Greek authorities face criticism over slow progress in migrant shipwreck investigation

Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Amnesty International, express dismay at the sluggish pace of the Greek authorities’ inquiry into the controversial sinking of a migrant ship off the Peloponnese, resulting in over 500 casualties. Both HRW and Amnesty International allege credible accusations that the Hellenic Coast Guard’s actions contributed to the tragic incident on June 14. Six months into the investigation, with survivors demanding justice, concerns arise about the accountability process due to perceived flaws in the inquiry. Judith Sunderland, associate Europe and central Asia director at HRW, emphasizes the need for a thorough investigation to ascertain truth and justice for survivors and victims’ families, aiming to prevent future tragedies. The incident involved a fishing trawler, navigated by people smugglers from Libya to Italy, sinking about 50 miles off Pylos. Despite Greek authorities being alerted 15 hours earlier, the ship, carrying around 750 individuals, sank within minutes, resulting in over 500 deaths. Rights groups initially raised concerns about conflicting accounts of the events leading to the disaster. While survivors described the vessel capsizing after coast guard officers attempted to tow it, Greek officials denied such attempts, asserting the boat sank in international waters. Amnesty International and HRW, based on interviews and testimonies, claim Greek authorities failed to mobilize appropriate resources for rescue and ignored or redirected offers of assistance from the EU border agency Frontex. The report alleges that the Greek patrol boat attached a rope to the trawler, causing it to capsize, and highlights delays in activating rescue operations. Despite survivors alerting authorities to the presence of children and sick passengers, the coast guard’s response was deemed inadequate. Calls from rights groups urge Greek authorities to prosecute officials if evidence of wrongdoing emerges. The incident’s handling raises concerns about a pushback strategy, aiming to force asylum seekers into neighboring countries or controlled waters. Greece’s government denies enforcing pushbacks but acknowledges implementing “tough but fair” migration policies. The Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, defends the interception of boats in a BBC interview, emphasising the right to protect the country’s borders. More than half of the identified deceased passengers were found in Greek waters, and survivors who filed legal action against the Greek state accuse the government of a deterrence policy, alleging mistreatment and criminalisation of migrants. As the investigation unfolds, the Greek Council for Refugees emphasizes the urgency of accountability, underscoring the need for justice in a tragedy that occurred within Greece’s borders. The Hellenic coast guard refrains from responding to human rights groups’ claims, citing ongoing investigations.