(Straits Times interactive) OCT 5, 2004 'Overwhelmed' Italy expels illegals
Rome sends back to Libya planeloads of migrants in new policy prompted by what it calls an emergency situation ROME - Italy has begun airlifting migrants back to their point of departure after facilities on its southern outpost were swamped by hundreds of new arrivals. Three planeloads of illegal immigrants of various African, Asian and Middle Eastern nationalities were sent back to Libya last weekend from the tiny Italian island of Lampedusa. It was the first time that Rome had expelled immigrants without carrying out thorough identity and nationality checks. Italian Interior Minister Giuseppe Pisanu said the government would continue the new policy, to cope with what he described as an emergency. 'The desperate people who still think they can sail illegally to Italy must know they will be sent back to where they came from as soon as they have been given humanitarian help,' said a statement issued by his office. Around 900 people have landed on Lampedusa's shores in the past week alone, overwhelming a welcome centre meant to accommodate 200. The island, which is located halfway between Sicily and the north African coast, is a popular landing point for migrants from Africa hoping to enter Europe illegally. Italian media have attributed the change to recent talks between Mr Pisanu and Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi aimed at fighting illegal immigration. Earlier this month, Italian officials said nearly 10,000 illegal immigrants had arrived in the country this year. To stem the flow, Italy and Libya have reached a deal under which Italian officials will help train and equip the Libyan authorities to better control land and sea borders. Rome is also pressing for the creation of holding centres in north Africa for would-be immigrants. Italy had lobbied the European Union to lift sanctions against Libya - a step that was taken last month - to allow it to buy military surveillance equipment to help fight illegal immigration. Relatively few of the thousands who try to slip into Italy by boat each year hope to stay in the country. Most hope to travel farther north, to countries such as Germany, with proportionally larger immigrant populations. Italy supports a German proposal to set up camps in North Africa to process would-be immigrants and asylum-seekers and help stop the flow of illegals across the Mediterranean to Europe. Italy's political opposition has denounced the new policy as too hasty. 'These hasty repatriations look like collective expulsions which are banned by international treaties to which Italy is a signatory,' said the Left Democrats. \-- AFP, AP, Reuters -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Make a clean sweep of pop-up ads. Yahoo! Companion Toolbar. Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free! http://us.click.yahoo.com/L5YrjA/eSIIAA/yQLSAA/BRUplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> *************************************************************************** Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny. www.ppiindia.shyper.com *************************************************************************** __________________________________________________________________________ Mohon Perhatian: 1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik) 2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari. 3. Lihat arsip sebelumnya, www.ppi-india.da.ru; 4. Posting: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 5. Satu email perhari: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 6. No-email/web only: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 7. kembali menerima email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
