Malta: MEPs 'disgusted' by detention centres

(2005)

Members of the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs will leave Malta this afternoon "shocked and disgusted" at the state of immigrants' detention centres, but convinced that the island cannot resolve the problem alone. However, one MEP said he intended to report Malta to the European Commission for breaching a directive which dictates the minimum standards for the reception of asylum seekers.

The MEPs' visit to Malta ended up being an eventful affair as irregular immigrants at the detention centres were determined to make their plight known, amid hopes of freedom.

A press conference scheduled to start at 5.30 p.m. was delayed until 8.15 p.m. as the parliamentarians inspected the detention facilities in detail.

The committee, which includes Maltese MEPs David Casa and Simon Busuttil, was negatively impressed by the state of the detention centres, to the extent that French MEP Patrick Gaubert told reporters he had lost his appetite for dinner.

Mr Gaubert said he was surprised to hear government officials speaking favourably of the immigrants' conditions, when his visit proved otherwise.

Scores of people were crammed in a corridor for nine months and the toilets were in a disgusting state, he held. Though officials had asked the MEPs to refrain from taking photos to respect privacy, the immigrants themselves were pleading to have pictures taken.

Italian MEP Giusto Catania said he was taken aback by the general degradation and the inhumane conditions at the centres and claimed that human rights were being violated.

He said he was shocked to note the case of one particular immigrant from the troubled Darfur region whose claim for asylum was rejected on grounds that he could have sought refuge elsewhere in Sudan.

Eighteen months in detention were excessive by any stretch of the imagination, the MEPs argued, adding that the Maltese administrative system was effectively criminalising asylum seekers. They underlined the need for a common European Policy on Migration which would iron out the democratic deficit between the member states.

Expressing his surprise that the local press was barred from entering detention centres, MEP Stefano Zappala accused NGOs of abstaining from their responsibilities. Admitting that he was initially apprehensive of the visit, MEP Simon Busuttil said he was now convinced that the visit was necessary to highlight to the EU the problems that Malta was facing. The MEPs earlier held a meeting with Social Solidarity Minister Dolores Cristina and Home Affairs Minister Tonio Borg.

Ms Cristina said that one of the main difficulties faced by those who have been granted asylum is that they do not move on from open centres.

Therefore, a policy will shortly be introduced whereby immigrants who are employed will first have to contribute towards their upkeep and, furthermore, will be encouraged to find alternative accommodation.

This will help to overcome the problem of ghettos where large numbers of immigrants are housed together.

From: Herman Grech The times of Malta Saturday 25th March 2005
http://www.timesofmalta.com/core/article.php?id=218888