Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/731331
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2016 26 Letters An AFM major's report proposing controversial tactics to stop illegal im- migration, such as confiscating fuel from incoming boats and turning them back to Libya, is believed to have reached Frontex, the EU borders agency, as part of a Maltese proposal. The author of the report, maritime squadron commander Martin Cauchi Inglott, said he would not comment on the details of his paper which appeared in last Sunday's it-Torca. "I cannot com- ment on operational details," Major Cauchi Inglott said, evidently upset that such a confidential report had been leaked to the press. Armed Forces of Malta commander Carmel Vassallo also refused to com- ment on the paper, which is believed to be a mission proposal enjoying the back- ing of both France and Germany. MaltaToday is informed Major Cauchi Inglott's proposal was an own-initiative report which did not carry any endorse- ment from army superiors. Brigadier Carmel Vassallo refused to comment on this point. The Office of the Prime Minister also skirted the issue of Cauchi Inglott's highly controversial proposals, such as the confiscation of fuel and motorboats aboard the main vessel, which could be contrary to international law. Asked on the government's position on the report, the OPM's press officer said: "It's a pity that certain people, out of pure personal ambition, divulge the contest of internal discussion papers." According to last Sunday's newspaper report, Cauchi Inglott's proposal is based on an earlier document submitted back in July, which called for the establish- ment of a joint-EU interdiction force against immigration, dubbed EUMINT- FOR. His proposal calls for support from other EU member states to deploy five ships, including a military frigate, and air support, to turn back all incoming traffic from Libya suspected of being potential illegal immigrants. According to the newspaper report, Cauchi Inglott would have suggested how Greece should be brought on board the missions due to its experience in turning away boats back to Turkey. The more controversial proposals include confiscating fuel supplies, and turning the boats away with just enough fuel to reach their Libyan departure point. Cauchi-Inglott has also authored another proposal with international rela- tions expert Stephen C. Calleya on the setting-up of an EU coastguard agency, a precursor of the EU borders agency. … "We will argue that any army vessel, as a branch of government, will have to assume its country's international obligations once it intercepts any incom- ing boat, and that includes informing people of their right to asylum," UNHCR representative Neil Falzon says. There is still much to suggest that the latest deterrent concocted by the EU to curb migration is objectionable in terms of member states' international obliga- tions. Among these is the international norm of non-refoulement, which prohibits states from sending people to a coun- try whose lives or freedoms could be threatened. Which is why the interception of in- coming migrants in international waters, could risk punishing genuine refugees with a claim for asylum by sending them back to Libya, which is not a signatory of the Geneva Convention on Refugees. Earlier this week, Human Rights Watch warned that the Libyan government had subjected migrants, many of them asylum seekers, to serious human rights violations including physical abuse and enforced repatriation. The 135-page report has also alleged that Italy has expelled groups of people back to Libya in violation of national and international asylum obligations. "Everyone has a right to navigate on the high seas, which means a vessel cannot be stopped unless it has committed an offence," Falzon says. Send your letters to: The Editor, MaltaToday, MediaToday Ltd. Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 | Fax: (356) 21 385075 E-mail: newsroom@mediatoday.com.mt. Letters to the Editor should be concise. No pen names are accepted. News – 24 September, 2006 Amber lights at Sliema's Strand Mother Teresa's dubious "miracles" With reference to Michael Briguglio's online blog "The Sliema Strand has become a cowboy's paradise", Transport Malta has changed the traffic lights in The strand at Sliema to f lashing amber as part of the plan for the alternative routes for the Kappara project. Transport Malta chose the Strand as the best route for vehi- cles to exit the Sliema area. The authority changed the lights to f lashing amber as continuously- stopping vehicles make the route impractical and block all pos- sible exit routes from Sliema. Transport Malta's plan for Kappara's alternative routes has been extensively communicated to all stakeholders, including all local councils in the area. The authority held a number of con- sultation meetings. A number of Dr Briguglio's colleagues were present. Traffic lights set to 'f lashing amber' still provide a safe pe- destrian crossing. The highway code asks drivers to 'proceed with caution' whenever traffic lights are f lashing amber. Pedes- trians, as at any other crossing, must stop to make sure that oncoming cars have stopped, and then cross the road. Drivers must stop at the crossings to al- low pedestrians to pass. Dr Briguglio mentions the bus lane. As communicated through the media and in the meetings, the signs of the bus lanes have been removed and the bus lanes have been temporarily suspend- ed, again as part of the alterna- tive route plan. Dr Briguglio tries to imply that the two unfortunate accidents happened as a consequence of Transport Malta's decisions. It is unfair to pass such comments, considering that the accidents are still being investigated and that the courts will decide on the responsibilities. Transport Malta, on the other hand, totally agrees with Dr Briguglio's concerns. Irrespon- sible drivers can cause accidents with very serious consequences. Transport Malta has increased its enforcement presence but no Authority can be every where all the time. We ask all road users to follow the rules, behave responsibly and show respect on the road. Stanley Agius Media and Communications Manager Transport Malta Malta report to Frontex proposes controversial tactics Two dubious "miracles" have been ascribed to the "interven- tion" of St Mother Teresa. The first miracle allegedly took place in the Bengali village of Raigunj where a woman called Monica Besra was cured of cancer. Dr Manju Murshed, the superintendent of the local hospital, and Dr T.K. Biswas and his gynaecologist colleague, Dr Ranjan Mustafi all came forward to say that Mrs Besra had been suffering from tuber- culosis and an ovarian growth and that she had been success- fully treated for both afflictions (Aroup Chatterjee, Mother Teresa: The Final Verdict). The hospital superintendent declared that he was annoyed at the numerous calls he had received from Mother Teresa's religious order, pressing him to say that the cure had been "miraculous". Mrs Besra herself proved an unreliable witness to the alleged "miracle". During her interview, she talked at high speed because, as she put it, she "might otherwise forget", and she begged to be excused ques- tions because she "might have to remember". Her husband insisted that she had been cured by ordinary, regular medical treatment. The second dubious "miracle", involving a Brazilian man, was based on a generalization by the Vatican's medical commis- sion regarding the present-day lack of medical knowledge to explain the man's recovery. Just as in the Dark Ages, the Church is always prompt to fill gaps in knowledge with super- stitious beliefs. It ascribes the healing of a living man to the "intervention" of a dead woman who, in her own private letters, had revealed that "for the last 50 years of her life felt no pres- ence of God whatsoever", and that she had her own doubts about the existence of God. John Guillaumier St Julian's Right of reply: PN leader's Independence Day speech Reference is made to the front page article of MaltaToday dated 22 September 2016 entitled 'Busuttil promises rent control, free medicines for the elderly. The title of this article is completely misleading since at no point in time did PN Leader Simon Busuttil promise rent control in his speech during the mass meeting at Floriana. To the contrary, Dr Busuttil promised that a new PN government will increase subsidies to those who have low income and rent from private entities. Matthew Bonnett Partit Nazzjonalista