AD: government shouldn't enter into Libya deals on refoulement of migrants

Prof Arnold Cassola, AD spokesperson on EU and International Affairs, stated: "The Maltese government should never hand over to Libya, a country that has not signed the Geneva convention on human rights, irregular migrants like Somalis who, according to international rule of law, have the right to apply for  protection as refugees.  It would seem that the Maltese government has taken a leaf out of the Berlusconi government book and is involved in shady dealings with the Libyan authorities with regards to the return of migrants coming from endangered places."

According to eyewitness reports from two Somali nationals rescued by the AFM on 17 July, some 55 asylum seekers were led to believe there was not enough space for everyone on the Maltese boat and 27 migrants were told to jump onto a Libyan vessel that took them back to Libya. “They spoke Italian, and we believed they were going to Italy,” one said, expressing shock at the news that the rest of their friends were taken back to Libya.

"It is shameful that both the Maltese government led by Dr Gonzi and the Maltese opposition party led by Joseph Muscat are agreeing on Berlusconi's dubious way of handling the issue and, indeed, imitating it," Cassola said. "This is a really an issue where the EU should wake up from its slumber and adopt a common European policy on migration rather than leave the issue in the hands of individual countries led by Prime Ministers, like Silvio Berlusconi, who are more intent on covering up for Ministers and MPs allegedly dealing with mafiosi and camorristi than protecting basic human rights."

Michael Briguglio, AD Chairperson, said: "AD endorses the concerns of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and NGOs who are struggling for the protection of basic human rights of migrants. Once again, the Nationalist and Labour Parties, through their silence, are confirming that when it comes to the immigration issue, cheap populism comes before basic human rights".