Non-governmental organisations have
rescued migrants off Libya without informing the Italian Coast
Guard and appear to know where migrant boats will be, Trapani
acting chief prosecutor Ambrogio Cartosio told the Senate
defence committee Wednesday, adding that mafia-linked people
were involved in the migrant reception business.
"The NGOs have carried out some sea rescues without informing
the Coast Guard," said Cartosio.
There have also been "cases in which individuals on board NGO
ships were aware of the time and place in which migrant boats
would be, and that poses a problem as to whether the
intervention was regular".
Furthermore, Cartosio said, "individuals related to or in
touch with mafia organisations were part of the reception
business".
Cartosio said investigations are ongoing "into aiding and
abetting clandestine immigration not concerning the NGOs as such
but people belonging to the NGOs."
Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) said it had "never" been
contacted by Trapani prosecutors.
It said its procedures for intervention were "transparent"
and it was ready to "clear things up".
Rescues were carried out in conformity with its humanitarian
principles and in accordance with national and international
law, it said.
Meanwhile in the first effect of a deal recently signed with
Italy the Libyan Coast Guard, recently equipped with Italian
vessels, rescued a boat carrying some 300 migrants and took it
back to Tripoli.
The migrants had sent an SOS to the Italian Coast Guard.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
