AYS News Digest 11/12/23: Frontex share coordinates of refugee boats with militia group
Border Violence Monitoring Network — Free #Pylos 9 // French Parliament rejects Macron’s immigration bill // Humanitarian organisations not represented at German Parliament hearing of its draft migration law // Plans for permanent processing facilities at Manston and Dover, UK // and more…
FEATURE:
Frontex share coordinates of refugee boats with militia group
Lighthouse Reports have published an article, based on their own research and communication analysis, showing that Frontex and the Maltese government have been sharing coordinates of boats with militia that are linked to human trafficking, war crimes, and smuggling.
Tareq Bin Zayed (TBZ), led by Saddam Haftar, is one of the most dangerous militias globally. According to a report from the EU, the group is said to receive support from the Russian private military group PCM-Wagner. Operating in the Mediterranean, TBZ has reportedly intercepted over 1000 individuals at sea along the coasts of Libya and Malta. Notably, investigative journalism by outlets such as Lighthouse Reports suggests that TBZ has relied on coordinates shared by Frontex and the Maltese government to locate and intercept these boats.
How Europe let Malta hand over migrants at sea to a Libyan militia (lemonde.fr)
SEARCH AND RESCUE
Border Violence Monitoring Network (BVMN)— Free #Pylos 9
Following the shipwreck six months ago off the coast of Pylos, nine survivors from the incident have been arrested. Organisations such as BVMN, among many others, are actively advocating for the release of these individuals. This incident sheds light on a larger, systematic issue where several EU authorities scapegoat survivors by unjustly criminalizing them, instead of taking responsibility for the tragic deaths of migrants. The call for the release of the survivors is not just an isolated plea but part of a broader demand for accountability and a reevaluation of how authorities handle such situations.
FRANCE
French Parliament rejects Macron’s immigration bill
This bill proposes a comprehensive set of policies affecting both undocumented and documented migrants. It is intended to implement harsher measures and limitations on migrants while simultaneously creating additional work opportunities. For instance, it seeks to expedite the process of deportation and make it harder for migrants to obtain residency papers, whilst also creating temporary residency permits for foreign workers in fields experiencing labour shortages and allowing asylum seekers from high-risk countries to secure employment immediately.
Recent amendments made by the Upper House further shape the bill’s provisions. These changes include restricting the rights of migrants to bring family members to France and eliminating state-funded healthcare for undocumented workers.
The proposed bill has ignited criticism from both the left and right political spectrums, making it a focal point for protests in recent weeks. Right-wing parties argue that the bill doesn’t adopt a sufficiently tough stance on immigration, while the left condemns various elements that impose significant restrictions on migrant rights. Despite the contentious nature of the bill, Monday’s decision resulted in its rejection without a proper debate.
In light of this development, President Macron has several options to consider moving forward. He can choose to return the bill to the Sénat for further review, allowing for potential amendments or clarifications. Alternatively, Macron could opt to form a joint parliamentary commission to address the concerns raised by both sides and potentially reshape the bill. Lastly, he has the option to scrap the bill altogether.
France’s Assemblée rejects Macron’s immigration bill: What happens now? (lemonde.fr)
French parliament rejects Macron’s immigration bill in surprise vote (france24.com)
Collective Aid sharing messages from asylum seekers in Calais
GERMANY
Humanitarian organisations not represented at German Parliament hearing of its draft migration law
Please sign the petition here: Petition: Search and rescue should not be punished — SOS HUMANITY (sos-humanity.org)
UK
Plans for permanent processing facilities at Manston and Dover
The government refuses to comment on this, but recent revelations about the publication of papers related to a procurement process for groups to manage long-term facilities have raised concerns. The contract is expected to extend until at least 2030. The existing reports of poor conditions in Manston’s temporary facility further amplify worries about the potential establishment of a long-term facility.
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