(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, DECEMBER 12 - ''European governments''
and ''in particular Italy'' are ''aware accomplices of torture
and abuse on tens of thousands of migrants detained by Libyan
immigration authorities in horrible conditions in Libya'',
Amnesty International writes in a new report.
''Not only were they fully aware of these abuses but, by
supporting Libyan authorities in stopping crossings and keeping
people in Libya, they were accomplices in these crimes'', said
director John Dalhuisen.
Top officials from Amnesty International early in the
afternoon will hold a press conference in Brussels.
In a statement, the NGO said that, among other things,
''Libyan coast guard officials are known for operating in
collusion with trafficking networks and for threatening and
abusing refugees and migrants aboard boats in difficult
conditions''.
The organization denounced that ''videos, photos and
documents controlled by Amnesty International indicate that the
vessel 'Ras Jadir', donated by Italy in April 2017'', with ''two
ceremonies attended by Interior Minister Marco Minniti'', was
''used by Libyan coast guards in the horrible incident in which
50 people drowned on November 6, 2017''.
Amnesty observed that, ''while reckless and dangerous actions
by Libyan coast guards were previously documented, this is the
first time that it has been proven that a vessel provided by a
European government was used in such an incident''. Amnesty
recalled that on that day the 'Ras Jadir' pushed away rescuers
aboard the 'Sea-Watch 3', operated by an NGO.
''European governments - said Dalhuisen - must rethink their
cooperation with Libya on migration and must allow people to
arrive in Europe through legal routes that include the
reallocation of tens of thousands of refugees. They must insist
so that Libyan authorities end policies and practices of
arbitrary arrests and detention of refugees and migrants,
immediately release all foreigners held in detention centers and
allow the UNHCR to operate without obstacles''. (ANSAmed)
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