The media has been "gagged" by the
government over the situation of migrants aboard two NGO run
ships docked at Catania as it is unable to report on their
condition, the head of journalists union FNSI, Raffaele
Lorusso, said Tuesday.
"Preventing journalists from doing their job in the port of
Catania, where the ships Humanity 1 and Geo Barents are docked,
is not admissible," he said.
"It is to be hoped, therefore, that the prefecture and the port
authorities in Catania uphold the request from reporters of
numerous national and local publications to be allowed to
document the situation of the migrants on board the two ships.
"Continuing to stop them from working and informing public
opinion is not only denying the right to report, but represents
an unacceptable gag that is unworthy of a civilized country".
Rome has allowed the most vulnerable migrants to land from the
two ships but has refused landing to allegedly healthy migrants.
Two Syrian migrants jumped off the Geo Barents into the sea
Monday while most of the 35 migrants left aboard have now
started a hunger strike.
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