Published on November 23, 2005
Alienation of Muslim immigrants in Europe remains a burning issue
The world has seen unrepentant young French men born of mostly North African fathers jubilant at the sight of cars they just lit up. They rejoiced at burning their neighbours’ cars, at torching the schools their brothers and sisters would need in the future. They did not burn cars of the well-to-do in central Paris or Lyon. They burned the cars of their hard-working neighbours, who have no insurance, and who may loose their jobs if they cannot reach their place of employment. They burned buses and stoned trains, their only success in hurting the world outside the sad suburbs where they were brought up. The unrest has spread throughout France and spilled over a bit into Belgium and Germany.
The French media mentions with gravity that there are fundamental reasons that caused the unrest, without being specific. I found a few interesting tips in the Belgian press that may point to likely causes of the unrest. Up to about three years ago unemployment with young Belgians of North African (BNA) descent was about 20 per cent. Now it is 50 per cent, higher in certain cities. This has not only affected young people with a low level of education. It has had a similar effect on the young BNA with higher education. Some employers, such as in the harbour of Antwerp, used to employ many BNA. Now there are nearly none left. In the hotel and restaurant sector, a big sector in Belgium, one sees the same phenomenon. Many heavy industries such as steel-making and manufacturing have become inaccessible to BNA. Why? The recent enlargement of Europe has opened he doors for droves of eager Poles, Latvians, Lithuanians, Slovaks, and Czechs. They are often well educated and have highly sought industrial skills. But most of all they are hard working and their culture is so similar to Belgium’s that besides some temporary language problems they blend in easily. Many know German and French. Another reason is that they are mostly Christian, with a smattering of Jews. They are not Muslim. Some say that the BNA are argumentative, confrontational, form gangs inside firms, and cannot be trusted. It is possible that the racist preference for white colleagues may play a role as well. The result is that BNA guest workers are now unwelcome. New European family members have taken their jobs. The problem is that Belgium, just like France and Germany until recently, had programmes to offer nationality to immigrants quickly. Once they are nationals, guest workers cannot be sent home. On the other hand Europeans are not likely to embark on a US-style affirmative-action programme to promote disfavoured BNA. So the problem will fester and get worse. Philip Annez Bangkok ----------------------------------- To a dark place this line of thought will carry us Re: “Dark days lie ahead for PM”, Editorial, November 22. This kind of commentary is based on dark anti-government emotions. Pray Bangkok ----------------------------------- In a democracy, leaders must respect the will of the people Sondhi Limthongkul, a journalist, is simply doing his job – reporting the news. If Thaksin doesn’t want what he says to be published, then he should simply keep his mouth shut. Who on Earth runs for public office, yet refuses to listen or accept public criticism? A good politician should listen to the people who elected them, not seek to stifle them. In the end, Thaksin is a public servant and therefore, ultimately, we are all his bosses. It’s not the other way around, as he seems to think. If that fact escapes him then he shouldn’t run for public office. Disgusted by the actions of Thaksin Bangkok ----------------------------------- The region’s greater Buddhist community should be unified Re: “Govt’s Burma policy brings great risks, few rewards”, Opinion, November 21. It is easy for countries that do not border Burma to say what the Western colonialists wish them to say. But Thailand shares a border with Burma, as well as strong Buddhist ties. To blame our Thai PM for having personal interests in Burma is wrong. His political manoeuvres in regard to Burma are what friendly neighbours do for each other. Note how it is Buddhist Karens who are fighting for the Burmese government, and Christian Karens who are trying to destabilise it. The Thai government should in fact scrutinise all the missionaries, and non-profit groups working along the Thai-Burmese border. They could turn our northwest frontier into an area of confrontation with the Buddhist Burmese in their zeal to please their God at the expense of Buddhist Thai and Burmese. Thailand should join forces with Burma by building a road and pipeline from their Andaman Sea coast to Tak, then through central and northern Thailand to China. This would open a route of trade and friendship and Tak could be the hub of this development. Who are these colonialist Western stooges to tell us how we should conduct relations with our neighbour? A World Buddhist Youth Council should organise workshops to foster more and more exchanges between Thailand, Burma, Laos and sort things out for the benefit of the majority group of that region. Thiti Siamwalla Bangkok ----------------------------------- Buses might be better if govt officials had to ride in them Re: “Bus services set for overhaul: BMTA”, November 17 The efforts of the BMTA to check the condition of minibuses operated by private companies and cease services of those failing to meet standards deserve praise. But they should have been done sooner, not in response to the recent spate of accidents and injuries. The BMTA should not only use engine conditions as criteria of renewing minibus services, but also look into how minibus drivers do their job. Minibuses cause stress for passengers as well as air pollution. As a commuter of minibus No 14, I have experienced, for many years, the culture of bus drivers racing for passengers, which causes me frustration, tiredness and concerns over my own and other passengers’ safety. These minibuses stop at the Victory Monument for some five to 10 minutes to get as many passengers as possible, even though there are other buses of the same route parking there. Passengers then have to bear the brunt of waiting in a tiny, low-ceiling and hot cabin. Then when they get going, the buses are driven very fast. Apart from checking on the minibuses’ condition, the authorities should also discuss with private operators about ways to improve services, and perform onsite visit by getting in these minibuses themselves. Maybe then they would come up with some decisions. Surasak Glahan Bangkok ----------------------------------- Bush not an ideal lecturer when it comes to freedom Re: “Freedom is an Asian value”, Editorial, November 19. Bush preaching democracy? This is the height of insolence and hypocrisy. This is the guy that has brought us the criminal aggression against Iraq, the torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, the Patriot Act. This is the man who presided over hundreds of executions when he was governor of Texas. This is a man who knows about violations of human rights. Rung Go Hok Bangkok ----------------------------------- Condom campaign would help limit HIV infections Re: “Thailand’s Silent Epidemic”, News, November 17. This article has addressed a very important issue in Thailand these days: the rise of HIV infections in Thailand and the government’s apparent complete lack of interest in halting this deadly trend. The shocker is that the rising rate of HIV infection has resulted in close to a third of gay men in Bangkok possibly being infected with the virus. While the article focused on gay men, it is likely that the HIV-infection rate is up across the board. This is troubling because there’s one proven and easy way to stop the spread of HIV: using condoms. What’s equally troubling is that Thailand has been down this road before and the return of the Aids epidemic here can easily be avoided if the government simply revived the Aids awareness campaigns of the early and mid-1990s. Condoms prevent HIV infections and a return to promoting condom use is an essential part of that prevention. So why is the government doing nothing? My guess is it’s partly due to complacency and preoccupation with other health issues, like the bird flu, and partly due to a social conserv atism prevalent among many leading Thai Rak Thai figures that prevents them from even discussing the issues of condoms and Aids. Homophobia probably plays a part as well. Due to repeated “social order” crackdowns over the last few years that affected gay bars and saunas, most of these venues shy away from promoting condom use through posters and leaflets – and simply ignore the issue so as not to cause trouble. But as we all know – or should know – Aids has a nasty way of spreading through the general population, so if the government has decided to ignore the problem because gay men are not its concern, it is shooting craps with the health of an entire nation. Of course, individuals should also take responsibility for their actions. It is unforgivable that some men, whether gay or straight, are still willing to have unprotected sex with strangers. There’s really no excuse for that. But many younger men and teenagers have simply never been educated about the dangers of Aids or the importance of using of condoms – and the blame for that lies squarely with the Thai government. I urge Thai authorities, both national and local, to get their act together and start saving lives through Aids awareness campaigns and proper Aids education for Thailand’s young people. Farang Rak Thai Bangkok
Post your comment to this story here