This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/20/world/europe/italy-migrant-ship-salvini.html

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
After Desperate Migrants Jump Ship, Italy Allows Rescue Vessel to Dock After Desperate Migrants Jump Ship, Italy Allows Rescue Vessel to Dock
(about 5 hours later)
ROME — A ship carrying over 80 migrants stranded off the coast of Italy for nearly three weeks must be allowed to dock, an Italian prosecutor ordered on Tuesday, ending a crisis that had grown more dire by the day as desperate passengers began throwing themselves off the vessel.ROME — A ship carrying over 80 migrants stranded off the coast of Italy for nearly three weeks must be allowed to dock, an Italian prosecutor ordered on Tuesday, ending a crisis that had grown more dire by the day as desperate passengers began throwing themselves off the vessel.
More than a dozen migrants jumped overboard on Tuesday alone, news reports said, in a vain attempt to swim the roughly three miles ashore. All were rescued.More than a dozen migrants jumped overboard on Tuesday alone, news reports said, in a vain attempt to swim the roughly three miles ashore. All were rescued.
The migrant ship, whose landing had been blocked by Italy’s hard-line interior minister, Matteo Salvini, made port on the island of Lampedusa, south of Sicily, late Tuesday night. France and Spain have said that they would take some of the migrants, most of whom are African, although the details were unclear.The migrant ship, whose landing had been blocked by Italy’s hard-line interior minister, Matteo Salvini, made port on the island of Lampedusa, south of Sicily, late Tuesday night. France and Spain have said that they would take some of the migrants, most of whom are African, although the details were unclear.
“There’s been a happy resolution. It took too much time, but we got there,” said Arturo Salerno, a lawyer for Open Arms, the Spanish charity that operated the rescue vessel of the same name. “The chief prosecutor inspected the ship, saw that the situation had become intolerable, and ordered the migrants to leave the ship.” “There’s been a happy resolution. It took too much time, but we got there,” said Arturo Salerno, a lawyer for Open Arms, the Spanish charity that operated the rescue vessel of the same name. “The chief prosecutor inspected the ship, saw that the situation had become intolerable and ordered the migrants to leave the ship.”
Luigi Patronaggio, the chief prosecutor of Agrigento, in Sicily, had boarded the ship on Tuesday afternoon with a team of doctors to evaluate the conditions. Mr. Patronaggio also ordered that the ship be seized under Italian law.Luigi Patronaggio, the chief prosecutor of Agrigento, in Sicily, had boarded the ship on Tuesday afternoon with a team of doctors to evaluate the conditions. Mr. Patronaggio also ordered that the ship be seized under Italian law.
The migrants — who had been picked up by Open Arms from three shipwrecks off Libya in early August — at one time numbered over 160 on the rescue vessel. Sick people, pregnant women and minors were allowed to evacuate bit by bit, but about half of the passengers remained aboard as appeals to other European countries to open their ports went unanswered. The migrants — who were picked up by Open Arms from three shipwrecks off Libya in early August — at one time numbered over 160 on the rescue vessel. Sick people, pregnant women and minors were allowed to evacuate bit by bit, but about half of the passengers remained aboard as appeals to other European countries to open their ports went unanswered.
Open Arms called the deteriorating conditions aboard a “full humanitarian crisis” and said the health and safety of the migrants had been jeopardized. Dozens of people were crammed on deck, sharing just two bathrooms.Open Arms called the deteriorating conditions aboard a “full humanitarian crisis” and said the health and safety of the migrants had been jeopardized. Dozens of people were crammed on deck, sharing just two bathrooms.
The decision in Italy came shortly after the Spanish government announced plans to send a ship to Lampedusa, a trip that would take about three days, pick up the migrants and take them to Majorca.
The fate of the Open Arms has been the source of a diplomatic dispute between Spain and Italy, and the tensions could persist even after this episode ends. The Italian government is demanding that Open Arms, a Spanish-flagged ship, cease its rescue missions near its coastline.
Mr. Salvini, whose anti-migrant stances have buoyed his surging popularity at home, had banned the ship from landing even after an Italian administrative court ruled that it could enter Italian waters.Mr. Salvini, whose anti-migrant stances have buoyed his surging popularity at home, had banned the ship from landing even after an Italian administrative court ruled that it could enter Italian waters.
This month, Italy passed a new security law pushed by Mr. Salvini, codifying his view of rescue ships as accomplices of human traffickers. The law punishes aid vessels entering Italian waters, allowing officials to confiscate them and impose million-euro fines on captains who defy the law.This month, Italy passed a new security law pushed by Mr. Salvini, codifying his view of rescue ships as accomplices of human traffickers. The law punishes aid vessels entering Italian waters, allowing officials to confiscate them and impose million-euro fines on captains who defy the law.
Critics say that the Italian measure violates international maritime law, which cites an obligation to assist anyone in distress at sea.Critics say that the Italian measure violates international maritime law, which cites an obligation to assist anyone in distress at sea.
For now, Mr. Salvini may have to take a back seat on the fate of the migrant ship. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned, collapsing the government in which Mr. Salvini’s nationalist League Party had shared power. President Sergio Mattarella will begin consulting with political leaders this week to determine whether a new government can be formed. For now, Mr. Salvini may have to take a back seat on the fate of the migrant ship. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte resigned, collapsing the government in which Mr. Salvini’s nationalist League Party shared power. President Sergio Mattarella will begin consulting with political leaders this week to determine whether a new government can be formed.
Mr. Salvini has himself been investigated on charges of effectively detaining people at sea by refusing to allow them to land. On Tuesday, he wrote on Twitter: “Ngo #OpenArms: another landing, another trial? I am not afraid, proud to defend the borders and the security of my country.”Mr. Salvini has himself been investigated on charges of effectively detaining people at sea by refusing to allow them to land. On Tuesday, he wrote on Twitter: “Ngo #OpenArms: another landing, another trial? I am not afraid, proud to defend the borders and the security of my country.”
In recent days, with conditions aboard worsening and Lampedusa in sight, some migrants began jumping overboard in an attempt to swim ashore.In recent days, with conditions aboard worsening and Lampedusa in sight, some migrants began jumping overboard in an attempt to swim ashore.
“The situation became more and more dramatic,” Mr. Salerno said. The migrants from the Open Arms vessel will be taken to a reception center in Lampedusa, he said.“The situation became more and more dramatic,” Mr. Salerno said. The migrants from the Open Arms vessel will be taken to a reception center in Lampedusa, he said.