Migrant Crisis: 'UN Should Police Libyan Ports'

Key 103 Manchester
Thursday, October 24, 2013

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The Maltese Prime Minister has accused Northern European leaders of "hypocrisy" over the handling of immigration into Europe.

Joseph Muscat says a United Nations force should police Libyan ports to stem the tide of illegal immigrants if richer countries refuse to help frontline states.

Speaking before today's European Council meeting, Mr Muscat promised to be less co-operative on important Euro issues like bailouts if countries like Malta do not get more assistance.

Not far from the Maltese leader's office, a young Somali man shivers on the deck of a patrol boat as it enters the Grand Harbour of Valetta.

He and the others huddle together on the front and rear decks - over 120 of them.

They look scared and still worried, although in real terms they are safe now.

Fourteen hours earlier they were plucked from heavy Mediterranean seas by a United States warship, the USS San Antonio, then transferred to the Maltese armed forces.

They are herded ashore by masked and suited sailors, tagged and guided onto police buses before being driven to their new home - a detention centre where they will likely stay for the next 18 months.

They are not prisoners, but holding centres are prisons in every sense.

High barbed wire walls keep the inmates inside. They sleep in large dormitories and they plan their moves to get an interview with a potential host nation that could offer them asylum.

As the latest inmates arrive there is a buzz of anticipation and the noise level rockets. The young men are sent to find their new accommodation. Many look terrified.

They have travelled thousands of miles from Somalia, risked their lives on unseaworthy boats, spent every penny they have and are now locked up in a huge noisy barracks. Arrival day is not a good day for Malta's new inhabitants.

"We want freedom not this b*******," a young man whispers into my ear.

"We are escaping murder and we are treated like convicts. Nobody is happy about this, but nobody will say anything, they don't want to get sent back to Somalia," he said before disappearing into the throng.

The Maltese guards and the government accept it is not the best place in the world, but say they get little help from the outside world and the problem is not only not new, it is getting worse.

And still the international community does little to stop the stream of migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

This migrating human crisis now crosses Africa and the Middle East. Syrians are the latest nationality to join Nigerians, Somalis, Ethiopians and a host of others trying to get to Europe.

The boats usually come from Libya. A criminal network guides these people to the sea and on to Europe, although the chances of making it are often no better than 50/50.

The chaos of Libya means there is no law enforcement, so Europe's protection is down to Malta, Italy and Spain.

Malta's minuscule military has tens of thousands of miles of sea to patrol. Simply put, it can't manage.

The prime minister wants a UN force to control Libya's ports and is demanding, along with other Mediterranean nations, that richer northern nations like the UK do more, pay more, and take more responsibility.

Joseph Muscat will tell European leaders that countries receiving their aid money must find ways to screen people wanting to migrate.

He says that illegals who do not pass muster for legitimate immigration should be repatriated by Europe working as a united body.

"Europe is trying to tackle a problem with tools of the past. It's like trying to send an e-mail on a fax machine.

"It is a European problem and global problem," he told me in the magnificent surroundings of the PM's official castle built to protect Europe centuries ago.

Accusing Europe of "hypocrisy" over the immigration issue he says European leaders will "talk" and do nothing.

"It is all wrong. I turn down applications on a technicality. But if they get on a boat and come here illegally they stay and make it to Europe. They are making people act like criminals," he said.

"We could have said 'tough luck' when they wanted money for the bailouts. But we did the right thing. We need solidarity now," he added.

The truth is European governments do not like the whole immigration issue one bit.

Politically, it could cost an election, so they dodge it - or at least dodge giving an easy welcome to anyone, even if they are legitimate asylum seekers rather than benefit fraudsters.

Last year alone over 270,000 people claimed asylum in Europe.

So this is an issue that simply can not be ignored - it has to be dealt with and stopping people getting on those deadly boats would be a good start.

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