[D66] The worldwide persecution of refugees

[J.N.]

http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2015/05/14/pers-m14.html

The worldwide persecution of refugees
14 May 2015

>From Europe, to Asia, to the Americas, the world is witnessing growing
numbers of refugees and a corresponding wave of state repression and
violence directed at denying them their fundamental democratic rights.

The European Union this week has moved on two tracks to confront the
flow of refugees from northern Africa, which has led to the drowning
deaths just this year of nearly 2,000 of those seeking to make the
dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean.

The first is a scheme unveiled Wednesday to parcel out between the EU
member states a combined quota of 20,000 refugees over the course of two
years. The number is pathetic in relation to the estimated half a
million refugees believed to be gathered in North Africa in their flight
to Europe, not to mention the 170,000 refugees who made the crossing
last year alone.

Nonetheless, the proposal has triggered a sharp crisis within the EU,
with the United Kingdom, Ireland and Denmark opting out of the refugee
quotas. The very proposal provoked denunciations from Britain’s Tory
government. The quota system acts, in the words of Home Secretary
Theresa May, as a “pull factor,” encouraging people to attempt the
Mediterranean crossing. Instead, she indicated, the migrants must be
forcibly pushed back to Africa.

The quota scheme notwithstanding, the EU as a whole is concentrating on
strengthening Fortress Europe and even preparing to carry out military
action to halt the flow of refugees.

As the British daily Guardian revealed Wednesday, the EU has drawn up a
19-page strategy paper that calls for the use of naval, air and even
ground forces to stop refugees from leaving Libya. Envisioned are not
only a naval blockade, but air strikes against boats and boatyards
involved in smuggling migrants across the Mediterranean, along with the
potential deployment of special operations troops on Libyan soil.