ITALY
GREECE
MALTA
Giuliano Bellezza,
TUNISIA
Lampedusa, first step in the
today Mediterranean
Odyssey
LIBIA
ITALY, total resident population in millions :
Dec 2002, 57.3 millions
Dec 2003, 57.9 millions
Dec 2004, 58.5 millions
Dec 2005, 58.7 millions
Dec 2006, 59.1 millions
Dec 2007
59,650,000
Aug 2008 59,905,000
2.6 millions in 5.5 years, meaning 400,000 yearly, that is about 0.7 %,
much more than the European mean, which is about 0.2 %: WHY?
Because the increment is due to the non Italian population:
Foreigner residents: January 2008: 3.433,000
Born in 2007 more than 64.000 - dead 3.670
Natural increment 1,7%, twofold respect Italians, eightfold respect Europeans
Under 18: 767,000 (22%) / under 3 about 340,000 (10%)
In a country suffering hard emigration until the 1960’s, this is posing difficulties every year
harder. Italian population was totally unprepared to share the space with the immigrants.
It has been a sad surprise to discover how many Italian don’t want any others nearby.
Italians have good reputation abroad as “brava gente”: good people. This is maybe true
when doing peace keeping, in Lebanon or in Afghanistan. We should admit that in Italy,
along with the number of immigrating people, racism also is growing.
Total flow upsetting in very short time
The flow of immigrant in Italy began in the 1960’, when many women arrived,
usually from catholic regions (Philippine, Cabo Verde, Latin America, Kerala
and other Indian States), then from former African Colonies. Always through
the intermediation of missions abroad and parishes in Italy. They found work
as housekeepers, to mind the kids, taking them to school, or to look after the
old people. Quiet people, no troubles of any kind, working in rather wealthy
families, in a period when Italian women were abandoning the traditional
housekeepers position, finding a job: this allowed them to pay a
housekeeper and save money for their own expenses. Until the ’80s nobody
considered immigration as a danger.
But when in the ’70s a male immigration also began in Italy, the Italian (and
European) industries were not in conditions to employ new workers: the
arriving men had to look for something else.
A Tunisian immigrant fisherman in a Sicilian harbor; photo
in G.Bellezza, Geografia, Roma, Editori Riuniti, 1978
In the 1970’s the first
immigrating men in Italy
were mainly coming
from the Mediterranean
African coast, bound to
the Southern Italy (the
so said Mezzogiorno).
The most were coming
as agricultural seasonal
workers, during
the
harvest period. Quite a
lot were fishermen, or
simply taking any job in
the fisher boats of Sicily.
This photo, from a book
of mine (1978), was the
first in an Italian book of
Geography. Too many
Italian teachers were
still more interested in
the name of rivers and
capitals, than in the life
of manhood.
Immigration: the first great
explosion from Albania
The
first explosion arrived from
Albania, since the beginning of the
Kosovo war, and lasted for years.
Every night small boats started from
little Albanese harbours, reaching the
coast of Apulia (minimum distance
about 70 km). Very often the irregular
immigrants were forced to abandon the
boat before landing by the so said
scafisti (snakeheads in English) .
Sometime the scafisti used a very old large boat, with hundreds of immigrants, abandoning the ship at some
distance from the coast, escaping on very speed small boats when arriving in Italian waters. The refugees were
in the first moments shut in shanty temporary shelters (in the photo they are under police control): The Apulian
population: not wealthy people, gave a wonderful example of high civilization, helping to nourish the refugees.
The Government tried to convince them to go back to Albania, and eventually repatriated them forcibly. An
agreement was signed with the Albanian Government. Italian industries were helped to open factories in
Albania, so saving the local economy and creating employments. Reducing this wave of immigrants to Italy has
been possible, because Albania is a very small country, though the number of Albanese immigrants (350.000) is
still growing. It has been calculated that between 1998 and 2006 some 474 people died along this short Adriatic
route, and 136 corpses have never been found.
But a second, and much bigger explosion of immigrants soon
began: this time they were arriving from Southern Mediterranean
Statistics of the Ministry of
Interior Affairs
In 2006, more than 18,000 irregular
immigrants landed in Lampedusa:
82% of the more than 22,000 arriving
seaborne to Italy.
About 6,000 of them asked for
political asylum, immediately in
Lampedusa or later. This figure is
nearly 60% of the grand total of
asylum requests in Italy for 2006.
The small town and harbour, in the
south-eastern tip of the island.
Lampedusa
The north-western tip of the island,
with innumerable but useless
repairs (see later)
The Island of Lampedusa
receives many times more
irregular immigration then
Pantelleria. Just a look at the
map, and a question arises:
85 km
74 km
Pantelleria
83 km² - 7,664 inhab., density 92
why
Lampedusa
and
not
Pantelleria, nearer to both coasts,
wider and less populated? Of
course, there are explanations:
geographical explanations.
TUNISIA
200 km
Linosa
MALTA
113 km
Lampedusa 30 km² - 6,137 inhab., density 204
A glance over some islands in the so called “Sicily Channel”
Why Lampedusa and not Pantelleria ?
Clandestine boats were leaving Tunisia from the
southern coast, far from the capital, so Lampedusa really
was the nearest Italian repair.
Lampedusa is an arid barren island, while Pantelleria is
volcanic, with fertile soils, actively cultivated: private
owners are more alert in protecting profitable properties.
The scafisti look for small, hidden mooring, where they
could easily land without being immediately discovered:
possibilities are many in Lampedusa, few in Pantelleria.
Furthermore, there are other differences into the same
island of Lampedusa.
Lampedusa
Pantelleria
Why never on Lampedusa northern coast?
The northern coast is a sheer rocky slope, a near vertical cliff
raising more than 100 meters from the sea.
Why southern and not northern
Lampedusa ?
The southern coast is rich in hidden moorings and
beaches; the scafisti can abandon the boats, hide
for hours, and be confused with the refugees.
Arriving at a small island
The arrivals from the African coast started
abruptly, with old insecure boats (carrette,
that is old carts in Italian). Some times the
immigrants were found after landing, but in a
short time the coast guards needed to rescue
them at sea: in a short time this became its
main duty, and is still growing.
A phase still going on
In some months the patrolling
radars alerted the coast guard of
the arriving boats. The coast
guard had to start a kind of tug
boat service, towing the carrette
to the harbour. The scafisti are
trying very often to remain
hidden among the immigrants,
joining them in asking to remain
in Italy.
We should remember that the scafisti
are only snaketails. The real heads
are very rich people, who will never
take risks at sea. We can’t even be
sure that the highest heads are not
European. Moreover, the main course
have changed: Lampedusa really is
the nearest island, as now the boats
are mainly leaving from Libya..
Short but deadly route, racism
Nobody knows the real amount of people dead only in the Canale di Sicilia in the last years, but the figure
was surely more than 2,000 in 2006. This narrow strip of sea sadly qualify as the most dangerous immigrant
route from Africa to Mediterranean. Actually, the statistics include in the trans-Mediterranean route even the
trip (down at left) from West Africa to Mediterranean, via Canary Island and Gibraltar, with 1500 deaths
This is an epochal phenomenon that appears impossible to stop, and notwithstanding the protest of right
political movements blaming the Government for being too permissive, and eventually winning the 2007
national elections. At right, a poster of the Lega, the racist party of northern Italy, which started in the late
’80s asking for independence from Italy. Their first racist
proclamations were against Rome and southern Italy. Still,
in Lampedusa the flag of Lega fluttered, not only on some
buildings and restaurants, but on the town hall, when they
won the local election. Is there any reasonable reason?
Yes, we will see soon
After landing in Lampedusa
The State prepared a centre for temporary
reception (CAT in Italian) to host refugee for some
days, before transferring them to Sicily: still an
island, but 800 times larger. The daily arrivals were
too much, so the CAT was enlarged several times,
but it was always hosting much more people then
scheduled. Arrivals are less frequent during winter,
but it might happen that for some days the weather
conditions doesn’t allow passenger boats from and
to Sicily, so the refugees remain days and days
more. We will see that in the last months the
situation became much, much worst.
Geopolitical observation: small islands, far from
the mainland and near to the coast of other States,
encounter particular problems. To tell but one
example, in a period of acute tension between Italy
and Libya, from the Libyan missile bases two
rockets were launched to Lampedusa, and felt at
sea very close to the harbour. After, but since many
years, this very small islands became the main
entrance for clandestine, irregular immigrants in
Italy.
An incredible episode happened to
some sailors who saved people of a
sinking boat: treated as scafisti and
prosecuted, captain in prison for
weeks, boat confiscated for months.
It only took very few weeks to understand that this was not a temporary phenomenon: about 10 km of the
southern coast of Lampedusa had taken the place of nearly 200 km of Apulian coast. In Apulia, the
potential immigrants were some dozens thousands Albanese people, and the 2 Governments found a way
to stop the irregulars. Situation is different in Lampedusa: not only potential immigrants from Southern
Mediterranean are truly innumerable, but their origins are undetectable: you can’t repatriate people
without knowing where from are they coming, and no Country will accept unknown people.
Politics in Lampedusa
It seemed incredible, but in 2003 the racist, northern party Lega won
the municipal elections in Lampedusa, the southernmost part of the
Italian national territory. The Mayor’s action didn’t satisfy the
population, so in 2003 he was not confirmed (since 1972 Mayors
always won a second term). Anyway Lega was strong, and the former
Vice Mayor was confirmed: a woman born in Marche Region, married
in Lampedusa, where became very popular. She fiery opposed the
building of a new CAT, the largest of Italy, to host up to 500 refugees,
in what was supposed to be a protected area. Some time after she
changed mind, and in 2007 she has been happy to inaugurate it. A
strong oppositions surged soon, as the population was very unhappy.
But an example, in the sanity field: to have an ACT (Axial
Computerized Tomography) the Lampedusa inhabitants were forced
to go to Sicily, waiting in a list for months (as it is for all Sicilians).
Now a new ACT machine was situated in the CAT, but the inhabitants
should line after the refugees. Why the new machine hadn’t been
located in a public local structure, where refugees could of course be
cared, but in a common waiting list, not as first? To question like this
no reasonable answer was (neither is) possible.
Problems for tourism
Quite often the contacts between Sicily and the small islands nearby are suspended for days, due to weather
conditions, and raising problems of food and water supply. Sometime this is due to damage in the regular
boat’s engine, as happened in Lampedusa from 24th March to 8th April 2007.
The problems grows in the tourist season, and the operators are angry and claim about the strong decrease
of their activity. They say also that the clients don’t like to see the refugees. Actually, it is difficult that the
tourists see refugees strolling around: only the boats towed by the coast guard arrive in the harbour, and the
refugees are immediately taken to the CAT, to be sent to Sicily within 2-3 days. But operators also have some
reasons, as the statistics demonstrate that: a) from 1999 through 2003 the situation had a very little
improvement, while in Italy there had been a rather strong one; b) ever since 2004 the decrease has been
strong, and for 2009 a total failure is forecasted.
Local disputes: politics and cohabitation
Winner of the last local elections in Lampedusa was a local movement: “Lampedusa e Linosa - Dino Sindaco”.
Dino stands for Dino De Rubeis, a local politician, who confirmed as Vice Mayor the former one, Angela
Maraventano, Senator of the Lega in the Italian Parliament. Their agreement didn’t last too much, and since
the summer 2008 he removed her many times, but always take her back soon. Today they are again strong
enemies. The reason is that the Minister of Interior Affairs (Maroni, Lega) ordered the transformation of the
CPT in CIE (Center for Identification and Expulsion). The Mayor says this is unrealistic and impossible, his Vice
doesn’t want to say that the Minister is mistaking.
Actually, in the center built for 500 persons, and enlarged for 800, there usually are 1000 and more. The party
of the Minister had the program to stop immigration, and won the 2008 national election. To obtain the result,
Berlusconi signed an agreement with Libya, promising a 5 billions euro refund for the colonization period, but
nothing has been done ever after. Not surprisingly, in the last months the immigration took on an
unprecedented speed: 18,000 in 2007, about 35,000 in 2008. The situation in Lampedusa worsened with the
same pace, though still on 10 September a peaceful manifestation took place, and the inhabitants marched in
the streets with the refugees, and once again this happened on 27 January. But it could not last with the CIE,
as we will see in a moment.
De Rubeis argues Lampedusa can’t continue this way,
Maraventano accuse him to instigate a popular revolt. On
27 January, with more than 1300 refugees in the camp,
the Mayor lead a peaceful manifestation, throwing flowers
in the sea, to commemorate all the persons died when
attempting to cross the Canale di Sicilia. Nearly all of the
refugees escape from the camp, joining the manifestation
and receiving a warm welcome from the population; at
the end everybody went back into the camp: the Police
had no reason to intervene. Some people is wondering
why the refugees have been allowed to get out of the
camp.
10 September 2008
Islander’s point of view
Antonino Meli, editor since years of the website www.isoladilampedusa.it wrote me his viewpoint some
weeks ago, on 1 February. First of all, he carefully stresses that this viewpoint is only his personal one. His
critics focuses on the difficulties of the inhabitants. Water, gasoline and other commodities cost more. The
first aid, still free in some Italian regions, costs 17 euros in Lampedusa, and to have an hospital check up
one should arrive in Sicily: plane ticket euro 71. Islanders don’t oppose the institution of CIE in Italy, they
simply say that it is impossible to have one in such a small island.
He opposes the political ideas of Lega (a non Italian party, he says), but agrees with some of their critics.
The action of many NGO in the island is totally useless, so why they receive funds to stay there? An Italian
singer organizes yearly a sort of Festival (O’Scia), and gets lot of money for this: how is the money spent,
given that the majority of the exhibiting artists performs for free?
Moreover
he
poses
several
questions: why in January the police
let all the refugees go out to join the
manifestation? Did someone hope to
see a real battle with the inhabitants?
Probably some persons were
waiting for this, and received a strong
disillusion. Actually, in Southern Italy
opinions
like
this
are
really
widespread: the State is perceived as
an evil enemy, always taking bad
initiatives again the Mezzogiorno.
On the other hand, he is very proud of
being Italian: immigrants are an
Italian problem to be solved, without
crying for European help, he says.
To better understand his thoughts, it
Peaceful march
is necessary now to clarify better
what is a CAT and what is a CIE.
27 January 2009
What’s a CAT and what’s a CIE
A Center for Temporary Reception is a place where someone is hosted with little comfort, waiting to be
transferred in more suitable structure. The stay shouldn’t last more than a couple of weeks. A Center for
Identification and Expulsion is a place where someone is identified and sent back to his country. A question
of minutes, when someone has documents, rather impossible if he just has no ID. The stay should not last
more than 6 months, but can be delayed up to 18. But if one doesn’t want to tell his nationality, there is no
legal way to convince him. So, what was going to happen in a tiny island, where the CAT, built for 500
people supposed to remain less than 2 weeks, was already hosting more than 1000, and more immigrant
were arriving daily, now bound to remain a minimum of 6 months?
The situation could explode at any moment, but In Mr. Meli’s opinion, the Italian Government doesn’t care
too much, because it is rather easy to hide what happens there. His words: from here only goes out WHAT
THEY ALLOW TO GO OUT OR WANT TO BE KNOWN.
His mail arrived me on 1 February: the peaceful period was going to stop abruptly, the following day.
in the CAT or in the CEI:
the life is not different
February 2009: riots
By the end of January, in order to give some relief in the CAT-CEI, about 100 refugees had been transferred in a
nearly ruined structure for radar surveillance (Loran, Long Range Navigation). On 2 February Loran was partly
destroyed by a fire, and (giving force to Mr. Meli’s suspicion) in the media this new had very little evidence, if
any. The morning after the Minister said that it had been a minor accident, and the project of transfers would
continue. In the mean time, in CAT-CEI the number of refugees reached 1300 (but the record remains to 17
October 2008: nearly 2000).
Loran, 2 February
2009, before dawn
Loran, 18 February , at
dawn the riot begins
On 18 February at dawn a riot began
in the camp, the Police had to
intervene, eventually throwing tear
gas canisters. The rioters answered
setting the structure on fire. Built with
large use of plastic and light materials,
the pavilions burned very easily, which
caused hundreds of refugees try to
escape, and the same policemen
couldn’t remain. On both sides, more
than 50 smoke poisoned persons
needed to be treated. Police could
stop the riot only at night, arresting 20
refugees.
Lampedusa, February 2009
The sleep of reason brings forth monsters
Last news: since the night 18-19 February 2009,
hundreds of refugees had to sleep outside. In the
island there are now more policemen than refugees.
In the week end 21-22 February the coast guard
rescued 540 immigrants at sea, and 9 after their
landing in Lampedusa. Only in the center-left media
this news is receiving due attention.
Local, National, Global Politics: marine and terrestrial borders
Being a small island, unwillingly become the first step on the maritime trail of tears is a burden unlikely to be
solved. In the local political or administrative polls all the Italian political parties encounter only failures, with the
incredible exception of the one whose complete denomination is “Lega Nord per l’indipendenza della Padania”
(North League for the independence of the Po river region).
I am sure, no other islands in the Mediterranean risks to undergo such a series of events, and I can’t find a
similar situation in the whole world. There are some necessary simultaneous conditions that only here can be
found, and I quote but a few
A very high difference in per person GNP, as it is between Europe and Africa.
A very short sea distance, possible to cover with in 20-30 hours.
A source of innumerable quantity of potential refugees, looking only for nothing more than life.
I am sure, no other islands in the Mediterranean risks to undergo such a series of events, and I can’t find a
similar situation in the whole world.
USA-Mexico border faces less difficult problems, and not do deadly: earth
Lampedusa, NE tip
ways are not dangerous as sea ones. Usa is larger than Mexico, while
nobody can try to compare Lampedusa and Africa’s surfaces. I can’t agree
with Mr. Meli: this problem is a continental scale one, which the same Italy
can’t solve. Moreover, due to the distance, attempts to reach the US coast
from Caribbean islands are but a few. In Lampedusa one third of the
immigrants arrive from Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt, 30% from East Africa,
27% from Nigeria and Ghana, and the remaining arrive from Asian countries.
Rather impossible to send them back, even when identified, as the
agreement only concerns Maghreb. The refugees in USA from Mexico are
95% allegedly Mexicans, and are quickly sent back to Mexico, as their
nationality is sure.
My conclusion: Lampedusa in unique in the world, and
this uniqueness is far from being a privilege.