Brussels.- Europe’s decision to launch a naval operation to stop boats suspected of trafficking migrants has aroused strong criticisms ranging from the ineffectiveness of the system to its veiled intention to keep Europe white.
Various press agencies from the Old Continent and other regions are calling the operation, the “militarization of the Mediterranean Sea” - approved May 18 by the European Union’s (EU) Foreign and Defense ministers, who gave the green light to the initiative aimed at addressing the increasing number of migrants arriving to Europe.
After confirming the exponential rise in numbers of people attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea, most departing from Libya, the regional bloc decided to launch a mission to stop boats suspected of trafficking in persons.
The mission is composed of three phases: the first, detect and monitor migrant trafficking networks; second, board, inspect, seize and divert suspected boats, and lastly take necessary steps to either neutralize the vessels or make them inoperable.
This initiative - described as invasive, which will be carried out at sea and in the territorial waters around Libya and is scheduled to be launched in June - requires approval from the United Nations Security Council, or authorities of the North African nation.
Critics have highlighted that although the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Federica Mogherini, has assured that the objective of the mission is it to combat the mafias profiting from people trafficking, its real intention is to stop the arrival of unwanted migrants to Europe; as noted in journalist Glen Ford’s article published on the Globalresearch website in which he comments, ”This new war against Libya will not be to destroy a secular regime, or to grab oil fields, but a war to keep Europe white.”
Various newspapers are describing the maneuver as a “military crackdown” which could entail the bombing of ships, could constitute a violation of international law.
In addition, it has been emphasized that the action will be unable to stop the flow of migrants and much less the humanitarian crisis the victims are facing in their countries of origin.
Three members of the Italian coastguard noted to the British newspaper The Guardian their certainty that the operation will not stop those trying to reach Europe– fleeing from wars and misery in nations such as Syria and Eritrea.
“The problem of migration, of desperate people, will not be solved with these military measures, but will instead take on different forms. They will find other ways,” commented Capitan Paolo Cafaro.
For the coastguard, efforts must primarily be focused on saving the lives of the thousands of people who cross the Mediterranean in precarious boats. Meanwhile, human rights groups warn that the attempt to block current escape routes will only result in more deaths and tragedy, such as that which occurred last April when a fishing boat capsized leaving 800 people dead.
“If these attacks reduce the number of boats, the remaining ones will transport even more people, increasing the danger,” warned Secretary General of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles, Michael Diedring.
He added, “There is even the possibility that in their desperation, these people will simply decide to build their own boats,” increasing the precariousness and danger of the journeys.
According to Diedring, the solution to people trafficking by sea would be an increase in legal and secure migration channels, but European leaders are reluctant to adopt this option, with some nations, such as Britain and Hungary, expressly against it – a logical extension of Europe’s reported intention to keep the region white.
Globalresearch went further in its ethical questioning, highlighting that the continent, today willing to attack boats full of immigrants, is the very same which created millions of Africans and Muslims war refugees.
In this sense, it recalled that military intervention in Libya, by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has brought “anarchy and terror” to the nation.
It also mentioned the role of the West in the “hell that has befallen Syria,” and the worsening living conditions in Somalia.
Ford’s article also notes that the refugee crisis and death of migrants at sea are European and U.S. crimes, adding, “Today, they prepare to beat back by military force the most desperate victims of previous Euro-American crimes. And they have the colossal gall to call it a humanitarian operation.”
