DEMO ATTACKED IN MALTA JUNE 26 2006
===================================
Monday 26th June at 9am , Malta - around 700 refugees from across the detention centres around Malta, and a variety of nationalities, marched into the main town. They have many times previously held such peaceful demonstations in the town. On Monday, however, the demonstration was attacked by Maltese police and Army. Media and journalists were also attacked and equipmenmt was confiscated. Some media escaped with taped footage. Around 50 people have been hospitalised - teeth, legs and arms broken - mainly from Hal Safi Barracks concentration camp on.
There are around 3000 refugees having been in detention for 1-3 years on Malta. Most have been taken by force from the sea and promised asylum in Malta. However, the government has been only granting asylum to a very few people, based on their nationality and race. Those who have been selected
for release have been confined to the island with no resources to rebuild their lives, only the most basic tents for survival in the so-called "Open Centres".
We have been putting pressure on the Maltese and European authorities. So far MEPs have been sent to the concentration camps, although some have been not allowed access to the prisoners.
Please contact the Maltese and European authorities to demand that the people in Malta be treated with humanity.
http://uo.dczn.net/index.php/Malta
http://uo.dczn.net/index.php/Hal_Safi_Barracks
http://uo.dczn.net/index.php/Refugee_Voice