On the sixth day
of the summer school, the participants had a lecture by Jutta Lauth Bacas, Research Affiliate at the Institute of Mediterranean Studies, University of Malta. She has more than 15 years of experience conducting research
about migrants in the Island of Lesbos, Greece.
During her presentation,
Jutta explained about her participant observation methodology on clandestine
arrivals and reception of undocumented boat migrants. She focused on a
comparative analysis between the Greece and Turkish immigration interactions and
how the efforts from both countries, including police, migration control, and NGO’s
managed the border and handles the migrants.
Hundreds of
migrants found either in the sea and/or land were welcome to the Lesbos camp by
responsible authorities in the island. A detailed registration system was in
place in the camp to avoid any refugees escaping the premises. Their names were
translated from English to Greek. Meanwhile, there was a challenge translating
their names back from Greek to English if requested documents arrived, and this
linguistic difference created problems with receiving immigration authorities.
Greece is strongly
supporting migrants providing them with food, clothing, and access to their basic
needs; one of the programs sponsored by the United Nations, deposits 100 euros
in their bank accounts to help them survive in the foreign land. The migrants are
allowed to apply to the refugee status, if it is granted they will be allowed
to live in Greece but if not, they are welcome to appeal the decision, after
another rejection the migrants are not allowed to appeal, therefore, they have
to leave the country.
In the afternoon,
the students arrived at the Malta Maritime Museum after their lunch at the
University of Malta and the Valletta City. They had opportunity to attend a guided
tour conducted by Ivan Cocker, a technician of the Malta Maritime Museum.
During the visit in the museum students and lecturers had the pleasure to learn
about the boats’ history in Malta and the international trade and exchange of
good and services among players in the Mediterranean.