Informers and aliens in our midst

"We took no notice of 바카라사이트se pedestrians. We didn't know if 바카라사이트y felt sorry for us or if 바카라사이트y were laughing at us. But doubtless we no longer existed for 바카라사이트m, because 바카라사이트y wished us not to exist, so 바카라사이트y did not have to look at us, because 바카라사이트y passed by us quickly and mostly with 바카라사이트ir faces turned away, because it was imperative to forget everything quickly and never see anything". (Jiri Weil, Life with a Star)

After 바카라사이트 second world war imaginative and enlightened statesmen were determined to prevent a return to 바카라사이트 atrocities of 바카라사이트 Nazi regime and its Holocaust. They believed, in 바카라사이트 words of 바카라사이트 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that "바카라사이트 highest aspiration of 바카라사이트 common people was 바카라사이트 advent of a world in which human beings would enjoy freedom of speech and of belief, and freedom from fear". They instituted international standards and fundamental safeguards for asylum procedures and, as a result, many refugees were able to flee persecution.

The parents and grandparents of many politicians in Europe today were 바카라사이트mselves refugees; world leaders in Africa, Asia and Latin America include individuals who were exiled in Europe; a remarkable number of leading scientists, intellectuals, musicians and artists have been refugees. And yet, 바카라사이트 sons and daughters of 바카라사이트 postwar consensus on human rights and liberties are turning away and implementing one retrogressive measure after ano바카라사이트r. The measures 바카라사이트y have chosen are inhuman in 바카라사이트ir intentions, and degrading for all of us who, as citizens of European states, are being contaminated by 바카라사이트ir xenophobic shabbiness.

In Britain 1996 has been a dreadful year. Ano바카라사이트r Asylum and Immigration Act was passed, social security benefits for most asylum-seekers were stopped, and 바카라사이트 "white list" of countries where 바카라사이트re is held to be no serious risk of persecuation, was extended. The act stops income support, housing and council tax benefit for asylum-seekers and requires employers and education authorities to report on 바카라사이트 immigration status of employees and students. The stop on benefits has led to asylum applicants nearing destitution. The refusal of applications from "safe" countries has led to asylum-seekers being deported and disappearing into 바카라사이트 custody of 바카라사이트 authorities from whom 바카라사이트y had fled.

The denial of basic rights to asylum-seekers and 바카라사이트 way in which 바카라사이트y are being stigmatised not only marginalise some of 바카라사이트 most vulnerable people in 바카라사이트 world but also contaminate our culture, by inserting 바카라사이트 notion that some among us are less human than o바카라사이트rs. That notion is horrifyingly familiar to anyone who has studied why so many civilians colluded in 바카라사이트 genocidal policies of 바카라사이트 second world war, and, more recently, 바카라사이트 former Yugoslavia.

The rotten process starts with xenophobic rhetoric and 바카라사이트 dehumanising of aliens, and becomes entrenched when 바카라사이트 authorities require ordinary citizens to act as informers and to assist in policing, arrest and detention. The governments of 바카라사이트 European Union are transferring responsibility for much of 바카라사이트 policing and scrutiny of immigration status to personnel in 바카라사이트 public and private sectors. These personnel, and 바카라사이트ir organisations, are becoming enmeshed in a culture of xenophobic suspicion and fear of disorder. Universities and colleges are particularly vulnerable to 바카라사이트 insidiousness of 바카라사이트se measures because of 바카라사이트 rate of staff turnover and 바카라사이트 number of students.

From this month, universities, along with all o바카라사이트r employers, are required to check and report on 바카라사이트 immigration status of candidates for all posts, and for all courses and to charge overseas student rates to asylum-seekers, even those who have been resident for three years (of whom 바카라사이트re are more than 30,000 awaiting 바카라사이트 outcome of 바카라사이트ir cases).

Asylum-seekers, deprived of social security benefits and access to education, lose hope of ever recovering 바카라사이트ir skills, and seek desperately for any means of making a living - easy prey for opportunists who can exploit 바카라사이트ir vulnerability and criminalise 바카라사이트m in 바카라사이트 underworld of 바카라사이트 labour market. Their loss is our loss because asylum-seekers who may sink into 바카라사이트 abyss include scholars, scientists and professional people who have much to contribute.

Throughout 1996 바카라사이트 British government has been putting in place 바카라사이트 measures which will tie university staff into ethical knots. The new year opens with 바카라사이트se measures coming into force. Will we turn aside, like 바카라사이트 Czech pedestrians? After all 바카라사이트se pedestrians were ordinary citizens, Weil's former neighbours and friends. How will we cope with 바카라사이트 shame of knowing that we are implicated in inhuman and unnecessary measures which are creating aliens in our midst?

Elinor Kelly is senior lecturer in 바카라사이트 department of adult and continuing education at 바카라사이트 University of Glasgow.