A Pandora’s box

This week our PM decided to rattle some cages and "stand up" to the EU. Clearly the current administration feels that the European Commission is not giving Malta the attention it deserves when it comes to the irregular immigration phenomenon, so they figured they would create a bit of a scene in order to get noticed.

Taken at face value the idea is not a bad one. There is nothing wrong with expecting our European partners to stand up to be counted when it comes to issues such as the one at hand. What I do not agree with, however, is that the end justifies the means. It was not okay to use human beings as pawns in a game of 'look at me, EU'.

I can see what Joseph Muscat was trying to achieve. By threatening to send two planeloads of irregular immigrants back to Libya, he got the attention of the world and most likely succeeded in getting the EC's. Much as a harried mother sometimes gives in to a child who throws a tantrum in a public place, the EC may throw some millions or a few platitudes our way in order to keep the peace. That would enable the government to claim a victory and pat itself on the back.

The problem, however, is that by charting this course our PM has opened a Pandora's box of emotions on the island. By castigating NGOs and implying that they were not thinking about the national interest when they protested about our country's denial of the right to apply for asylum, he unleashed forces that are likely to cause very real tensions.

Over the last few days I was shocked to see a trend emerging on Facebook and on the various online comment boards - a 'them and us' situation which I would not have thought possible just a week ago. Suddenly the people who are virulently against irregular immigration (which they invariably and erroneously describe as ILLEGAL, in capital letters) are describing themselves as patriots, while those who speak out in favour of the country honouring its international obligations are traitors who are out to destroy the country.

Apparently I am a traitor.

What is truly depressing is that suddenly the racist and xenophobic rants of people who think that the country is bursting at the seams - full of refugees who are out to destroy our 'national identity' - have taken on a sheen of legitimacy. After all, they are saying, the situation is so serious that our PM has 'taken a stand' and shoved a mug of coffee under the nose of the Commission.

A number of fellow Maltese (and I have to say that I was encouraged to see how many like-minded people rallied and spoke up against what was happening) tried to reason with the hordes of 'patriots' and point out that no, we have not been invaded and the numbers are not so intimidating. It is true that around 15,000 irregular immigrants made it to our shores in the last 11 years, but of those only 5,000 stayed in Malta, which works out at an average of 450 new arrivals a year - hardly the stuff that national disasters and invasions are made of. Others tried to point out that the EU has in fact helped out and put its money where its mouth is, to the tune of 130 million over the last few years - a number which perhaps was not enough to cover all costs, but which can hardly be described as chicken feed. Then there were those who explained that Malta is not a renegade republic and should follow international laws, because after all we are signatories to the Geneva Convention.

The fact is, however, that there is no reasoning with these people, because their opinions are not based on facts but on ignorance and fear. It pains me to have to say it, but yes, these so-called'patriots' are nothing but racists who do not care what the facts are and what international law says - all they care about is the fact that they do not like seeing black faces on the street.

So my message to Joseph Muscat is this - so much for taghna lkoll - apparently the views of those who value human rights and who do not fear diversity do not count for much when it comes to winning populist brownie points.

We were lucky when it came to the lottery of life. We were born in a country which may not be perfect, but where our rights are respected and we do not live in fear of persecution. Others were not so lucky. Had I had the misfortune of being born in a country like Somalia or Eritrea I would most likely be one of those women trying to make my way to a better place by getting on a rickety boat.

I am not saying that irregular immigration does not put a strain on the Maltese economy and that we do not face challenges with integration. I am also not saying that we should not put pressure on the European Commission in order to get more assistance and support. However the solution is not to break international laws and most definitely not to use these poor souls in a game of brinkmanship, where the people who have most to lose are the ones who have already lost almost everything except their lives. I shudder to think about the agony those Somali men went through as their fate hung in the balance and they awaited news about what their future held.

I am usually very proud of being Maltese and of this little country of ours. We have come a long way, and we have much to boast about. However on Tuesday I felt ashamed. This is not the Malta that I would like to believe is taghna lkoll. This is a Malta that I do not really want to be part of.