Italy Blocks Ship With Sudanese Refugees

[gottaB]

ROME - Italian coast guard vessels Sunday blocked a ship carrying Sudanese refugees as it tried to dock in Sicily after sailing the Mediterranean for three weeks searching for a port of refuge.

The captain of the Cap Anamur had called for help, saying the refugees were threatening to jump overboard and that he was heading toward land whether authorized or not, Italian television reported.

Ambulances stood by at the dock as the ship floated about 500 yards offshore, under close watch by coast guard boats.

The Cap Anamur is operated by a German aid group of the same name. The group said it came across a rubber dinghy on June 20 containing 36 Sudanese - many reportedly fleeing a humanitarian crisis in the western province of Darfur - and a man from Sierra Leone.

Italy Blocks Ship With Sudanese Refugees....

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Stand-off over Italy migrant ship

[CharlesGroce]

1. We should salute these good people....

the people of the German group and the brave Sudanese heading into the unknown seeking only the right to live their lives.

I'm sure John Kerry's statement on the matter demands action from the government on the matter, and should be out anytime now. I'm sure he's been addressing the matter in his speeches, sending a message of hope to the people of Darfur who just want to raise their families and live with dignity just like any American.

[aquart]

2. The people of Darfur are not Americans. That's first.

Second. I'm real glad you want Kerry to commit us to another unilateral invasion because not one other fucking country is lifting a finger.

And I see that you want Kerry to stick HIS neck out. But I did NOT hear YOU say, WE'LL TAKE THEM IN.

Come on, how many can you take? One, two? A family? A child?

These are REFUGEES. They need a home. Where's your door?

[gottaB]

3. Yes we should salute Cap Anamur

And now the beeb is reporting that Italy has decided to let the ship dock, so that's good news.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3885415.stm

Life sucks for refugees, I'm sure. There's so much hostility. Makes me glad to have a place to call home.

[Kellanved]

4. update: Migrant ship 'to dock in Italy'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3885415.stm

[gottaB]

5. a strange twist

They allowed the ship to dock, but arrested the captain for aiding illegal immigration. Italian authorities say the Darfurians were in fact from Ghana.

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=3195670