Ivan Camilleri, Brussels
Maltese media accused of promoting racism
Some migrant workers were reportedly offered jobs for €2 a day in the construction industry. Photo: Darrin Zammit Lupi
The media in Malta have been accused of “promoting racism” and acting as a main “contributor to the fear of Malta being invaded and conquered by Africans”.
Racial discrimination remains widespread in Malta, particularly when it comes to employment and housing, according to a report published in Brussels yesterday to mark International Day Against Racism.
The European Network Against Racism suggests that over the past years the media in Malta encouraged racial discrimination through its focus on irregular migration problems.
The co-authors of the part dealing with Malta – Jeannine Vassallo and Jean Pierre Gauci from an NGO called The People for Change Foundation – say an in-depth content analysis shows indirect racism was common in Maltese media.
They say “illegal immigrants” and “illegal immigration” were the words of choice when describing matters relating to migration. Journalists made little distinction between the terms “illegal immigrants”, “irregular migration”, “asylum seekers” and “refugees” despite the different legal definitions.
“Additionally, derogatory terms such as ‘clandestine’, ‘parasites’ and ‘scroungers’ were also used at times.”
The report adds: “Most features in the media depict migrants in a negative light, with most representing migrants as troublemakers or criminals as opposed to hard workers, family members and churchgoers, which would be considered pious in Maltese society.”
ENAR also hit out at the internet, particularly online websites and comment forums made available by Maltese online newspapers.
According to the report, Jon Hoisaeter, from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, described the language used on such online forums as “rather aggressive towards immigrants” which is “very discouraging”.
The report says the online forums are used extensively to discuss migration issues even by far-right groups that aim to get their message across and enable discussion among followers.
Apart from the criticism of the Maltese media, the report says discrimination against African minorities in Malta based on race is still widespread, particularly when it comes to employment and housing.
The report, which deals with the period January 1, 2009 and March 31, 2010, notes that employment discrimination against Africans and Muslims is pervasive both when seeking a job and in terms of the work conditions offered.
Claiming that some migrant workers were even offered jobs for €2 a day in the construction industry, the report notes that “migrants felt obliged to accept these conditions lest failing to do so would mean having no source of income whatsoever”.
With regard to housing, ENAR claims many Maltese landlords are reluctant to rent accommodation to foreigners (Africans) for fear of damage to their property due to neglect. “Furthermore, there are certain areas which are highly populated by migrants, largely due to cheap prices and the fact that they are outside traditional city centres,” the report states.
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Robert Callus
Mar 23rd 2011, 23:05
Stop using the "illegal immigrant" excuse to justify racism. Let's call a spade a spade - what most people writing racist comments here mean by illegal immigrant is black. This person I talk about here was not an immigrant, (let alone illegal) but a black French student. And amongst other things he was called one of them was - illegal immigrant!
http://robertcallus.wordpress.com/2009/09/04/beautiful-memories-anda-bitter-reality/
Christian Sciberras
Mar 23rd 2011, 22:44
When you see the comments below, you can clearly see the article touched a nerve.
As such, either it's patriotism, or plain true racism.
Personally, these immigrants, (by the way, many complain against legal immigrants as well), are free to come and go and do what they want, as long as they abide to the country's rules.
This ensures they can't "steal from me" or "modify the way I think" - unless the law in Malta plainly sucks.
If that's the case, I don't see the reason the people below shoot their feet when the problem is the door in front of them.
Joseph V. Grech
Mar 23rd 2011, 22:28
I believe that Jeannine Vassallo and Jean Pierre Gauci ''from an NGO called The People for Change Foundation'' are being downright dishonest when they declare the things they had the gall to declare.
They certainly do not provide proof for their statements. They just want to catch the limelight - and perhaps be paid for their unsavoury and irresponsible ''reporting''. Such people do more harm than good. ''Indirect'' racism - what on earth is that anyway?
Hopefully the ""People for Change Foundation'' will publish the entire report so that possibly legal action will be taken against those who are putting Malta's good name in jeopardy.
James A. Tyrrell
Mar 23rd 2011, 19:10
Why should Malta be considered racist simply because the people want to retain their Maltese heritage? Don't the Maltese people have the right to protect their identity? But then we have to look at where this stupid idea is coming from and as usual it is coming from Brussels. I don't know about Malta but reading the press in the UK I know that the people in Britain are getting sick to the back teeth with stupid decisions and rules being imposed on them from Brussels. Britain in the past 10 years has lost around £50 Billion due to European regulations and people are now calling for a referendum regarding whether or not we should remain in Europe. The way I see it they need us more than we need them.
J Caruana
Mar 23rd 2011, 20:25
The members in Brussels should lead by example and take some of these Africans to there countries, but I guess it,s like the old saying goes " It's OK as long as it's not in my back yard '.
John.
Christian Sciberras
Mar 23rd 2011, 22:37
"Don't the Maltese people have the right to protect their identity?"
No. You either socialize and pay the price, or do how North Korea does.
Robert Callus
Mar 23rd 2011, 22:56
Can you perhaps explain how insulting people, speculating and lying on them or blaming innocent people for wrong things other people who happen to share the same skin color have committed will help "retain their Maltese heritage"?
George Ellul
Mar 23rd 2011, 18:55
Accusing someone of being a racist isn't going to solve any problems and neither stifling free speech in the news media going to fix things, this is plain old fascism at work.
Africa has to pull its self by the boots straps. It is a rich huge continent that has been receiving aid from europeans for the last 60 years and it has nothing to show for it as a beggar continent.
I do not blame the maltese people for not wanting their tiny barren island, made habitable by their ingenuity and hard work, to be swamped by lesser cultures in great numbers that show their ungratefulness in many ways.
Tiny Malta and the uncommon Maltese people are unique and deserve to survive intact.
In fact if "il malti" was wildlife, it would be on an endangered species list.
Africa and its people have to find a way with out bothering other human beings because these non africans have a right to their culture to not to be disturbed. Africa is hope and yet it is hopeless.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369041/Peter-Mandelson-Africa-aid-wasted-created-army-beggars.html
J Caruana
Mar 23rd 2011, 18:17
Malta has a history that goes back to the stone age, we have our own language,a lot of places full of History all around us and yet there are only 400,000 of us , so we should preserve what we have, but if people from other cultures mix with us we will become a melting pot and our very fragile culture will be lost for ever. What is wrong in this world to day is that when people try to keep and preserve there culture they are racists. then I am a racist because I wont Malta to stay Maltese.
John.
John Borg (mlh)
Mar 23rd 2011, 17:28
If being concerned that this tiny Island will be overtaken demoghraphically, having it's culture completely changed, losing our Maltese way of life as we know it, wanting to remain Maltese as we have been for centuries etc is considered racist... so be it. I will put my name down as being first on the list.
bonello david
Mar 23rd 2011, 18:26
I like the magority of the maltese population FULLY AGREE WITH YOU 100%. Yes we want to remain MALTESE. Well said Mr Borg !!!
john vella
Mar 24th 2011, 08:34
@John Borg
Allow me to put my name as second on the list. Thank you
V. Portelli
Mar 25th 2011, 13:58
Well said Mr. Borg. That's what many people fear. We had some good examples lately of how in Malta from a finger, the whole hand and body are taken. Why are we being called racists if we simply want to retain our belongings? Look at France, look at America.Who are the true french and americans? I don't know because through so many immigrants they have lost their roots. I am against every illegal immigration. I had my fair experience on seeing people over staying their visas, coming with false passports or without documentation. Yes this is not acceptable! This abuse has to stop. Can I have a problem and take a boat and enter the first port I see? No neither can I take a plane and land without permission. It is simply called authorisation accross borders and this should be respected.
V. Portelli
Mar 25th 2011, 13:58
With all due respect there are too many foreigners here coming with a boat for asylum or with the excuse of learning english or god knws what. Many of them break our laws, so if we are saying that this is not acceptable and these people have to go out of our country, racism has nothing to do with it. We are MALTESE and WE WANT TO REMAIN SO. Are people on this island free to decide that they may not want multiculturalism or is this a dictatorship???? Why some organisations want to push down our throats to accept every Tom, Dick and Harry that comes around because otherwise we are condemned with racism? I must say this is blackmail then. When someone comes to my door, I have all the right to stop him from entering my house, and if I do it I am free to have my reasons why I do it.
Matthew Grima
Mar 25th 2011, 17:37
Very well said.
Carmelo Aquilina
Mar 26th, 10:31
Jeez Joe, you need to get out more often -our culture has evolved because of people from all over - Arabs, Greeks, Italians, Spanish, Germans, Yugoslavs, English etc ..how can you preserve your culture in a glass jar ? Our culture has thrived by embracing and absorbing immigrants and we have done our share of exporting our culture . Our culture centuries ago is not the same as it is now and will nto be in 25- 50 years time so get over it.
Robert Callus
Mar 23rd 2011, 17:17
To deny that racism on mainstream media, including comments on this same newspaper does not exist would simply be burying your head in the sand. It is a reality we have to live with since unfortunately these people exist.
However what may appear as "racism" may aslo be just a basic level of nastyness some people have. Village grocer gossip taken to the Internet. As can be seen in some irresponsible and insensitive comments made on a fellow Maltese citizen whose battling for his life:
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20110323/local/soldier-who-ate-poisonous-beetle-slightly-better
Corinne Vella
Mar 23rd 2011, 16:23
The media's role is to observe and report. If being called racist is upsetting, then perhaps it's because it's true.
Willy Apap
Mar 23rd 2011, 17:54
I don't mind being called a "racist" one bit, just don't call me late for dinner.
BTW, Malta is for the maltese, uninvited guests do not count one iota in my book.
A Chircop
Mar 23rd 2011, 18:11
Corinne, your "logic" is mind boggling!
How about it's offensive simply because it's slander, and because the racism accusation is nowadays used to shut up anyone who doesn't agree with the politically correct balderdash? In other words, that if someone expresses concern about any aspect of the situation (as is their right), he/she "must" automatically be a racist and therefore his/her concerns are unfounded? That's what's upsetting, which is exactly what you are doing here as well.
Martin Cassar
Mar 23rd 2011, 14:44
Sorry Sirs, We are not racist and the timesofmalat.com is not to blame. We simply vote for the wrong politicians .
Figure published by the international organization of immigration (2007-2008) reveals that word’s immigrants (legal/illegal) coupled with refuge, asylum seekers...etc are about 185 Millions. The USA alone is directly responsible for creating the conditions for displacing 61 %of the 185 unfortunate people across the globe.
Even if all immigrants were Muslims and decide to come and live in Europe (something will never happen any way as Christians in Africa outernumer Muslims) still they will never outnumber Europe's Catholic population even with current low birth rate in Europe. This is just the card all far right intellectually bankrupted politicians are using to gain votes.
Ironically same countries that issue report accusing us with racism are the same countries that right now, in order to seize oil, are attacking Libya which is serving as safety valve for Europe!
If Gaddafi retaliates, he wont send missiles that cost millions of USD and may achieve nothing, instead Gaddafi will send boats with illegal immigrants that will Jolt all governments and put EU human rights laws under sternest test.
Christine Xuereb
Mar 24th 2011, 08:29
@ Martin ..........I agree with you regarding whats happening in Libya. The world is attacking Libya ' to save the people' they say! The large numbers of deaths caused after the world governments decided to intervened has increased dramatically - All this , yes, for oil.. So its not just Maltese media used for wrong reasons !
Nevertheless, I do hope that Maltese media does start watching out for sentences used - There is no problem with having migrants coming to Malta ....Like Martin said , our low birth rate is not helping..Especially with retirement pensions - With migrants given work permits , which will have them paying NI, this will get more pensions paid for the Maltese people - This right is not given to them , though! So, clearly, the issue many Maltese are having with African migrants coming to MAlta is only that of RACE !!
Muscat Pat
Mar 23rd 2011, 14:42
Such reports do not help one iota in the 'acceptance' of 'boat 'people from Africa. Stop digging.
J.Spiteri
Mar 23rd 2011, 13:31
Racism and effective border control are two totally different subjects. Preventing unauthorised entry of foreigners to a country by illegal means does not make one racist. Racism can also exist between the a country's local peoples and not necessarily between locals and immigrants. What really preoccupies us Maltese is the uncontrolled entry of all foreigners, not just Africans.
Louise Vella
Mar 23rd 2011, 12:43
These are the usual people. Go on ENAR’s website and you’re told the Maltese members are: Jesuit Refugee Service, John XXIII Peace Laboratory, Koperazzjoni Internazzjonali Malta (KOPIN), the People for Change Foundation (PfC), Solidarity and Overseas Service Malta (SOS Malta), Somali Voluntary Organization and Third World Group (TWG). Of course their members add up to a few dozen and some of them are members of more than one NGO.
Go to the website of the People for Change Foundation (www.pfcmalta.org) and you’re told: “this website is under construction”. So unfortunately we have no way of knowing how many thousands of Maltese this foundation represents. We are told it exists but nothing is known about it. Of course we have no idea how much the authors were paid for their "report" on Malta.
Sarah Mifsud
Mar 23rd 2011, 17:32
@Louise: I have always wondered who you are and what you agenda is. You only seem to comment on one topic alone and have become quite notorious. At least these NGOs are publicly registered and their mandate is also public. But who are you? If you feel so strongly about this issue, why don't you write an opinion piece in a newspaper or go as a guest on TV or radio, stating who you are and what your agenda is?
M Vella
Mar 23rd 2011, 18:02
Dear Ms Vella.
Thankfully your comments are 'of the usual people' too. If you don't consider yourself a racist why does this article pop your bubble so much?
Yes the Maltese media leaves a lot to be desired in terms of language allowed and any racial discrimination needs out, it benefits no one.
Louise Vella
Mar 23rd 2011, 12:36
The Africans came to Malta by boat without anybody inviting them. Whether they call themselves illegal immigrants, irregular immigrants, asylum seekers, refugees or whatever, they have one great freedom - the freedom to leave Malta any time they want.
Christian Sciberras
Mar 23rd 2011, 22:40
Freedom or by force?
Let's be honest, you're pushing to the latter.
Luke Rocco
Apr 1st 2011, 13:53
Louise... For your information, No. Any asylum seeker who ends up on Maltese shores, has to be kept within Malta, and will not be granted 'freedom of movement' to leave Malta for a good amount of time. If he manages to leave this country, and gets caught overseas, he/she will be deported back to Malta, which is where he got registered in the first place. All this thanks to different agreements and pacts the Maltese government is a signatory to.
Louise Vella
Mar 23rd 2011, 12:33
Freedom of speech is sacred in a democracy. It is protected by the Maltese constitution and the constitutions of all western democracies. Freedom of the press is an essential part of freedom of speech. A dictatorship starts by muzzling the press. As for UNHCR, it has made
enough use of press freedom in its anti-Maltese campaign in the local and foreign press. It is a mark of people's intolerance when they want freedom of speech for themselves but not for others.
Sarah Mifsud
Mar 23rd 2011, 23:24
UNHCR actually seems to be the only organisation doing anything to help Malta on the migration issue. I read that they are resettled about 700 refugees to other countries last year. I wonder what anyone else is doing... (except talking and blogging on the Times of course)
g. xerri
Mar 23rd 2011, 12:17
So the whole country stands condemned on the basis of what these two people had to say. And the EU takes their word for it. How many alternative governments does Malta have nowadays?
A Chircop
Mar 23rd 2011, 11:50
Well well ...
"The European Network Against Racism suggests that over the past years the media in Malta encouraged racial discrimination through its focus on irregular migration problems."
So now even just MENTIONING irregular migration and reporting it in the media, makes you a racist?
Just stating the facts (that irregular migrants arrive to our shores) is racist? Not only do they want us to accept it at all times, now they also want us to shut up about it and deny it even exists ??
I think a better name for these people would be European Network Against Common Sense or European Network For Colossal Stupidity.
God save us from all the fanatical do gooders (who probably have a hidden agenda too)
Mario Ellul
Mar 23rd 2011, 11:47
Call a spade a spade !
It is the only way to do things, no one is being fooled.
Phil Humphries
Mar 23rd 2011, 11:28
The media has a duty to reflect the views of the public, which it has, so why is ENAR criticising the media for reporting what the public are saying? Why don't they to arrange a series of public meetings so that they can hear what people are saying first-hand ?
They could use a reality check !
Stephen Koludrovic
Mar 23rd 2011, 11:28
The only racists are the Africans themselves. and pretty good examples are the Muslims vs the cop tics in Egypt, the Sudanese vs the christian blacks in Sudan, The Nigerians Muslim north vs Christian south, The Ugandians with the mass deportation of the Asians from Uganda. etc. etc. etc.
Al Gatt
Mar 23rd 2011, 13:27
Of course there is racism in Africa too Mr Koludrovic. Every country, continent and race has its Louise Odongo, Cohen, Saleh or Vella. Does one justify the other?
Why are you so surprised that Africans can be racist on other Africans, black people towards other black people? The worst genocides involved people of the same skin color, like Nazi Germany, Bosnia and Rwanda. Or should white Serbs be justified in murdering white Bosniaks because black Tustis murdered black Hutus?
C Borg
Mar 23rd 2011, 10:31
Why doesnt this foundation look into why we have “illegal immigrants”, “irregular migration”, “asylum seekers” and “refugees”, rather than calling us rascists?
Why dont they speak the truth about the reasons why these peoples need to escape from their lands. I will not go into too much detail as you are only allowed 200 words to comment, but is is general knowledge that it is the exploitation of their lands by western countries. The propping up and arming of selected individuals to ensure the continuation of their exploited lands for mineral and oil wealth has led to the mass murders we sometimes hear of in the news. Dont get me wrong, once in a while they drag one of these individuals to the hague for war crimes. Dog and pony show.
Looking at this article, the only people pointed out for taking advantage of these peoples situation are the construction magnates, which is what, 0.01% of our population. Why dont they name and shame people. Is it because they are considered powerful?
Christian Sciberras
Mar 23rd 2011, 22:41
Because it concerns racism not illegal immigration. Plain simple.
Antoine Vella
Mar 23rd 2011, 09:40
Perhaps the EU report refers to the comments sections of The Times. if so, they are right