Italy sends help to Banksy's overloaded migrant rescue boat

By Gavin Jones

 

The Louise Michel, a migrants search and rescue ship operating in the Mediterranean sea and financed by British street artist Banksy, is seen at sea, August 22, 2020. Picture taken August 22, 2020. Chris Grodotzki/Louise Michel/Handout via REUTERS

 

ROME (Reuters) - The Italian coastguard sent help on Saturday to a rescue boat funded by British street artist Banksy after the vessel issued urgent calls for assistance, saying it was stranded in the Mediterranean and overloaded with migrants.

 

The coastguard said a patrol boat dispatched from the southern Italian island of Lampedusa had taken on board 49 of "those considered most vulnerable" among the 219 migrants picked up by the ship since Thursday off the coast of Libya.

 

Named after a French feminist anarchist, the Louise Michel started operating last week. Despite the help from Italy, it has still not found a safe port for the rest of the mainly African migrants on board.

 

The 49 people who were transferred off the ship include 32 women and 13 children, the Italian coastguard said.

 

The Louise Michel, a German boat manned by a crew of 10, issued a series of tweets overnight and on Saturday saying its situation was worsening, and appealing for help from authorities in Italy, Malta and Germany.

 

"We are reaching a state of emergency. We need immediate assistance," said one tweet, adding that it was also carrying a body bag containing the corpse of one migrant who had died.

 

Another tweet said the boat was unable to move and "no longer the master of her own destiny" due to her overcrowded deck and a life raft deployed at her side, "but above all due to Europe ignoring our emergency calls for immediate assistance."

 

Before Italy's coastguard intervened, an Italian charity ship, the Mare Jonio, said it was leaving the Sicilian port of Augusta, much further away than Lampedusa, to offer assistance.

 

Two United Nations' agencies called for the "urgent disembarkation" of the Louise Michel and two other ships carrying a total of more than 400 migrants in the Mediterranean.

 

Some 200 are on the Sea Watch 4, a German charity ship, while 27 have been on board the commercial tanker Maersk Etienne since their rescue on Aug. 5.

 

The International Organisation for Migration and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees said in a joint statement they were "deeply concerned about the continued absence of dedicated EU-led search and rescue capacity in the Central Mediterranean".

 

"The humanitarian imperative of saving lives should not be penalized or stigmatized, especially in the absence of dedicated state-led efforts," they said.

 

Italy is the destination of most migrants who have departed from Libya across the Mediterranean in recent years. The influx has created political tensions in Rome and fuelled the success of Matteo Salvini's right-wing League party.

 

The 30-metre long (98-foot) Louise Michel, a former French Navy boat daubed in pink and white, was bought with proceeds from the sale of Banksy artwork.

 

The side of the vessel's cabin features a picture of a girl holding a heart-shaped life buoy in Banksy's familiar stencilled style.

 

Bristol-born Banksy, who keeps his identity a secret, is known for his political or social-commentary graffiti that has popped up in cities around the world.

 

(Additional reporting by Angelo Amante and Stephanie Ulmer-Nebehay; Editing by John Stonestreet, Clelia Oziel and Helen Popper)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-08-30

 

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This Banksy character sounds a right pain in the butt.

I hope mr anonymous is paying tax somewhere to contribute to feeding the problems he’s creating with his eyesore boat.

4 minutes ago, twocatsmac said:

This Banksy character sounds a right pain in the butt.

I hope mr anonymous is paying tax somewhere to contribute to feeding the problems he’s creating with his eyesore boat.

No idea why he is not being charged with people smuggling? He is actively trying to circumvent European immigration laws, and news that one person died on his boat (that is acting like a magnet tempting people to make unsafe dingy trips out to be "rescued" by Banksy's ship) should also carry charges. 

 Without laws we are no better than animals.

31 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

No idea why he is not being charged with people smuggling? He is actively trying to circumvent European immigration laws

 

Banksy is from the UK.  Let that boat go there. In the UK they like immigrants very much.

 

Just now, dimitriv said:

 

Banksy is from the UK.  Let that boat go there. In the UK they like immigrants very much.

 

Well apart from anything else, it is a clapped out old French Navy coastal patrol boat. Good luck once you pass the Straits of Gibraltar!

5 years and still going on...if in that much distress why not just dump them off in Libya where they came from....unbelievable that thousands are still arriving weekly with the current pandemic. <deleted> do we have to work into our seventies to pay for these leeches to breed and scrounge from our hard earned money.

1 hour ago, TopDeadSenter said:

No idea why he is not being charged with people smuggling? He is actively trying to circumvent European immigration laws, and news that one person died on his boat (that is acting like a magnet tempting people to make unsafe dingy trips out to be "rescued" by Banksy's ship) should also carry charges. 

 Without laws we are no better than animals.

 

"International maritime rules are clear that vessels at sea have a duty to rescue those in trouble.

The 1974 Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea says any ship learning of persons in distress "should proceed with all speed to their assistance".

 

Accordingly exactly what laws is the rescue ship breaching?

 

 

1 hour ago, simple1 said:

 

"International maritime rules are clear that vessels at sea have a duty to rescue those in trouble.

The 1974 Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea says any ship learning of persons in distress "should proceed with all speed to their assistance".

 

Accordingly exactly what laws is the rescue ship breaching?

 

 

I am not a maritime lawyer. I am concerned that (Banksy in this case) is recklessly endangering human lives, humans that are not fleeing persecution and war, but are tempted by riches and an easy life in the UK. Tempting these economic migrants, in this case from Africa, to make a knowingly life risking dingy journey from the African shore to the middle of the Med where Banksy's ship awaits them, and they sail off to the land of freebies must be breaking some laws. It is breaking the law of common sense for one.

 If the "persons in distress" were intentionally put into their situation, and the same actions would be one again and again, day in, day out, putting more and more lives at risk, I just can't see it being legal.

 

Edited August 30, 20205 yr by TopDeadSenter

36 minutes ago, simple1 said:

No, not returned to Libya, plenty of stories of terrible cruelty by people traffickers, plus not a stable government. Not sure which African / M.E. governments have been assessed as a safe country for returnees by way of government to government agreements, maybe Tunisia, Turkey is swamped - the Libya agreement turned out to be a disaster.

 

Believe Italian government is now accepting some rescued at sea - EU countries still haven't managed to sort out policy, so the misery will continue.

Tony Blair and George Bushes houses would be a good start...those <deleted> caused all this...should hang them both, same they did to Saddam

2 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

 It's definitely breaking the laws of common sense.

It is a humanity issue, which comes above all other considerations. Whether they be a genuine refugee, or a bunch of economic migrants matters not one bit at the moment their lives are in peril. You simply cannot stand idly by and watch people die unnecessarily.

There are however many questions about how these people are being allowed to find themselves in such a predicament, and what, if anything, is being done to stop them disembarking in the first place. They won't be in danger of drowning if they can't set foot in a boat to start with. But they are people.

There has already been a tragic loss of life from these crossings. It is the law of the sea along with simple moral decency which says that whatever you think of the folks splashing about in the water, that you have to do your utmost to try to fish them out.

Common sense says address the root causes of why they are coming and deal with that, stopping the flow, but that is obviously a lot easier said than done. No simple solutions here.

why not send them back ?  other people have to PAY out of pocket for quarantine

Its human trafficking, pure and simple

 

They turned off the engines once closer to Malta than the African coast claiming it was in trouble and over loaded... they knew this before they left and had planned to blackmail coast guards to "rescue " them from the beginning... given 2 days ago the media made a big deal about Banksy art..  its a SCAM.. now using the media to peddle their whining to bring pressure knowing if a coast guard picks them up then the onus is on the authorities to look after these illegal migrants.. its a SCAM no more no less. 

 

Captain should be arrested for endangering lives and piloting an unsafe and overloaded vessel without appropriate amount of PPE. Owner should be charged with similar. 

 

Boat should be impounded for illegal use, unseaworthy and destroyed.

Edited August 30, 20205 yr by englishoak

3 minutes ago, englishoak said:

Boat should be impounded for illegal use, unseaworthy and destroyed.

the Banksy boat is now worth £M as Artwork  - should be seized and sold 

1 minute ago, Opl said:

the Banksy boat is now worth £M as Artwork  - should be seized and sold 

Naaa just trash it, Banksy isnt an artist, hes an activist thats all, a given permission to graffiti what he does, do you really think the authorities dont know who he is ? The fact hes not charged with defacing others property and is a mystery man in a land of CCTV  just shows he has permission. Interests make big a deal about it as art so he can do it and his sponsors make some good cash.. Banksy like the boat is a SCAM.. as are most all "modern art" peddlers. Its all trash 

13 minutes ago, englishoak said:

Naaa just trash it, Banksy isnt an artist, hes an activist thats all, a given permission to graffiti what he does, do you really think the authorities dont know who he is ? The fact hes not charged with defacing others property and is a mystery man in a land of CCTV  just shows he has permission. Interests make big a deal about it as art so he can do it and his sponsors make some good cash.. Banksy like the boat is a SCAM.. as are most all "modern art" peddlers. Its all trash 

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/oct/11/woman-who-bought-shredded-banksy-artwork-will-go-through-with-sale

 

Sell it at the highest possible price,  then give the money to police orphans fund  

Edited August 30, 20205 yr by Opl

Of course the only reason the Louise Michel was in distress was because its operators took on far too many "guests". That was done on purpose, a cynical ploy to force Italian authorities to save the migrants and thus enable them to claim asylum. The boats' operators harp on about the terrible conditions the Africans are in, well but you put them in that condition!

 

Banksy, who hides his real identity, is believed to have asked a controversial German sea pilot and human rights activist called Pia Klemp for help.

Her company Sea-Watch has provided the all-vegan ten-man crew for the vessel, which sailed under the German flag.

 

Italian authorities have charged Ms Klemp in absentia with aiding illegal immigration.

 

People like Klemp and Banksy know they are breaking the law, but they don't care because the impotent authorities do not pursue Klemp or Banksy. 

12 minutes ago, Opl said:

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/oct/11/woman-who-bought-shredded-banksy-artwork-will-go-through-with-sale

 

Sell it at the highest price possible,  use the money to fund police orphans 

I know your idea is well founded but I think that it being sold was on the agenda to begin with, banksy trash always likes a media story to jack up the fees and prices..

 

The reality is it would never be allowed to aid those who might deserve it. It would however make a lot of money for the agents and auction houses and it would make others profit as it was resold etc etc... more like if it was impounded sold would be to try and  publicise to use moneys for probably more immigrants and in turn more publicity..... this wasnt an accident but a well planned and sponsored marketing campaign. ????

 

Better to just destroy it and send the message you cant use blackmail or use activist "art "as a shield .. they have begun to impound and destroy boats doing these runs and its been working imo this was just a creative way of getting round it. 

Edited August 30, 20205 yr by englishoak

4 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Another tweet said the boat was unable to move and "no longer the master of her own destiny" due to her overcrowded deck

totally not a metaphor for the European countries that are having these """""migrants""""" forced upon them, nope, no sir, noo no no

11 minutes ago, englishoak said:

The reality is

Yes I know, yes you're right, but as our asylum laws are effectively abused by people who de facto sponsor smugglers and their criminal trafficking, I'm in favor of at least taking something out of any situation we actually don't control to the benefit of people risking their lives against smugglers and other criminals.    

3 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

They are illegal unless they can prove otherwise, but they can't because they never have any documentation so you get Africans claiming to be Syrian or Afghans and anyone contradicting them gets labeled a racist. They also claim to be 16 when clearly in their 20's or 30's Banksy is a trafficker in human misery and is not helping asylum seekers. He should be charged just as the lorry driver has been for doing the same in his lorry which killed all those Vietnamese.

 I was talking to enacted law relevant to rescue at sea.

1 minute ago, Opl said:

Yes I know, yes you're right, but as our asylum laws are effectively abused by people who de facto sponsor smugglers and their criminal trafficking, I'm in favor of at least taking something out of any situation we actually don't control to the benefit of people risking their lives against smugglers and other criminals.    

id agree, only that NEVER ever happens and unlikely ever to... more like it would go to diversity training or used to send "poor" immigrants to Liverpool FC days out etc.. just a sad reality of the times. 

Banks does like publicity , even his anonymity can be regarded as a publicity stunt 

27 minutes ago, Genmai said:

totally not a metaphor for the European countries that are having these """""migrants""""" forced upon them, nope, no sir, noo no no

 

EU and other countries have been fully aware of the push / pull factors from poverty ridden corrupt countries and conflict areas with people attempting to enter the EU for years, if not decades, Due to ill-advised foreign policy decisions, squabbling, complacency and all the other 'reasons' we have the situation we see today. It is well past due people stopped laying all the fault at the feet of the asylum seekers, no matter their status, the 'blame' lays with governments.

3 minutes ago, simple1 said:

It is well past due people stopped laying all the fault at the feet of the asylum seekers, no matter their status, the 'blame' lays with governments.

It always seems to be someone elses fault, other than the actual people who are doing the things 

17 minutes ago, simple1 said:

EU and other countries have been fully aware of the push / pull factors from poverty ridden corrupt countries and conflict areas with people attempting to enter the EU for years, if not decades, Due to ill-advised foreign policy decisions, squabbling, complacency and all the other 'reasons' we have the situation we see today. It is well past due people stopped laying all the fault at the feet of the asylum seekers, no matter their status, the 'blame' lays with governments.

Tell it to Tunisians or Europeans with Tunisian roots settled in Europe who spend their yearly summer holidays in their homeland.

https://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20200813-italy-braces-for-a-tunisian-time-bomb-as-thousand-flee-economic-hardship-at-home

 

""We find ourselves in a similar situation as those who are fighting terrorists," he says. "It's what we call asymmetrical. In other words, the adversary plays by his rules and we play by different ones. We don't have the tools to combat them.""

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-17/castel-volturno-is-headquarters-for-nigerian-mafia-in-italy/12033684

Edited August 30, 20205 yr by Opl

1 minute ago, CorpusChristie said:

It always seems to be someone elses fault, other than the actual people who are doing the things 

 

Well me why it isn't the 'fault' of the power structures. e.g. look what happened during the Arab Spring / Iran - thoroughly crushed - what did Western powers do to assist the uprisings - nothing.

8 minutes ago, simple1 said:

Well me why it isn't the 'fault' of the power structures. e.g. look what happened during the Arab Spring / Iran - thoroughly crushed - what did Western powers do to assist the uprisings - nothing.

Are you saying that Westerners should meddle in Islamic countries internal affairs against political Islam? 

This has been a failure repeatedly. 

What Westerners have to do urgently is to fight against political Islam on western soil. 

 

Edited August 30, 20205 yr by Opl

3 hours ago, baansgr said:

5 years and still going on...if in that much distress why not just dump them off in Libya where they came from....unbelievable that thousands are still arriving weekly with the current pandemic. <deleted> do we have to work into our seventies to pay for these leeches to breed and scrounge from our hard earned money.

Agree with your sentiments as the huge majority of these people only want to come to another country where they can obtain state benefits, without working, as that is their dream.

 

They have no intention of working for a living or even an understanding of what is required in a new country, other than the fact that the government will house them, clothe them, feed them and give them money.

 

They pay thousands of dollars to get onto one of these "boats/ships", so the money is coming from somewhere, which means they are not truly destitute.

 

And before anyone comes back at me with, "well you don't know what it's like.........etc etc", well I do, and I have worked in African countries, and in Biafra at the end of the war where tens of thousands of the poor were purposely starved to death, so I have seen misery and death, so I know what it's like and I'm not immune to it.

 

IMO countries should adhere to their own immigration rules, much like NZ does (in the main) whereby anyone wishing to enter New Zealand and live there must have a skill that is required by that country, as well as the financial means to support them.

 

There is compassion, and there is stupidity and allowing these "migrants" (and the traffickers) to continue doing what they are doing is plain and outright stupidity.

55 minutes ago, simple1 said:

You're ranting again. I was talking to enacted law relevant to rescue at sea.

I was talking about people claiming to be asylum seekers when they are illegal immigrants. Maritime law has nothing to do with their status as economic migrants.

15 minutes ago, Opl said:

Tell it to Tunisians or Europeans with Tunisian roots settled in Europe who spend their yearly summer holidays in their homeland.

https://www.rfi.fr/en/europe/20200813-italy-braces-for-a-tunisian-time-bomb-as-thousand-flee-economic-hardship-at-home

 

""We find ourselves in a similar situation as those who are fighting terrorists," he says. "It's what we call asymmetrical. In other words, the adversary plays by his rules and we play by different ones. We don't have the tools to combat them.""

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-17/castel-volturno-is-headquarters-for-nigerian-mafia-in-italy/12033684

tell me what governments are doing to address the issues... Nigerian mafia have been a well-known organised crime group for years, very likely enabled by massive corruption in their home country. Hoko Haram still creating chaos, even though US assisting with weapons and training, but undermined by Nigerian military crimes against humanity and corruption.