Government & Politics
Spain takes in Montfalco illegal immigrants
By MaltaMedia News
May 29, 2007 - 6:50:31 PM

26 illegal immigrants aboard Spanish vessel Montfalco were taken to Taragona, Spain, said the Armed Forces of Malta on Tuesday evening. The AFM added that the tuna-pen towing tug-boat rescued the illegal immigrants in the in the Libyan Search and Rescue Region on Friday.

Earlier on during the day, the Spanish government said that although it will accept the illegal immigrants, it wants rules clarified on who should take illegal immigrants rescued at sea.

"It wasn't clear whose responsibility they were," a spokesman for Spain's Foreign Ministry told Reuters Africa, "But we do have a clear idea that you can't let people die at sea."

"It's important to clear the rules up," the Spanish spokesman said after confirming Spain would receive the 26 aboard the tugboat Montfalco, who were picked up while their wooden vessel foundered in heavy seas.

On Tuesday morning, following active efforts between the AFM Headquarters and the Spanish Embassy in Malta, the Spanish vessel was provided with humanitarian supplies, some 22 nautical miles south of Malta. The tug-boat’s captain had the previous evening expressed the difficult situation onboard for both crew and migrants, as adequate essential supplies were lacking.   An overflying AFM Air Wing Islander aircraft also relayed the Montfalco’s request for food, water and blankets on Monday evening.

The AFM said that all standard rescue and recovery co-ordination efforts by the AFM’s Rescue Co-ordination Centre at Luqa Barracks were followed in accordance with standard international practice.

On Monday evening, Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Tonio Borg said that since the illegal immigrants were rescued in Libyan waters, 17 miles off Malta's allocated rescue area; they fall under the responsibility of Libyan authorities.

Earlier during the day, as Malta, Libya and Spain continue to wrangle over the fate of 26 illegal immigrants aboard the Mont Falco, Laura Boldrini, a Rome-based spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said governments of Mediterranean countries are turning the sea between them into a "wild west in which human life has lost its value and people in danger are left to fend for themselves," according to Guardian Unlimited.

According to Reuters Africa, the illegal immigrants are believed to be from Ivory Coast and likely to request political asylum.

Ms Boldrini also made reference to a group of 57 illegal immigrants who disappeared without a trace in Maltese waters eight days ago. It is believed that the group drowned.

Read more about this issue on MaltaMedia's special feature Lanċa Ġejja u Oħra Sejra: Malta and its migrations.