Migrants who fled Libya would rather die at sea than at one of Libya's detention centres, Fr Joe Cassar from the Jesuit Refugee Service said this morning.

Speaking during a debate "Dealing with the Libya Migration Crisis" organised by Times of Malta and hosted by the InterContinental Hotel, Fr Cassar said it was true that the arrival of many people all of a sudden could put pressure on Malta, but the humanitarian issue had been in existence from before the crisis in Libya started.

Libya did have its own difficulties with illegal migration but, on the other hand, as far as asylum seekers are concerned, asylum seekers' rights were ruthlessly disregarded.

Fr Cassar insisted that following the Libya-Italy agreement, there had been push backs to Libya of people intercepted by the Guardia di Finanza on the high seas.

These people were never asked whether they needed to submit a claim for asylum. This happened throughout the summer of 2009.

Neil Falzon, the former head of the UNHCR in Malta, said that several statements had been made by Italian Minister Roberto Maroni which had confirmed the push backs from the high seas.

Some of these push backs, he pointed, may have also been conducted in Malta's search and rescue zone.

He said he found it very hard to believe that people who left Libya voluntarily agreed to return to Libya.

Former ambassador in Libya George Saliba pointed out that what he was afraid of was that whatever happened in Libya,  Malta would have a great outflow of Libyans.

Another danger for Malta he could see was is conflict between Libyans in Malta.

Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici defended Malta's detention policy saying this was "odious but a necessity".

Detention has been debated more than once in the EU and it was accepted under EU law.

"What I resent is bullying by certain organisations who try to make an issue out of Malta's necessary detention policy to score points," he said.

Malta was in a very difficult position but the country's limitations had to be kept in perspective, he said.

A total of 14,000 people had come to Malta and although most had been repatriated or moved on, the country should not try to be holier than the Pope and try to do what it was not in a position to do.

The country, he said, was doing more than its fair share.

Jon Hoisaeter, the head of the UNHCR in Malta did not agree with the minister that detention was a necessity.

Although there had to be a measure of control, it was not necessary to have a detention policy for everyone who arrived.

"What kind of a start in a new country it is to spend your first months there behind bars," he asked.

Mr Hoisaeter pointed out that there were ways of finding the control mechanisms and alternatives to detention.

Malta, he said, had to find a balance raising standards in its asylum system. This, he said, would encourage more support from other countries.

He acknowledged that Malta had one of the highest recognition rates of asylum seekers.

Mr Hoisaeter stressed that it was necessary to have in place contingency plans in case of a sudden arrival in Malta of a higher number of people fleeing the Libyan conflict.

“UNHCR is also preparing its own plans and should it become necessary we are ready to assist with establishing additional temporary reception arrangements if asked by the government,” he said.