Armed Forces deny claims of ill-treatment of refugees in Greece

The Armed Forces of Malta and Frontex have refuted reports that Maltese officials who are currently deployed in Greece denied aid to refugees, including a child, and left them floating in the sea off Greece for nearly two hours.

Aid workers and volunteers have claimed that AFM officers “were notably hostile and aggressive towards the refugees” who were rescued on Monday, 30 May. 

According to eyewitness accounts AFM members and Greek officers prevented aid workers from helping 50 people who landed on the northern shore of the Greek island of Lesbos.

But in comments to MaltaToday, an AFM spokesperson said “there were no requests for any kind of assistance and all migrants were in good health condition therefore volunteers were asked to keep some distance, not to add confusion to the situation, hence ensuring a smooth and safe transfer of all migrants/asylum seekers.”

Moreover, both Frontex and the AFM said that all decisions about when rescue vessels come to shore are taken by the Greek authorities and are communicated through the Hellenic Coast Guard officer aboard. 

“The crew of the Maltese vessel followed the instructions presented by the Greek liaison officer,” Frontex said.

This claim was corroborated by the AFM spokesperson who said that decisions on how the asylum seekers are moved at sea and on land are taken by the Greek authorities and “the Maltese crews followed the instructions presented by the Greek liaison officer.”

Volunteers and members of the Platanos Refugee Solidarity took to social media sites to vent their anger at what they described as shameful treatment of refugees. 

They said that early in the morning on 30 May, an AFM vessel stopped a dinghy carrying around 50 people some 200 metres from the harbour in the fishing village of Skala. 

“For more than 45 minutes they were kept drifting on the water, away from volunteer help and medical assistance, whilst ground Frontex units arrived to the harbour to detain them. Despite the fact that many people were wet and travelling with young children, police deprived them of any form of support, even denying access to the UNHCR officer present,” the volunteers said. 

They added that the AFM members acted aggressively and put the asylum seekers in line and made them walk 300 metres uphill to the coastguard bus, while keeping all the volunteers at bay. 

The volunteers added that a Frontex “cop” pushed a doctor who tried to examine a toddler who was not responsive.

“Tension sparked and the cop was saying ‘the kid is all right, back away, back away’,” the volunteers said. 

However, a Frontex spokesperson told MaltaToday that once the vessels reached the shore in Skala, none of the volunteers identified themselves as a doctor. 

“A person wearing a UNHCR vest remained aside and did not approach the Maltese officers until the transfer of migrants to the awaiting bus was completed. A Maltese officer referred him to the Hellenic Coast Guard for further information 

about the procedures undertaken,” the spokesperson said. 

Frontex said that it has investigated the case and all children on board were in good health and none of them required any medical attention.

Frontex also pointed out that since there were no requests for assistance and “all migrants were in good health,” volunteers were asked to keep some distance, so as not to add confusion and ensure a smooth transfer of asylum seekers. All asylum seekers were taken to Moria camp in Lesbos.

“At no time was physical force used as both migrants and volunteers cooperated with the directions given by the Greek and Maltese officers,” the Frontex spokesperson added. 

Lieutenant Nicholas Galea also denied these claims and said “at no time was physical force required as both migrants and NGOs alike cooperated with the directions given.”

He added that the AFM as well as Frontex officials looked into these allegations however no official report has been filed with Frontex, Greek authorities and Maltese authorities. 

Frontex said that the people rescued on 30 May were transferred from the Maltese vessel to the awaiting coaches “in an organised manner, ensuring migrants’ safety and security considering that the area was unlit and the bus was parked some distance away.”

While noting that this was the first time they witnessed police keeping refugees at sea for so long, the volunteers said “it’s the first time we witness violence against doctors, it’s the first time we see authorities remembering so passionately that these people are ‘illegal’ and therefore they only need police ‘treatment’. Shame.”

Currently 22 AFM members are participating in Joint Operation Poseidon (Sea) 2016.  These are divided into a Maritime and Land component deployed in the Aegean Sea whilst a National Officer is deployed at the International Coordination Centre in Piraeus, Greece. 

As part of the EU border agency’s mission in Greece, the AFM has a Coastal Patrol Boat (CPB), a Thermal Vision Vehicle (TVV) and two supporting vehicles deployed in Greece.

So far this year, over 150,000 asylum seekers have reached Greek shores, with at least 376 people losing their lives in the Aegean Sea. Most of the asylum seekers who landed in Greece are Syrian nationals who are fleeing the civil war, which has ravaged the Middle Eastern country for more than five years. 

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has estimated that 206,400 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2016 up to 5 June. So far this year 2,809 people have died while attempting to reach Europe.