What happened at the Safi barracks on Thursday raises concern.

A number of irregular immigrants being detained there ended up in hospital after members of the Armed Forces of Malta reacted to a protest they were holding to claim the right to freedom.

While an AFM statement said that the army had no option but to use military personnel to escort the immigrants back into their compound “after all our efforts to convince (them) to peacefully return… were exhausted”, eyewitness accounts as well as footage shown on television indicate that more than a minimum of force was used.

This led to 27 immigrants being injured – along with two soldiers – and prompting Amnesty International to call for an investigation into the incident, which it described as having been “deliberate and gratuitous violence” on the part of the AFM soldiers. If these allegations are substantiated, such “ill-treatment would be in clear violation of international treaties and standards ratified by Malta, as well as domestic law”, it added.

The government immediately took action, appointing Mr Justice Franco Depasquale to conduct an inquiry. It is hoped that this investigation is carried out as quickly, but thoroughly, as it can be.

One has to analyse many factors that emanate from Thursday’s incident, which was not the first of its kind.

The immigrants were complaining that they wanted their freedom because they have been detained for too long – some of them for 18 months. While understanding their situation – because nobody likes to be kept under lock and key, especially if they have reason to believe that they have a right to be granted refugee status – they must also realise that such procedures take a long time to be completed.

This ought to be explained better to them by the people who are responsible for such procedures. Immigrants do have a right to protest peacefully against their detention, but they must also understand that such matters take their time, more so considering that their number has grown rapidly over the past months as more of them have made it to our shores.

There are other considerations. It must be admitted that the recent influx of illegal immigrants has unfortunately led to a surge of racist feelings among the Maltese. This is a wrong attitude to take, particularly considering the plight of these persons who leave their homeland and risk their lives in search of a better world.

Many Maltese believe that, for being provided with shelter, food and clothing, immigrants owe us something in return. Many also think immigrants should show more respect for the hospitality Malta is giving them, knowing that Malta’s resources are stretched to the limit because of their presence here. Immigrants’ protests are therefore perceived to be an abuse of this hospitality, and this is what has led to an unjustified growth in racist feelings among the public.

Violent incidents connected to racism are, fortunately, still rare, but the Maltese are expressing this racist attitude in other ways. There are some Maltese who, for example, did not contribute towards L-Istrina this year because part of the funds collected are to be given to refugees.

It is wrong to treat these people as criminals and use force against them every time they raise a finger. The fact that they disobeyed army orders and refused to go back into their compound does not justify the type of action used by the soldiers in the circumstances.

Again, the soldiers involved are not having an easy time. Their job with the immigrants is frustrating, the more so because it is often the immigrants that make it difficult. But this does not give soldiers the right to vent their frustration when they have a chance to do so.

The national conference on illegal immigration to be held early next month comes at the right time for the issue to be tackled from all angles. Let us take the opportunity to discuss the matter in detail, come up with solutions and implement them.