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AFM in rescue operation, 83 migrants brought to shore
A group of 83 migrants, claiming to be of Somali origin, were rescued from on board a 10-meter long rubber dinghy.
11 May 2013, 12:00am
Staff Reporter
Staff Reporter
1 min read
Part of the group rescued by the AFM last night.
Late last night, the Armed Forces of Malta carried out a rescue operation in which 83 migrants were escorted to the Maltese shores, in a challenging operation due to worsening sea conditions.
The group - 82 men and a woman - were intercepted on board a 10-metre long rubber dinghy which began taking in water at some 31 nautical miles (NM) South of Malta. The AFM's Rescue and Coordination Centre (RCC-Malta) at Luqa Barracks, was alerted earlier on Friday about the boat and subsequently, the AFM Air Wing's King Air Maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) was also scrambled into the air and conducted a search for the reported dinghy in the area.
The AFM's King Air successfully located the persons on the rubber dinghy and then directed a Maritime Squadron Patrol Craft to the area in order to render assistance. Worsening sea conditions through the night made the operation quite challenging for AFM assets.
The migrants onboard AFM Patrol boats P21, P22 and Melita 2 landed at the Maritime Squadron's base at circa 1:30am.
The migrants are claiming to be of Somali Origin.
Emmanuel Mallia •
Malta and Libya are collaborating to stop boats carrying illegal oil shipment, and want to find out who is involved. What about illegal immigrants ? No one hears of any arrests of the organizers of these trips. It is as if the authorities welcome illegal immigrants !!
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So here we go again.
Now I will paint a hypothetical picture of this lucrative busniess since this is all surmise and imagination.
First of all how are these people capable of paying thousands of dollars to criminal organisations when in their country, they are supposed to subsist on less than $1 a day according to the UN organisations.
Second. After they contact these same criminal organisations they are transported across the Sahara desrt to Libya or Tunisia or Algeria. When a sufficient number is present, they bribe the local forces responsible for law and order and contraband, load them on ship and sail out half way across the mediterranean. Then they make them board a dinghy or small boat, give them a satellite phone and instruct them to phone for assistance let's say an hour or two after they are let adrift. Subsequently, they phone and later on they are picked by the Maltese or Italian patrols.
Now I ask, WHO IS GAINING FROM ALL THIS IN MALTA. Certainly not the people. Maybe the organisations who cater for these persons, I doubt it but I leave that for the readers to decide.
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The government has changed but nothing has changed. Total number of illegal immigrants under Labour Government so far: 82 (landed on March 29) + 84 (landed on April 19) + 83 = 249. Soon Dr Muscat will be preaching Christian values like Dr Gonzi.
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Mr. Balzan, While I was writing my friend in NJ, USA., we were writing of what is happening in America and with out a doubt we ended on Obama. Then it struck me America have just voted Obama for another 4 years as president, now we the people who can we blame or give credit as the leader of the E.U.? No wonder the U.K. and other EU countries there is a strong movement to get out of this damn E.U. what is it for us the people? we do not even know who is in charge? Why not have a referendum? of course the fat cats and the illegals if they have a vote will be in favor and what about us. Myself one who was in favor believe it was a big mistake.
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The government has changed but nothing has changed. Total number of illegal immigrants so far: 82 (landed on March 29) + 84 (landed on April 19) + 83 (landed today) = 249. Soon Dr Muscat will be preaching Christian values like Dr Gonzi.
