From Ms L. Vella

I agree with Dr Micallef Stafrace’s arguments in his letter under the above title (TMIS, 24 August).

At first, the Maltese were duped by the argument that the Africans coming by boat from Libya were refugees. We read many tearful stories about the terrible sufferings they had endured. At first we believed them, but we no longer do. Of course, a small percentage of them are genuine refugees but the system has now been abused so repeatedly and on such a large scale that we have grown wiser.

In his annual report, Malta’s Refugee Commissioner confirmed that false documents are submitted and applicants for refugee status tell cock-and-bull stories.

In any case, how can one believe people who destroy their identification documents, give false information about their country of origin for fear of being sent back, and show a marked lack of cooperation with Maltese authorities? These people are abusing Malta’s generosity and the softness of the Maltese government – for there lies the crux of the problem.

Regrettably, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi has shown a deplorable degree of softness when defending our national interests in the face of this threat to Malta’s identity, security and economic standards. On 8 June, The Malta Independent on Sunday quoted Dr Gonzi as saying: “It’s an invasion.”

Indeed it is, but what has he done about it apart from instructing the long-suffering members of our Armed Forces to go to the rescue every time they get a phone call from the Italian air traffic control, or from some cargo or fishing vessel, or indeed from some trafficker in human beings equipped with a satellite phone who calls for his wards to be “rescued”? The words “saved” and “rescued” are becoming as systematically abused as “refugees”.

The Maltese government’s lack of determination is subjecting our country to repeated humanitarian blackmail.

African illegal immigrants take to the seas, in un-seaworthy boats, taking unreasonable risks with their own lives and safety.

They do it only because they have been given a free and unlimited insurance policy by the Maltese government, which in practice is telling them: “Never mind, if you are in danger (true or pretended) we shall come and save you”.

It is time the Maltese government made a public announcement that, as from a given date; it will stop playing this lose-lose game.

Louise Vella

MOSTA