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Monday, January 24, 2005
Tensions In Malta
Staying well below the media radar is another European state struggling with illegal immigration. I don't know enough about Malta or the political climate to offer any opinion. But, I will offer that there is a pattern in the non-coverage given to these events - the issues facing the Dutch in the wake of the Van Gogh murder, "Action Sweep Out" in Germany and this incident all share a common theme. Times of Malta, Jan.19;
Malta came under intense international criticism yesterday following last week's incidents between army personnel and illegal immigrants at the Safi Barracks.[...]
"The UNHCR has discussed Malta's detention policies and conditions with the authorities on a number of occasions over the past couple of years. Last June, the UNHCR submitted a detailed report to the authorities which outlined a wide range of shortcomings in the four detention centres and contained numerous recommendations for changes.
"Despite a number of official letters requesting further dialogue, the UNHCR has to date received no official written response from the Maltese authorities."
The UNHCR spokesman said his organisation fully appreciates Malta's concerns that, given its proximity to major smuggling routes from North Africa, it risks being overburdened with asylum seekers and irregular migrants. However, he added, the High Commission does not believe such concerns warrant detention as a deterrent.
Keeping in mind my aforementioned disclaimer, I think that a country only 8 miles wide and 15 miles long, and within rafting distance of northern Africa, might be extended the benefit of the doubt for creating strong deterents to illegal immigration. [CIA Factbook: Malta]
Not that everyone is rushing to apologize;
Norman Lowell the fiery leader of the far-right Imperium Europa, said yesterday that illegal immigrants not only threatened Malta's security, but also posed a "sanitary, cultural and genetic" threat to the country.[...]
"It's the media which control and twist public opinion," Mr Lowell claimed, adding that the media were responsible for painting a negative picture of him. "I am a libertarian and not a Nazi or a Fascist," he said. Mr Lowell said Malta is the only country that still had a "homogenous" race. The rest of Europe, from Ireland to Poland, was "contaminated" and it would not be long before Europeans would want to come here to experience the "real spirituality".
"This is why we have to annihilate the black coal," Mr Lowell said.
[...]Immigrants entering Malta on boats should be stopped 14 miles offshore and warned not to come ashore, Mr Lowell said. The upcoming conference on illegal immigration would turn out to be yet another farce, with Government and Opposition on one side and the NGOs, who "have nothing better to do", on the other, he said.
Mr Lowell finished his speech by raising his stick in the air and crying "Ave!"
Yeow.
More at the Maltese blogs Immanuel Mifsud and Toni Sant.
Posted by Kate McMillan on January 24, 2005 in International Politics | Permalink
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Comments
Illegal immigration is one thing, but this Norman Lowell is quite another. I'm not completely sure who he is, but I do believe his mother was that infamous Nazi collaborator, Lotta Krappe!
Posted by: John Palubiski | 2005-01-24 9:15:20 AM
It's a recurring theme, isn't it? When will governments learn that when they apply curbs of political correctness to so-called race/culture sensitive issues, the result is to spawn Norman Lowells who then gather supporters because they can find no one else to speak to their concerns.
Posted by: Kate | 2005-01-24 9:25:53 AM
I agree! When legitimate concerns on these issues are suppressed, then things begin to fester, the discourse envenimates to the point where only emotions matter! Words like "purity" and "homogenous" begin to dominate.
Posted by: John Palubiski | 2005-01-24 9:37:05 AM
Why is it that these asylum seekers don't seek refuge in the first stable country ie if someone is from somalia he/she can cross over to kenya and seek refuge there, rather than cross a blazing desert and then risk life again on the sea? this is what the UNHCR should consider and that is why there is so much resentment to illegal immigrants, in malta and in europe.
Posted by: justiceman | 2007-08-01 2:57:52 PM
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