Prof Edward Scicluna said that with regards to irregular immigration our guiding principle should be “not to be weak with the strong and strong with the weak”. There has to be a detention policy but it should never be accepted that pitiful, shameful conditions prevail at these detention centers. “What I saw at the Marsa Open Centre last December was really shameful,” he said.
Prof Scicluna emphasized this when he intervened during a discussion session – ‘Times to debate’ – held at Intercontinental Hotel on Wednesday Apri 27. “Dealing with the Libya Migration Crisis”.
Prod Scicluna said that the international economic crisis caused a swing to the extreme right, with solidarity, in all its aspects, including economic, little to be found. In such circumstances one shouldn’t shy away from using tough language when facing far bigger EU countries, or from taking determined actions once these lead to successful results without being detrimental to irregular immigrants already victims of this human tragedy.
Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, Labour Party Spokesman for Immigration Michael Faklzon and UNHCR Malta head Jon Hoisaeter discussed the topic. The Sunday Times Deputy Editor Herman Grech chaired the debate.
Ma nkunux dghajfin ma’ min hu b’sahhtu u b’sahhitna ma’ min hu dghajjef
L-Ewroparlamentari Laburista Prof Edward Scicluna enfasizza li l-pozizzjoni politika fil-konfront tal-immigrazzjoni rregolari lejn pajjizna ghandha timxi fuq il-principju li m’ghandniex inkunu dghajfin ma’ min hu b’sahhtu u b’sahhitna ma’ min hu dghajjef. “F’dal-kuntest, ghalkemm wiehed jifhem il-pozizzjoni ta’ pajjizna fuq il-politika ta’ detenzjoni, m’ghandu jkun accettat qatt li f’dawn ic-centri jkun hemm kundizzjonijiet degradanti, kif fil-fatt esperjenzajt jien meta zort ic-Centru Miftuh tal-Marsa f’Dicembru li ghadda.”
Prof Scicluna ghamel dan l-intervent waqt diskussjoni bit-tema “Dealing with the Libya Migration Crisis” li saret fil-Lukanda InterContinental nhar l-Erbgha, 27 ta’ April, 2011. Il-panel li ddiskuta s-suggett kien iffurmat minn Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, Ministru tal-Intern, Dr Michael Falzon, Kelliem Ewlieni tal-Oppozizzjoni ghall-Intern, u Jon Hoisaeter, Kap ta’ UNHCR Malta.
“Fil-konfront ta’ pajjizi kbar fl-Unjoni Ewropea, fejn minn wara l-krizi ekonomika internazzjonali rajna xaqliba lejn il-lemin estrem u nuqqas ta’ solidarjeta f’kull qasam, inkluz dak ekonomiku, wiehed m’ghandux joqghod lura milli juza lingwagg iebes jew azzjoni determinanti sakemm dawn iwasslu ghal rizultati mixtieqa minghajr ma jkunu ta’ detriment ghall-immigrant irregolari li diga jkun mghaffeg f’din it-tragedja umana,” qal Prof Scicluna.