CCME 02/044 Mr. Alvaro Gil Robles
Commissioner for Human Rights
Council of Europe

F-67075 Strasbourg
FRANCE

29. March 2002

Boat People in Italy

Dear Mr. Gil Robles,

The Churches' Commission for Migrants in Europe has been alerted by its member in Italy, the the Service for Migrants and Refugees of the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy, to the deteriorating situation of boat people arriving in Italy. We regard the situation as very serious and therefore wish to bring this matter to your attention.

In an urgent appeal, the Service for Migrants and Refugees of the FCEI wrote:

The situation of "boat people" at the Italian cost is dramatically worsening. On one side there is a growing number of arrivals in terrible conditions. On the other side the reactions are at least in part a big risk for the respect of Human Rights.

We must say that the Italian society does show a high level of civil responsibility and hospitality. This can be illustrated by the following facts:

1) recent research done by institutions, who study public opinion, show that the Italians are the most positive in Europe towards migrants and believe that European Institutions should handle the issue (there are also many negative voices, but the majority is positive, according to this publication);

2) the population in the South of Italy continues to be very friendly to the big numbers of asylum seekers arriving on their costs;

3) The police and border personal, working directly in these places, to face the situation, mostly do a very good job;

4) The President f the Republic invited the society and the politicians to face the question from the human rights point of view, and never to forget the humanitarian aspect.

On the other hand our Government and the majority of the Parliament react in a very dangerous way:

1) the more extremist political forces insist on fighting the phenomena by all means, military actions, mass deportation etc. They express themselves continuously in a very racist and demagogic way.

2) The Government seems to panic, but has no other answers than police measures, expulsion, refoulment, practically no access to asylum procedures, less human rights, no or very little jurisdictional possibilities, so as an appeal to negative decisions.

3) The very restrictive law proposal (July 2001) will now be forced through the Parliament with an emergency procedure. The Government nominated a special “Commissario”, to face the situation, who will have extraordinary possibilities of action. The Government decided already that military forces must prevent the refugee flows at our borders.

This latest appeal of 21 March 2002 was the latest of a series since January this year. Among other issues raised was the fact that boat people were expelled collectively without having had proper access to information or proper procedures for asylum. They were given the notice of the rejection only on the bus to the airport, leaving no possibility for seeking legal advice.

We would highly appreciate if your office could look into this situation of deep concern. Of course, we are ready to supply further information, and our Italian partners would gladly share additional detailed information.

With kind regards,
sincerely yours

Doris Peschke
General Secretary

cc: Mrs. Maria Ochoa-Llido, CDMG
Parliamentary Assembly COMMITTEE ON MIGRATION, REFUGEES AND DEMOGRAPHY