From Dr M. Asciak MD

It bothers and sickens me profoundly that every time an election comes round, we are all regaled with a good dose of xenophobia and anti-refugee or “anti-black” rhetoric, as it seems that white refugees do not bother so many people that much.

Note that I have chosen my words carefully, as I did not allude to illegal immigration, but to refugees. People do not properly see the difference between them. All people who enter Malta without a legal permit are illegal immigrants. Some are economic refugees, others are political refugees.

Economic refugees should be and are sent back, as confirmed by the Prime Minister this week, but political ones ought not to be and are not sent back. I admire political leaders like the Prime Minister and the Minister of the Interior who resist and do not give in to basic instincts of the “crucify him” crowd. It is fitting that once illegal immigrants ask for refugee status they are given a fair hearing and due process of law, as befits any democratic state.

It bothers me that in a Christian and democratic country individuals from some small parties and some others from the large parties try to surf the emotional crest of fear for some perceived short-term political advantage. I suppose an easy seat in Parliament justifies the means to an end! If ever elected on such an emotional plea they will be the first to reap the whirlwind and face the music, as has often happened in other countries, as their positions are untenable. They suggest stupid alternatives like taking human beings, not pigs, back out to sea and leaving them at the mercy of the elements. Much as this may appeal to some people’s gut feeling, it is far from what ought to be done in a democratic society based on the rule of law, much less a Christian inspired one and, if followed, would immediately bring about the opprobrium of other civilised States and individuals, not being at all in the interests of our common good internationally.

I had always said in Parliament and outside, that the problem of refugees will be with us for a long time to come and there is no simple solution to this problem except to manage it properly. When patients come up to me with a newly diagnosed case of diabetes or hypertension or asthma, it takes a while for them to realize that they are stuck with the condition for life. This does not mean however that the condition cannot be satisfactorily managed and compatible with a good quality of life; management is what the solution is all about. People should strive to talk about management of the illegal immigrant problem and the needed increased resources to deal with the proper management of this condition. When people in authority visit our shores, our reactions should not be that of hysterical xenophobia, which leaves a very bad taste, but one where we insist for increased proper resources to manage the situation more effectively.

When God spoke to Abraham about his intention to destroy Sodom, Abraham questioned rhetorically whether God should destroy the good with the bad even if 50, then 40, then 20, then 10 good people were to be found in the city. God’s response was always that which His reason incorporated into eternal law, which is that innocent people should not pay the same price that not-so-innocent people pay in any system where justice should prevail. The good, so to speak, should not be lumped with the same treatment of the bad, just because the latter are in a larger majority. Just like the proper functioning of the Mitral valve in the heart, which works properly only with two functioning cusps, this is reflected also in the New Testament with the clear teaching of who our neighbour really is! The story of the Good Samaritan should always be read carefully. The answer of who is our neighbour should be uppermost in our mind when struggling to find solutions to difficult problems. The solution of sending men, women, some even pregnant, and children back to face the elements without due process of law is abominable and not fitting for politicians who claim to ascribe to humanitarian ideals, let alone Christian ones.

The mature Maltese electorate should not be privy to these immature sentiments based on fear. They should send people who flirt with these suggestions their highest reservations, as I am doing now.

Michael Asciak

ZEBBUG