Asylum Seekers

Asylum seekers come to Malta to find refuge from appalling circumstances in their country of origin, such as torture, persecution, and possibly death. However, instead of showing sympathy and support, the Maltese government treats these persons as criminals.

This is because while they may have fled their country of origin, this being the only measure to save their lives from death and repression, instead of finding a better alternative, they remain detained for a long period of time without the basic fundamental right of liberty and other rights.

In the year 2002, Moviment Graffitti has initiated its campaign 'ONE WORLD FOR ALL' which has placed emphasis on the issue of asylum seeking and refugees. This campaign was initiated to Stop the war on Asylum seekers, to say No to Detention and Involuntary Deportation and to say Yes to the same rights, services and benefits to refugees as other citizens.

This campaign has taken place through several measures. Several activities were organized by the movement to create public awareness on the issue. Moviment Graffitti has also issued a call for clothes and other necessities on the part of asylum seekers. This demand was met with a very enthusiastic supply from caring Maltese citizens. In August, 2003 a musical concert was organized to impregnate the cultural and artistic expression of refugees within Maltese Culture. During this concert, refugee artists from Congo expressed themselves against detention though music, dance and art.

Moviment Graffitti calls for a radical change in European immigration policy. It is against the concept of a fortress Europe and questions the very principle that integration should only be a European process. The movement observes that the illegal immigration problem cannot be resolved with repression, it can however improve with an integration process. Moviment Graffitti questions the logic of repression as this fosters black markets and the slave trade of illegal immigrants, which is reaching dramatic proportions in the Mediterranean. Integration into society of these immigrants could not only eliminate these social ills but could have a positive demographic effect.

Moviment Graffitti is concerned with the growing divide of the Mediterranean on a north-south basis. This inequality is the root of migration driven by desperation. The globalization process has broken all borders for capital but what about freedom of movement for the needy all around the globe? Is it not a great contradiction that freedom of movement for capital is being accompanied by a greater policing of the borders?

The movement observes a great limitation within the European Convention on the status of Refugees. This is due to the fact that this convention provides a narrow term definition of a refugee and makes an elitist distinction between legal and illegal immigrants. Illegal immigrants are mostly economic asylum seekers escaping hunger and inhumane conditions, however under the convention, a person dying from hunger, still cannot benefit from refugee status.

Within the local context, Moviment Graffitti implores the authorities concerned to deal with the illegal immigration situation with more humanity. Besides, more liberal access should be given to non-governmenal organizations so that they can offer their aid more effectively. One has to keep in mind that NGO's are more suitable for humanitarian roles that the police and military forces. Besides, it is of utmost importance that refugees and persons residing in Malta on humanitarian ground be given work permits and be eligible for equal citizen rights.

Our campaign aims to stop these attacks on asylum seekers and demand the support any civilized country should offer. This is because, the hope and pursuit for a more dignified life, is not a crime, on the other hand it is a fundamental human right of every human being.

In general Graffitti :