The death of 15 Afghan and Moroccan migrants after a speedboat carrying them collided with a Greek coastguard vessel has been presented by Greek authorities as an open and shut case.
A statement issued late on Tuesday blamed smugglers for failing to comply with the [Hellenic] Coast Guard's visual and audible signals to turn their boat around. The statement indicated that the migrant boat was making dangerous maneuvers before veering into a patrol vessel off the Chios Strait, suggesting that this caused the deaths and injuries of 24 others trying to reach European soil.
However, experience tells us to be wary of such instant and unequivocal explanations. In the summer of 2023, when I arrived in the southern Greek port city of Kalamata on a day more than 650 migrants were feared to have drowned, the Greek narrative had already established that the tragedy was caused by criminal gangs overcrowding an unseaworthy fishing boat. Survivors later revealed that coastguards had prompted the migrant boat to capsize after a failed attempt to tow it.
History suggests similar patterns in incidents involving the coastguard. Currently, four senior figures in the Greek coastguard, including its commander, face criminal prosecution for negligent manslaughter due to a previous maritime disaster with the highest loss of life in a decade.
In light of the current incident near Chios, the Greek media has emphasized that the migrant speedboat was maneuvering dangerously and failed to halt when signaled. Yet, there is no survivor testimony to corroborate this account, nor is there independent evidence to support claims that the migrant boat deliberately crashed into a coastguard vessel. The lack of recorded evidence or video from the coastguard raises concerns about transparency and accountability.
Migration and Asylum Minister Thanos Plevris claimed to trust the coastguard's narrative amid political criticism of the institution’s actions. Opposition leaders have called for thorough accountability and raised alarms about the coastguard's operational tactics amid an increasingly perilous migration landscape in Greece.
Greece has become a crucial route for many migrants from the Middle East seeking entry into the European Union, with recent figures showing a decline in arrivals but highlighted ongoing dangers on the Mediterranean Sea.
This latest tragedy underlines the ongoing tensions surrounding migration policy in Greece, where the current government has faced accusations of illegal practices and has been criticized for its hardline stance on those seeking asylum.