Treatment of migrants seen satisfactory

The Ombudsman has given a largely favourable report on the treatment of illegal immigrants in Malta but has said that the detention centre at Ta` Kandja should be closed as soon as the detainees can be transferred to the new centre at Hal Far, where works have still not been completed.

The report by Mr Joe Sammut was presented to parliament and tabled by the Speaker yesterday.

He said illegal immigrants were held at Hal Far and Lyster Barracks, which were run by the Armed Forces, Ta` Kandja and Hal Far, which were in the hands of the police.

Mr Sammut said his investigations showed that Malta did not have enough facilities for an influx of illegal immigrants and the arrival of more than 100 migrants caused a crisis and had to be treated as an emergency.

Despite such limitations, the arrival of 208 illegal immigrants at Xlendi in March, when 60 migrants were already being held in Malta, was handled well and the persons concerned were treated in a sensitive and humane manner.

Mr Sammut said the food and attire given to the detainees was satisfactory, as was cleanliness and personal hygiene. While there were good arrangements for the detainees to communicate by telephone in the centres run by the police, this was lacking in the centres run by the AFM.

Voluntary organisations had access to the detainees and were doing a lot of sterling work for them. Medical facilities were satisfactory.

Mr Sammut said that although the detainees were treated well, considering the emergency situation that had been created, the centre at Ta` Kandja did not meet established international standards for the detention of illegal immigrants and only an emergency could justify its continued use.

He recalled that in a June 2000 report on Ta` Kandja he had said that when the number of detainees exceeded 38, the place became unsuitable. When he last visited the centre, the number of detainees had reached 52, with a kitchen and a store room having been converted to dormitories. Indeed, the only good thing there was in this centre was the recreation ground.

In contrast, the recently opened Hal Far reception centre, which was meant to take over from Ta` Kandja, had satisfactory accommodation facilities but recreation spaces were small and had a prison-line appearance, which was not acceptable under international standards

Conditions at Safi Barracks and Lyster Barracks were generally satisfactory.

In his recommendations, Mr Sammut suggested the appointment of a person to coordinate all work, including that done by the voluntary organisations, in all four detention centres. Such a person or others could inspect detention centres abroad to share experience on their management.

He said the police should request the assistance of the AFM to draw up detailed standing orders for the running of Hal Far and Ta`Kandja centres on the same lines as those for Lyster Barracks and Safi Barracks.

Work on the Hal Far centre should be continued so that more detainees could be transferred there from Ta` Kandja, easing overcrowding.

He suggested that the Education Department should organise basic schooling for immigrant children. Through arrangements with voluntary organisations, coach tours could be organised for immigrant women and children, giving them a break from the military environment.

He said the detainees should be allowed at least an hour of physical exercise twice a day under surveillance during times when grounds were not under a blazing sun.

Where possible, detainees should also be given the opportunity to carry out jobs such as cleaning and gardening.

Handcuffs should be used only in extreme security cases. The detainees should be given full information about their rights. Advice from social workers should be sought when detainees were held for a long time, a situation which could have a psychological effect on them.

Mr Sammut praised the voluntary organisations working for the illegal immigrants as well as soldiers and policemen who voluntarily provided the detainees with clothes and other assistance.

He said that if the problem of illegal immigrants persisted, the authorities should consider the setting up of an Illegal Immigrants Advisory Committee as was the case in Ireland, formed of representatives of the government and the representatives of voluntary organisations interested in this sector.