Politics and migration

I congratulate Mark-Anthony Falzon for his refreshing article on 'Politics and migration' (The Sunday Times, August 31) and fully agree that "history shows us that the safest way to sane politics is open politics". However, our politicians have so far avoided talking openly about illegal immigration, as if it could just be swept under the carpet. Their refusal to fully discuss a matter of such concern is leading the public to feel that maybe things are more serious.

Dr Falzon courageously admits that "there is a very palpable sense of hostility towards African immigrants" and that "people resent the boatloads". He also refers to "sub-plots of racism and xenophobia". May I suggest that racism and xenophobia are the result of the large numbers involved? There have always been people of African and Asian extraction in Malta and there was no evidence of any discrimination against them, let alone racism. However, when the numbers started getting too big for comfort, a defence mechanism has somehow taken over and "a sense of hostility" has gradually developed.

Dr Falzon, however, has omitted the religious factor. Maltese identity and history have been built on the people's attachment to the Catholic faith, as opposed to the surrounding Muslim environment - it is enough to mention the Great Siege of 1565. Catholicism marked the major difference with the British, the majority of whom were Protestant and therefore 'not quite like us'.

The distinction between Catholicism and Protestantism is not as sharp as it used to be. But we are living in an age when Islam is becoming increasingly dynamic and expansionary. Maltese Catholics are bound to feel defensive in the face of immigrants who are overwhelmingly Muslim.

Having friends belonging to the PN and MLP, I am assured by the majority of them that they have more or less the same views on illegal immigration. If anything, there is agreement within these parties; in each case the majority having "a palpable sense of hostility towards African immigrants" while a minority "actually tries to help by donating time and money to NGOs". For this reason, it is comfortable for both parties to avoid discussing the issue. They may draw short-term advantages from this attitude, but in the long term we are all losers if we do not understand the implications of such a major problem on Malta's political and social stability, its economic standards, its security and its identity.

Perhaps the recent discussions between Col. Muammar Gaddafi and Silvio Berlusconi might help Malta. But whichever way one looks at it, urgent action is needed before it is too late.