On boat people: More SINNERS than saints

[webfact]

TELL IT AS IT IS
On boat people: More SINNERS than saints

BANGKOK: -- Cockroaches" and "a plague of feral humans" were the terms used to describe boat people earlier this month by Katie Hopkins, a British television personality. She proposed that nations "bring on gunships, force migrants back to their shores and burn the boats".

Naturally, her suggestions were widely condemned across the globe. But sadly, that was what actually happened - not in Southeast Asian waters against the latest wave of migrant Rohingya refugees, but in the Mediterranean, and carried out by European countries as part of their policy against migrants fleeing the war-torn nations off their borders. The Mediterranean Sea has now become a watery graveyard for boat people.

The European Union, in response to the exodus of refugees from Syria, South Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, Afghanistan and the Gaza Strip, has launched military operations using Apache helicopter gunships to drive almost all the migrants who survived the journey on the high seas back to from where they fled, and then destroyed their boats.

Then they placed the blame squarely on smugglers, whose murderous exploitation of refugees is merely a symptom of border and asylum policies that signal the resolute unwillingness of affluent nations to welcome strangers, most of whom are Muslims, to their shores.

Meanwhile, death and drowning are perceived as the most effective deterrents against the so-called illegal maritime arrivals.

United Nations statistics show that there are more refugees fleeing war and persecution today than at any other time since World War II. As an adjunct, it is fair to say that the refugee crisis, confined mainly to the Global South, is one of the lasting consequences of colonialism.

The Rohingya, for instance, had resided in Arakan, a semi-autonomous state before it was annexed and made part of Burma by the British colonial rulers after the first Anglo-Burmese War in 1826. The number of Rohingya refugees increased during the violence of India's struggle for independence from Britain. When East Pakistan began its own violent evolution, more residents fled from what is now Bangladesh to Burma. The Rohingya population grew from a little more than 50,000 in 1827 to over a million by 2013.

The Rohingya are an indigenous ethnic group that has lived in isolation from the mainstream population. Their failure to mix with the dominant culture is one factor that led to their persecution, which has lasted from the Second World War until today.

Their plight is now being publicised worldwide as larger boatloads of Rohingya seeking a new home in the hope of safer lives have resulted in more refugee casualties. People smugglers, aided and abetted by corrupt officials, have exacerbated the human tragedy.

Calls have poured in from the West for all Southeast Asian nations to be compassionate and accommodating towards the Rohingya migrants. At the same time, Italy has been turning away vessels of people fleeing unrest in their homelands - that is, if they survived the treacherous sea voyage. The European Union's border agency, Frontex, has stated that it would send back boat people as irregular migrants under its new rapid-return programme.

In a recent paper, the Montreal-based Centre for Research on Globalisation likened the EU's current policy towards migrants and refugees to the treatment of another group of persecuted refugees prior to the Nazi Holocaust. At that time, Western nations not only placed quotas on Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, but they turned away Jewish refugee boats. Many of those refugees ended up being killed by the Nazis.

Today, Israel refuses to grant asylum to non-Jewish refugees fleeing genocide in their countries. These refugees are detained and deported. The past is always conveniently forgotten and, in many cases, used to justify more, not less, human cruelty.

The Rohingya refugee problem, just like the European boat people crisis, is complex and cannot be easily solved by pointing fingers of blame. There is no simple answer, no single quick-fix. In addition, there is no place for self-righteous problem-solving, with the emphasis on the "self", rather than the "righteous" solution.

Thai Premier Prayut Chan-o-cha should be commended for humanitarian resolve in proposing the idea of temporary shelters for the Rohingya in Thailand. He cautioned, however, that other issues, such as national security, economic and financial encumbrance, must also be taken into consideration. But his suggestion roused vehement opposition from local people - the usual "not-in-our backyard" mentality. It all hinges upon the bigger question of "now here and then what?" Where will they be relocated? Which third country would be willing to take them and how many? Will the temporary shelters be an "enabling factor" that brings more of them ashore? These are legitimate practical questions.

Meanwhile the Rohingya's desperate plight continues to unfold in front of our eyes. For some, their quandary must become easier to discern with every passing day as we become more callous. Soon, we may prove true the notion that individually we are not heartless, but collectively we are without feeling.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/opinion/On-boat-people-More-SINNERS-than-saints-30260558.html


-- The Nation 2015-05-21

[Thaddeus]

Cockroaches" and "a plague of feral humans" were the terms used to describe boat people earlier this month by Katie Hopkins, a British television personality. She proposed that nations "bring on gunships, force migrants back to their shores and burn the boats".

I would suggest that Katie Hopkins should be cast adrift on a pedalo in the Med and we can all throw rocks at her.

[DoctorG]

If the Australian Labor Party ever return to government, they can all sail for OZ.

[Thaddeus]

Oh, and put Russell Brand in it with her.

[chainarong]

Cockroaches" and "a plague of feral humans" were the terms used to describe boat people earlier this month by Katie Hopkins, a British television personality. She proposed that nations "bring on gunships, force migrants back to their shores and burn the boats".

I would suggest that Katie Hopkins should be cast adrift on a pedalo in the Med and we can all throw rocks at her.

I suggest that young Katie go and live with some of these people, another arm chair critic with no useful purpose in this world except to spew hate, whilst not having any constructive answers how to deal with the problem.

[chainarong]

On another matter regarding Boat people , the Prime Minister of OZ has just announced that Oz will not be excepting any Rohingya people but will assist Malaysia and Indon in relocation programs, good Ol 1 Term Tony.

[biggles45]

so the solution is to let all the millions of people who live in these countries and don't want to stay there live wherever they want to? Won't this just reduce the economies of those places to the level of the places they left and result in over population? surely open borders will result in chaos.

[Yunla]

Cockroaches" and "a plague of feral humans" were the terms used to describe boat people earlier this month by Katie Hopkins, a British television personality. She proposed that nations "bring on gunships, force migrants back to their shores and burn the boats".

I would suggest that Katie Hopkins should be cast adrift on a pedalo in the Med and we can all throw rocks at her.

She's just worried that any illiterate rag-wearing boatperson with barely any English skills could replace her on TV, and do a far better job at it than she does.

And she's probably right.

[trogers]

so the solution is to let all the millions of people who live in these countries and don't want to stay there live wherever they want to? Won't this just reduce the economies of those places to the level of the places they left and result in over population? surely open borders will result in chaos.

Perhaps we should let the compassionates here raise their hands in housing one migrant family?

[Berkshire]

From the article:

"Calls have poured in from the West for all Southeast Asian nations to be compassionate and accommodating towards the Rohingya migrants. At the same time, Italy has been turning away vessels of people fleeing unrest in their homelands - that is, if they survived the treacherous sea voyage. The European Union's border agency, Frontex, has stated that it would send back boat people as irregular migrants under its new rapid-return programme."

"In a recent paper, the Montreal-based Centre for Research on Globalisation likened the EU's current policy towards migrants and refugees to the treatment of another group of persecuted refugees prior to the Nazi Holocaust. At that time, Western nations not only placed quotas on Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, but they turned away Jewish refugee boats. Many of those refugees ended up being killed by the Nazis. Today, Israel refuses to grant asylum to non-Jewish refugees fleeing genocide in their countries. These refugees are detained and deported. The past is always conveniently forgotten and, in many cases, used to justify more, not less, human cruelty."

The level of hypocrisy in the west is mind-boggling. Why would SE Asian nations even listen to all this self-righteous drivel?

[Lupatria]

When the "look it happens elsewhere too" comments meet the press...

[Fat Haggis]

Katie Who? another "celebrity" who makes her money from insulting all on Sundry, and another reason why Hangovers were invented!!

[zaZa9]

"She proposed that nations "bring on gunships, force migrants back to their shores and burn the boats".

Naturally, her suggestions were widely condemned across the globe. But sadly, that was what actually happened - not in Southeast Asian waters against the latest wave of migrant Rohingya refugees, but in the Mediterranean, and carried out by European countries as part of their policy against migrants fleeing the war-torn nations off their borders."

Really?

Where have refugees been turned back in the Med , and their boats burned?

The article has some firm points , particularly when it comes to Western hypocrisy , but the above statement is a lie as far as I know - and that sets the tone for making the whole article propoganda !

[otherstuff1957]

If we are going to open the borders to these migrants we should be fair and consistent and open our borders to all.

The Visa and Visas for other countries sections of this forum are full of posts by people who are trying to follow the rules and do things in a legal manner. If the migrants are allowed to move freely from one country to another with a minimum of fuss, paperwork and cost, so should everyone else.

A friend of mine recently got a long term US visa for her Thai husband. Now, he was educated in the US, getting both his BS and MS there, and has worked as an engineer for the Thai government for about 10 years. Despite this background it took them almost a year and endless fuss and bother to get him his visa. It would probably have been easier and quicker to put him on a boat and cast him adrift a few miles offshore.

[marko kok prong]

The problem with temporary camps is that they often turn out to be permanent,no easy solutions to this,not whilst the Burmese govt,are quite happy to see them all get on boats,and leave.

[ggt]

Desperate people...looking for a place to call home...work...raise a family in relative peace...in many parts of the world...

As the 1% get richer...and continue monetary policies which enslave the masses...this problem is only going to get worse...

The future is very bleak indeed...the boat people are just the 1st evidence of a much larger world problem...

We are just a major catastrophe away from mass anarchy in the world's cities...

Then where will the 1% hide?

[2fishin2]

She sounds like the Thai Hi Sos with this argument

[rethaier]

On the European front, though I agree some people are escaping persecution and need help many are coming amongst them to persecute Europe. I.e. ISIS operatives. If it were possible to isolate these people on the boat and help the rest that would be okay. But how do you recognize the good from the bad? In these circumstances you can only reject them all in an effort to lessen the impact on Western culture, values and lives.

[zaZa9]

So much for Burma 'opening up'

It made minimal changes to appear to bow to pressure and lift International sanctions so that the Generals could expand their bank accounts , nothing more

Sanctions need to be reimposed , these fascists have done nothing to really democratise their country , and they are now unleashing a wave of miserable and dispossessed on the world ,,,, they arent even interested in paying lip service to a meeting on the problem they have created,,,

Cut off their money/trade and shut them down again!

[simon43]

Sanctions need to be reimposed...

Well, whilst sanctions by EU countries, the USA etc were previously in place, most Asian nations (eg China, Singapore, Thailand) openly ignored these sanctions and invested in (and exploited) Myanmar.

Sanctions are not the answer - they will not force a generation of Myanmar Buddhists who has been taught to hate and discriminate against Muslims to suddenly open their hearts to them.

[donmuang37]

It is sad, but there are refugees everywhere, and they keep coming. We understand what they want, but the world should also consider the sovereignty of the nations that they are trying to invade? Just because you don't like you country does not mean you should be able to move to my country by circumventing immigration laws.

Take Thailand as an example. The country is 95% Buddhist, in 3 Southern Provinces there are many Muslims. Most are good people, but some are terrorists who randomly kill Buddhists. They shoot them, kill them with bombs, and even cut their heads off with machetes.

Guess what? Thailand doesn't want Muslim refugees with no skills or education who are susceptible radical recruiters. Who can blame Thailand?

[steven100]

It's simple ..... stop the boats coming by killing the smugglers and sending the boats back.

[elgordo38]

so the solution is to let all the millions of people who live in these countries and don't want to stay there live wherever they want to? Won't this just reduce the economies of those places to the level of the places they left and result in over population? surely open borders will result in chaos.

I agree. As soon as these people land on a friendly shore and regain some of their strength either by phone or mail they contact friends and family and tell them to come that they will be received with open arms and the problem multiplies. Here in Thailand there is so much poverty now that is not being addressed and I feel that local poverty problems should take precedent. There is only so much money to go around addressing poverty. They should maybe be sent to the countries that espouse their acceptance. Sadly in this high tech world they surely do not have the skills that Thailand needs they have enough "labor" foreign and otherwise. This is only a small sign of things to come. As Robotics and other high tech methods replace us humble humans we may all soon be "Up A Creek Without A Paddle" Thank God I will be pushing up daisies.

[elgordo38]

It's simple ..... stop the boats coming by killing the smugglers and sending the boats back.

Send the boats back and they will just fill them up and shove off again. Its like the Mexicans coming into the USA if they get caught crossing the border and returned to Mexico within 24 hours they are trying again. Multiple tries equals success eventually. Its like standing in front of an army of ants you can only stomp on so many. The rest will eat you alive.

[DM07]

It is sad, but there are refugees everywhere, and they keep coming. We understand what they want, but the world should also consider the sovereignty of the nations that they are trying to invade? Just because you don't like you country does not mean you should be able to move to my country by circumventing immigration laws.

Take Thailand as an example. The country is 95% Buddhist, in 3 Southern Provinces there are many Muslims. Most are good people, but some are terrorists who randomly kill Buddhists. They shoot them, kill them with bombs, and even cut their heads off with machetes.

Guess what? Thailand doesn't want Muslim refugees with no skills or education who are susceptible radical recruiters. Who can blame Thailand?

Not entirely right!

Thailand doesn't want them to come here on their own terms!

If they are smuggled in, work on fishing trawlers, be slaves with no rights but everybody making their cut on and with them,...that is quiet okay!

[papa al]

per wiki

The Brits brought many Rhoyingya in as workers.

When Brits bailed out, they armed the R to hold the line against the Japs.

But instead R used the guns to murder 10's of thousands of Buddhist neighbors.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hence hatred for R by Burmese.

Even "the Lady".

Karma?

Edited May 21, 2015 by papa al

[elgordo38]

She sounds like the Thai Hi Sos with this argument

I disagree she just sees the problem for what it is. Some of us still are looking at the world through rose colored glasses. We the workers, retired persons are under a creeping attack by the system (politicians, big business, banks, central banks, the 1% trying to buy up the world) 5 of the major world wide banks just ponied up over 5 billion in fines for manipulating markets. These were caught with their hand in the till how many are not? Governments are manipulating numbers to fit their propaganda criteria. Uber some kind of call for a ride company is now valued at 50 billion dollars. The world now is truly insane.

[steven100]

It's simple ..... stop the boats coming by killing the smugglers and sending the boats back.

Send the boats back and they will just fill them up and shove off again. Its like the Mexicans coming into the USA if they get caught crossing the border and returned to Mexico within 24 hours they are trying again. Multiple tries equals success eventually. Its like standing in front of an army of ants you can only stomp on so many. The rest will eat you alive.

ah !! not if you keep killing the smugglers ....

[Bluespunk]

so the solution is to let all the millions of people who live in these countries and don't want to stay there live wherever they want to? Won't this just reduce the economies of those places to the level of the places they left and result in over population? surely open borders will result in chaos.

To question one Yes

To question 2 No

To your final sentence No

[Bluespunk]

per wiki

The Brits brought many Rhoyingya in as workers.

When Brits bailed out, they armed the R to hold the line against the Japs.

But instead R used the guns to murder 10's of thousands of Buddhist neighbors.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hence hatred for R by Burmese.

Even "the Lady".

Karma?

The Rohingya community in Burma has roots going back 1000 years.