In recent years Ireland has been a place of refuge for the oppressed and those running away from the bite of dictatorships, among them are those being persecuted for all sorts of things, young men and women escaping from such dark and evil imaginings, like mutilations, being stalked by powerful untouchables. The injustices they often run away from are allowed to flourish because the perpetrators in countries of their origin carry them out with impunity, where lack of rule of law is the order of the day.
The good fortunes and economic bubble helped enable some émigrés find home and much needed respite in Ireland, perhaps a sprinkle of good Irish spirit came about because the Irish people knew firsthand what it was like to live in absolute chaos, if it hadn’t been the persistence of powerful friends and allies in Washington the likes of Tip O’Neal, Ted Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton who brokered what has turned out to be lasting peace, from a change of heart and policy of a powerful nemesis.
Last week the immigration authorities in Ireland gave these folks the most dreaded deportation letter, which gives these immigrants from Africa a “persona non grata” status with a 30 day mandatory execution period, to pack their small belongings and return home to face death, torture or any other grave situations listed in their non-professionally done asylum applications. How could you say that there is no danger in the Congo(DRC), with a recorded 10% reduction in their population in a 6 year period due to an blood Coltan trade that only benefits the cartels and world cell phone users ? Those deported will realize the worst bite of this action, when they come face to face with the pained they had left behind, dependent AIDS orphans, relatives reeling with dashed hopes of having sold all their belongings to cover visa fees and tickets to give a last lease on life to a relative fleeing homeland persecution.
Some folks had been in Ireland for 5 to 6 years, without any professional training or the ability to earn a living due to very tight policies to obtain work authorization documents. One would wish they had at least trained them in a trade like nursing, or environmental protection. Many citizens of Ireland stood with Africans in United states immigration lines in the past years, now that their fortunes have changed. I hope they will be the voice of compassion that inspires their government to give a chance to God’s people.
For Ugandans in particular, there are many reasons why a person would run away from Uganda in the last 50 years. For long the country has had its share of miseries, whether be it economical, the killing fields of the many wars, resuscitated tribal hatred or an unfair crack down on those who seek varied freedoms. The country has been one nightmare of existence for its people with millions decimated and now an Internationally supported policy of dictatorship being pursued by the powers that be. With the world order becoming clearly undefined and greedier, written by many architects, supporting mineral cartels in pursuit of their own interests we are bound to see many dispossessed by war, famine and disease.
When all hopes appear dashed and the UN seems overwhelmed by acts of its members who are not particularly fair players on the global scene. Our hope is in the world’s clergy; the many keepers of faith around the world, who get together once in a blue moon to solicit mercy from folks in these nations. Speaking directly to Sunday worshipers and people of other faiths who run these institutions to tone down the harshness of policy emanating from their refugee processing centers, Martin Luther king the slain civil rights leader never lost faith in the redemption of people running such institutions.
Incarceration of immigrants or keeping them undocumented for years to no end, while the rest enjoy good fortunes goes against all clauses of faith. The state should always weigh-in to reduce the pressures and to show mercy on immigrant communities. Fostering a climate of better choices, while leading them away from desperate measures of indecent proposals in the many traps that breed on their vulnerabilities as alien guests at their door steps.
By now we should not be surprised at the two twins that result from pursuing an aggressive capitalistic agenda, sang well in the spiritual by Billie Holiday / Arthur Herzog Jr. “God bless the child ” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_1LfT1MvzI . What makes a clear distinction in today’s “have not’s ”is the increased danger to their lives so that the rich can remain rich and that is definitely one of the reasons why these Africans are on a global run.
Ugandans Blog 