Media gagged on migrant ships says journo union

(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 8 - The media has been "gagged" by the government over the situation of migrants aboard two NGO run ships docked at Catania as it is unable to report on their condition, the head of journalists union FNSI, Raffaele Lorusso, said Tuesday.
    "Preventing journalists from doing their job in the port of Catania, where the ships Humanity 1 and Geo Barents are docked, is not admissible," he said.
    "It is to be hoped, therefore, that the prefecture and the port authorities in Catania uphold the request from reporters of numerous national and local publications to be allowed to document the situation of the migrants on board the two ships.
    "Continuing to stop them from working and informing public opinion is not only denying the right to report, but represents an unacceptable gag that is unworthy of a civilized country".
    Rome has allowed the most vulnerable migrants to land from the two ships but has refused landing to allegedly healthy migrants.
    Two Syrian migrants jumped off the Geo Barents into the sea Monday while most of the 35 migrants left aboard have now started a hunger strike. (ANSA).