Panama revokes registration of Mediterranean
migrant transport ship Aquarius 2, by Ann Corcoran, 9/24/18.
The
NGO that has been acting as an immigrant “taxi service” was shocked to learn
that as of now they have no flag under which to fly.
Aquarius 2 with its human cargo had been
flying under the Panamanian flag.
It
has been over four years since former
Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told the Europeans, in April of 2015, that they must turn back the boats carrying Africans and Middle
Easterners to Europe. They are finally getting to it. It’s just too bad
that hundreds of thousands got in during those interim years.
From Reuters: Panama revokes registration of last
migrant rescue ship in central Mediterranean
MILAN (Reuters) – The Panama Maritime Authority has revoked the
registration of search and rescue ship Aquarius 2 in a move that means there
will be no charity rescue ships off the Libyan coast in the near future unless
the vessel can find a new flag to sail under.
Aquarius
2, the one remaining charity rescue vessel still operating in the Central
Mediterranean area, is currently at sea with 58 survivors on board.
The
decision by the Panama Authority (PMA) means that once the ship comes into port
it will be deflagged and will not be allowed to operate again unless it can
find a new flag.
Salvini: it is a Mediterranean “taxi
service” for migrants! SOS Mediterranee, one of the charities that operates the Aquarius, said
in a statement it was reeling from news of the revocation, which it said followed pressure
from the Italian government.
“On
Saturday, the Aquarius team was shocked to learn of an official communication
from the Panamanian authorities stating that the Italian authorities had urged
the PMA to take ‘immediate action’ against the Aquarius,” it said.
Italy’s
Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said the Italian government had applied no
pressure on Panama.
A
public backlash against the arrival of hundreds of thousands of seaborne
newcomers in the past five years helped put Italy’s anti-establishment ruling
coalition into office.
Salvini has led a popular crackdown against immigration since his
League party and the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement took office in June.
Salvini has previously accused SOS Mediterranee and other charities of
acting like a Mediterranean “taxi service” for the migrants. More here.
I
did see another story over the weekend somewhere reporting that Spain is still
picking them up in the western Mediterranean and ferrying them to Spain. My
complete ‘Invasion of Europe’ archive is here.
Norb Leahy, Dunwoody
GA Tea Party Leader
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