Wednesday, January 15, 2020

Police officers at Janzour detention center foiled an attempted escape


* Libya 01.01.2020 - Police officers at Janzour Detention Center foiled an attempted escape of migrants who broke windows to reach an air ventilation shaft. The group was transferred to another location to prevent similar incidents. 

 

 


















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#SAR #LibyanCoastguard #migrants #migrantcrisis #TogetherForRescue #Frontex #Seenotrettung #LibyscheKüstenwache #wirschickeneinschiff #SeaWatch #OpenArms #OceanViking #AlanKurdi #together4rescue #UNHCR





Libyan Coast Guard ship "Fezzan" SAR Op 27.09.2019

* Libya - SAR Op 27.12.19 - Libyan Coast Guard ship "Fezzan" rescued ca. 70 migrants incl. women & children from 1 wooden boat North of Zuwara. All disembarked safely at Tripoli Naval Base. Upon medical assistance and humanitarian aid migrants were transferred to DCIM detention center.




















 



























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#SAR #LibyanCoastguard #migrants #migrantcrisis #TogetherForRescue #Frontex #Seenotrettung #LibyscheKüstenwache #wirschickeneinschiff #SeaWatch #OpenArms #OceanViking #AlanKurdi #together4rescue #UNHCR


Saturday, October 21, 2017

MV "Lifeline" - caught in the act 

Incident with the Libyan Coast Guard on 26.09.2017 - NGO deception & facilitation of illegal  immigration

(click on image to enlarge)


Caught in the act

The first discovered wooden boat on 26.09.17 at no time was in danger of sinking or in any type of marine distress. The boat was seaworthy and equipped with a fully functional engine and simply called for “pick up” in a prearranged area. The migrants did not show any medical emergency requiring an assistance or transfer to another vessel as required by the international law and rescue at sea. (see "Lifeline” photos). The weather condition at the time: sea state - light breeze, weather - clear.

 
Video of the incident provided by the Libyan Coast Guard (26.09.2017)

The boat was recovered in Libyan contiguous zone only 22,3 NM from the shore (confirmed by the Libyan Coast Guard - see map). Subsequently all migrants were illegally transferred onboard the NGO vessel MV "Lifeline" (EU Council Directive 2002/90/EC). Later the boat was pro forma destroyed (burnt). 

What followed was a legal intervention of the Libyan Coast Guard and its vessel the LCG "Talil" (267).

The LCG vessel approached the MV "Lifeline" trying to establish repeatedly a radio contact to no avail. The Captain Friedhold Ulonska refused to communicate with the LCG vessel issuing instead an emergency call on "Chanel 16" asking for assistance. 

Capt. Friedhold Ulonska onboard the MV "Lifeline" - "Mission I" (formerly in command of another German NGO vessel the MV "Sea-Eye")

Repeated  calls by the LCG vessel to stop engines and an attempt at verbal communication with the captain were also left unanswered! 

The captain's reckless and life endangering stance led ultimately to a single warning shot and boarding of the MV "Lifeline" by an unarmed LCG officer.  During boarding a heated altercation ensued between LCG officer and "Lifeline" crew member. The LCG officer demanded the return of illegal migrants. The crew vehemently refused to comply with this demand. After an unsuccessful verbal persuasion the LCG officer simply returned onboard the LCG "Talil". 



Video provided by "Mission Lifeline e.V." although edited shows clearly the incident. (26.09.2017)

During the incident, at no time did the Libyan Coast Guard "attack" or "shoot at" the  MV "Lifeline as claimed by the German NGOs. These claims are simply untrue! 

The entire procedure was conducted in full accordance of the international law and standard rules of engagement practiced by any law enforcement agency at sea (see Coast Guard rules of engagement).

The Libyan Coast Guard vessel LCG "Talil" (267) involved in incident. (26.09.2017)

(*) According to international law responsible government agencies have the right to stop & board any foreign vessel suspected of immigration infractions UNCLOS’82  Art. 33.  

Position of MV "Lifeline" in Libyan contiguous zone (22,3 NM) during "pick up". (26.09.2017)

Screenshots of photos published by the German NGO "Mission Lifeline e.V." on Twitter showing the "pick up".

"Lifeline" RHIB" approaching the seaworthy migrant boat. (26.09.2017)

The "rescued" migrants (26.09.2017)
The illegal transfer of migrants onboard the MV" Lifeline". Note on the right side German state TV MDR reporter Mr. Markus Weinberg. (26.09.2017)
 The destruction of migrant boat. (26.09.2017)

The "Fake News"  

The German NGO provided in local press a "fictive narrative" of the incident in the hope of gathering a large media resonance and at the same time financial support of the public. Some of the headlines: "Dresden men rescue hundreds in Mediterranean and get shot at", "Coast Guard shooting at Lifeline" and "Soldiers shoot at Saxonian refugee helpers". (SIC!) Very similar pattern & narrative was used by another German NGO the "Sea Watch e.V." during their incident with the LCG on 10.05 2017.


Headlines from local Saxonian press


The man behind the deception




Mr. Axel Steier, Chairman of "Mission Lifeline e.V. - Dresden, Germany


A known far-left & "no border" activist. In 2015 co-founded an initiative "Dresden Balkan Konvoi" in support of NGOs & migrants in Idomeni camp (Greece). On 23.06.2017 Mr. Axel Steier was summoned by the German Federal Police Inspectorate being accused of "attempted smuggling of illegal aliens into the country". His first brush with the law in conjunction with facilitation of illegal immigration.


Police summon

The vessel  MV "Lifeline"

MV "Lifeline"

The MV LIFELINE (Ex- SEA WATCH 2), MMSI 244870698, GT 231, length 32 meters, built 1968, flag Netherlands. Jointly operated by NGO: German "Mission Lifeline e.V." and Spanish "PROEM-AID"


Photo & video credits: Libyan Coast Guard, Mission Lifeline e.V. & private 


Source:

* Interview with Libyan Coast Guard - 26.09.2017
* Twitter & Facebook: Mission Lifeline e.V. https://twitter.com/SEENOTRETTUNG
* Twitter Proem-Aid: https://twitter.com/proemaid
* United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982: http://www.un.org/depts/los/convention_agreements/texts/unclos/unclos_e.pdf
* EU Council Directive 2002/90/EC: https://ec.europa.eu/anti-trafficking/legislation-and-case-law-eu-legislation-migration-law/council-directive-200290ec_en
* 29.09.2017 - Tagblatt: "On Tuesday Friedhold Ulonska the captain of  'Lifeline' dealt with Libyans" / "Friedhold Ulonska bekam es am Dienstag als Kapitän der 'Lifeline' mit den Libyern zu tun":  http://www.tagblatt.de/Nachrichten/Friedhold-Ulonska-bekam-es-am-Dienstag-als-Kapitaen-der-Lifeline-mit-den-Libyern-zu-tun-348112.html
* 26.06.2017 - Sachsen Depeche: "Sea rescuers under investigation" / "Ermittlungen gegen Seenotretter ": https://www.sachsen-depesche.de/politik/mission-lifeline-justiz-ermittelt-gegen-axel-steier-und-sascha-pietsch.html

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#SAR #LibyanCoastguard #migrants #migrantcrisis #TogetherForRescue #Frontex #Seenotrettung #LibyscheKüstenwache #wirschickeneinschiff #SeaWatch #OpenArms #OceanViking #AlanKurdi #together4rescue #UNHCR
 




#migrants #migrantcrisis #refugees #savinglivesatsea #savingmigrants #unhcr #ngo #ong #migranti #seenotrettung #jugendrettet #freeiuventa #seaeye #seawatchcrew #msf  #savethechildren #togetherforrescue #frontex #europol #reuters #dpa #bbc #afp #sachsischezeitung #mdr

Sunday, August 27, 2017

Migrant crisis: Sicily accuses charities of collusion with traffickers


The Times

By Philip Willan

26 August 2017


Magistrates in three Sicilian ports have opened investigations into suspected collusion between charities and Libyan people traffickers.

It follows the decision of a judge from Trapani in western Sicily to impound a ship operated by the German non-profit group Jugend Rettet (Youth to the Rescue) this month.

Save the Children and Médecins Sans Frontières are also under investigation, according to Italian media, but both charities said they had received no official communication to that effect.

The charities bitterly reject claims of collusion. Médecins Sans Frontières said it was “a heinous accusation”, for which prosecutors had been unable to produce supporting evidence.

The suspects in the Trapani investigation are said to include two skippers of the Iuventa, a former trawler operated by Jugend Rettet, a third crew member, and Father Mussie Zerai, an Eritrean priest who has frequently alerted authorities to the plight of his countrymen adrift on the Mediterranean.

The Trapani investigation has relied on testimony from an undercover police officer infiltrated into the crew of a ship operated by Save the Children and on bugs used to record on-board conversations.

Save the Children insists it has always respected the law and collaborated with Italian authorities.

It said it would take legal action to protect its reputation from the “false and defamatory information” being spread in the media by employees of the security company that had operated on its ships.

Among the first to alert authorities to alleged irregularities were two private security guards operating on board Save the Children’s rescue ship Vos Hestia. One guard recently renewed his accusations in an interview with the newspaper Quotidiano Nazionale.

The witness claimed traffickers communicated with charities by satellite phone, adding: “To tell the truth, I saw few migrants in danger of their lives.”


Source:  https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/migrant-crisis-sicily-accuses-charities-of-collusion-with-traffickers-2kpmrz3cq


Save the Children charity workers detained at Mitiga

Libya Herald

23 August 2017

Three people working for Save the Children were detained yesterday at Tripoli’s Mitiga airport.

The UK charity said tonight it was not able to respond immediately to the Libya Herald’s enquiry but a staff member did confirm that some sort of incident had occurred at the airport.

It is understood that a Pakistani and an Egyptian were detained along with a Libyan who also worked for Save the Children.

Security at the airport is now in the hands of Abdul Rauf’ Kara’s Rada Deterrence Force. It has issued no statement on the detention of the charity workers.


Source:  https://www.libyaherald.com/2017/08/23/save-the-children-charity-workers-detained-at-mitiga/

NGOs - New allegations of "criminal association" from prosecutor in Catania

Prosecutor Zuccaro in Catania warns of much serious offenses than that of 'Iuventa' case in Trapani.

Il Giornale

By  Franco Grilli

13 August 2017

A second investigation may overwhelm the NGOs. This time it comes from the Prosecutor's Office in Catania and deals with the case followed by the Prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro who first reported the alleged liaison between migrant traffickers and the NGOs. The Catania investigation brings to light new allegations of "criminal association" aimed at favoring a clandestine immigration. The investigation shows that some NGO members were involved not only in direct contact with the traffickers but in addition shared some strategies with them for rescues and migrant transfer. Here is the substantial difference between the two investigations. The Trapani Prosecutor's Office is investigating only the individual conduct of some NGO crew members without advancing into the possibility of a common act. The investigation and collected evidence in Catania concerning traffickers and NGOs is far more in-depth and alleges not only sporadic contact activity but a likely organized liaison between rescue crews and the traffickers. In fact, the allegedly committed crime as suggested by the Prosecutor's Office in Catania is far more serious than the accusations coming from Trapani.

The scenario of the investigation could therefore rapidly change and give almost a face of "common act" to liaisons and contacts between NGOs and human traffickers.

Catania Public Prosecutor's Office
Dott. Carmelo Zuccaro
Piazza Giovanni Verga
95100 - Catania (CT)
Tel: 095/366111
Email: procura.catania@giustizia.it

(Originally published in Italian)

Source: "Catania - Other accusations against NGOs: it's a criminal association" / "Catania, altra accusa sulle Ong: È associazione a delinquere".  http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/cronache/catania-altra-accusa-sulle-ong-associazione-delinquere-1430615.html

Second investigation launched against Save the Children boat docked in Malta


Catanese prosecutors are alleging that the boat Vos Hestia, which docked in Malta on Monday was in cahoots with traffickers facilitating clandestine immigration

Malta Today

By Denise Grech

18 August 2017


Prosecutors in Catania have alleged that the boat ‘Vos Hestia’, of Save the Children, is working with illegal traffickers to facilitate clandestine immigration.

The investigators claim that some NGO members were involved not only in direct contact with the traffickers but also shared some strategies with them for rescues and migrant transfer.

The search and rescue boat has been docked in Malta since Monday, as reports that the Libyan navy was threatening humanitarian vessels in Save the Children’s patrolling zones surfaced.

“A second investigation may overwhelm the NGOs,” Save the Children said in a reaction to the news.

This is the second investigation against search and rescue organisations, after prosecutor Carmelo Zuccaro made waves last April when he reported that some NGOs, including Malta-based Migrant Offshore Aid Station (MOAS), “could be financed by traffickers”.

The first Trapani investigation is, however, “far less serious” according to Save the Children, as it alleges that only some NGO members have made contact with illegal traffickers.

“People aboard the [NGO] ships are clearly aware of the time and place where they will find vessels carrying migrants, so they are clearly previously informed,” chief Trapani prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio said.

Catania prosecutors however claim that the criminal activity is not sporadic or individual but an organized liaison between rescue crews and the traffickers.

In an interview with Italian paper Quotidiano, former Save the Children security officer Lucio M., said that the NGO is focused on business rather than saving lives.

"The NGOs don't give a hoot about migrants. It's only a business of the moment,” he sated, arguing that he faced threats from STC before speaking out.

Lucio also claims that STC is purposefully hiring Eritrean and Libyan men who liaise with traffickers, giving them the exact position of boats full of asylum-seekers.


Source:  http://www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/world/79811/second_investigation_launched_against_save_the_children_boat_docked_in_malta

NGO and migrants, the witness: What rescues? I'll unveil the traffickers

Interview with the security officer from 'Save The Children' ship: "A system of contracts worth millions that is also based on omertà (code of honor) agreement"

Quotidiano

By  Giorgio Caccamo 

11 August 2017

The former police officer Lucio M. speaks out: "What rescues? It's all business. We have never saved anyone who was dying. It seemed more like a race for them and who comes first".

The testimony of a ship's security officer from 'Vos Hestia' of the well-known NGO 'Save the Children' who was interviewed by the daily national "QN" explaining the great bluff behind organizations that say they are rescuing so-called migrants trying to reach our shores.

How long were you on board? What was your position?

"I stayed just over a month, between September and October 2016. I was charged with the security on 'Vos Hestia'".

What did you see during the rescue at sea?

"Let's face the truth: few were in life's danger. Once we took a boat with people in good health 10 minutes from the Libyan coast and not far out at sea. This was the explicit wish from the 'Save the Children' in London while all other European offices were opposed to it".

Other inconsistencies?

"I remember we had a good British cultural liaison who spoke Arabic. At some point he left the ship and in his place came an Italian-Eritrean young man. Does it matter? Yes, it does. Two days later a boat full of Eritreans arrived and it was the STC (Save the Children ) team leader who gave the captain the exact position of the boat".

Are there comparisons with other NGOs?

"It seemed like a race and who comes first. For me it was a strange attitude. The 'Iuventa' (ship of the German NGO 'Jugend Rettet') is too small, so it was understood that they will play a supporting role. Once we were in the Libyan waters with other NGOs and no rubber boats were seen. Then one day calls the 'Iuventa' and says 'we have 400 people on board'. But in five days we didn't see anyone! And then if you load all those people, can you tell me where the boats are? It means that the traffickers have delivered them".

So there are relationships between some organizations and traffickers?

"They are obvious. Often is the trafficker who gives the position with a satellite phone and certainly not the migrants. When there is an inflatable boat with dozens of people on board it seems as though they have made an appointment..."

No NGOs can be excluded?

"Perhaps some people could be genuinely animated by a humanitarian spirit. But this talk of going to the Libyan coast is neither here nor there. Thousands of people aided only 20-25% perhaps were worthy of help".

And who were the others?

"We loaded young Maghrebs who were expelled from Italy. For them this was the only way to try to come back. But who am I to say who we going to bring to Italy? We did not bring desperate Syrians or those of Mali who run from hunger. Personally, it was a problem of consciousness for me".

Did you feel responsible for the situation that was bigger than you?

"I also felt a little complicit with a shameful activity which I could not tolerate. There were clashes with STC because I could not report anything to the port authorities or police. The sense of their politics seemed to be 'keep everything hidden'. We couldn't even warn the MSF (Doctors Without Borders) that a boy on board had a serious form of tuberculosis."

How did they treat outsiders?

"Yes, it was palpable, they did not want us on board but the ship's owner insisted. I don't know if I can use these words, but we Italians were a bit shitty for them... I know the ones who were still on board they tried to replace them with an English team".

Do you think ultimately everything is reduces to a business?

"I've been in the police for 30 years, I know what's going on - you always need to follow the money trail. I would like to know how much money did the Ministry of Interior give to STC? Why is this not addressed? On board I was told that the transactions were running at half a million per month, 6 million EURO a year, only for Save the Children. And this money comes from institutions. STC also receives many donations, I imagine millions of dollars at no cost. Regarding this I have a personal idea..."

Which is?

"The NGOs don't give a hoot about migrants. It's only a business of the moment. I will not hide that there is also some fear of speaking out".

What are you afraid of?

"We were threatened. Me and my other colleagues have worked really hard in a stressful and demanding situation. Then we said 'enough', one could not go on. You see too much dirt".

What exactly?

"I remember a support operation for 'Iuventa'. There were 140 migrants. Shortly before our arrival a boat with two Libyans sped off with another boat in tow. I wasn't the only one that saw it. The entire ship, the captain, the STC operators. But nobody says anything, this really pisses me off".

Why don't they say anything?

"Well, because if the captain would say anything, those who sign the contract with Save the Children would lose money. Last year the Dutch ship's owner 'Vroon' with headquarters in Genoa, Italy stayed for four months in Alexandria, Egypt. They told me that they don't have work! And then a contract rains from the sky for 500 thousand Euro per month... They can't risk losing it".

Is there a political other than economic aspect?

Do you know what really displeased the Save the Children? The fact that the ship is Italian. They would prefer to have an English crew but instead were forced to take an Italian doctor and us as a security which de facto made us 'security advisors'".

How do you feel about your experience?

"It's a gamble. But still I will reveal what I've seen, even if I don't work on a ship anymore. Our lives have been put at risk. It's a shameful situation".

(Originally published in Italian)

Source:

* Quotidiano 11.08.2017 - "NGO and migrants, the witness: What rescues? I'll unveil the traffickers" / "Ong e migranti, il testimone: Macché salvataggi, vi svelo i traffici": http://www.quotidiano.net/cronaca/ong-migranti-1.3327858
* Il Giornale 13.08.2017 - "Signals and lies: how NGOs protected traffickers" / "Segnali e bugie: così le Ong proteggevano i trafficanti":  http://www.ilgiornale.it/news/politica/segnali-e-bugie-cos-ong-proteggevano-i-trafficanti-1430502.html