Local News
Almost 300 irregular immigrations in one day
By MaltaMedia News
Jun 28, 2006, 17:59

Another boatload of 30 irregular immigrants is expected to enter Malta on Wednesday. The boat was intercepted in Maltese waters by the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM). These are expected to enter aboard a patrol boat.

Thus, following the group of 266 irregular immigrants were brought on Maltese shore, almost 300 irregular immigrants arrived in Malta in one day.

The large group rescued consisted of 263 men and three women who were taken to the AFM's maritime base at Haywharf. The boat had already been spotted west of Malta on Tuesday afternoon.

This boatload is the largest arriving in Malta in the past months stretching further the Maltese resources to cater for the influx of irregular immigrants. Last week, seven boats disembarked in Malta and another boat came ashore on Monday morning.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a group of around 370 illegal immigrants in detention at the Safi barracks left the centre at around 1000CET in a protest march to Luqa during which violent incidents occurred. These were condemned and solidarity with police and army personnel who were injured was expressed by different parties and organisations.

Meanwhile, eubserver.com reported on Tuesday’s riots by irregular immigrants who escaped on Tuesday with the aim of marching to the Prime Minister's office in Valletta. The immigrants succeeded in pulling down the boundary fences and running out of the detention centre. Those taking part in the protest were carrying banners saying "we want freedom" and "EU release us from our bondage".

On Wednesday’s disembarking of 266 immigrants, eubserver.com further reported that in a statement the Maltese army (AFM) said that the immigrants "refused assistance since they intended to proceed towards Italy, but the boat was encountering mechanical problems." But eventually army personnel persuaded the occupants of the boat to accept their assistance. "At the end 266 were embarked and rescued by the AFM, which consisted of 263 men and 3 women from Morocco and Egypt, all in good health," added the statement.

This group is the biggest one to arrive on the Mediterranean island this year. This also means that more than 600 illegal immigrants have already landed on Malta this year - a large number for an island of just 400,000 inhabitants eubserver.com added.

In other EU member states a similar picture is emerging this summer. Last weekend the Italian Coast Guard also detained nearly 600 illegal immigrants who arrived at or were near the island of Lampedusa. More than 250 immigrants, including minors, landed in the Spanish Canary Islands on Tuesday said the eubserver.com.

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

See also:
Expressed solidarity with police and army personnel injured
by MaltaMedia News - Jun 28, 2006
Illegal immigrants stage street protest as more enter Maltese waters
by Giselle Borg Olivier - Jun 27, 2006

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