Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1250967
14 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 24 MAY 2020 EYEWITNESS PHOTO BY JAMES BIANCHI Human Rights Watch has denounced the Maltese government's "disgraceful behaviour", calling for the disembarkation of over 160 people detained on two Captain Morgan vessels outside Maltese territorial waters. "The government has not provided a legal basis, or legitimate purpose, for keeping people on these ferries, making this arbitrary deprivation of liberty. "It's incredible that the Maltese government would hold these people captive on tourist ferries in miserable conditions for weeks to pressure other EU countries to take them," said Judith Sunderland, acting deputy Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "Concerns about COVID-19 and long-standing complaints, in part justified, about lack of fair sharing of responsibility can't excuse this disgraceful behaviour." The people were rescued at sea between April 30 and May 7. On April 30, the Maltese government arranged for the transfer of 57 people rescued the day before by a private fishing vessel to the Europa II, a 34.75-meter tourist ferry boat owned by Captain Morgan Cruises Ltd. On May 7, an Armed Forces of Malta patrol boat rescued 45 people and coordinated the rescue, by a fishing boat, of 78 people. While all 18 women and children were reportedly taken ashore, the other 105 people were transferred the same day to the Bahari, a 23.59-meter tourist ferry boat owned by the same company. That group was subsequently transferred, on May 15, to the Atlantis, a 39.6-meter ferry boat owned by Captain Morgan Cruises. These boats, all flying the Maltese flag, "are pleasure crafts designed for short tourist cruises and not to accommodate people for lengthy periods," Human Rights Watch highlighted. "The government has not stated whether this is a mandatory quarantine to limit the potential spread of COVID-19, nor is it clear if it has carried out any public health measures, such as testing for COVID-19, isolating anyone with symptoms, and enabling social distancing. Even if it were intended as a quarantine, both groups have been on these boats for longer than the commonly mandated 14-day period," said the organisation. On May 19, a man sent a Facebook post to the nongovernmental organization Alarm Phone, saying some people had attempted suicide and that "anxiety, resentment, and depression have increased … this has made our health condition worse. Also due to lack of full health care, there's been an outbreak of skin diseases … there is lack of care when it comes to food. Hunger strikes have started and we're in a deplorable state." Water prisons raise international concern