Open-armed migrants landed in Lampedusa

The ship Open Arms entered the port of Lampedusa on Tuesday evening, greeted by about 60 residents and holidaymakers with shouts of welcome and wavesand "Bella ciao". At midnight, the the migrants started going down in small groups, some smiling, others tense or sad. There are only 80 people left, after numerous medical evacuations and the rescue of about 15 people who plunged into the water the same day.

This event marked the end of a day of madness in Italy, with the announcement in the afternoon of resignation of the head of government and his virulent attack on his former interior minister of the far right, Matteo Salvini.

It was Agrigento's prosecutor, Luigi Patronaggio, who put an end to Nightmare open arms, having personally badessed the health situation on the ground. As for the ship and her crew, they left for Sicily, accompanied by a military ship and immobilized on the spot not to know how long.

A "rabies climate" in Italy

An investigation against X is also open for kidnapping, omission and dismissal of official acts. The Italian authorities have refused access to the island with open arms, although six European countries – France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal, Romania and Spain – have committed to welcoming migrants. I wore The refusal was carried by the outgoing Interior Minister, Matteo Salvini, who actually claimed that Facebook was the target of this investigation.

"Salvini did a series of tests, and in each new case he tested the resistance of survivors, first responders, NGOs, but also the reaction of public opinion and their supporters. This is why this day is important: the Agrigento prosecutor declared that there were limits to crueltyand we can not continue like this. And I hope that despite the law on security, the investigation will take its course and determine the responsibilities. In addition, the government has fallen, so I do not think anyone can save Matteo Salvini from a possible trial, "RFI Giusi Nicolini, former mayor of Lampedusa, told RFI.

"Today, in Italy, a tense weather, anger and even confrontation that no longer allow a debate in democratic conditions, "laments the current mayor of Lampedusa, Salvatore Martello, at the microphone of Juliette Gheerbrant, special envoy of the island. According to him, there is virtually no talk of immigration, controversy aimed at stifling any valid discussion on the subject.

The "general responsibility" of the EU

"Since this is a problem that concerns the whole world, not just Italy, it would be wise to sit down at the table and find a way to make joint decisions, in accordance with to the rules. The European Union has a great responsibility, of course, but also the countries directly affected, "said the mayor of Lampedusa.

Example: the case of Spain, which said "after 19 days:" I offer you a port of landing. "You must think about it before. After 19 days at sea, how to tell the crew:" Go to the Strait of Gibraltar, accompany these migrants, migrants who, in my opinion, are very bad on board the ship. "

A few hours before the decision of the Patronaggio prosecutor, Madrid had finally announced the dispatch of a military ship to Lampedusa to bring migrants to Spain, a country of the Catalan NGO Proactiva Open Arms. But the NGO is at the heart of Spanish political life, in open conflict with Madrid. Apparently, it does not respect national legislation and illegally saves migrants at sea. For this reason, the organization refused to land in a Spanish port where it was exposed to fine and pressure.

"The problem of immigration is not solved"

In addition, says the mayor, it is not true that the ports are closed: "We must clarify something.When a ship arrives from an NGO, everyone is talking about immigration, But no one realizes that ship is stuck, while other ships arrive directly at the port of Lampedusa, sometimes with more migrants on board than in NGO ships. "

However, he points out, "in the collective Italian imagination, people are convinced that no one is coming, that immigration is over and that the only problem is NGOs helping people at sea. have to tell people who the problem of immigration is not solved, that the ports are open and that part of the media war is exclusively directed against NGOs ".

Meanwhile, Ocean Viking from SOS Mediterranean and Doctors Without Borders are still waiting for a safe haven between Malta and Lampedusa to allow 356 survivors to land.