AD hits out at ‘hypocritical’ prime minister

In the wake of the recent Lampedusa tragedy where hundreds of migrants died at sea, Alternattiva Demokratika chairperson Arnold Cassola, said "The death of so many people in one go again highlights the inhumanity of pushback policies and of those who propose them."  

"Expressing solidarity after death is no substitute for showing solidarity during life and we condemn the hypocrisy of those who today show solidarity but yesterday were the foremost proponents of pushback policies," Cassola said in clear reference to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.

In July, Muscat attempted to push back 45 migrants to Libya without allowing them to make a claim for asylum, however the European Court of Human Rights thwarted his attempt.

Later, Muscat defended his actions by claiming that he was only stamping his feet to attract attention to the migration phenomenon. Following the tragedy in Lampedusa, Muscat renewed his calls for further EU solidarity, saying "All we have seen so far from the EU are only words."

Italian emergency services recovered 111 bodies so far and rescued 155 survivors from a boat, which caught fire and capsized with an estimated 450 to 500 people on board.

"European political leaders should put their actions where their mouth is, forget national egoisms and ensure that they adopt the concept of solidarity and responsibility sharing in practice, whilst revising the Dublin convention accordingly, to allow refugee status seekers to move within the EU and thus relieve the disproportionate burden carried by smaller member states," Cassola said.

AD spokesperson for social policy, REobert Callus added: "The simple fact the immigrants know beforehand the huge risk of perishing in the Mediterranean is a clear indication that the majority are not simply looking for job opportunities but actually fleeing persecution."

He also noted that the fact that most immigrants hail from Somalia and Eritrea is further proof of this fact.

"It is for the same reason that policies such as long-term detention do not act as deterrents but are nothing more than an inhumane practice and a burden on the taxpayer that only serves to make politicians look tough."