Keep dignity of Tamil refugees in mind during immigration debate - Archbishop J. Michael Miller, Vancouver
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vancouver
Statement by Archbishop J. Michael Miller
The arrival of 492 Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka has generated much discussion about Canada’s immigration policy and the appropriate means of dealing with the men, women and children who recently came by ship.
Some of the reaction has focused on the desperate individuals who have arrived on our shores, smuggled here to flee persecution in their homeland. There has been outcry, much of it hostile, about queue jumping, abuse of the system, and the need to keep Canada from being overrun with would-be refugees.
It is critical at this time to keep in mind the fundamental dignity of each human person, particularly these new arrivals. In his own life and ministry, Jesus identified himself with refugees and other marginalized groups: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me” (Mt 25:35).
Catholic Social Teaching is uncompromising on the rights of refugees, and these men, women and children must not become scapegoats in otherwise relevant debates over immigration policy, enforcement and reform.
While it is incumbent on responsible governments to establish the identities of newcomers so as not to open a door to potential security risks, the Catholic Church maintains that people who are victims of armed conflicts, misguided economic policies or natural disasters, as well as "internally displaced persons," must be recognized as refugees and offered international protection.
Canada has a well founded reputation as a nation of immigrants and refugees, and a long history of welcoming those seeking a haven from injustice.
It has been well documented in recent years that one of the global consequences of overly restrictive immigration and refugee policies by industrialized countries has been an increase in human trafficking, particularly of women and children.
The United Nations has called people-smuggling the fastest-growing form of transnational organized crime.
Pope John Paul II warned against the tendency of affluent countries to “tighten their borders under pressure from a public opinion disturbed by the inconveniences that accompany the phenomena of immigration. Society finds itself having to deal with the 'clandestine' men and women in illegal situations, without any rights in a country that refuses to welcome them, victims of organized crime or of unscrupulous entrepreneurs." (Pope John Paul II, Message for World Migration Day 2000, n 4.)
While the state must ensure immigration policy is subject to the requirements of the common good, such control must not inspired by selfish attitudes or "restrictive policies."
It is only just that as we discuss federal immigration policy, we keep in the forefront the men, women and children currently in detention – all of whom have risked their lives to escape persecution back home.
Before coming to Vancouver, Archbishop Miller served on the Vatican Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants, established by Pope John Paul II in 1988 to minister to the spiritual welfare of those who no longer are or who never have been members of a parish.
6 Comments
Thank you Archbishop J. Michael Miller for your fair and just position.
God creates every person and gives a destiny and a purpose to fulfil. God thus gives dignity and self esteem to every human being he creates regradless of colour or race.
Tamils who arrived in Canada have a God given destiny to fulfil. Their destiny is surely not to be away from home. But the evil of the genocidal and war criminal government of Sri Lanka has made them to flee.
Canada must extend love and care to the Tamil refugees and help them achieve their destiny by helping them with education and skills to return and successfully administer their country Tamil Eelam when it becomes free.
Canada did very well to South Africans during apartheid. I am sure it will do the same.
This is also an eye opener to the Canadian government for permitting the evil of SL to proceed unpunished and uncorrected for the past 27 years, both by the UN and the British Commonwealth, inspite of its prominent membership in them.
Thank you Archbishop for your kind words of guidance to the Canadian public.
Not all Media is honest, supporting the and some are full of idle suggestionss and ideas. Many people make utterances without knowledge or understanding the issue. Interested parties (the oppressors) who have the power and influence paint incorrect picture of the situation for obvious reasons.
The Tamils in Sri Lanka, being a minority, have undergone much oppression
from the time of independence in 1948 and discriminated by all rulers, whose aim is to become more popular and get into power- the more they oppress the Tamils the more votes they get. The present regime is the worst oppressor, and unfortunately aided by powerful nations, each with its own agenda.
Fairplay
Political, social, economic and environmental oppression(=internal colonialism) of 62+ years continues unabated after the cessation of armed struggle(''war is over'') in May 2009:
i. tens of thousands of IDPs are still detained in camps and 8,000 LTTE ''suspects'' without have not been seen by ICRC for more than one year.
ii. Tamil parliamentarians haven't been allowed to visit the camps so far(except those who agree to be taken by the army to the ''chosen'' camp)
iii. while IDPs occupying schools force children to have lessons under trees
iv.Continuing Fishing and Farming restrictions by the Navy and the Army
v.restricting CHAP(humanitarian agencies) funding and access for NGOs(including UN) to IDPs(who are battered by three decades of war) who are returning to their damaged houses and villages in Northeast - families are so starved, children are staying away from schools(wherever they have begun to function) and obliged to work
vi. NGOs are prevented from doing counselling and capacity building where they are allowed to give ‘’basic amenities’’
vii.more restrictions on NGOs were introduced at the end of June and NGOs are taken away from Social Services and brought under Defence Ministry after NGOs reported that the Forces are frantically removing bones skeletons in bunkers exposed by rain washing away the soil and witnesses have been saying that in the last ohase of the war grenades were thrown into bunkers by the army.
viii.increasing militarisation of Northeast Sri Lanka after the war, blocking land and ‘’space’’ for movement of civilians and taking up the businesses ususally done by civilians
ix. army-controlled administration of Northeast is increasingly controlled by the army of occupation
x. continuing to encourage lawlessness by paramilitaries in Northeast
xi. restricting entry to journalists and foreigners to Northeast(except tourists going to beaches who are accompanied by guides)
xii. no safety anywhere in Sri Lanka for journalists criticising the government - a carttonist has been missing for more than 6 months and many journalists say they are self-censored.
xiii. houses for families of the army and Buddha statues are being built while returnees are struggling to get a plastic sheet over their heads or lying under the trees
xiv. Sinhalese families are being settled and protected in places of IDPs still in the camps – housing complexes are being built for the families of the army and the navy
land belonging to the IDPs are being grabbed by the Army and the Navy
xv. land belonging to the IDPs are being grabbed by the Army and the Navy by arbitrarily erecting boards saying ‘’reserved for the Forces’’
xvi.IDPs are forced to celebrate victory and prevented from commemorating their dead kith and kin. Priests arranging memorial services received death threats from the Forces.
xvii. Advice by environmental scientists are ignored in managing resources in the Northeast by government ministers’ interference
xviii.when the oppressed IDPs flee the country, Sri Lankan government asks potential hosts to send them back to Sri Lanka - it means that they don't want the Tamils to escape their trampling boots.
GOD given destiny to fulfill in Canada for the Tamil refugees who arrived there.
THEY NEED TO REPORT TO GOD WHEN THE EELAM DREAM IS FULFILLED INSIDE CANADA
PANABOKKE.... You can speak from your bokke but these this would not be reversed. In the meantime collect your payment onbehalf of your service and that of the UNP.
Archbishop J.Micheal Miller......... Remember Dagobert ?...... read your Church history findout the actions. I need to remind you when you speak with your Tongue in Cheek of Dignity ???
Was Dagobert's dignity kept? Oh! yes. He was made a saint. For what ? because of the BL ?
Catholic Church hand emerge. First, Rayappu, then Saundranayakam, Now Micheal Miller........
Still not heeding to the warning of Jim brown.
The dignity of any group of people is taken away by another group of people; when overwhelmed by greed, envy and jealousy.
An evil and disastrous relationship of the "oppressor and the oppressed" or the "persecutor and the persecuted is then birthed.
This wall of truth is evidenced historically and expressed spiritually.
Under the rule of Pharoh in Egypt, after the time of Joseph, the Jews were prosperous and increased in number. Greed, envy and jealousy emerged in Pharoh and the Egyptians, and they took away the dignity of the Jews in stages. Male children born to Jews were killed. And Jews were subject to slavery.
In Sri Lanka(SL), Tamils were endowed with honesty, hard work, perseverence, wisdom and understanding. Therefore, they excelled in admissions to Public Service, state run universities and businesses. Tamils were prosperous.
Greed, envy and jealousy of the Sinhalese against the Tamils commenced and accelerated steadily unchecked.
The dignity of Tamils was snatched away in stages as the world silently watched by. Cruel measures were taken corporately by the sinhalese and;
a) In 1950's, Sinhala only was legislated as the official language of the island, leaving out Tamil and English.
b) In 1960's, "Standardisation" was made law, whereby, a Sinhalese was required to score less marks than Tamils in the same examination, to secure admission to state universities.
c) In 1972, A unilateral Sinhalese constitution, without participation by Tamil citizenry, was forced down the throat of Tamils, against the status of "British Dominion Of Ceylon" to declare the island a republic; and
d) In 2009, 40,000 Tamil civilians faced genocide. Even their dead bodies were not given a dignified burial. The dignity of Justice is denied upto now.
This criminal trend in SL has to be stopped now to protect and preserve a section of humanity in that country.
For the repressed Jews, God created a new country to restore their dignity. And I belive that Tamil Eelam is the new country that will restore the dignity of Tamils corporately. I believe that Christ is just, awesome and powerful in His love.