100 migrants feared drowned off Lampedusa

John Briffa

Sep 10th 2012, 01:51

@Joe Xuereb the problem with the flow of illegal immigrants to the Mediterreanian shores as Malta will become chaotic sooner than later as dead weight . This must be a European Union priority to stop the flow, the EU must look after it's borders and the Mediterranian sea has it's sea borders with North Africa. The EU should provide and protect these sea borders by deploying continuos patrol with frigates and aircrafts to nab the human trafficing culprits to our shores, confiscate their vessels and bring them to the EU courts.

John Azzopoardi

Sep 8th 2012, 17:56

This problem should be addressed by the UN once and for all . by now someone should have formed an office or more in Libya where people can apply for asylum so that these people don't have to cross the seas which are dangerous. Those who are putting themselves and their families - wives and children at risk should think twice before they put their families at riks. These people are not real refugees thier situation is not that bad.

Joe Xuereb

Sep 8th 2012, 12:06

@ John Briffa (Today, 01:12). Mr. Briffa, talking of burden-sharing is easy. If legitimate asylum seekers were but a handful, Malta could honour its signed agreements with no problem. But of course we are talking of millions over the coming years, potentially speaking. With or without burden-sharing, how many can Europe take without floundering under its own weight, but the weight of the dead-weights, illegal immigrants? Louise Vella would agree with this. It is interesting to note that suddenly, Malta is out of the recession. Maybe this is why Malta can now go it alone.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Raft_of_the_Medusa

@ Haroon ali (Today, 10:35). Haroon Ali, the 'heart' has nothing to do with it. It is time to get real, to think with the head not empty sentiments. I mean, your two comments seem to be coming from two different people, with one more than slightly contradicting the other. Just food for though, that is allt!
@ Anthony Scicluna (Today, 09:01). Mr. Scicluna, as one who understands rights and responsibilities (read 'atheist), I have no trouble understanding that taking unnecessary risk one often pays the highest price. Some of these people, I imagine, had legitimate reasons to seek asylum elsewhere (but why Europe?), but within reason needless to say. How many millions can Europe take? all filtered through Malta I should add. Can you image the effect on the people's morale of this never-ending filtering on this tiny spit of land? They others were motivated by greed and mostly, by ignorance. They paid the price.
@ Charles W. Sammut (Today, 08:48) and Kenneth Galea (Today, 10:36). Thank you. Well said Sammut! But conscience?! What conscience?! A conscience motivated by ignorance, the power of denial, and the absolute desire to save one's soul in the hereafter are all out stubborn, self-serving ignorance and nothing to do with conscience. Ignorance and conscience, like gays, can never marry. And ignorance is no excuse in a Court of law. And desperate ignorance allowing one's traffickers to cram more than 150 odd people onto a rickety boat?! When they could have travelled on foot from Libya in both directions, East AND West where they should be made seamlessly welcome (I knew that my geography and social studies lessons would come in useful one day, plus the power that is observation without vacuous passions). Just because the sea looked calm enough?!
@ kelly scicluna (Today, 09:46). Ms. Scicluna, stop unnecessary feelings asking daft questions. My guess is that they wanted to reach Europe and their families/friends. And strike it rich(???). Anybody wanting riches would be foolish to want to come to Malta. That said, if we keep sending the wrong messages - wrong for us but 'good' for them - these people will continue coming. And this puts at risk those who go out to help them. Why do you think they wear surgical gloves and face-masks?

John Briffa

Sep 8th 2012, 01:12

With all due respect to the poor immigrants and EU citizens, EU should declare it is illegal to cross from North Africa into Europe without the legal papers or else face deportation.It is a never ending problem and Europe can't handle this ongoing illegal immigrants. The late Gaddaffi received big sums of money from Italy and the EU to guard his shores from letting illegals cross the Meditereanian.Now he's gone and so the cash.Seems these people from Africa reach the shores of the Mediteraenian like Malta first and get stuck there for years till some country takes a dozen of them every 3 years. Or if the EU okays the crossing all countries must accept a portion equal to the their population and income per capita not likeI've read when this issue came up some countries prefer to take a few or one family. I think that fair rather than most countries in Europe like to sit on the fence and watch.EU should tcakle it not haggle around it. Malta should voice at the EU about the burden it's being held with.

Valerie Calleja

Sep 7th 2012, 22:15

As usual, I am in complete agreement with Louise Vella.My thoughts entirely.

Anthony Scicluna

Sep 7th 2012, 11:10

@Louise Vella
Your compassion is heart wrenching. Did you notice that 100 people appear to have lost their lives? What good does your politically charged tirade serve? Do you think slave traders care about "sending a message"? Don't you realise that there is a rule "the greater the risk, the bigger the profit"? If people tackle the problem the way you suggest, it seems to me that the message being said will be"Oy, it's really risky out here, up your prices"!

Sending the message to the people crossing over makes absolutely no sense especially when these people are not exposed to any media whatsoever. Does this thought ever cross your blinkered mind?

Perhaps a strategy aimed at catching the slave traders wouldn't go amiss!

Kenneth Galea

Sep 7th 2012, 10:36

This whole illegal immigration saga has turned into a huge fiasco thanks to the EU and the UNHCR plus the various NGO's. The UNHCR is sending the wrong signals to the would be illegal immigrants, leading them to believe that once they are on EU soil they are granted refugee status. The North African countries are not the least bothered unless the EU pumps billions of pounds into Libya and Tunisia. Also yesterday we read about many more illegal immigrants drowning off the Turkish coast. This is the fault of the EU and the UNHCR because that is what they want, illegal immigrants coming from Africa en masse, do the illegal crossing mainly from Libya. Europe is going through a severe downturn and recession and cannot keep these economic illegal migrants.

kelly scicluna

Sep 7th 2012, 09:46

i do hope they are all ok ...... but forgive me for asking is malta were they were heading and were the others taken to malta ? um how many is that this month ....!!!

Austin grech

Sep 7th 2012, 09:39

why is it only european help comes to aid. Why not north african ships help as well!. after all they are africans not european nationals.

Louise Vella

Sep 7th 2012, 09:37

If UNHCR, the do-gooder NGOs and Dr Gonzi want to avoid the loss of lives at sea, they should send a message to all those sub-Saharans waiting on the Libyan coast that they should not try to cross over to Europe by sea. It's risky and not worth it.

Mauro debattista

Sep 7th 2012, 09:24

I'm really sorry for these victims but that is what the EU and the UN wants. We never heard a propose for a common solution for the illegal immigration problem. Shame on them. Let theses poor souls risk their lives.

Anthony Scicluna

Sep 7th 2012, 09:01

I hope they survived. How terrifying it must be for these people.

Charles W. Sammut

Sep 7th 2012, 08:48

The lives of these people are on the conscience of those who misguidedly welcome them and accept them in Europe. Only yesterday another boat sank off the Turkish coast with great loss of life.These are nothing but economic migrants that Europe with its present economic woes can ill afford. To say nothing of the social problems that people from a totally alien culture, religion and race, create in the community. This is a double betrayal. Betraying the illegals by attracting them to a miserable life in Europe and betraying native Europeans by imposing these people on them.


http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-202_162-57507186/boat-carrying-illegal-immigrants-to-turkey-sinks-just-160-feet-from-coast-scores-dead/

Mr Tony Gatt

Sep 7th 2012, 08:25

It's long past time the Libyan authorities acted- what's the point of all the help they have received to patrol their borders, if they don't?