Tag: Syrian refugees

Malta: Questions swirl about whether Libyan milita-men shot at refugee-loaded boat causing it to sink

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

We mentioned the second Mediterranean boat-sinking in just over a week, here.  Now there are allegations that the boat was fired-on by Libyans.

Survivors (looks like mostly young men) arrive in Valletta on Maltese patrol boat.
Photo: (AFP/Matthew Mirabelli)

The UN is asking for an explanation and at least Malta’s Prime Minister is trying to get some negotiations underway with Libyan Prime Minister,  Ali Zidan.

But, this is what I don’t get, why doesn’t the world community, with the UN leading the way, demand that the Libyan government stop these boat launchings on their side of the Mediterranean in the first place?

The UN could then use its state-of-the-art refugee camp in Jordan, Al Azraq, by safely transporting these would-be mariners to it.

From the Minneapolis Star Tribune (emphasis mine):

VALLETTA, Malta — Syrian survivors of the latest shipwreck involving migrants in the Mediterranean Sea claim Libya’s coast guard fired on their boat after reaching it a couple of hours out of port, the U.N. refugee agency said Monday.

The survivors of last Friday’s shipwreck have told UNHCR that the Libyans opened fire after ordering the boat to stop, damaging the hull and wounding four people, the U.N. agency’s spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said from Geneva.

“The boat took on water, and people started coming up from below, which could have contributed to the capsizing, according to witness testimony,” Fleming said. She added that the four wounded were treated by doctors among the refugees on board.

UNHCR has asked Libya for an explanation based on the survivor accounts and the fact that people with bullet wounds have been among the more than 200 people rescued and taken to Malta and Italy.

The bodies of 34 people have been recovered, but survivors have told the U.N. that 400 to 500 people were on board, meaning more than 200 could still be missing.

Libyan Prime Minister Ali Zidan denied the allegations in a press conference Sunday during a visit by Malta Prime Minister Joseph Muscat to discuss the wave of refugees arriving by boat from Libya in Malta and Italy. He pledged an investigation.

UNHCR has expressed concern that Syrians escaping civil war are facing a perilous sea journey to reach safety in Europe.

In a related story, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah expressed his sorrow at the large number of Palestinians who were also on the doomed ship.

Surprise! Bulgaria finds “threat to national security” in refugee influx

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment
So is Turkey facilitating the movement of Islamists into Bulgaria?

We told you previously (here) that Bulgaria is having a hell of a problem with mostly Syrian ‘asylum seekers’ flooding into the country from Turkey!

As Bulgarian citizens have suspected, some of the ‘downtrodden’ are likely Islamic terrorists in refugee clothing.

Here is the story at novinite.com (Sofia news agency).  Emphasis below is mine:

There are four persons among the refugees on Bulgarian territory suspected to be a possible threat to national security, says Interior Minister, Tsvetlin Yovchev.

The Minister explained these individuals are accommodated in secured facilities in awaiting the appropriate procedures for their extradition, already undertaken by the authorities.

Yovchev did not specify their native countries, but noted the well-known fact that the majority of the refugees are from Syria.

He explained that in 2013 Bulgaria has improved the pace of extradition of foreign suspects.

[…..]

Bulgaria is the gateway to the European Union for refugees fleeing Syria via Turkey, many crossing the border illegally to seek asylum.

Readers, the other day, here, we were reminded by Britain’s Independence Party leader, Gerard Batten, that legitimate refugees are to seek asylum in the first safe country in which they land (it is not supposed to be a shopping expedition for the country of one’s choice!).  So the question is–-is Turkey letting them waltz right through their safe country and exit out the other side?

I hope readers here are not getting weary of all of our posts on Europe recently, but in my mind the Muslim invasion of Europe holds lessons for all of us concerned with the preservation of Western civilization.

Next!  A post on the US and more on how the refugee program is being slowed by the government shutdown.  Update:  Here it is.

Calais Syrian stalemate continues as French and Brits trade barbs

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

It seems a French Member of the European Parliament said she believes that since the Syrians occupying the port of Calais want to go to the UK, they should be let in!   MEP Gerard Batten (Independence Party member) shot back with the truth one rarely hears regarding political asylum and why the Syrians want to be allowed into the UK.  For new readers, our original post is here.

UK Independence party representative Gerard Batten: Don’t offload your problem on us!

From the story at the UK Daily Mail (emphasis mine):

French politicians have been accused of trying to ‘offload’ Syrian refugees on Britain in a growing row over who should give them asylum.

Scores of Syrians have occupied the Calais ferry terminal including a dozen who are on hunger strike and two threatening to kill themselves if they are not given safe passage to Britain.

But a French MEP has come under fire after urging the European Parliament to back their call to be allowed into Britain.

If you have been wondering why the Syrians aren’t satisfied with France, here is the long and short of it:

Unlike Britain, France does not pay benefits to asylum seekers while their claims are being processed. About 40 Syrians have refused to move from a passenger gangway.

Batten to the rescue with several major points!

Mr Batten, the UK Independence Party’s spokesman on security and defence, said later: ‘The suggestion that Syrian refugees in Calais should be sent post-haste to England is absolutely outrageous.

‘These people have made their way across Europe with the intention of landing up in the UK. This is contrary to the UN Convention on Refugees that says they should seek refuge in the first safe country they come to.  [Important point #1 and it is rarely mentioned by anyone!—ed]

‘They want to come to Britain because of our reputation as a soft touch. [Important point #2—ed] They may indeed be refugees, but they are attracted to Britain because of the generous housing, benefits, and social services systems made available to foreigners.

‘If the French have not prevented their entry into France, as they were entitled to do under the Convention [Important point #3, the French let them into France—ed], then the French should offer them asylum, not try to offload the problem onto the UK.’

Germany’s Friedrich and now Britain’s Gerard Batten, could we be seeing the beginning of a trend?

Capitalism flourishing in Zaatari refugee camp; it is simply human nature

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

This is at once a fun read and an annoying read at IRIN News (a ‘humanitarian’ news outlet connected with the UN).

UN housing (a caravan) converted into a much-needed perfume shop.
Photo: Areej Abuqudairi/IRIN

It’s fun to see how cleverly some Syrians are turning their situation into a study in how capitalism develops (albeit skewed a bit by the freebies from donors) when left to their own devices and where there is virtually zero regulation and zero taxes.

It’s annoying when you consider the author of this piece (or at least the editor) focused on the “haves vs. the have-nots” aspect—your classic commie orientation.

And, some of you might be put off by the fact that the Syrian entrepreneurs are using donated items in their commercial ventures.

Here is how the article begins, but read the whole thing and note how ‘clever’ these Syrian Capitalists have become.  (Emphasis is mine)

ZA’ATARI, 8 October 2013 (IRIN) – Just over one year ago, thousands of white tents were erected near the Jordanian-Syrian border to “temporarily” host Syrian refugees who had fled violence in their country. Waves of refugees have since flooded the desert camp; Za’atari is now Jordan’s fourth largest city and the world’s fourth largest camp, home to 120,000 Syrian refugees.

To accommodate the population’s needs, a market has sprung up along the main road at the entrance to the camp, extending over several kilometres, with grocery stores, clothing boutiques, restaurants, bakeries, cafés, electronic shops and barbers all available.

This frenzy of commerce has spawned winners and losers, buyers and sellers, haves and have-nots, honest traders and outright thieves.

Such divisions have fuelled resentment, particularly as those better off are viewed as taking advantage of the aid system at the expense of those living at the edge of survival, in an environment with very little security or regulations.

No regulations, no taxes, no rent, no electric bills and no child labor laws!   Here is one of many anecdotes that amused me:

To be able buy groceries from the Za’atari market, Zubi sends her 13-year-old son to work.

He stands with a wheelbarrow in the middle of the market, offering to wheel purchases or aid materials to residents’ homes. Depending on the distance of the trip, Mohammad Kahir earns between 0.50 to 2 dinars ($0.70-$2.80) per trip.

Just fyi, there are dozens of new (and predictable) stories in my alerts today about Syrian refugees—most are dire warnings about people starving/freezing/drowning, mean-spirited governments not taking them in, and that the number is going to grow exponentially.

For all of our coverage of Syrian refugees, go here.   Between Somalis and Syrians we are never at a loss for stories to post!

Syrians in Calais update: this should scare the Brits to death!

~ Ann Corcoran ~ Leave a comment

This is a short follow-up to our post yesterday about the days-old stalemate at the port of Calais in France where Syrian “refugees” are refusing to accept an offer of asylum by France because they want to get to the UK.  One woman demonstrator is quoted in the UK Express:

A woman, who would not give her name, said: “The procedures to claim asylum are far simpler and quicker in Britain. Once there we will be well treated and can bring our families, too. We can start new lives in Britain.”

This reminds me, did any of you read David Goodhart’s ‘The British Dream?’