I essayed a piece yesterday talking over migration and the Italian isle of Lampedusa. Well, if you go and preview the top ten news stories of Germany today.....there is another new item.
Sea-Watch-3, a rescue vessel in the Med, has gone out and rescued 50-odd migrants off a rubber raft in the Med. They wanted to bring the vessel into port at Lampedusa.....which the Italian government bluntly said 'no'. The Italians don't want to get 'stuck' with the migrants (they've already absorbed a high number).
The captain on the vessel went against the orders of the port authority and basically entered the waters of the port (not landing). Then she went and declared a health issue with one or two passengers. The Italian authorities sent out a police vessel to handle the sick/ill situation (picking them up), and then turned around to arrest the captain because she had violated direct orders.
What'll happen now? I'm guessing some maritime meeting will occur and the certification held by the Sea-Watch 3 captain will be discussed.
The fifty-odd migrants onboard? Still there....the Italians refused to let them get off.
The EU in the middle of this? Well, that's kinda interesting as well. They found a couple of countries which are willing to take the fifty. However, this seems to be all in some talk-type session and for Italy to move onto the next step....they want to see something in writing and signed by some EU authority (something that I suspect won't occur).
All becoming a juvenile game? Well, there's not much doubt that the smugglers have some connection to members on the rescue vessels and they get some type of advanced notice when rubber rafts are released and where. It's a rescue, but it's scripted out to such a degree.
There are thousands sitting in Libya and waiting for the smuggler route to really open up. Tons of money at stake and all going toward the smuggler empire.
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