Another group of illegal immigrants reached the Maltese shore on Tuesday night.
The illegal immigrants made it ashore at around 2230CEST in Tal-Magħluq near Marsaxlokk. Out of the group of 27, 26 of the illegal immigrants are men, while one is a woman.
Police investigations are underway.
The total of illegal immigrants to reach Malta since the beginning of the year is now at 1,221.
On Tuesday in a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in Rome, Maltese Prime Minister Dr. Lawrence Gonzi expressed his concern over the possibility that the centre of the Mediterranean becomes the focus of human traffick in the light of strict surveillance in the Canary Islands region. For this reason he outlined the urgency of the situation and stated that surveillance patrols in the Mediterranean are to commence immediately.
Speaking after the meeting he had with the Maltese Prime Minister, Prof. Romano Prodi stated that Italy is committed to join the Mediterranean surveillance patrol and help Malta with regards to the illegal immigration issue.
In turn, also on Tuesday Alternattiva Demokratika (AD) commented on statements made by the United nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the confinement practices in Maltese detention centers for irregular immigrants. While calling for an investigation into existing confinement practices in detention centres, the party stated that detention centres should be monitored by NGO’s and eventually run by them. Until such time, said AD, social workers should be employed to work closely with immigrants reducing unnecessary tension and consequently of any need for disciplinary action.
Dr.Harry Vassallo said “The UNHCR claimed it has seen 11 men in a 3 by 2.5 meter cell, with no toilet facilities, proper ventilation and light. To make it even worse, it seems that detainees put in confinement are not informed the duration of their punishment. If this is the case, this is an unacceptable practice which needs to be looked into thoroughly.”
Read more about this issue on MaltaMedia's special feature:
Lanċa Ġejja u Oħra Sejra: Malta and its migrations.
See also:
Gonzi and Prodi discuss illegal immigration
By MaltaMedia News
Jul 25, 2006, 15:30 CET
© Copyright 2006 - MaltaMedia Online Network
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