A chara, - While not wanting to legitimise the sterile views of Ms Aine Ni Chonaill of the Immigration Control Platform, by engaging in debate, we feel it incumbent that one erroneous premise and incitative dictum in her rambling letter of June 25th be rejected. Ms Ni Chonaill dictates that society "must" learn to see the "illegal" immigrant as a criminal.
We would like to remind your readership that Ireland is party to the 1951 United Nations Geneva Convention, and 1967 Protocol, relating to the status of refugees. Ireland also holds particular responsibility to uphold the rights of refugees and asylum seekers as a member of the executive committee of the Programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; the UNHCR is legally mandated to provide protection for refugees. Additionally, Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that "Everyone has the right to seek, and to enjoy in other countries, asylum from persecution".
Thus, whether Ms Ni Chonaill uses quotation marks or not when referring to "illegal" immigrants, is irrelevant, as the use of the word in the context of immigrant and asylum seeker is misleading and false. Contrary to Ms Ni Chonaill's sentiments, international law dictates that we must respect and facilitate immigrants and asylum seekers. Her contention that these human beings, fleeing terror, persecution and deprivation, are criminals is incitative and dangerous.
We call on Irish society to reject the racist myths and propaganda promulgated by the Immigration Control Platform and welcome immigrants and asylum seekers, with the spirit of generosity that our people are renowned for and, with policies that reflect our responsibilities as a vibrant, modern, Republic. - Yours, etc., Dr Brendan Murphy,
Mid-West Against Racism, Limerick.