{"id":33629,"date":"2021-05-12T17:47:21","date_gmt":"2021-05-12T15:47:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sea-watch.org\/?p=33629"},"modified":"2021-05-12T17:47:22","modified_gmt":"2021-05-12T15:47:22","slug":"frontex_crimes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sea-watch.org\/en\/frontex_crimes\/","title":{"rendered":"Crimes of the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex in the Central Mediterranean Sea"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Insights into their ongoing and unpunished aerial complicity in human rights violations<\/strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n

Frontex<\/em>,<\/em> the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, has the task\u00a0of preventing people on the move from crossing the external borders of the European Union.\u00a0In the Central Mediterranean, Frontex <\/em>is not currently present with naval assets but rather operates aerial reconnaissance aircraft which fly primarily from European Member States. Aerial reconnaissance enables Frontex <\/em>to gather extensive knowledge about developments in the Central Mediterranean Sea and relay information about boats in distress to the \u201ccompetent authorities\u201d, though without having to engage in rescues themselves. When spotting a boat in the Libyan Search-and-Rescue (SAR) zone, Frontex <\/em>(as has been witnessed on several occasions by the crews of\u00a0Airborne<\/em>\u00a0Operations*<\/em>) often only informs the Libyan authorities about a case, despite NGO or merchant vessels also being in the vicinity.\u00a0By forwarding the information to the Libyan Joint Rescue Coordination Centre<\/em> (JRCC) and sometimes even directly guiding the so-called Libyan Coast Guard<\/em> to the position of a boat, Frontex <\/em>coordinates and facilitates the interceptions and pullbacks of people in distress to Libya – thus carrying out the EU’s primary aim of preventing people from safely reaching Europe. Returning people to Libya means bringing them back to a place where they are exposed to severe human rights violations and constitutes a breach of international law.<\/p>\n

For almost 4 years, the crews of the aircraft Moonbird <\/em>and Seabird**<\/em> have witnessed this practice as well as the refusal of Frontex <\/em>aircraft to cooperate\u00a0with NGOs at sea, with the intended consequence that people in distress are not rescued in a fast and safe manner and then taken to a place of safety in Europe (as is required by international maritime law).\u00a0Instead, the agency relies on the so-called Libyan Coast Guard<\/em> to illegally return people to Libya.<\/p>\n

This factsheet outlines a selection of\u00a0representative\u00a0distress cases in the Central Mediterranean\u00a0involving Frontex <\/em>aircraft which were witnessed by Airborne<\/em>\u2019s crews. In addition to Airborne<\/em>\u2019s observations from the air, open radio communications and the retrospective matching of Frontex <\/em>aircraft flight tracks (which can be partly viewed on open online portals) also serve as a basis for the reconstruction of these distress cases. The combination of this data allows conclusions to be drawn about the involvement of Frontex <\/em>in pullbacks to Libya.<\/p>\n

*Airborne <\/em>is the department of the NGO\u00a0Sea-Watch <\/em>e.V.carrying out reconnaissance flights.
\n**Since 2017, together with the Swiss NGO Humanitarian Pilots Initiative<\/em>, Sea-Watch<\/em> monitors the Central Mediterranean with its two aircraft Moonbird<\/em> and Seabird<\/em>.<\/h6>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n
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1. Overview of Selected Distress Cases <\/strong>I<\/strong>nvolving <\/strong>Frontex<\/strong><\/em> Aircraft <\/strong><\/h3>\n

Maltese Search-and-Rescue (SAR) zone<\/strong><\/p>\n

1 distress case, around 30 persons, was pulled back to Libya by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard<\/em> due to support provided by Frontex<\/em><\/p>\n

1 distress case, 40 persons, was rescued by the NGO vessel Open Arms<\/em> and disembarked in Porto Empedocle, Italy<\/p>\n

Estimated*** number of persons in distress: approximatively 70<\/p>\n

Libyan Search-and-Rescue (SAR) zone<\/strong><\/p>\n

3 distress cases, around 201 persons, were pulled back to Libya by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>due to support provided by Frontex<\/em><\/p>\n

***The numbers are based upon the estimations of Moonbird\u2019s and Seabird\u2019s crew, as well as numbers which the initiative Watch The Med – Alarm Phone, the UNHCR and IOM have provided to us.
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2. Details and Outcomes of the Distress Cases<\/strong><\/h3>\n

12.02.20., distress case A, around 50 persons: involvement of <\/strong>Frontex <\/strong><\/em>in an interception by the so-called <\/strong>Libyan Coast Guard<\/strong><\/em>. Moonbird<\/em>\u2019s crew witnessed the airplane Osprey1,<\/em> operated by Frontex, <\/em>staying on-scene with the boat in distress until the so-called Libyan Coast Guard<\/em> patrol boat Fezzan<\/em> intercepted it in the Libyan SAR zone. Upon completion of the operation, Frontex <\/em>was overheard on an open radio channel announcing \u201coperation complete, heading North\u201d.**** The persons on board were pulled back and later disembarked in Libya.<\/p>\n

17.06.20., distress case B, around 70 persons: Frontex<\/strong><\/em> involvement i<\/strong>n a<\/strong>n interception and <\/strong>p<\/strong>ullback to Libya<\/strong>.\u00a0Moonbird\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>crew<\/em> spotted the people in distress in the Libyan SAR zone, who were not wearing life vests. When Moonbird<\/em>\u2019s ground crew called the Libyan authorities, the officer on the phone informed us that the so-called Libyan Coast Guard<\/em> were proceeding to the boat and already had two patrol boats in the area. When Moonbird<\/em>\u2019s crew spotted the people again, the so-called Libyan Coast Guard<\/em> were about to intercept the people and the Frontex<\/em>\u00a0airplane Eagle1<\/em> was on-scene. The people in distress were intercepted and disembarked in Libya. On this day, the NGO vessel Sea-Watch 3<\/em> was also operational in the Central Mediterranean Sea.<\/p>\n

28.08.20., distress case C, around 30 persons: interception by the so-called <\/strong>Libyan Coast Guard<\/strong> in the Maltese (!) SAR<\/strong> zone<\/strong>, likely coordinated by <\/strong>Frontex <\/strong><\/em>aircraft<\/strong>. Airborne<\/em>\u2019s ground crew observed a Frontex <\/em>aircraft orbiting\u00a0in the Libyan SAR zone, close to the Maltese SAR zone boundary. Later, in the same area,\u00a0Moonbird<\/em>\u2019s crew spotted the so-called Libyan Coast Guard<\/em> patrol boat Al-Kifah<\/em> heading north in the Maltese (!) SAR zone. Around 5 nautical miles (nm)***** away, a boat was carrying around 30 persons. The Italian and Maltese authorities were informed about the distress case and of its likely interception, but did not take any action to prevent it. Moonbird<\/em>\u2019s crew observed the interception of the people by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard <\/em>in the Maltese (!) SAR zone, around 8 nm from the SAR zone boundary. The people were pulled back to Libya. Both the NGO vessels Astral <\/em>and Louise Michel<\/em> were also operational in the Central Mediterranean at this time and were never contacted by Frontex <\/em>aircraft.<\/p>\n

22.01.21., distress case D, 81 persons: likely guidance <\/strong>by <\/strong>Frontex <\/strong><\/em>aircraft <\/strong>of the so-called <\/strong>Libyan Coast Guard<\/strong><\/em> to people in distress, NGO vessel in the vicinity not contacted<\/strong>. The initiative\u00a0Watch The Med – Alarm Phone<\/em>\u00a0was called by the 81 persons on board a boat in distress, and alerted the authorities. The civilian aircraft\u00a0Colibri 2<\/em>\u00a0then spotted the people in the Libyan SAR zone. Meanwhile,\u00a0Moonbird<\/em>\u2019s\u00a0ground crew observed the track of\u00a0Frontex\u00a0<\/em>aircraft\u00a0Osprey3<\/em>, which orbited above the persons and then left the scene, first flying towards Tripoli and then back again to the people in distress. We have to assume that the\u00a0Frontex\u00a0<\/em>aircraft was guiding the so-called\u00a0Libyan Coast Guard<\/em>\u00a0to the distress case. In total,\u00a0Osprey3<\/em> orbited for more than 40 minutes above the persons in distress. By the time\u00a0Moonbird<\/em>\u2019s\u00a0aircrew spotted the people in the Libyan SAR zone,\u00a0<\/em>Osprey3<\/em>\u00a0had already left the scene and was heading back to its home base. The so-called\u00a0Libyan Coast Guard<\/em>\u00a0patrol boat\u00a0Fezzan\u00a0<\/em>was at this point only 1 nm away.\u00a0Moonbird<\/em>\u2019s\u00a0crew observed\u00a0Fezzan\u00a0<\/em>intercepting the people and pulling them back to Libya.\u00a0The NGO vessel Ocean Viking<\/em> was operational in the area at this time and was never contacted by Frontex<\/em>\u2019s aircraft in order that it rescue the people. Instead, Frontex <\/em>most likely coordinated a pullback to Libya.<\/p>\n

07.02.21., an <\/strong>empty boat on fire and an interception likely coordinated by <\/strong>Frontex<\/strong><\/em> aircraft<\/strong>. On 07.02., Moonbird\u2019s<\/em> ground crew observed Frontex<\/em> aircraft Eagle1 <\/em>orbiting around a position in the Libyan SAR zone. When Moonbird\u2019s<\/em> aircrew arrived on-scene, an empty burning boat was spotted. The so-called Libyan Coast Guard <\/em>patrol boat Fezzan<\/em>\u00a0was also spotted on scene at this time with around 32 persons on deck, who were later pulled back to Libya. According to the observed Frontex<\/em> track, we have to assume that Frontex<\/em> aircraft once again coordinated a pullback to Libya of people in distress.<\/p>\n

12.02.21., distress case E, 40 persons: Frontex<\/strong><\/em> and Maltese aircraft involvement, non-assistance by <\/strong>m<\/strong>erchant vessels<\/strong>, so-called<\/strong> Libyan Coast Guard<\/strong><\/em> intimidation of NGO crew in the Maltese SAR zone<\/strong>. Seabird\u2019s<\/em> ground crew observed\u00a0Frontex<\/em> aircraft Eagle1<\/em> orbiting around a position in the Maltese SAR zone. Arriving on-scene, Seabird\u2019s<\/em> crew found 40 persons in distress who were not wearing any life vests. The waves at this time were higher than 1 meter. The merchant vessel Vos Triton<\/em>, flying the flag of Gibraltar,\u00a0<\/em>was the nearest vessel in the vicinity.\u00a0The port authorities of Lampedusa\u00a0were informed via radio about the people in distress, and confirmed that they would coordinate with the Italian Coast Guard <\/em>regarding the case. Meanwhile, the Vos Triton<\/em> was heading away from the people, and the merchant vessel Asalet<\/em>, flying the Turkish flag, altered its course to assist the people. The Maltese authorities only took the information provided by Seabird\u2019s<\/em> ground crew but provided no information in return, insisting that they were busy with many cases. The Italian authorities confirmed having received the email from the ground crew but also did not provide any further information, advising a call to the \u201ccompetent authorities\u201d, namely the Maltese. Proceeding with the mission, Seabird\u2019s<\/em> crew found the so-called Libyan Coast Guard <\/em>patrol boat Fezzan<\/em> in the Maltese (!) SAR zone, heading at full speed towards the people in distress. The Libyan authorities were never informed by Seabird\u2019s<\/em> ground crew regarding this boat in distress, since the boat was located in the Maltese SAR zone. Therefore we must assume that the presence of the so-called Libyan Coast Guard<\/em> in the Maltese SAR zone was coordinated by one of the European actors involved in the case. The NGO vessel Open Arms<\/em> then also arrived on-scene, heading towards the boat in distress. Seabird\u2019s<\/em> crew observed the so-called Libyan Coast Guard<\/em>\u00a0next to an Open Arms<\/em> RHIB******, trying to block the RHIB by driving in front of it and using the ensuing waves to disrupt its course. The so-called Libyan Coast Guard<\/em> patrol boat then headed south, passed by another deployed RHIB. When Seabird\u2019s<\/em> crew checked on the people in distress for a final time, an aircraft belonging to the Armed Forces of Malta<\/em> was also on-scene. The people were rescued in the evening by the NGO vessel Open Arms<\/em> and disembarked in Porto Empedocle, Italy on 16.02.<\/p>\n

**** A video of the pullback and Frontex <\/em>aircraft is available at: https:\/\/twitter.com\/seawatch_intl\/status\/1227683058679271426
\n***** \u201cNautical Miles\u201d is the unit of measurement used at sea. 1 nautical mile is equal to 1,852 kilometers.
\n****** A rigid inflatable boat is a fast, lightweight and stable boat usually used by the military for operations at sea.<\/h6>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
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On 12.02.20, interception of around 50 persons by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard - Credit: Neeske Beckmann<\/figcaption>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t
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On 17.06.20, interception of around 70 persons by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard - Credit: Felix Weiss<\/figcaption>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA<\/figcaption>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t
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On 22.01.21, interception of 81 persons by the so-called Libyan Coast Guard - Felix Weiss<\/figcaption>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t
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On 12.02.21, the so-called Libyan Coast Guard patrol boat blocking one of Open Arm\u2019s RHIBs in the Maltese (!) SAR zone - Credit: David Lohmueller)<\/figcaption>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t
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OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA<\/figcaption>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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These missions highlight once again<\/strong>:<\/p>\n