn to recognise who your 'friends' are. But never, ever shoot the messenger who comes to agree with you. You'll start to feel better. And one does not have to be naive to do that. Just a little bit more savvy.
John Azzopoardi
Jul 24th 2012, 01:15
Mr. Xuereb. I suggest you go and work at the detention center to see what is going on and how detention workers and soldiers are treated Our soldiers who bring in these refugees should get the nobel peace price for saving so many lives. But the charity ends there. These people, who we have no idea who they are come here and get all the full benefits that a citizen of Malta gets. Is that right for the maltese taxpayer. No No NO. And you go on. Have you ever had a real job in your life or are you a student who lives off the back of the taxpayer as well. Well, another example you can have. If someone comes to your house, will you let him stay their indefinitely. I am sure you don't want to answer the question Mr. Xuereb. Very naive indeed.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 23rd 2012, 23:13
@ Emanuel Curmi today at 19:25.
To me, “the one wearing metaphorical blinkers”, the one who writes “patronizing summation” and whose comment is full of “pompous intellect and flowery language” is yourself as plentifully illustrated in the quoted phrases from your latest comment.
If you take the trouble to read my comment slowly you could perhaps come to understand eventually that it is full of concern for the plight of the illegal immigrants in our detection camps and for the harassed soldiers who look after their needs. They get no thanks for rescuing them from drowning – only hate - because they consider our soldiers as obstacles barring them from proceeding to a tantalising nearby mainland Europe. The staff of the "humanitarian agencies" do not need any commiseration - they are in clover.
The “explosive situation” is created by these so-called humanitarian agencies, acting on behalf of their rich and powerful paymasters. Their only concern is to keep the wretched immigrants out of continental Europe, regardless of the despair caused among the destitute immigrants. In their frustration, these detainees vent their fury on our soldiers and the rest of us who are not “simply passing judgments and comments”. We are the taxpayers paying the salaries of the guardians of law and order and who pay for the accommodation of the detainees. These show their “gratitude” by wrecking the furniture to use it to assault our soldiers.
“Will and the effort” are totally lacking, certainly not from our part, but from a continental Europe that taunts us “You rescued them from drowning, now you keep them – we do not want them, not even through any compulsory burden-sharing”.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 23rd 2012, 09:15
An afterthought(omitted from my last comment). These two commenters, Azzopardi and Calleja, as much as said that I did not know what I was talking about, and one or the other even said that I was unpatriotic and should get a life. For me to get a life I would not even dream of wasting my time on that. But unpatriotic. If whoever said or, or both by implication, have the strength of their convictions, could they please where they get this idea that I do not care for my country. It is easy guys. Just quote me. Highlight the part/s that you found offensive, copy and paste. Simple. I am waiting.
And don't forget I am requesting this simple exercise more as a favour to yourselves than one to myself. I have MY convictions and they are good enough for me. I don't need anyone's endorsements.
I re-read the article and what the soldier said at the very end - the drudgery of the day to be repeated the following day, again, and again, and again. Anyone half-human would sense the desperation in those few words. It is horrible to contemplate. The poor guys are only trying to make a living. And then some man of the cloth climbs the steps to the pulpit and starts talking about family values. Totally unaware of common familial situations such as these.
I have a feeling that genuine asylum-seekers are more likely to be grateful and show it. The trouble-makers are more likely to be the one who have nothing to lose because their agenda is less than squeaky clean (ie they are not from war-torn countries, and whatever it is that they want, they want it now. So they create mayhem. The are the impatient ungrateful. They spell trouble for all around. Having said this, the stresses of being in a Detention Centre does affect the good apples together with the bad, particularly that caused by the bogus asylum-seekers who are spoiling it for the bona fide ones.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 23rd 2012, 09:05
An afterthought. These two commenters, Azzopardi and Calleja, as much as said that I did not know what I was talking about, and one or the other even said that I was unpatriotic and should get a life. For me to get a life I would not even dream of wasting my time on that. But unpatriotic. If whoever said or, or both by implication, have the strength of their convictions, could they please where they get this idea that I do not care for my country. It is easy guys. Just quote me. Highlight the part/s that you found offensive, copy and paste. Simple. I am waiting.
And don't forget I am requesting this simple exercise more as a favour to yourselves than one to myself. I have MY convictions and they are good enough for me. I don't need anyone's endorsements.
I re-read the article and what the soldier said at the very end - the drudgery of the day to be repeated the following day, again, and again, and again. Anyone half-human would sense the desperation in those few words. It is horrible to contemplate. The poor guys are only trying to make a living. And then some man of the cloth climbs the steps to the pulpit and starts talking about family values. Totally unaware of common familial situations such as these.
mark borg
Jul 23rd 2012, 07:01
The illegal immigrants
A PN LEGACY!
KISSIRTU MHUX BISS IL PARTIT TAGHKOM STESS IMMA PAJJIZ SHIH !!!!!!!!!
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 23rd 2012, 04:35
@ Daniel Jones, yesterday at 18:44.
There is no reason for you to be glad that I have “cleared (my) position on this issue”. You have understood precisely nothing.
The point that I am trying to make is that although there is an undoubted small element of racists in Malta that is not true of the large majority. The “humanitarian” agencies of the United Nations are allowing themselves to be used to deflect the problem of illegal immigration away from the large and powerful nations of mainland Europe to the smaller weak islands at the periphery. The local representatives of those humanitarian agencies should not participate in that foul scheme by denigrating our own people, disloyally. Consciously or not, they are doing just that and as a result they are fuelling the racist element.
It is a hopeless task to try and improve the conditions inside our detention centres to a point that would satisfy the illegal immigrants. They will continue to try to force an escape and to resist violently any attempt to return them to their detention centres, at least two dying in the attempt. Whether confined behind the barbed wire of detention centres, or roaming freely all over this small overcrowded island without documents, the immigrants will always bear a fuming rage against the Maltese soldiers who had rescued them from drowning only to be forced to incarcerate them on our island home at the behest of an uncaring mainland Europe.
The “humanitarian” agencies are part and parcel of this nefarious scheme of repression forcing us to act as jailers of wretched people whose only “crime” is to seek their fortune in mainland Europe. The illegal immigrants will only be satisfied with the freedom to roam temporarily all over the island organising their next stage of their journey towards a mainland Europe that does not want them. They vent their frustrations and their anger on the harrassed soldiers and detention centre staff by rioting, vandalising government property and trying a mass escape.
That is when the hypocritical “humanitarian” agencies intervene by taking the side of the bigger nations against Malta.
Emanuel Curmi
Jul 23rd 2012, 19:25
@Mr. Francis Saliba. To me you are the one who claims to understand everything and yet seems to be the one wearing the metaphorical blinkers to reality. Your patronizing summation on how to categorize illegal immigrants may be endowed with pompous intellect and flowery language but what you conveniently overlooked is the human factor in this modern day tragedy. And this is exactly the battle of the so called hypocritical humanitarian agencies. They have seen, first hand, the conditions prevailing in these modern day townships - and even the detention officers themselves are appealing to the authorities to defuse a highly explosive situation - while many like you ( and including myself ) are simply passing judgements and comments on situations which we cannot imagine or even remotely comprehend. it is convenient to speak about a hopeless task when the will and effort is totally lacking.
M. Attard
Jul 23rd 2012, 01:50
EU is involved in just human trafficking. Instead of sending people back, they built detention centers and keep them here and after a while they will be allowed to walk out and do whatever they want. Even have two jobs and claim benefits of all sorts. The africans we get don't even want to rent a house with two steps or 1 storey stairs, as they ask for a lift as it is inhuman for them to walk up the stairs.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 23rd 2012, 00:34
@John Azzopardi (22nd July 17:27). Mr. Azzopardi, I am sorry - so to speak! - if the word naive hit a nerve. To be naive is not a crime but to persist in misunderstanding is mean-spirited (but still not a crime so don't beat yourself). Maybe an attention-span deficiency is at play here. If you think you are so afflicted Azzopardi, I should start worrying about it.
And much the same I can say to @GL Calleja (22nd July 16:21). To my chagrin I have discovered today yet another very telling 'only in Malta'. One sides with people and they still pounce. What is it with you people?! Are you so enraged that it is affecting your perceptions? biting the hand that feeds you? And please don't take that literally. Learn to understand and appreciate the nuances* of whatever it is you are reading and trying to understand. I am not holding my breath so YOU can continue to. Good luck, comrades in venom! And may god give me patience!
*Inability to appreciate these, the loss on people of satire, parody, sarcasm, is understandable, especially in view of the fact that they would have been deprived of upper level drama like 'Li Tkisser Sewwi' and 'Stitching'. Not appreciating the nuances of life in general happens when people are expected to remain at the 'tijatrin' level of entertainment. And tragically, when people are made to remain so for a purpose which Azzopardi and Calleja can sort out between themselves. You're on your own now boys (sorry, but I am assuming Calleja is a boy. Apologies if it's a woman of the species; in which case, certainly not a lady as her/his final barb is totally lacking in finesse).
Please pardon my belated reply but I have been to a series of meeting today, trying - and failing - to sort out the world's ills. Excuse any confused, unpatriotic thinking, therefore :)
Charles Grixti
Jul 23rd 2012, 13:29
Many of the things you so eloquently write are either misunderstood or go completely over the readers' heads. And I am glad that someone else observed the lack of understanding of the backhanded insults, parody, irony, sarcasm and other refinements of language (English) amongst the commentators but perhaps they could be forgiven for it could be a cultural more than a language problems. Humour for instance, is kind of frowned upon in Malta, as everyone needs to be perceived as a 'ragel jew mara serju/a'.
Nevertheless, continue writting your cleverly insightful commentaries. Prosit!
Valerie Calleja
Jul 22nd 2012, 22:15
Protect our soldiers and our police Mr Gonzi. Give them the weapons they need to protect themselves and the people of Malta. The people they are guarding come from countries where no law and order exists and where human life is not regarded very highly. Instead of taking hand outs from the eu, repatriate these illegals and protect our soldiers and police please.
Colin Stanley
Jul 23rd 2012, 09:10
I agree with you 100% so now can you do the same plea to the PL, are they going to look after the interests of Malta and the Maltese first.?
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 23rd 2012, 09:24
@ Valerie Calleja, yesterday at 22:15.
Of course the police should be provided with everything they need to protect themselves and to carry out their supervisory duties at the detention centres. But make no mistake about it. Whichever political party governs in Malta, whatever our soldiers use, be it their bare fists, their feet, stun guns, SPAM guns, tear gas or anything else you can think of, our military will be vilified by the professional do gooders from abroad. Worse still, there will always be local hypocrits to support them for their own hidden agendas.
Dr Alex Bugeja
Jul 22nd 2012, 21:59
Maybe the NGOs in question can contribute towards the hiring of more detention officers and an upgrade to their equipment if money is a problem.
M. Schembri
Jul 23rd 2012, 09:01
It's government that wants detention not the NGOs. Everyone is telling him to remove it but he insists that we keep on financing this cruelty.
Mr Oliver Cini
Jul 22nd 2012, 21:12
Having poor security is a risk for both parties, Hence I see that this situation will escalate in due course if no proper action is taken. I believe that less then 1 security for every 40 immigrant is not good and the security must be equipped with teasers and at least 25% of the securities must have pistols. Security is fundamental especially considering that this poor people are facing situations which are not normal.
They are protecting Maltese people from unregulated people running around in our streets with out being checked for many possible things. The government has the duty to protects the Maltese people before protecting others.
Charity starts at Home dear Gov...
James Dewar
Jul 22nd 2012, 22:21
Agree with your last sentence but a bit excessive on the need for 25% of security staff to be armed with pistolsand lethal if they got into the wrong hands.
silvio loporto
Jul 22nd 2012, 16:41
I stand to be corrected but I remember reading that Gaddafi was behinnd all this illegal immigration to show Europe that he could turn it into an islamic state whenever he wanted.
Gaddafi is gone and this problem persists.
One is justified in asking:
"Did we back the wrong horse,after all?"
GL Calleja
Jul 22nd 2012, 17:00
Like I mentioned many times, this is a well planned exodus and it was initiated when Gaddafi was still in power. The wheels keep turning because the machine was well oiled. This illegal immigration problem did not just pop up, it has been happening for a long time. Look back and you can follow the trend. Muslims make up a good part of Europe and Malta will become as such. Moammar Gaddafi might be dead but he left Europe and the whole world with something to remember him by. He wanted Europe to turn Muslim, is he succeeding to accomplish that even in his death. You be the judge.
Charles Grixti
Jul 23rd 2012, 04:04
No you miss the point entirely. Gaddafi really has nothing to do with it. The fact is that the EU is pursuing a policy of Multiculturalism and Malta simply had to have its quota of divergent cultures. That is and was the plan. Do not believe what politicians say or what is 'news' in official mainstream media. The facts speak for themselves, Gaddafi is gone but the immigrants keep on coming. Figure it out.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 22nd 2012, 16:05
The two Immigrant deaths did not have anything to do with conditions in the detention camps. Both of them were ESCAPEES resisting arrest by the forces of law and order who were trying them to the detention centres where they belonged..
GL Calleja
Jul 22nd 2012, 16:15
Excellent point Dr Saliba, but it happens that the bleeding hearts want to make us believe otherwise.
Ms.D. Galea
Jul 22nd 2012, 17:42
I disagree. I think they did not BELONG to a detention centre in MALTA, but in the country in mainland Europe they wanted to go to, to start a fresh new life when they left their God forsaken country.
Why should they be forced to live in a cage in a small island like Malta with its limited resources and imprisoned if they do what is humanely possible to leave and go reach mainland Europe.?
Mr Daniel Jones
Jul 22nd 2012, 18:44
So are you saying Francis, that the beating to death of the 2 migrants have no mitigating circumstances and the conditions of work and the resultant stress has nothing to do with it? It was just simple excessive force used to 'return them to the detention centres'.
Glad you cleared your position on this issue up.
GL Calleja
Jul 22nd 2012, 19:54
Ms Galea, I know it is easier said than done, but why doesn't the Maltese government let these people go to pursue their dream? WHY? Because the EU says they cannot. The whole theory is to protect the rest of the EU States from receiving these illegal immigrants. So they use Malta as a scapegoat and keep these people here even though it is against their will. If not why is the EU making the Maltese Government incarcerate these illegal immigrants? Where is the Humanity in all this. The EU and the UNHCR are protecting their own at the expense of the Maltese people. Brussels is protecting their own. Hello Maltese Meps????????
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 22nd 2012, 20:18
@ Mr Daniel Jones today at 18:44.
I am saying nothing of the sort. My English is clear enough so please do not attribute to me sentiments that I do not have. You have no right to accuse me of defending any "beating to death" of anyone.
I stated facts without offering "mitigating circumstances" one way or the other. Neither did I mention any "excessive force" - that has still to be proved.
My position is not at all clear to you but your bias is evident from a mile off.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 22nd 2012, 20:29
@ Ms D Galea.
I share your distaste for converting Malta in one big detention centre where to imprison immigrants who do not want to stay here, where the island is too small and overcrowded, where our soldiers should not be changed into hated jailers denigrated by "humanitarian agencies" whose clandestine role is to keep the problem away from mainland Europe at all costs.
Having said that the proper place for the illegal immigrants is confinement under supervision and not roaming all over the island without identification documents
James Dewar
Jul 22nd 2012, 22:25
Just a thought but could it be that they were escapees DUE to the conditions in the detention camps? I'm not in any way condoning it but maybe not exactly true to say that the incidents did not have anything to do with the conditions in the camps.
J Abela
Jul 23rd 2012, 06:15
Excellent Dr. Saliba. However they ended up being portrayed victims.
Francis Saliba M.D.
Jul 23rd 2012, 16:29
James Dewar, Yesterday, 22:25
Your thought is so far fetched as to border on the ridiculous. No illegal immigrant who finds himself unintentionally cooped up in any detention centre anywhere, when he had previously set course for mainland Europe, would willfully change his itenerary and opt to stay on a tiny island where he had been shipwrecked or rescued.
Just a thought but could it be that they were escapees DUE to the conditions in the detention camps? I'm not in any way condoning it but maybe not exactly true to say that the incidents did not have anything to do with the conditions in the camps.
GL Calleja
Jul 22nd 2012, 15:10
Finally a story from the other side. We pity those detention officers as we should. This is one of the worst jobs you can have on the island but somebody has to do it with or without your governments backing. This detention officer leaves his family to go to work and the rest of the day is unknown, what if there is an uprising ( which is very possible) and he gets badly hurt or even killed because he cannot defend himself? If these people come from a war thorn country, I don't think they are too savvy in carrying out orders and like the detention officer mentioned, if the worst happens, he has nothing to help him defend himself except his hands. If the EU and the UNHCR want the government of Malta to accept responsibility for these illegal immigrants then they should put their money where their mouths are and accept the financial responsibility. Talk is very, very cheap. Detention Officers should be armed with at least teaser guns. Most of these people have no sense of respectability and they have to conform to our way of life, which for them is not that easy. Listen to what this officer is saying because it will get nothing but worse. At the bleeding hearts, why not volunteer your free time and go do your good deed in one of the detention centres. Again talk is very, very cheap. These detention officers need our support and understanding, and maybe even have their salaries upgraded.
Christian Sciberras
Jul 22nd 2012, 15:07
The soldier got at least one thing right....and the people below just can't get to it.
Let me quote: "Soldiers are currently tackling a 21st century problem using tools of 40 years ago."
Now let's see Malta's arsenal of weapons: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armed_Forces_of_Malta#Equipment
Most of the equipment is outdated and totally inappropriate for their needs (with the exception of S&R, kindly donated by nations which don't want to deal with S&R of immigrants themselves).
That's the problem, not illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants will keep coming, regardless of condition....if not from the south, from the west or from the north. We have to deal with that problem nonetheless.
Preparation is the key, not praying to god this problem vanishes in thin air.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 22nd 2012, 15:03
@John Azzopardi (22nd July 14:21). Mr. Azzopardi, I only said that I am sceptical about Libya's democracy. About the rest we seem to be in agreement (having bothered to re-read your comment of 13:30). Perhaps you could read mine, of 13:37?! It's never wise, and almost certainly naive, to shoot from the hip without aiming. Hence the naive knee-jerk jump down my through when it wasn't warranted. Pity, that! You only saw the word naive as applied to you - I meant well - and your mind went blank. As it would - and the rest was a red blur. As I said, pity, that!
But thanks for the insight (every cloud has a silver lining, and all that). The insight being that a political Party, supposedly united, squabble among themselves. Thank you Azzopardi. Only in Malta! But please don't take it out on me. Not my fault! Honest! I wasn't there. While I am here, to be naive is not a crime, you know. All it needs is a bit of tweaking.
@GL Calleja (22nd July 14:36). GL Calleja, do you have to make it so obvious that you did not understand a single word of what I said? Your problem, not mine! And there I was being led to believe that in Malta, English was an official language.
GL Calleja
Jul 22nd 2012, 16:21
I understand exactly what you said and I think you understand exactly what I am saying. if you think my English need polishing, may I suggest you get a lesson or two in patriotism Mr Xuereb. Grow up and get a life while you are at it.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 22nd 2012, 14:54
@John Azzopardi (22nd July 14:21). Mr. Azzopardi, I only said that I am sceptical about Libya's democracy. About the rest we seem to be in agreement (having bothered to re-read your comment of 13:30). Perhaps you could read mine, of 13:37?! It's never wise, and almost certainly naive, to shoot from the hip without aiming. Hence the naive knee-jerk jump down my through when it wasn't warranted. Pity, that! You only saw the word naive as applied to you - I meant well - and your mind went blank. As it would - and the rest was a red blur. As I said, pity, that!
But thanks for the insight (every cloud has a silver lining, and all that). The insight being that a political Party, supposedly united, squabble among themselves. Thank you Azzopardi. Only in Malta! But please don't take it out on me. Not my fault! Honest! I wasn't there.
John Azzopoardi
Jul 22nd 2012, 17:27
well, yes, the word naive did it. And yes, if you ever see my writing, and I have commented on Libyan democracy, it will never be similar to EU democracies or western democracies, but the fact remains that people who are leaving from Libya to cross to europe illegally should be sent back to Libya. If they want to apply to emigrate to the EU, Russia, US , Canada or Australia/NY, they should do so legally,and NOT ILLEGALLY CROSS OVER TO THOSE COUNTRIES.
francis x caruana
Jul 22nd 2012, 14:43
where are the ngos now and those from eu and all the others whos, aim is just to defend these illegal immigrants who think they own and have more rights in this counrty then us the tax payers who we saved there lives and who we are paying for all of them.
Ms.D. Galea
Jul 22nd 2012, 14:31
What is the sense of shoving several hundreds in these detention centres when there arent enough TRAINED staff to have effective control of said centres? In such situations , tragedies are bound to happen over and over again.
John Zammit Ph.D.
Jul 22nd 2012, 14:22
If elected in Parliament Alleanza Liberali - www.malta-liberals.org - will send back all the illegal immigrants to Libya as now Libya is democratic (according to the US and other European Governments) Malta and the Maltese soldiers cannot continue to waste our time and finances on these people, Although we have nothing against them and are no racists. Malta is too small and if the other European Union member states are not going to take their share, we have to send them back to Libya.
Christian Sciberras
Jul 22nd 2012, 15:00
A professor such as yourself should know that (most) illegal immigrants are not citizens of Libya....why should Libya accept them?
Anthony Falzon
Jul 22nd 2012, 15:10
LIBYA SHOULD ACCEPT THEM BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE THEIR SEA JOURNEY WAS ORGANISED AND ORIGINATED FROM.
K. Vella II
Jul 22nd 2012, 15:12
@Christian Sciberras
You have a point, but by the same token, why should Malta accept them?
stephen koludrovic
Jul 22nd 2012, 15:13
@ Christian,
We can always play shove the penny with the Libyans. They shove them to us, we shove them back.
GL Calleja
Jul 22nd 2012, 16:13
In reality Dr Zammit. Why would Libya take back the illegal immigrants when they managed to get rid of them in the first place. This is a very well planned exodus and it is fulfilling the threat of Libyan leader Gaddafi. The Muslims are taking over all of Europe and we are part of that Europe he mentioned. Facts do not lie.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 22nd 2012, 14:10
@John Azzopardi (22nd July 12:34). Mr. Azzopardi, please don't be naive. Libya (and the rest) will never be a democracy. Get over it and incorporate it in your line of thought. It makes for healthier, clearer thinking. Malta, it seems, is like the fair-weather captain of a ship. Meta tasal il-burraxka, ma jafx fejn ser jagħti rasu.
@carlos ellul (22nd July 11:27). Mr. Ellul, members of AD are front-line politicos in waiting.
Greenery, dubious friendships for show but it suits their agenda, and ambition of course. One particular individual, often spouting on these very pages, springs to mind. Confusion rules, OK! Do I sense some recanting further down below? Every little helps I guess(like the supermarket jingle and just about as effective in these times of recession).
@Alfred Bugeja (22nd July 12:13). Mr. Bugeja, four or forty(guardian/soldiers), what does it matter? Stop undermining your country's credibility.
John Azzopoardi
Jul 22nd 2012, 14:21
Mr, Xuereb, if anyone is naive, it's you. Get real and see the big picture. How could a small island of just 400,000 people have another society developing on it's little island. Are you for real. You need to get your facts straight. I am not here to pay my hard earned taxes to support illegal migrants. And this is the feeling of the maltese and gozitans. If you don't like it, you can always leave and go somewhere else as well.
Joe Xuereb
Jul 22nd 2012, 13:37
AS I SEE IT, THESE BEAUTIFUL FOREIGNERS WITH THEIR BEAUTIFUL SKINS (SO MUCH SO THAT WE SPEND HOURS ON A BEACH TRYING TO BE LIKE THEM), THEY LEAVE THEIR COUNTRIES FOR WHATEVER REASON BECAUSE THEY WANT A BETTER LIFE. BE IT SAFETY FROM TYRANNY, ECONOMIC MIGRATION, A COOLER CLIMATE, LOVE WITH THE CREATURE OF ONE'S DREAMS, LEGITIMATE OR OTHERWISE, IT MATTERS NOT. THEY ARE HUMANS. THEY WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR LOT. I DID AND WE ALL DO. THE MALTESE WHO DECIDED TO STAY IN MALTA DID SO BECAUSE THEY DECIDED IT WAS BEST FOR THEM TO STAY IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY. FAIR ENOUGH?! YES, FAIR ENOUGH. Irrabjat?! You bet I am!
I doubt that the migrants' intention was to come and settle down in Malta but for whatever reason, it is in Malta that they ended up. Not ideal! Given Malta's size, given the steady influx of migrants coming in during the past 10 years, at present, and forever into the future, a solution of sorts had to be found and
someone came up with the idea of a Detention Centre, otherwise known as a Concentration Camp.
The only difference is that in concentration camps, detainees are made to work for a crust of bread but here they are looked after with sporadic bouts of venting their frustration by wrecking up the place and and other inhuman obscenities, even giving their guardians the slip. Talk about desperate determination, especially with a knife in one's clothing while on the run. Not nice! And sometimes with tragic consequences for all involved not least the guardians. So, not an ideal situation. What to do? Elsewhere in toady's newspaper the Prime Minister went on about Malta having to look forward - 'we have to look ahead' he said. I think it would be more useful for the PN to look back at an Administration that has been in power OF SORTS, an incumbency that has grown tired, and ineffectual, imploding on itself with infighting, with back-stabbings and full-frontal too,etc. THAT would be a more useful and honest exercise in looking ahead.
And now for the piece de resistance. I just love a bit of drama as long as it is founded on common sense. The Detention Centres obviously and how they are run obviously leave a lot to be desired for all around - for the detainees, the guardians, and the Maltese people (keeping in mind that recently, quite a high percentage of Maltese declared themselves not bothered with migrants because the detention centres are more than a couple of miles from where they live. So, in tiny Malta we get complacent and choose to see the problem as localised? In tiny Malta? So, what is to be done? The answer is simplicity itself. Do away with the Detention Centre and give the detainees the 'historic' keys to the city, the freedom to roam at will. Those who can will be offered jobs - there will always be those who will undermine any system and this is typical in times of strife when some will milk the situation for profit (it happened during the last war and it happens every time). I think this could be a solution of sorts. The soldiers will be deployed elsewhere to earn they daily bread. And they will sleep easy at night knowing that the problem has been spread more thinly all over the island. Now THAT is what I call burden-sharing. The localised type.
And the capitals at the beginning?! Yes, of course I am angry albeit living thousands of mile away (almost). And so should YOU be especially if you have offspring.
Ħsieb ta' wara. Hu sew li nħarsu 'l quddiem imma b'mera quddiem wiċċna biex naraw dak li għaddejna minnu tul iż-żmien u dak li qiegħed isir fil-bitħa tagħna dawn l-aħħar sigħat.
GL Calleja
Jul 22nd 2012, 14:36
Mr Joe Xuereb I have no clue where you are or who you are, but you are part of the problem. You are stirring anguish and animosity in the Maltese people. Where do you get off comparing a detention centre with a concentration camp. If you want to make real points why not volunteer to go and look after these people in, as you call them concentration camps? I am sure that with your bleeding heart you can control these people and they might even get to like you. What a bunch of crocodile tears Mr Xuereb. And you and the NGOs are very wrong, because most Maltese citizens are not to happy with the illegal immigration problem on this island. This detention officer told it the way it is and you should be paying attention to what he is saying. It seems that you have an answer for everybody, please don't include me in your explanations and excuses.
John Azzopoardi
Jul 22nd 2012, 13:30
We are only now hearing what we the general population have been hearing from our friends and family members and the whole maltese and gozitan population already know what is going on in our detention centers and what our detention workers and soldeirs have to put up with day in and day out. Anbd the media has only been talking of the rights of the illegal migrants and what the NGOs want to get across. But we the maltese already know the whole story. Now that the election is coming, and that everything is coming out, everyone is trying to come clean. What a shame that is happening to our little island. The huge influx of illegal migrants who we the maltese and gozitan taxpayers have to support at the expense of our maltese and gozitan citizens.
daniel muscat
Jul 22nd 2012, 13:13
he's right, we need more people, full secrecy of what happens in there and enough tools to keep order. one day, not far away they will run over few semi armed soldiers and make a caos. it happened not long ago they escaped went until the airport and noone took harsh measures against them. they could have jumped in the airport and made it worse
Robert Callus
Jul 22nd 2012, 13:08
“You get bad apples on both sides of the fence. We get called ‘white dogs’ by some migrants. Isn’t that racist?”
I've talked to both officers and immigrants on the detention issue and both say the same thing - a few bad apples. But, both also add, there is another even more serious problem - GOVERNMENT POLICY. Practically it is, longest detention possible with the minimum amount of resources.
Government should take it's head out of the sand and stop saying everything is fine with the policy we had the past 10 years. How many people, immigrants or officers, have to die before it wakes up?
K. Vella II
Jul 22nd 2012, 15:13
But what do you propose? Abolish the detention policy. And then what?
John Azzopoardi
Jul 22nd 2012, 12:34
This is very true. How could 6soldiersdeal with 250 people. Gonzi is putting our soldiers in jeopardy. REpatriate and repatriate immediatly. WE the vast majority of the maltese do not want these illegal migrants who are not refugees. They came from Libya which is considered to be a democarcy now.
Don Hughes
Jul 22nd 2012, 12:33
I really hope that you do not let the once wonderful island of Malta follow in the footsteps of the UK and let the totally useless EU parliament (unelected by the way) destroy your country.
Your soldiers should AT LEAST have the means to protect themselves, they should AT LEAST have batons and tazers.What in hell would the soldiers do if there was a riot......VIVA MALTA.
James Dewar
Jul 22nd 2012, 13:00
Don, There are already clear signs that Malta is losing its own identity and heritage having to "conform" to EU edicts. Sad but true. This particular issue is a disgrace for all parties, detainees included.
Charles Alamango
Jul 22nd 2012, 12:17
The detention officers and all the staff are in clear and present danger. This is not fair to the staff and their families who I'm sure are in duress and tense as to what can happen in a second. The death of migrants, unrest and rebellion are witness to this sorry situation. The least authorities can do is to supply the officers with basic non lethal weapons like tasers, pepper spray etc etc. Had these been available, maybe the tragedy that happened recently could have been avoided.
Alfred Bugeja
Jul 22nd 2012, 12:13
This report does not tally up with the report published on Wednesday in this same newspaper. Has the journalist checked whether these soldiers' claims -such as having four staff for one shift - are reliable or not?
James Dewar
Jul 22nd 2012, 13:01
If they are not I am sure that those in the higher echelons will soon be setting the record straight! Stand by for verification!
S.M. Cuschieri
Jul 22nd 2012, 14:04
I think they are reliable Alfred. Believe me, they would not have risked all and allowed themselves to be interviewed by the Times. They really do work in appalling conditions both mentally and aesthetically.
FRANK MERCIECA
Jul 22nd 2012, 12:08
Detention centres are obscene!!! These human beings should be vetted as quickly as possible, and then integrate with the rest of the community. Teaching them English and perhaps a skill, would be more humane and beneficial to Malta than this 19th. century detention system.
john vernon
Jul 22nd 2012, 14:01
Frank how are you supposed to vet some one who has no back ground, lies constantly because he comes from a safe country, and will be sent home if found out.
Yes they want a new good life, dont we all but they have to realise we have a good life because our father and their fathers and in some cases ourselves have fought for it, we didnt run away and try to demand it from a foreign country, half of these people are running from nothing just jumping on the EU do gooder band wagon,if you dont believe me take a trip to sparkhill in birmingham UK and look and engage in what you are letting yourselves in for if you dont stop the rot in your government NOW change policy and tell the EU enough is enough we will take no more, we will treat the injured and then return them to their point of origin if that was a boat in good condition then so be it,along with a working compass and a map of mainland europe see how the rest of europe like it when the baots start turning up on their coasts.
Joanne Micallef
Jul 22nd 2012, 12:03
Finally we can hear 'the other side of the story' I sincerely hope that no one gets to this soldier's real identity as he might suffer the consequences of telling the truth.
I fully agree with detention, but I also think that it’s about time the soldiers have tools like taser guns which help them feel safer and which will make catching someone hostile easier and in line with the regulations.
stephen koludrovic
Jul 22nd 2012, 11:39
Dissolve all the parasite NGO's.they are just a useless waste of time.
Increase the number of guards, with a backup force on standby duties.
All immigrants that are not eligible for any sort of protection to be forthwith deported to their countries of origin.
carlos ellul
Jul 22nd 2012, 11:27
Are We going to see protest from AD and their ilk against these foreigners who are calling our soldiers white trash?
James Dewar
Jul 22nd 2012, 13:03
No, of course not! It will be deemed (completely wrongly) to "go with the territory" and merely a minor occupational issue!
Robert Callus
Jul 22nd 2012, 13:17
Speaking for AD - our attendance protest was mainly against detention policy. It was not against the soldiers, not even the accused since they're innocent until guilty. Truth is, present system - maximum detention with minimum resources - is getting people killed. But PNPL think everything is fine save for the occasional "accident"
john vernon
Jul 22nd 2012, 14:02
Never racism only works one way
carlos ellul
Jul 22nd 2012, 15:28
There had been multiple protests against racism and it was always meant to defend immigrants. Lets see if AD and the other NGOs will organise protests against this sort of racism too. Soldiers are human beings too and yet none of these so called organisations have ever organized anything even when soldiers werw hurt in detention centera.
Btw will AD go against the dime a dozen ngos who give a twarted version of maltas situation? I much doubt it.
Reinhard Azzopardi
Jul 23rd 2012, 09:04
No we're not. And that's because AD and all the other pot-smoking, dreadlocked hippies, are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites.
Barney Camilleri
Jul 22nd 2012, 11:14
I do not believe this report, finally in my opinion the truth is coming out!
Yesday, Saturday the 21st, July 2012, the heading read: ''no luxury to concentrate on internal matter - P.M.''
This is really the situation in Malta today of a two society those upstairs and those downstairs.
We have a prime Minister with no luxury; the leader of the opposition on holiday; the president in Peru.
As for us my friend advice is sotto voce: Hush a bye, don't you cry, go to sleep . . !
Louise Vella
Jul 22nd 2012, 11:06
All these are good reasons for stopping illegal immigrants from coming to Malta. The Maltese never asked for these problems and we have no obligation whatsoever to carry other countries’ burdens. EU countries like Britain refuse burden sharing. We should refuse the burden.
A Spiteri
Jul 22nd 2012, 10:58
i said this before, even when all fingers where directed at the soldiers....
being at the frontline of this problem, both immigrants and soldiers are the victims of the same problem. victims of a political failure by our political class. yes, i'm not going to blame the PM and government alone on this, but a whole political class, including Joseph Muscat and his people. Since the first boat landed in Malta no body from our illustrious politicians came up with radical solutions of how to solve the problem. the best they came up with was burden sharing!
Miguel Magalhães
Jul 22nd 2012, 10:55
3rd world malta
brian compton
Jul 22nd 2012, 10:53
why are AFM looking after them ....... Employ more guards i am sure there are enough unemployed on the island too help ...........
m. borg (slm)
Jul 22nd 2012, 12:13
Otherwise by employing the unemployed they have to scrape from their ministerial budgets with unsavoury results to the ministers.
brian compton
Jul 22nd 2012, 13:20
dont the EU help us out by giving money for these souls ...........
S.M. Cuschieri
Jul 22nd 2012, 14:06
Not many people opt to working with them Brian. Would you???
James Dewar
Jul 22nd 2012, 10:51
If these accounts of the situation are accurate (and there would appear to be no reason to doubt them) then it is a wonder that we have not seen many more tragic incidents. The fact that we have not says much for the professionalism of those responsible for staffing the detention centres and also for the detainees who, in the main, are probably reasonably decent individuals trying to do the best for themselves and their families but based on flawed and inaccurate information given in their homeland. What is clear is that the present situation is becoming intolerable and drastic and urgent remedial action is required. There are solutions and it is up to those in power to have the guts and determination to stand their ground and resolve the issue once and for all.
Jay Oatmon
Jul 22nd 2012, 10:43
The seems to be the usual bumbling through approach to problems in Malta.
A proper set of procedures should be made with recommendations on all aspects of the situation for all involved, covering training, equipment, what if scenarios, medical emergencies, escapes etc. These procedures then need to be discussed and verified as effective and practical before being introduced and coming into effect. copies of the procedures should be available to all the security staff not just the leaders.
Its not rocket science it is pre-planning and following proper workable guidelines and procedures.
James Dewar
Jul 22nd 2012, 10:55
Jay, Seems an extremely logical view and one with which I and no doubt many others would agree with. One wonders why it has not already been actioned? The use of the word "bumbling" would appear to be particularly appropriate.
mark johnson
Jul 22nd 2012, 12:40
Immigrants don't have a vote.
stephen koludrovic
Jul 22nd 2012, 15:20
@ Mark Jonnson,
Why should they have a vote? They should have voted for a better life in their own country.
Reinhard Azzopardi
Jul 23rd 2012, 09:02
@Stephen Koludrovic
I'm sure that they would if they had the chance but they don't have the chance. I'm not sticking up for them, and to be quite honest, I am as sick of them as everyone is but we must understand that Africa is not Europe and voting is non-existant. Where it does exist, it's rigged.
Kenneth Galea
Jul 22nd 2012, 10:36
A whole mess which we were not prepared for. It has been long known that the root of the problem is coming from the UNHCR, the NGOs. The UNHCR itself is encouraing illegal immigrants to do the crossing mainly from Libya, they give them the impression that once on EU soil they are granted refugee status together with the perks which go with the 'package'. On the other hand the NGOs must be seen that they are helping the illegal immigrants, push their unrealistic proposals over to Gonzi and criticise the detention service employees. Actually the NGOs keep moaning about the conditions at Safi because they personally are effected by the heat (now that it is Summer) and they want to be comfortable themselves. Did Gonzi tell the EU that Malta is now an unsafe place for illegal immigrants??? How on earth can we continue to cram more illegals at Safi detention centre if we do not have the resources??? It seems to me that Malta is held hostage by the EU and the UNHCR. If Mintoff was in charge he will tell the EU and the UNHCR where to go and Malta will be cleansed of all the illegal immigrants. They will be liberated and we will be relieved once and for all. KMB is as good as Mintoff to tackle these matters. JM will have no choice but to bow in to pressure from the EU and the UNHCR. So I am not holding out too much hope with the PL in Government about the issue. If in Government the PL should seek KMB's advice on how to tackle foreign intervention.
Joseph Ellul
Jul 22nd 2012, 10:29
People on both sides of the fence are suffereing. Open the gates and let these migrants go where they are supposed to go: mainland europe. According to human law, give these travellers some money and a one way ticket to France, Italy, Spain or any other country that they nominate. Let them go free, free from the hot degraded dwellings, free from overcrowding.
Maltese soldiers are not concentration camp guards. It is subhuman and degrading. The Maltese PM should realise that this situation in Hal Far is no more different from the German detention camps in WW2.
Stop it.
Don Hughes
Jul 22nd 2012, 12:41
You are absolutely right Joseph, in everything you have just said
J Abela
Jul 23rd 2012, 06:12
Prisoners had satellite equipment in those days too?
Melissa Bagley
Jul 22nd 2012, 10:27
This is obscene:
“Last week there were four AFM soldiers for all of Ħal Far and Safi detention centres. We never have more than five soldiers on duty at Safi during a single shift, for 800 detainees.”
What is going on here? Is it possible there is no money to ensure proper work conditions, staffing and the necessary equipment? We are talking about people's lives and well-being here.
Oh wait, there is always money available, such as for a new parliament which could have waited a bit longer......
Brian Bonnici
Jul 22nd 2012, 10:11
Telqa kbira go dan il-pajjiz.
Is-suldati b'dan ir-riskju kuljum jaffaccjaw dawn in-nies li jigu Malta minghajr ma jafu xejn fuq il-perikli ta igene u mard fost ohrajn.
Madanakollu suldat m ghandux dritt ifittex il-kenn ta unjoni tax-xoghol ghad drittijiet tieghu.
Dawn kollha taht l amministrazzjoni tal-ufficju tal-prim ministru.
Ghatu kaz please..jew inkella ibghat xi nofs tuzzana minn dawk li jpoggu fuq l-iskrivanija gol ufficju tal-prim ministru taht l-arja kundizzjonata u jdabbru rashom lejn id-dar f NOFSINHAR!!!!
TAL-MISTHIJA!
Austin grech
Jul 22nd 2012, 09:55
only one solution. send them back as soon as they land on maltese soil.
david debattista
Jul 22nd 2012, 10:31
It is too much for such a small country , This is an international problem and should be shared in a realistic and responsible manner ! We have enough problems of our own as it is !
J Degabriele
Jul 22nd 2012, 09:45
So now we can say that Malta is no longer safe, just like Lampedusa!
Joe Borg (Senior)
Jul 22nd 2012, 09:43
Yes now with the actions being taken for the 2 soldiers in question, we are simply motivating our soldiers NOT to do their job properly and first think of themselves and their family! This is the situation we many want!!
john chircop
Jul 22nd 2012, 09:30
What a disgrace to all involved!Our soldiers have to go through this everyday and no one cares!The present people in power,be who they are are a disgrace this situation should be fixed NOW!We are talking about national security and the security of all who work in that hell hole.We have a stupid bus service which cost the earth but we cant spend money on tazers to arm our soldiers,who are there to protect us.what a joke.
S.M. Cuschieri
Jul 22nd 2012, 14:08
Well said......!!!!
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