THE CRISIS IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN SEA by SRF Rundschau
TRANSCRIPT including:
- VOICE-OVER
- INTERVIEWS in
English, German and Italian (if needed with subtitles)
- SCREEN TEXTS
(credits, lower and uper thirds)
0.00
OPENING CREDITS
The Crisis in Mediterranean Sea
by SRF Rundschau
0.08
This also is part of their daily routine: to arrive too late. To find
people that did not make it.
0.17
Soundbite English
Malcolm Holland (no lower)
Subtitles
I am returning your call to
discuss the way forward with these dead bodies that we found.
0.23
The captain of Sea-Watch asks the Maritime Coordination Center in Rome
if there are other vessels in the area.
0.30
Soundbite English
Loudspeaker (no lower)
Subtitles
We have considered all the
possibilities here and there is no possibility for us to intervene.
0.39
No other ship is able or willing to recover the corpses. Sea-Watch lacks
cooling facilities to take dead bodies on board. The only thing the team can do is to document
what they find.
0.50
They put a life jacket on the body, note the date and coordinates on it
and leave the dead person floating - in the mass grave of the Mediterranean sea.
1.04
The numbers of those who drowned have risen again in recent months.
One possible cause: many NGOs have retreated, the air out here has
become rough. Head of mission Julian Kšberer talks about the unpredictability
of the Libyan Coast Guard but also about political pressure. And about the
accusation that the NGOs are part of the reason why more come.
1.28
Soundbite German
Julian K…BERER, Head of Mission,Sea-Watch
Subtitles
If the NGOs left, less would be reported about this and
maybe it would be forgotten at some point, but the people would still drown out
there and I mean plenty of people! Plenty of them. Because the reasons why
people flee are still there and if someone on the other side in Libya ...
promises that the lights of those oilrigs 30 miles off the coast are in Europe...
then people are willing to get on a dinghy for 3-4 hours. Only to realize later
that they are actually lost in the middle of the sea.
1.57
Soundbite
Radio
noise
2.00
A storm actually arrives the next morning. On the radar, the crew spots
a relatively large refugee boat.
Although it is made out of wood, it is heavily overcrowded and prone to
capsize any moment.
2.18
Soundbite
Refugees getting rescued
2.25
They will reach Europe thanks to the civilian rescuers. Sea-Watch takes
303 persons on board this morning - almost all of them from Eritrea.
2.35
Many of the refugees are in a bad condition and malnourished. Haidi
Sadik, the Cultural Mediator on board of Sea-Watch hears stories of violence,
rape and torture daily.
2.49
Soundbite English
Haidi
SADIK, Cultural Mediator, Sea-Watch
(((Some
people are more traumatised than others and some people are more clearly abused
than others but i think itÕs quite clear that anyone that comes trugh lybia has
been through hell.)))
2.58
Many of these people tell us about their time in prison or forced labor.
Refugees in Libya are seen as a commodity rather than humans. Amnesty
International just released another report denouncing severe human rights violations.
These Eritreans escaped that horror only a few hours ago.
3.23
Soundbite broken English
Eritrean (no lower)
Subtitles
We were brought to a house and there we were locked
into a cage. We could not get out. No sun. No food. They'd beat you. They cut
our fingers. They hit us with weapons on the head. And on the back. The Libyan Coast
Guard is more active now, meaning that they are now active at all.
3.51
The same words can be heard again and again: "I would rather have
died at sea then stayed in Libya." A lot has changed out here since last
summer, says Julian Koeberer - since the Libyan Coast Guard is being financed,
trained and equipped by Italy and the EU - with the objective to "help"
with the Search and Rescue of Migrants.
4.11
Soundbite German
Julian K…BERER, Head of Mission,Sea-Watch
Subtitles
The Libyan Coast Guard is more active now, meaning
that they are now active at all.
Before the deal they were never involved in rescue operations or taking
people back to Libya. Now they are present every day especially in good
weather...And they take over some of the rescues. They also demand the
coordination of rescues.
4.37
Soundbite English
Rescuer
screaming
(((Stay there)))
4.38
Upper third: ÒSource: Sea-WatchÓ
(04:38 - 05:40)
4.41
This incident last November shows how brutal that can be. When Sea-Watch
arrives at the scene, many people are already in the water. The Libyan Coast
Guard - with the grey ship Ð has approached the refugee boat too fast. Panic
erupts and people fall into the water.
4.58
Soundbite
(((Rescuing scene )))
4.57
The Libyan Coast Guards - a majority of them trained by the EU - beat
the rescued people and suddenly leave. Disregarding a person still hanging on
the ladder outside the boat.
5.10
Soundbite
(((Rescuing scene )))
5.21
An Italian navy helicopter appeals on the radio:
5.25
Soundbite English
Radio
Subtitles
Libyan Coast Guard - stop your
engine, stop your engine
This is Italian navy helicopter. You
have... there's a person on your ladder. Stop NOW! Now! Now!
5.36
Five corpses are recovered on that day. According to the Italian
authorities, many more are believed to have drowned.
5.48
In London the assistant professor Violeta Moreno-Lax studies the drama
in the Mediterranean closely. For ten years, she has been researching and lecturing
about refugee rights, and working together with NGOs to that end. She heavily criticizes
the cooperation with Libya.
6.06
Soundbite English
Violeta
MORENO-LAX, Associate Professor Queen Mary University, London
(((Considering
that the Libyan coast guard is a construction that doesnt really exist beacause
there is no Libyan state to which they are acountable that on one hand on the
other hand we know that when people are coming back to Libya they risk beeing
tortured and beeing slaved and that is common knowledge that everyone is aware
of because of this two factors in this particular circumstances the cooperation
with the Libyan Coast Guard is against HUMAN RIGHTS LAW.)))
6.36
Back on board the Sea-Watch - where a confusing search is being conducted.
The ship has received a notification from the Coordination Center in
Rome. A refugee boat in the area is in distress. A few miles further down, the
crew detects an Italian Coast Guard ship. They contact it via radio.
6.55
Soundbite English
Malcolm
Holland (no lower)
Subtitles
IÕm wondering if you
have visual on a distressed vessle. Over.
7.03
At first the Italians remain silent. When they finally respond, they do
so hesitantly.
7.08
Soundbite English
Radio
Subtitles
We dont have contact with a
vessle in distress.
7.17
Because of this, the crew does not proceed to the location and continues
its search in another direction. But shortly after, they notice on the radar
that a Libyan Coast Guard is heading towards the Italians, lingering there for
a while. An hour later, Sea-Watch learns that the refugee boat has now been
found. Exactly in the area where the Italians have been all the time. Sea-Watch checks again:
7.42
Soundbite English
Radio
Subtitles
We have compledet the rescue
operation. We have all the migrants on board now.
7.48
With
the help of a special camera, the Libyans can be seen leaving the scene.
Vaguely visible on their deck are dozens of heads - most likely refugees. The Libyans are taking them
back to Libya, out of international waters. Quite possibly, they were assisted during
the operation by the Italians.
8.09
Soundbite English
Malcolm
HOLLAND, Captain, Sea-Watch
(((Yeah,
the whole thing is justÉeventhough now it is not clear what occured but it
seems that the italian coast guard vessle just completely lied to us in order
that they could get those people back to Libya through by the Libyan coast
guard.)))
8.27
Soundbite German
Julian K…BERER, Head of Mission,Sea-Watch
Subtitles
In this case either they
withheld information from us or they have misled us on purpose, so they could
work undisturbed. We don't know for sure. But it certainly feels like our
presence was unwanted.
8.46
It is not the first time the civilian rescuers has encounter this
deliberate confusion.
8.52
Last autumn, the news channel VICE documented a possibly similar
operation. At that time, A journalist on board a Libyan Coast Guard vessel. In
their feature, the Libyan captain tells her that he has just been called by the
Italians.
9.10
Soundbite English
Vice
Video
Subtitles
We
received two distress calls from the Italian warship. We received the position
and they confirmed
9.10 Ð 9.20
Upper third: Source: Youtube
9.15
"Keep
away", a banner on the Italian ship warns the migrants. Instead of
rescueing the refugees themselves, they called the Libyans Ð who then take them
on board. This behaviour of the Italians may be in violation of international
law.
9.30
Soundbite English
Violeta
MORENO-LAX, Associate Professor Queen Mary University, London
(((They are indirectly responsible
because they are informing the Libyans in the knowledge that people are going
to end up in a situation of mal treatment and makes them acclompicit of the
final faith.So either directly or indirectly I think personally there is
Italian responsability to be deteremined in this particular circumstances.)))
9.52
Together with other legal experts Violeta Moreno-Lax prepares a case to
take Italy to the European Court of Human Rights.
10.03
Italy denies the accusations. The Minister of the interior wrote in a
letter to the Commissioner for human rights of the European Council in autumn
2017: ÒItaly has never rejected migrants on the high seas.Ó
During an official handover of command ceremony of the Italian Navy, the
Minister of transport states only truisms:
10.23
Soundbite Italian
Graziano
DELRIO, Minister of Transport, Italy
Subtitles
It is very important that the rights of migrants in Libyan reception
centers are fully respected. We work for that. The UNHCR checks these reception
centers on behalf of Italy. That is a success of Italian efforts in Libya. We
also train the Libyan Coast Guard so they can act with full professionality. It
is clear that work needs to be continued. But I believe we have set things in
motion correctly.
11.00
Libya is also an important topic during the annual conference of Frontex
- the European border agency. The director emphasizes once again that Libya is
not a safe place for refugees.
11.13
Soundbite English
Fabrice
LEGGERI, Director, Frontex
(((I
would never sign an operational plan Ð well never - at this point of time I would not an
operational plan, saying that resuced migrants should be disembarked to
Libya.)))
11.30
But for Italy and the EU, the focus is clear: to stem migration. To that
end, even a collaboration with questionable partners seems legitimate.
Only in January, according to the UNHCR, the Libyan Coast Guard picked
up and returned more than 1400 migrants.
11.49
Meanwhile, on Sea-Watch, one deck has been converted to a makeshift
church. These Eritreans praise God for having escaped Libya. They say their
group had been locked up in a warehouse for many months. Soon they will arrive
in Sicily. What expects them there is uncertain.
12.08
Soundbite
Preaching
12.11
Julian Kšberer is aware of the fact that the NGOs are a part of this
confused situation too. But he doesn't think that the problem can be solved out
here at sea.
12.25
Soundbite German
Julian K…BERER, Head of Mission, Sea-Watch
Subtitles
Other solutions need to be
found. Political solutions. No one should get on boats. I don't want people to
go on those boats. I'm not doing this for fun. I don't need to be here. But as
long as people do it, we as Europeans, who share responsibility for this
situation, we feel bound to be here. And to do as much as we can.
12.50
Part of this is also to destroy boats. So that these will not again endanger
the lives of hundreds of people.
12.58
CLOSING CREDITS
Reportage by Nicole Všgele
Camera by Lukas Steinbach
Total Length: 13.03
OPENING and CLOSING CREDITS
Opening
0.01-0.05
The Crisis in Mediterranean Sea
by SRF Rundschau
Closing
12.58 Ð 13.03
Reportage by Nicole Všgele
Camera by Lukas Steinbach
LOWER THIRDS and UPPER THIRDS
1.28
Julian K…BERER, Head of Mission,Sea-Watch
2.49
Haidi
SADIK, Cultural Mediator, Sea-Watch
4.11
Julian K…BERER, Head of Mission,Sea-Watch
4.38 Ð 5.40
Upper third: ÒSource: Sea-WatchÓ
6.06
Violeta
MORENO-LAX, Associate Professor Queen Mary University, London
8.09
Malcolm
HOLLAND, Captain, Sea-Watch
9.10 Ð 9.20
Upper third: Source: Youtube
9.30
Violeta
MORENO-LAX, Associate Professor Queen Mary University, London
10.23
Graziano
DELRIO, Minister of Transport, Italy
11.13
Fabrice
LEGGERI, Director, Frontex
12.25
Julian K…BERER, Head of Mission, Sea-Watch