palashcbiswas,
gostokanan, sodepur, kolkata-700110 phone:033-25659551
From: "marco.pertoni@libero.it" <marco.pertoni@libero.it>
To: Undisclosed-Recipient@yahoo.com
Sent: Monday, 11 May, 2009 21:28:29
Subject: [IHRO] Italy: New boatload of illegal migrants sparks fresh dispute
Italy: New boatload of illegal migrants sparks fresh dispute
La Valletta, 11 May (AKI) - The future of a new boatload of illegal immigrants was in doubt on Monday after Italy and Malta were locked in a dispute over who should accept them. Malta refused to allow the people smuggling boat carrying a reported 69 illegal immigrants to land on its soil.
The tiny Mediterranean state argued that the Italian naval frigate which rescued the boat in Maltese waters 70 nautical miles from Italy's southern island of Lampedusa should accompany the boat there as it was the closest port.
The dispute over the fate of a boatload of illegal immigrants is the second to emerge between Italy and Malta in less than a week.
Italy's hardline stance drew criticism from the Vatican and human rights organisations, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, after Italian patrol vessels returned to Libya last Thursday a boat with an estimated 227 migrants on board.
Italian patrol vessels rescued the migrants after a day of heated debate between Italy and Malta over who was responsible for their future following their distress call late Tuesday.
The UNCHR criticised Italy's decision to return the immigrants on the grounds that possible asylum seekers had been given the right to apply for protection, saying that Libya did not have proper asylum procedures and was not a signatory to a key international convention.
Despite the criticism, the Italian government at the weekend turned back another people smuggling boat and its estimated 50 passengers who were picked up in waters off Lampedusa.
Conservative Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi defended the policy, saying it "conforms with European standards, international laws and conventions concerning human rights that we have not violated."
Italy was entitled to send back last Thursday's boat people because they were not intercepted in Italian waters, according to the government.
There was no information as to how close to Lampedusa Saturday's illegal immigrant boat was when intercepted.
Berlusconi appeared to support his coalition partner, the anti-immmigrant Northern League party when he stated that Italy does not want to be a "multicultural society".
"The left's idea is of a multi-ethnic Italy," Berlusconi told journalists on Sunday. "That's not our idea, ours is to welcome only those who meet the conditions for political asylum."
His remarks provoked an outcry from the opposition and further criticism from the Vatican.
"Multiculturalism is a value that already exists in Italy," said Mariano Crociata, secretary of the influential Italian Bishops Conference.
Poor intercultural relations are the real cause of tensions between Italians and immigrants, he said.
Long a country of emigrants, Italy in recent years has become a target for mass immigration, especially from Africa and Eastern Europe, sparking fears over crime and a loss of national identity.
Tripoli agreed to step up its cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration into the European Union under a friendship accord between Italy and Libya signed in August 2008.
Under the accord, joint maritime patrols with Italy targeting illegal immigrants are due to begin mid-May.
Italy is expected to sign an agreement with Egypt on Tuesday to counter illegal immigration as well as terrorism and organised crime.
The tiny Mediterranean state argued that the Italian naval frigate which rescued the boat in Maltese waters 70 nautical miles from Italy's southern island of Lampedusa should accompany the boat there as it was the closest port.
The dispute over the fate of a boatload of illegal immigrants is the second to emerge between Italy and Malta in less than a week.
Italy's hardline stance drew criticism from the Vatican and human rights organisations, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, after Italian patrol vessels returned to Libya last Thursday a boat with an estimated 227 migrants on board.
Italian patrol vessels rescued the migrants after a day of heated debate between Italy and Malta over who was responsible for their future following their distress call late Tuesday.
The UNCHR criticised Italy's decision to return the immigrants on the grounds that possible asylum seekers had been given the right to apply for protection, saying that Libya did not have proper asylum procedures and was not a signatory to a key international convention.
Despite the criticism, the Italian government at the weekend turned back another people smuggling boat and its estimated 50 passengers who were picked up in waters off Lampedusa.
Conservative Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi defended the policy, saying it "conforms with European standards, international laws and conventions concerning human rights that we have not violated."
Italy was entitled to send back last Thursday's boat people because they were not intercepted in Italian waters, according to the government.
There was no information as to how close to Lampedusa Saturday's illegal immigrant boat was when intercepted.
Berlusconi appeared to support his coalition partner, the anti-immmigrant Northern League party when he stated that Italy does not want to be a "multicultural society".
"The left's idea is of a multi-ethnic Italy," Berlusconi told journalists on Sunday. "That's not our idea, ours is to welcome only those who meet the conditions for political asylum."
His remarks provoked an outcry from the opposition and further criticism from the Vatican.
"Multiculturalism is a value that already exists in Italy," said Mariano Crociata, secretary of the influential Italian Bishops Conference.
Poor intercultural relations are the real cause of tensions between Italians and immigrants, he said.
Long a country of emigrants, Italy in recent years has become a target for mass immigration, especially from Africa and Eastern Europe, sparking fears over crime and a loss of national identity.
Tripoli agreed to step up its cooperation in the fight against illegal immigration into the European Union under a friendship accord between Italy and Libya signed in August 2008.
Under the accord, joint maritime patrols with Italy targeting illegal immigrants are due to begin mid-May.
Italy is expected to sign an agreement with Egypt on Tuesday to counter illegal immigration as well as terrorism and organised crime.
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International Human Rights Organisation (IHRO), of the Indian subcontinent, is a NGO, with national focus and overseas lobby network. It agitates both in India and internationally.
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