Malta denies claims it coordinated pushback of 42 people to Libya
Two NGOs claimed on Tuesday people at sea were 'forcibly returned' to Libya on two Libyan militia vessels
The Home Affairs Ministry has denied claims that Malta had "orchestrated an illegal pullback" when 42 people at sea were allegedly “forcibly returned” to Libya on two Libyan militia vessels.
On Tuesday, NGO Alarmphone said it had received a distress call from 42 people on board a boat in Malta’s search and rescue region.
Shortly after, rescue NGO Sea-Watch International said its plane had spotted people overboard and two “notorious” Libyan militia vessels in the area.
The two NGOs claimed the 42 people who were crossing from Libya to Europe had been returned to the North African country.
Replying to questions from Times of Malta, the Home Affairs Ministry said the Maltese authorities did not coordinate any operation with the Libyan coastguard.
"An emergency broadcast was issued by an unknown identity, followed by an NGO aircraft, which, upon arrival, reported the sighting of an irregular migrant boat being intercepted by a Libyan coastguard vessel.
"RCC Malta issued all broadcasts to all vessels in accordance with applicable standards."
A spokesperson for the ministry added that a Search and Rescue Region did not constitute any form of jurisdiction over any vessels on the high seas, and in line with this, Malta did not hold any control or jurisdiction over maritime events or other foreign military/state assets on the high seas.
The ministry skirted a question by Times of Malta for its reaction to claims that Libya is an unsafe country for irregular migrants.