Alternattiva Demokratika has said that it has had enough of the Libyan authorities attitude towards migrants.

Arnold Cassola, AD Chairperson, said, “We are totally appalled at the way Libyan President Gaddafi and his authorities are neglecting basic human rights and indeed are continuously playing about with the lives of human beings by not helping out in the Search and Rescue area assigned to Libya through international law.”

“Indeed”, continued Arnold Cassola, “the Libyan authorities are not only risking the lives of poor men, women and children by not offering them any aid on the open seas, but they are actually contributing to sending over thousands of migrants from Libyan shores in order to blackmail and pressure European governments.”

“The fact is that even when bi-lateral agreements have been reached – the Italian government has, for example, donated six boats to the Libyan government for the patrolling of its coasts over six months ago – the Libyan authorities do not respect them, thus proving to be very unreliable partners for their European counterparts.”

“Alternattiva Demokratika appeals to the Libyan authorities to act in a serious way, be credible and ratify immediately the Geneva convention on asylum seekers. Moreover”, concluded Prof. Cassola, “the Prime minister and Foreign Minister and the MLP should interrupt their silence on this matter and address the issue openly with President Gaddafi, calling things by their real name and not succumbing any longer to more blackmail.”

The European Union should play a greater role in ensuring that responsibility and burden is shared equally amongst EU member states, as Malta and other southern EU countries are being disproportionately affected by the immigration issue.

Permalink: AD tells Gaddafii to stop using immigrants as ransom fodder