ATHENS: Human rights organizations have strongly criticized the Greek authorities for their slow progress in investigating the tragic sinking of a migrant ship off the Peloponnese that resulted in the loss of more than 500 lives, marking one of the worst boat disasters in the Mediterranean.
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) have raised serious concerns about the potential role of the Hellenic Coast Guard in contributing to the shipwreck on June 14. They assert credible allegations suggesting that the actions and inactions of the Coast Guard might have played a part in this devastating incident.
Despite six months passing since the tragedy, the investigation remains ongoing, leaving survivors seeking justice and prompting worries about the adequacy of the inquiry process. Critics have expressed apprehension regarding the accountability prospects, citing issues with the way the investigation has been conducted thus far.
According to Judith Sunderland, associate director at HRW for Europe and central Asia that the Pylos shipwreck appears to be another tragic example of Greek authorities’ abdication of responsibility for saving lives at sea. She stressed the crucial need for a thorough investigation to uncover the truth and deliver justice to the survivors and the families of the victims while aiming to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The fishing trawler, guided by smugglers from Libya en route to Italy, sank about 50 miles off Pylos, carrying approximately 750 individuals, including men, women, and children. Despite efforts in the rescue operation that followed, only 104 male survivors were rescued from countries like Syria, Egypt, and Pakistan. The whereabouts of the sunken vessel remain unknown, though 82 bodies were found in the days following the incident.
Right from the start, discrepancies in accounts between survivors and Greek officials have raised red flags. Survivors claimed that the coast guard’s attempt to tow the trawler out of Greek waters led to its capsizing, while Greek authorities deny any such action, stating that the sinking occurred in international waters while they were at a considerable distance from the vessel.
Amnesty International and HRW, drawing on interviews with survivors, relatives of the missing, coast guard and police representatives, and international organizations, alleged that the Greek authorities not only failed to deploy adequate resources for rescue but also disregarded or redirected offers of assistance from the EU border agency Frontex.
Despite these claims, Greek authorities have not yet responded to the report from the rights groups. The survivors’ testimonies suggested a lack of immediate action by the Greek patrol boat, even after being informed about the presence of sick passengers and children on board.
Campaigners have gone on to suggest that the authorities’ handling of the situation might reflect a broader strategy of pushing back asylum seekers, potentially forcing them into neighboring countries or controlled waters like those of Italy. However, Greece’s government denies allegations of enforcing such pushbacks while maintaining a policy of stringent migration management.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis defended intercepting boats but emphasized that the ship’s crew had refused assistance and aimed to reach Italy, putting the blame on smugglers rather than the coast guard.
While DNA tests have identified over half of the deceased passengers retrieved in Greek waters, more than 40 survivors who have accused the Mitsotakis government of pursuing a deterrence policy through the criminalization of migrants are yet to give testimony.
Nine suspects held in connection with overseeing the smuggling operation are awaiting trial after being detained in Kalamata. The Hellenic coast guard has refrained from responding to the human rights groups’ claims, citing ongoing investigations.
For Lefteris Papagiannakis, director of the Greek Council for Refugees, time is critical in seeking accountability for the tragedy. He emphasized the urgency of holding someone responsible, especially considering the incident occurred within Greek territory, leaving countless individuals lost at sea, their identities forever unknown.
