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Libyan militia captures smugglers allegedly responsible for migrant deaths Libyan militia captures smugglers allegedly responsible for migrant deaths
(about 1 hour later)
A militia in Libya’s most notorious smuggling town has made a rare show of force against the area’s influential smuggling gangs, capturing some of those alleged to be responsible for the drowning of up to 300 people on Thursday. A militia in Libya’s most notorious smuggling town has made a rare show of force against the area’s influential gangs, capturing some of those alleged to be responsible for the drowning of up to 300 people on Thursday.
The Masked Brigade, a militia that says it upholds law and order in Zuwara in the absence of a functioning Libyan state, seized three men this weekend.The Masked Brigade, a militia that says it upholds law and order in Zuwara in the absence of a functioning Libyan state, seized three men this weekend.
It accused them of responsibility for the sinking of a boat carrying between 400 and 500 people hoping to reach Europe.It accused them of responsibility for the sinking of a boat carrying between 400 and 500 people hoping to reach Europe.
The boat began to sink while still in Libyan waters, and the bodies of many of those who drowned washed up on the seashore close to Zuwara.
Rescuers saved 198 people and 110 bodies have been recovered, leaving as many as 200 people unaccounted for.
Related: Libya's people smugglers: inside the trade that sells refugees hopes of a better lifeRelated: Libya's people smugglers: inside the trade that sells refugees hopes of a better life
The boat began to sink while still within Libyan jurisdiction, and the bodies of many of those who drowned ended up floating in waters close to Zuwara, or washed up on its beaches. This visceral reminder of the human cost of the town’s primary source of income prompted protests from sections of Zuwaran society.
Only 198 people were rescued, and 110 corpses recovered – meaning that up to 200 more bodies remain uncollected in the water or on the shoreline of the surrounding area.
This visceral reminder of the human cost of the town’s primary source of income prompted protests from a section of Zuwaran society.
Carrying placards with slogans such as: “Zuwara should not be in the hands of bloodsuckers”, dozens of residents marched from the town square to the port to demand action.Carrying placards with slogans such as: “Zuwara should not be in the hands of bloodsuckers”, dozens of residents marched from the town square to the port to demand action.
Their anger encouraged the brigade to make its arrests, and to circulate images of the three captives holding photographs of three children whose corpses had washed up on the beach. Their anger encouraged the brigade to make its arrests, and to circulate images of the three captives holding photographs of three children whose bodies had washed ashore.
The brigade said its action would be “a deterrent to this destructive phenomenon” and illustrated how its members were “proactive in the fight against crime of all kinds”.The brigade said its action would be “a deterrent to this destructive phenomenon” and illustrated how its members were “proactive in the fight against crime of all kinds”.
But others are sceptical about how this could be ensured by the arrests of only three foot-soldiers from just one of the town’s several smuggling networks – all of whom otherwise operate with impunity. Others, however, were sceptical about the impact of the town’s smuggling networks, all of whom otherwise operate with impunity.
Hanan Salah, a researcher on human rights in Libya, wrote: “In such tightknit Libyan communities everyone knows everybody. They can do a lot more if they wanted to.”Hanan Salah, a researcher on human rights in Libya, wrote: “In such tightknit Libyan communities everyone knows everybody. They can do a lot more if they wanted to.”
But local people say that not enough residents want to end a trade that provides employment and millions of dollars in revenue to a town that has few other sizeable sources of income. Local people say that not enough residents want to end a trade that provides employment and millions of dollars in revenue to a town that has few other significant sources of income.
Tens of thousands of people will flow through Zuwara on their way to Europe this year, collectively bringing tens of millions of pounds into the local economy. Tens of thousands of people will flow through Zuwara on their way to Europe this year.
“We know it is cruel. The seas are treacherous. Capsizing boats are a possibility,” one Zuwaran said earlier this year. “But we have to turn a blind eye as people are benefiting financially and there is no other work.”“We know it is cruel. The seas are treacherous. Capsizing boats are a possibility,” one Zuwaran said earlier this year. “But we have to turn a blind eye as people are benefiting financially and there is no other work.”
In an indication of the smugglers’ power, on Saturday the town was braced for a possible backlash from the kingpins of the trade.In an indication of the smugglers’ power, on Saturday the town was braced for a possible backlash from the kingpins of the trade.
A local businessman who is friends with several Zuwaran smugglers said: “Today of course there is no smuggling work in Zuwara as the brigade responded with such strength. But we are not sure what the smugglers’ response will be. They might respond strongly as well.”A local businessman who is friends with several Zuwaran smugglers said: “Today of course there is no smuggling work in Zuwara as the brigade responded with such strength. But we are not sure what the smugglers’ response will be. They might respond strongly as well.”
Despite the deaths, there is still high demand for the smugglers’ services. Survivors of a second boatload of voyagers to Europe, which departed Zuwara last week and mistakenly ended up in Tunisia, refused to rule out attempting it again. There is still high demand for the smugglers’ services, despite the deaths. Survivors of a second boatload of voyagers to Europe, which departed Zuwara last week and mistakenly ended up in Tunisia, refused to rule out another attempt to cross the Mediterranean.
“Life is about trying,” said Paul Ohioyah, a 31-year-old plumber and part-time pastor from Nigeria. “We can’t stop trying. We shouldn’t stop taking risks.”“Life is about trying,” said Paul Ohioyah, a 31-year-old plumber and part-time pastor from Nigeria. “We can’t stop trying. We shouldn’t stop taking risks.”
Ohioyah said that while there was no war in his part of Nigeria, the extreme poverty there was a valid reason for him to seek work in Europe by any means necessary: “It’s better that I die here than I go back to Nigeria.” Ohioyah said there was no conflict in his part of Nigeria, but that the extreme poverty there was a valid reason for him to seek work in Europe by any means necessary
“It’s better that I die here than I go back to Nigeria,” he said.