Viewpoints A tragedy compounded | A tragedy compounded |
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The Morecambe bay tragedy is devastating. It is devastating not only for the victims and their families, but also for the Chinese community as a whole. As a member of this community I was appalled to read the Daily Telegraph (Saturday 7th Feb 04) report on the Morecombe Bay tragedy: "Deport all asylum seekers on sight, urges Chinese leaders." "If we acted like other EU countries and turned them round right away it would act as a deterrent to people who may be thinking of coming over,"
Thomas Chan. As we saw with the reaction of the Dover 58 tragedy where 58 Chinese immigrants suffocated to death in the back of a cross-channel lorry, these latest deaths have provided a new opportunity to show short sightedness, political opportunism and just how little humanity certain members of our community have. Instead, this time would be better used for mourning. Above all this should be a time for learning from this tragedy to create a safer living and working environment for people who do land on British shores. After all, it was not so long ago that our own families arrived on these shores in search of a better life. These victims could easily be our brothers or sisters, our cousins or friends. The fact whether these victims were asylum seekers or legal immigrants should be irrelevant to their conditions, no one should be put in the position of working or existing in such terrible circumstances that could lead to this disaster. It is unfortunate that some areas of the media have chosen to use this tragedy as an opportunity to immediately jump on the old stereotype of linking the Chinese with illegal gangs, corruption and the underworld. Now that opium dens are no more, snakeheads, gangs and the oriental menace of illegal immigration are coming to the forefront of media portrayal of Chinese people. Even worse is that a 'Chinese community leader' is willing to pander to these views. For someone who is 'a member of the Home Office race equality advisory panel,' this is surely not the time to leave the weakest areas of our small community open to attack? As key figures that liaise with the wider community over issues of race, identity and immigration, it is time for our Chinese community leaders to look at the wider, and more serious long-term implications of these deaths. They are in the fortunate position to be able to work at resolving the appalling conditions endured by asylum seekers and illegal immigrants, and work to change inefficient system of repression that starves the British community of the work force that it needs so badly. What do you think? Join our discussion here. |
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