Italian fishermen block port to protest migrants

[Groenewolf]

Yahoo news (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110328/ap_on_re_eu/eu_italy_migrants)


LAMPEDUSA, Italy – Exasperated Italian fishermen towed empty boats seized from illegal immigrants across the entrance of Lampedusa's harbor on Monday to try to prevent any other vessels carrying North Africans from reaching the tiny island in the Mediterranean Sea.

Other islanders overturned garbage bins to protest the relentless arrival of illegal immigrants, including many now coming from Libyan shores.

"Enough, we're full," read a slogan scrawled on a white sheet and carried by two protesters.

More than 3,000 new migrants have arrived in the last three days alone on the island of 5,000 residents, which lives off tourism and fishing. With the shelters on the island full, the migrants, many of them Tunisian men who fled the unrest in their homeland, have taken to sleeping on the docks or in makeshift tent camps in fields.

The island has been flooded with more than 15,000 migrants since mid-January, when Tunisians overthrew their longtime strongman, but hundreds have been transferred to centers in other parts of Italy. The island is 60 miles (100 kilometers) east of the Tunisian coast, closer to African than the Italian mainland.

As local women cheered, the fishermen on Monday pulled the migrants' seized boats across the harbor. The migrants simply watched from land, their laundry flapping from improvised clotheslines.

The migrants' boats — often open-topped wooden fishing vessels purchased from smugglers — are spotted far offshore by Italian coast guard air and sea patrols, whose motorboats then escort the migrants to the island. Monday's blockade was a mostly symbolic act, since few migrants' boats have entered the small port or docked by themselves at Lampedusa.

Angry islanders knocked over garbage bins along the roads Monday and several women chained themselves together, shouting that the migrants should no longer be brought to shore.

"We are here to protest because the government has abandoned us," said islander Cinzia Licciardi, 30.

Another resident, Concetta Billeci, said islanders have sent their children to relatives who live elsewhere due to the stench of the garbage left by the vast numbers of migrants in the fields.

"The air is unbreathable here," said Billeci, 34.

Tunisians who set sail from their homeland but who aren't eligible for political asylum will receive deportation orders. But many of the Tunisians have simply climbed over fences at the centers and run away in hope of making it to their destination, which most say is Tunisia's former colonial master, France.

(...)

Rest at the above link.

[The Lawspeaker]

Berlusconi claims he will empty Italian island of Lampedusa of migrants

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/3/30/1301511711654/Berlusconi-claims-he-will-007.jpg
Silvio Berlusconi told residents of Lampedusa he would clear the island of migrants in '48 to 60 hours'.

Facing fierce criticism over his handling of a wave of north Africans landing on the Italian island of Lampedusa, Silvio Berlusconi has put on a vintage display of showmanship, claiming he would empty the island of immigrants within 60 hours, nominate locals for a Nobel peace prize and buy a holiday home there.

So far this year 18,000 north African migrants have sailed to the island, which has only 5,000 native inhabitants.

During a lightning visit to Lampedusa, which is closer to Africa than the Italian mainland, Berlusconi told cheering locals that six chartered ferries were arriving to pick up the remaining 6,000 migrants, mainly young Tunisian men, who have made the sea crossing since the collapse of the Tunisian government in January and the suspension of coastal patrols.

The migrants will join other north Africans who have already been transferred to centres and camps on the mainland after paying out thousands of euros to make the often perilous crossing.

"In 48 to 60 hours, Lampedusa will be inhabited only by Lampedusans," said Berlusconi.

Locals have protested against the nightly arrivals by using fishing boats to block the harbour entrance as the island's immigrant centre was overwhelmed, food supplies ran short and migrants bivouacked on a rubbish-strewn hill overlooking the port.

To frequent applause, Berlusconi told residents he would give them tax breaks and propose they receive the Nobel peace prize for their patience, later telling a press conference he would push for the construction of a casino and a golf course.

"We are buying up the fishing boats so that they cannot be used for the crossings," he said. "That way when I am out of politics I will use them to set up a fresh fish business."

The prime minister also said he would use his private TV channels to promote the relaunch of tourism in Lampedusa. While surfing the internet before his visit, he added, he had purchased a beach house on Lampedusa, which he visited before leaving the island.

A local couple living next door to the €2m house said they had been woken on Tuesday night by noises from the house. "I thought it was the Tunisians," said Rosina Licciardi, "but it was the gardener and his wife cleaning things up."

Berlusconi said he would also ask the mayor to plant a few more trees on the island and paint the houses brighter colours.

Opposition members alleged Berlusconi's appearance was a diversionary tactic as his supporters in parliament worked on a measure trimming the statute of limitations for first-time offenders, a measure they claimed is designed to cancel the prime minister's ongoing trial for bribing British lawyer David Mills.

"Over there he bought a house, while here he bought himself safe conduct," said Pier Luigi Bersani, the head of the opposition Democratic Party.

Berlusconi is now seeking to convince Italy's regional governors to put up the migrants brought ashore. Over 3,000 who have already escaped from makeshift camps have travelled to Ventimiglia seeking to cross into France, where many have relatives.

Interior minister Roberto Maroni has told parliament that a deal was underway with the Tunisian government to take the migrants back.

"If they are economic migrants, and most of them are, then Italy can repatriate," said Laura Boldrini, a UN spokeswoman, "Many come from villages on the coast and worked in the tourism industry but now fear job cuts."

Italy will need to identify each migrant and serve an expulsion order, which can be appealed against, added Boldrini.

Maroni has warned that the Tunisians may be just a warm up for 50,000 migrants fleeing the war in Libya. Boldrini said 1,500 people had crossed to Italy so far from Libya, mainly Eritreans, Ethiopians and Somalis.

Source: The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/30/berlusconi-empty-island-lampedusa-migrants) (30 March 2011)

[The Lawspeaker]

We'll see, Silvio. We'll see. You have been under so much pressure as of late because of your corruption, your ineptitude, your sex parties that you probably just seek to remain in power and just use the immigrant wave as a way of winning votes but you will just walk away from the island leaving the locals to their misery --- with the immigrants.

[Peyrol]

And of course where to send them? Here in the north, in Piedmont, Lombardy and Veneto

[Foxy]

We'll see, Silvio. We'll see. You have been under so much pressure as of late because of your corruption, your ineptitude, your sex parties that you probably just seek to remain in power and just use the immigrant wave as a way of winning votes but you will just walk away from the island leaving the locals to their misery --- with the immigrants.

A Datch has understood this and some Italians have not understood it yet. :confused: I am VERY confused....


And of course where to send them? Here in the north, in Piedmont, Lombardy and Veneto

No no... you are protected by Lega Nord. For the moment they are sending them to Apulia. They say that they want to send them a bit everywhere except in those regions who already suffer very much for immigration (Sicily and Calabria) and in Abruzzo, already busy in the rebuilding post-heartquake. :thumbs up
First immigrant who arrives here, I go to throw tomatos at Arcore.

[The Lawspeaker]

Yap.. he is trying to send them all to us (http://www.theapricity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26281). You sneaky under-aged-girl-fucking, treasonous, corrupt bastard.

[alzo zero]

Yap.. he is trying to send them all to us (http://www.theapricity.com/forum/showthread.php?t=26281). You sneaky under-aged-girl-fucking, treasonous, corrupt bastard.
If other EU countries don't want to share this burden with Italy they shouldn't school Italy on the way to deal with immigrants. Sink those ships I say.

[Libertas]

Berlusconi claims he will empty Italian island of Lampedusa of migrants

http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2011/3/30/1301511711654/Berlusconi-claims-he-will-007.jpg
Silvio Berlusconi told residents of Lampedusa he would clear the island of migrants in '48 to 60 hours'.

Facing fierce criticism over his handling of a wave of north Africans landing on the Italian island of Lampedusa, Silvio Berlusconi has put on a vintage display of showmanship, claiming he would empty the island of immigrants within 60 hours, nominate locals for a Nobel peace prize and buy a holiday home there.

So far this year 18,000 north African migrants have sailed to the island, which has only 5,000 native inhabitants.

During a lightning visit to Lampedusa, which is closer to Africa than the Italian mainland, Berlusconi told cheering locals that six chartered ferries were arriving to pick up the remaining 6,000 migrants, mainly young Tunisian men, who have made the sea crossing since the collapse of the Tunisian government in January and the suspension of coastal patrols.

The migrants will join other north Africans who have already been transferred to centres and camps on the mainland after paying out thousands of euros to make the often perilous crossing.

"In 48 to 60 hours, Lampedusa will be inhabited only by Lampedusans," said Berlusconi.

Locals have protested against the nightly arrivals by using fishing boats to block the harbour entrance as the island's immigrant centre was overwhelmed, food supplies ran short and migrants bivouacked on a rubbish-strewn hill overlooking the port.

To frequent applause, Berlusconi told residents he would give them tax breaks and propose they receive the Nobel peace prize for their patience, later telling a press conference he would push for the construction of a casino and a golf course.

"We are buying up the fishing boats so that they cannot be used for the crossings," he said. "That way when I am out of politics I will use them to set up a fresh fish business."

The prime minister also said he would use his private TV channels to promote the relaunch of tourism in Lampedusa. While surfing the internet before his visit, he added, he had purchased a beach house on Lampedusa, which he visited before leaving the island.

A local couple living next door to the €2m house said they had been woken on Tuesday night by noises from the house. "I thought it was the Tunisians," said Rosina Licciardi, "but it was the gardener and his wife cleaning things up."

Berlusconi said he would also ask the mayor to plant a few more trees on the island and paint the houses brighter colours.

Opposition members alleged Berlusconi's appearance was a diversionary tactic as his supporters in parliament worked on a measure trimming the statute of limitations for first-time offenders, a measure they claimed is designed to cancel the prime minister's ongoing trial for bribing British lawyer David Mills.

"Over there he bought a house, while here he bought himself safe conduct," said Pier Luigi Bersani, the head of the opposition Democratic Party.

Berlusconi is now seeking to convince Italy's regional governors to put up the migrants brought ashore. Over 3,000 who have already escaped from makeshift camps have travelled to Ventimiglia seeking to cross into France, where many have relatives.

Interior minister Roberto Maroni has told parliament that a deal was underway with the Tunisian government to take the migrants back.

"If they are economic migrants, and most of them are, then Italy can repatriate," said Laura Boldrini, a UN spokeswoman, "Many come from villages on the coast and worked in the tourism industry but now fear job cuts."

Italy will need to identify each migrant and serve an expulsion order, which can be appealed against, added Boldrini.

Maroni has warned that the Tunisians may be just a warm up for 50,000 migrants fleeing the war in Libya. Boldrini said 1,500 people had crossed to Italy so far from Libya, mainly Eritreans, Ethiopians and Somalis.

Source: The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/30/berlusconi-empty-island-lampedusa-migrants) (30 March 2011)

More Somalis are all Europe needs!

Berlusconi wants a casino on Lampedusa.

[poiuytrewq0987]

Wow, Berlusconi is truly a comedian!

[Sikeliot]

How exactly does he plan to get rid of them, though?

[poiuytrewq0987]

How exactly does he plan to get rid of them, though?

By shipping them to the Italian mainland and then try to hand them off to France of course.

[Sikeliot]

I say send them to Jamaica. The place is already as corrupt as can be.. make them deal with hordes of immigrants. :lol: