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Gonzi stands by AFM as Fortress Europe accuses: Malta has 'guilty conscience'
The founder of ‘Fortress Europe’ – an international observatory on victims of migration – has challenged the Maltese government to set up an inquiry into the alleged ‘unlawful forced repatriation’ to Libya of 27 Somali migrants on the high seas.
22 July 2010, 12:00am
Karl Stagno-Navarra
Karl Stagno-Navarra
1 min read
In exclusive comments to MaltaToday, Gabriele del Grande stressed that the Maltese government’s refusal to set up an inquiry into the events that unfolded on the high seas last Saturday during a joint Maltese-Libyan rescue operation is “evidence of a guilty conscience and knows that something illegal has been committed.”
Del Grande asked under what criteria did the Maltese army ‘split’ the migrants as to who was to come to Malta and who was to be returned to Libya. He stressed that it is “outrageous” for the AFM to state that the remaining 27 migrants ‘voluntarily’ chose to be returned to Libya.
The founder of ‘Fortress Europe’ said that it is “impossibile” to accept the AFM’s statement “as migrants know very well that returning to Libya means prison, beatings and torture.”
Evidence of this is the Ganfuda prison massacre of Somali migrants at the hands of Libyan police, where six migrants were killed and many others were seriously injured with knives and other dangerous weapons.
Meanwhile, speaking to journalists this morning, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that "on the basis of what the AFM have reported" he was "convinced" that the same AFM "acted in line with their international obbligations."
The Prime Minister said that he doesn't feel the need for an inquiry.
Alfred Galea •
Is there any reason for the different "heart breaking picture" each time one logs on to MT??
Alfred Galea •
Is there any reason for the different "heart breaking picture" each time one logs on to MT??
Peter Cassar •
It seems that for Lawrence Gonzi christian values only apply in matters like divorce but do not apply in respecting the life and dignity of every human being, a value which is not only Christian but universal. Being an accomplice of Berlusconi and Ghaddafi is shameful.
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The photo gives a crystal clear proof that these were dumped by a large ship.
Alfred Galea •
Just another blogger......do not make it sound like some big charitable organisation.
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If these people are not happy with the way the Maltese Government is treating illegal migrants, why don't they take them and take care of them themselves???
