Times of Malta, The Malta Independent and Malta Today have united to give a voice to all those people who have had their Temporary Humanitarian Protection-New (THP-n) status removed, many of which will be unable, through no fault of their own, to get proper documentation for a residence permit. These individuals have been forced to live in complete uncertainty, despite the roots they have developed and the contribution they have made to Malta over the years.

Malta’s independent media calls on the government to refrain from senselessly deporting all those detained migrants from Mali who have been living in Malta for years, and employ a well-reasoned, practical policy.

THP-n was initiated in 2010 and was granted to all those migrants whose application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been rejected. It has since been under review. Until recently THP-n was granted to asylum seekers who are unaccompanied minors, who genuinely could not be returned through no fault of their own – either because of unfavourable relations with the country of origin, legal problems, for medical reasons or humanitarian grounds.

The Prime Minister and the Home Affairs Minister are called upon to end the crippling uncertainty that these humans, just like you and me, have been forced to endure. 

President Marie Louis Coleiro Preca has endorsed the initiative, writing on her Facebook page that the three newspapers have sent a "powerful message" that should encourage others to continue promoting conflict-sensitive and peace-oriented approaches"

Newsbook and RTK have also taken up the initiative, expressing their support to the stand taken by the three newspapers.

Media taking one-sided view, misleading - Minister Carmelo Abela

Reacting to the joint editorial published by Maltatoday, The Malta Independent and The Times of Malta, Minister Carmelo Abela said that the media chose to present a one-sided view of the asylum situation in Malta.

While praising the valid points mentioned in the editorial, particularly as regards the need for a move away from a culture of concessions to a culture of rights, the Minister said that the Government is in agreement with this view, although it would also have to be emphasized that "rights also entail duties".

"THPN, in fact, may well be thought of as part of a culture of concessions, as opposed to rights. What the editorial fails to mention is that THPN was not withdrawn without any alternative being given."

Minister Abela also states that the editorial's presentation of the situation in Malta is "not always borne out by the facts".

The Minister said that the claim that detention of migrants in view of return is 'guided by opportunistic politics rather than reasoned policy,' ignores the fact that Malta's legislation regulating detention pending return has the very same criteria for detention outlined in the European Union's Return Directive.

"The fact that there is currently an EU-wide effort, endorsed by Council, to return irregularly present third-country nationals, is likewise ignored. The fact that Malta currently holds the Presidency of the Council, which on the other hand is mentioned by the editorial, actually places even greater responsibility upon the Maltese authorities to intensify their efforts to return irregularly present third country nationals."

The Ministry also clarified that persons recently kept in detention by the Police for return purposes were not in possession of any specific status. These persons had entered Malta irregularly and applied for international protection; however their applications were rejected, he added.

"Furthermore, these migrants have had the opportunity to register for the Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegrationscheme operated in conjunction with IOM since 2007. The scheme, co-financed by the European Union, provides themigrants concerned with package of assistance in order to re-integrate in the country of origin. The existence of this scheme is completely ignored by the editorial."

Carmelo Abela also dismissed the claim that THPN was 'inexplicably' withdrawn, "although it is understood that the discontinuation of such status would have posed cause for concern".

"It has to be said that THPN was part of the very system that the editorial itself brands a 'system of concessions' and that, in any case, an alternative was offered to those concerned. Government's objective is in fact to mainstream holders of this status who still fulfil the criteria for the award of this status, i.e. who are gainfully employed and effectively integrated, into the Residence Permit systemoperated by Identity Malta."

"It should also be noted that those who wish to return voluntarily, utilising the aforementioned scheme, still have the possibility to register under that scheme."

The Minister further clarified that THPN was never meant to guarantee indefinite residence in Malta, but was always a temporary arrangement. "The editorial may also be misleading in this respect, as it does give the impression that Government has infringed an implicit promise of an indefinite permit to reside in Malta. This is plainly not the case." 

Leader