Nine Malian migrants released; Ali Konate says men left with nowhere to sleep

Nine Malian migrants have been left without any accommodation following their release from the army barracks in Ħal Safi yesterday, Ali Konate of Migrant Network for Equality told The Malta Independent.

Mr Konate also said that one of the nine informed him that when they told police of their predicament, the police officers suggested that the men sleep at their friends’ houses, and that accommodation would be sorted out in the coming days.

It is puzzling as to why Minister Carmelo Abela and his relevant ministry lacked the foresight to predict that the detainees would be left without a home upon their release given that they were removed from residencies prior to their detention three months ago.

The Cabinet of ministers took the decision to release the nine men, who were held in detention for three months, yesterday morning.

Minister Abela said that the men, who had been kept in detention pending the arrival of official documents, will be deported when the documents arrive from Mali.

“Their status remains that of failed asylum seekers, which implies they will have to be deported when their country sends the official documents,” the minister said.

The announcement of their release came hours before a planned protest in Ħal Safi over the detention. The protest was later called off.

Professor Colin Calleja who forms part of the Solidarity with

Migrants group, in comments to this newsroom said that the release of the nine Malian migrants “is good news”.

In a joint statement from 15 NGOs, including Migrant Network for Equality, Aditus foundation and Moviment Graffitti, welcomed the announcement that the nine men will be released, and that they look “forward to further engagement with the Ministry for Home Affairs and National Security to explore ways of ensuring a national migration framework that truly upholds human rights principles.”

The nine were originally in a group of 33 arrested on 14 November, 2016, after they were apprehended with a view for deportation when they went to the Immigration Office to extend their stay in Malta, as they were required to do.

The other 24 were released from detention after they were identified as nationals of the Republic of Mali by a Malian delegation that arrived in Malta on 6 and 7 December to conduct interviews for the purpose of identification. According to information provided by government spokespersons, all nine were positively identified as Malian nationals, albeit only verbally.

Those who were detained had been told that their Temporary Human Protection would not be renewed.

Temporary Humanitarian Protection Status N (THPN) is a national status the Office of the Refugee Commissioner grants to failed asylum seekers who, through no fault of their own, have not been able to return to their countries of origin.

THPN is currently under review by the Home Affairs Ministry and the Refugee Commissioner. Until the review is carried out, all THPN holders whose certificates expire during the review will not have their THPN renewed.

This means that a large number of migrants (not just those who had been detained) will have no documentation and will start suffering the consequences of being undocumented, such as an inability to acquire employment and a residence.

Innocent Lokri, a Nigerian migrant who has been in Malta since 2009, told The Malta Independent that if he returned to his country he would be shot and killed.

“I managed to come to Malta in 2009. Escaping death, and integrated here, living in peace and harmony until this particular event,” he said.

The detention of the migrants received widespread condemnation from a number of important figures, including President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca.

During her address on Republic Day, President Coleiro Preca indirectly hit out at the government’s decision to deport a number of migrants who had been living in Malta for a number of years. She said that Malta should continue to be a kind place that respects human dignity, and should therefore not deport them back to unstable conditions.

“I am morally convinced that we should appreciate, and not condemn, persons who are helping to build our prosperity, and who form part of our society.”

President Coleiro Preca would later endorse The Malta Independent, Times of Malta and Malta Today’s decision to publish a joint editorial condemning the detention which put pressure on the government to reconsider its earlier decision. This pressure has pushed the Cabinet and the government to change its position.

Archbishop Charles Scicluna used the Nativity as an example to show the population the importance of accepting refugees in his Church’s annual Christmas reception at the Curia on 30 December.

“Joseph had to flee Israel and seek refuge in Egypt to save Jesus and his mother. Jesus took his first steps and lived his early years as a refugee,” Mgr Scicluna said. “This reminds us of the importance of the work carried out by civil society and the Maltese government in favour of the dignity of our brothers who have special needs.”

On 22 January, hundreds attended a silent walk in solidarity with migrants, starting at the Love sign in St Julian’s, ending in Balluta Bay.

A large number of those present held up placards which read “respect”, and a number of prominent politicians were in attendance, including PL Whip Godfrey Farrugia, Democratic Party Leader Marlene Farrugia, PN MP Karl Gouder and AD leader Arnold Cassola.