Written by Saraa Abas
The concerning refugee predicament is on its height recently as most European countries struggled to cope with refugee’s influx from the Middle East. In the midst of war, the civilian becomes victims of mass event massacre and displaced from their home. The Syrian’s civil war has displaced more than 11 million of its population, fleeing from home to seek humanitarian support from aiding countries. The conflicting war in Syria continues to be the biggest human displacement followed by Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2015 alone, the EU has settled more than 1 million refugees, where mostly seek for asylum.
Syrian civil war began from the collision between long-serving government, al-Assad family, and rebellion group. Initiates by Arab Spring uprising, people in Middle East demand for political reforms. The frustration is more likely of the government failure to achieve the long-promised economy. The successful uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt energised and gave hope to Syrian pro-democracy activists and many Islamist movements that were opposed by Assad’s rule. In April 2011, Syrian army attacked the demonstrators, leading the rebellion group armed themselves to fight back. This rebellion group grows combining local tribal groups, deserted militant and Jihadist, each with their own agendas.
In the other hand, battling global terrorism, these refugees are becoming the victims of judgement and discrimination of world issues which stroke some European countries due to several incidences involving Islamist extremist. Having all refugees being Muslims, while some countries welcome them with open arms, in contrary, it raises disputes on the foreign policies of migrant acceptance. It addresses the concerns of widening the risk of terrorist penetration, taking advantage from the migration, along with the on-going social problems among the local.
Since the refugee migration took place, there are several incidences and foreign policies changes in adapting this phenomenal influx. Many were criticised and pressured to give assurance to the refugees as required by The United Nations.
To understand the current status of refugee crisis today, we monitored the local and international mainstream media outlets that disseminate updates and current news relating to this issue. The reflections of world views upon this matter are much likely influenced by how these media portrays the situation (Gerbner, 1999) and agreement of a particular cause. We examined two media outlets, a Malaysia’s news media, The Star and an international news media, The Guardian. In one month media monitoring is held in the month of October 2016 via online, collecting the related articles and extracting their perspective reporting upon this matter.
Malaysian Media: The Star
The Star is established by Star Media Group Berhad, formerly as Star Publication (Malaysia) Berhad, over 16 years and revamped in 2008, embracing digital news, The Star Online, integrate themselves along with readers demand, offering better access to news stories, channel and multimedia. Apart from news by local journalist, we’ve noticed that The Star subscribed to Reuters, a Russia’s based international media, for its foreign news.
i. Denials of human right’s
It has been mixed feeling on the response of European countries providing adequate humanitarian aids for fellow refugees arrived. The Star reported the pressure build up on few European countries to fulfil the basic human need and fair treatment to all refugees. It criticised the failure of those countries to better manage the current crisis and carrying out their responsibilities as developed nation giving assistance to civilians in distressed.
ii. ISIS threat
The risk of open doors policy of refugees is the potential of extremist penetration that could jeopardise the safety of local citizen. Due to several occurrences recently in few Europe’s countries, Muslims around the world, particularly from the Middle East were stereotyped and discriminate by politician and the locals. The Star reports of few suspected Syrian refugees were wanted, adding up to the tension to aid provider’s countries. In the reports, The Star repeatedly relates Syrian refugee to agendas of strong connotation like ‘bomb’ and ‘attack’ could leave a perspective on the public readers.
iii. Restricting borders on refugees
In the period of monitoring, The Star highlights refugee migrant restriction and denial of entrance by few countries on its policies to limit refugee’s intake and deals made between governments to contain the placement of refugees that seek for asylum. The strict restriction led criticism over respective government decision not only denying their duty but also increase the risk of danger of refugees casualties, fleeing from home seeking for humanitarian aids.
International Media: The Guardian
For the international media, The Guardian, is part of the Guardian Media Group, owned by The Scott Trust Limited which was created in 1936. In recent 2010, the Guardian has significantly developed and expanded its digital operations. Their objective is to secure the financial and editorial independence of The Guardian in perpetuity and to safeguard the journalistic freedom and liberal values of The Guardian free from commercial or political interference.
Image credit: Dailymail.com Image source
In their reports, The Guardian constantly showcase the current situation of the Calais refugee camp and criticise the British government on its treatment of Calais’s children refugees. The Calais refugee camp is the largest refugee placement that is scheduled to be shut down due to its unavailability to occupy large amount of refugees. The demand of France government for the Britain to fulfil their duty has gained support by the media, which pressure the Britain government to uphold its humanities values over restriction of migration policies.
i. Refugees crisis management
In the midst of refugee crisis around Europe, several interest parties raise their concerns over the financial aids supports and management. The media highlights the rationale of arguments from NGO bodies to have a better plan during the crisis. They also express their frustration on international obligation in fulfilling their moral duty to provide safe havens for the victims. In several other articles, the media relevantly shares their opinion on the current management effort and how participating countries should improve.
ii. Criticism on European humanities values
The Guardian strongly highlights their criticism over the loss of humanities values in many westerns countries. They also constantly promoting and persuading their readers to have good humanities values in understanding the refugee hardship during these times, trying to eliminates negative perception among societies. Many concerned of the westerner’s avoidance in giving helping hands to ease the crisis and the up rise of discrimination and racism to the refugees.
From the observation over the month, we can see that the Malaysian media reliance of foreign media Reuters, shapes types of news and perspective of news reporting. The news focused is on the foreign government policies and ISIS updates instead of highlighting the internal problems faced by the refugees. From our view, the constant news of refugee’s rejection is the main angle of news story. The Star has very little opinion of the current situation and only reports factual policies. Apart from that, The Star most likely to report on the Syrian civil war updates in Aleppo compared to addressing the issues of refugees migration. This may due to the Malaysia’s does not highly impacted by the crisis, but The Star showed their support in condemning the on-going war.
The Guardian constantly promotes humanity values and shares an open criticism to respective countries that denied their duty on humanitarian aids. Not only spreading news, they also highlight writer’s opinion supporting the refugee’s humanitarian aid relating to local’s values and belief to reduce the tension and negative perception of the public of the current issues. In most of their article, they often discussed foreign response and reactions in welcoming the refugees. Their articles also supported by many opinion leaders in convincing their readers to understand and persuade them to give a helping hand to those in need. There has been large coverage on this issue because The Guardian, a media based in UK, is highly impacted from this crisis. Therefore, a constant coverage and advocacy is a must.
2015 World Drug Report finds drug use stable, access to drug & HIV treatment still low. (n.d.). Retrieved Nov 01, 2016, from United Nation Office on Drug and Crime: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/frontpage/2015/June/2015-world-drug-report-finds-drug-use-stable–access-to-drug-and-hiv-treatment-still-low.html
AlJazeera. (2016, November 12). The refugee crisis and the Greeks: One year on. Retrieved from Aljazeera.com: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/talktojazeera/inthefield/2016/11/refugee-crisis-greeks-year-161110113307707.html
Gerbner, G. (1999). Television and its viewers: Cultivation theory and research. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
The Guardian. (n.d.). Retrieved October 01, 2016, from The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/
The Star Online. (n.d.). Retrieved October 01, 2016, from The Star: http://www.thestar.com.my/
UNODC Drug Trafficking. (n.d.). Retrieved Nov 01, 2016, from United Nation Office on Drug and Crime: https://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/drug-trafficking/
Sara Abbas, mwandishi wa jarida la The Guardian, amesema hali ya wakimbizi imefikia kilele hivi karibuni wakati nchi nyingi za Ulaya zilipojitahidi kukabiliana na uhamiaji kutoka Mashariki ya Kati. Katikati ya vita, raia huwa waathirika wa mauaji ya watu wengi na kuhamishwa kutoka nyumbani kwao. Vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe nchini Syria vimepelekea zaidi ya watu milioni 11 kukimbia makazi yao ili kutafuta msaada wa kibinadamu kutoka nchi zinazowasaidia. Vita vya Syria vimeendelea kuwa chanzo kikuu cha uhamiaji wa watu, ikifuatiwa na Afghanistan na Iraq. Katika mwaka 2015 pekee, Umoja wa Ulaya uliwakaribisha zaidi ya wakimbizi milioni moja, ambao wengi wao wanatafuta hifadhi. Vita vya wenyewe kwa wenyewe vya Syria vilianza kutokana na mgongano kati ya serikali ya muda mrefu, familia ya al-Assad, na kundi la waasi. Mapinduzi ya Spring ya Kiarabu: Watu wa Mashariki ya Kati Wanahitaji Marekebisho ya Kisiasa Uvunjaji wa moyo ni uwezekano zaidi wa kushindwa kwa serikali kufikia uchumi uliokuwa umeahidiwa kwa muda mrefu. Mapinduzi yaliyofanikiwa nchini Tunisia na Misri yaliwapa nguvu na matumaini wanaharakati wa Syria wanaopinga demokrasia na harakati nyingi za Kiislamu ambazo zilipinga utawala wa Assad. Aprili 2011, jeshi la Syria liliwashambulia waandamanaji, na kuongoza kundi la waasi kujiandaa kupigana. Kikundi hiki cha uasi kinakua kikichanganya vikundi vya kikabila vya mitaa, wanamgambo waliohamishwa na Jihadist, kila mmoja akiwa na ajenda zao wenyewe. Kwa upande mwingine, katika mapambano dhidi ya ugaidi wa kimataifa, wakimbizi hao wanakuwa waathirika wa hukumu na ubaguzi wa masuala ya kimataifa ambayo yanaathiri baadhi ya nchi za Ulaya kutokana na matukio kadhaa yanayohusisha wanamgambo wa Kiislamu. "Kuwa na wakimbizi wote kuwa Waislamu, wakati baadhi ya nchi kuwapokea kwa mikono wazi, kinyume chake, huinua mabishano juu ya sera za kigeni za kukubali wahamiaji. """ "Hii inahusu wasiwasi wa kupanua hatari ya uvamizi wa kigaidi, kuchukua faida kutoka kwa uhamiaji, pamoja na matatizo ya kijamii yanayoendelea kati ya wenyeji. """ Tangu uhamiaji wa wakimbizi ulipotokea, kuna matukio kadhaa na mabadiliko ya sera za kigeni katika kukabiliana na mtiririko huu wa ajabu. Wengi walishutumiwa na kushinikizwa kutoa uhakikisho kwa wakimbizi kama inavyotakiwa na Umoja wa Mataifa. Ili kuelewa hali ya sasa ya mgogoro wa wakimbizi leo, tulifuatilia vyombo vya habari vya ndani na vya kimataifa vinavyosambaza habari za hivi karibuni na habari za sasa zinazohusiana na suala hili. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika makala ya mwisho ya makala hii, ""Mtazamo wa ulimwengu juu ya suala hili ni uwezekano mkubwa sana kuathiriwa na jinsi vyombo vya habari hivi vinavyoonyesha hali (Gerbner, 1999) na makubaliano ya sababu fulani." "Tuliangalia vyombo viwili vya habari, vyombo vya habari vya Malaysia, ""The Star"" na vyombo vya habari vya kimataifa, ""The Guardian.""" Mwezi wa Oktoba, 2016 kupitia mtandao, makundi ya vyombo vya habari yanakusanya makala zinazohusiana na habari na kutoa maoni yao juu ya suala hili. Star Media Group (formerly Star Publication Malaysia) ni kampuni ya Star Media Group, ambayo ilianzishwa mwaka 2008 na kuunganisha habari za digital na mahitaji ya wasomaji, na kutoa upatikanaji bora wa habari, habari, na multimedia. Mbali na habari za mwandishi wa habari wa ndani, tumegundua kwamba The Star ilijiunga na Reuters, vyombo vya habari vya kimataifa vya Urusi, kwa habari zake za kigeni. i. Kukataa haki za binadamu Kumekuwa na hisia mchanganyiko juu ya majibu ya nchi za Ulaya kutoa misaada ya kutosha ya kibinadamu kwa wakimbizi wenzake waliofika. "The Star iliripoti ""ushindi"" wa nchi chache za Ulaya kutimiza mahitaji ya msingi ya kibinadamu na matibabu ya haki kwa wakimbizi wote." "Ilikosoa kushindwa kwa nchi hizo kusimamia vizuri mgogoro wa sasa na kutekeleza majukumu yao kama taifa lililositawi kutoa msaada kwa raia walio katika shida. """ ii. "Uhitaji wa ""sera ya milango wazi"" kwa wakimbizi ni uwezekano wa kupenya kwa wanamgambo ambao wanaweza kuhatarisha usalama wa raia wa eneo hilo." Kwa sababu ya matukio kadhaa hivi karibuni katika nchi chache za Ulaya, Waislamu ulimwenguni kote, haswa kutoka Mashariki ya Kati waliathiriwa na ubaguzi na mwanasiasa na wenyeji. Ripoti za Star za wakimbizi wachache wa Syria walioshukiwa walitaka, kuongeza mvutano kwa nchi zinazotoa misaada. Katika ripoti hizo, The Star mara kwa mara inahusiana na wakimbizi wa Syria kwa ajenda zenye maana kali kama "bomu" na "shambulio" ambalo linaweza kuacha mtazamo kwa wasomaji wa umma. iii. Katika kipindi cha ufuatiliaji, The Star inasisitiza vikwazo vya wahamiaji wakimbizi na kukataliwa kuingia na nchi chache juu ya sera zake za kupunguza uingizaji wa wakimbizi na mikataba iliyofanywa kati ya serikali kuzuia uwekaji wa wakimbizi wanaotafuta hifadhi. Vizuizi hivyo vikali vimesababisha ukosoaji dhidi ya uamuzi wa serikali, ambao haukukataa tu wajibu wao, lakini pia huongeza hatari ya hatari ya waathirika wa wakimbizi, wakikimbia kutoka nyumbani kutafuta misaada ya kibinadamu. The Guardian ni gazeti la kimataifa la habari la Uingereza, ambalo ni sehemu ya kundi la vyombo vya habari la The Guardian Media Group, ambalo limeanzishwa mwaka 1936. Katika mwaka 2010, The Guardian imeboresha na kupanua shughuli zake za dijiti. Lengo la shirika hilo ni kuhakikisha uhuru wa kifedha na uhariri wa gazeti la The Guardian na kulinda uhuru wa uandishi wa habari na maadili ya The Guardian bila kuingiliwa na biashara au siasa. "Kutoka kwa ripoti za gazeti la The Guardian, gazeti la habari la Uingereza, ""The Guardian"" limekuwa likionyesha hali ya sasa katika kambi ya wakimbizi ya Calais na kukosoa serikali ya Uingereza kwa jinsi inavyowatendea watoto wakimbizi wa Calais." Kambi ya wakimbizi ya Calais ni mojawapo ya makazi makubwa zaidi ya wakimbizi nchini humo, na imepangwa kufungwa kwa sababu ya kukosa uwezo wa kuwakaribisha wakimbizi wengi. "Madai ya serikali ya Ufaransa ya Uingereza kutimiza wajibu wake yamepata msaada kutoka kwa vyombo vya habari, ambavyo vinamsukuma serikali ya Uingereza kudumisha maadili yake ya kibinadamu juu ya vizuizi vya sera za uhamiaji. """ i. Katika kipindi cha mgogoro wa wakimbizi katika Ulaya, vyama kadhaa vya maslahi huongeza wasiwasi wao juu ya msaada wa kifedha unaoungwa mkono na usimamizi. Vyombo vya habari vinasisitiza hoja za vyama vya mashirika yasiyo ya kiserikali kuwa na mpango bora wakati wa mgogoro. Pia wanaelezea kukata tamaa yao juu ya wajibu wa kimataifa katika kutimiza wajibu wao wa kimaadili wa kutoa makao salama kwa waathirika. Katika makala nyingine kadhaa, vyombo vya habari vinaelezea maoni yao juu ya juhudi za sasa za usimamizi na jinsi nchi zinazoshiriki zinapaswa kuboresha. ii. The Guardian pia imetoa maoni yake juu ya upungufu wa maadili ya kibinadamu katika nchi nyingi za Magharibi. Pia wanaendeleza na kuwashawishi wasomaji wao kuwa na maadili mazuri ya kibinadamu katika kuelewa ugumu wa wakimbizi wakati huu, wakijaribu kuondoa maoni hasi kati ya jamii. Wengi walihangaikia kuepukwa kwa watu wa magharibi katika kutoa msaada ili kupunguza mgogoro na kuongezeka kwa ubaguzi na ubaguzi wa rangi kwa wakimbizi. "Kutokana na uchunguzi wa mwezi huu, tunaweza kuona kwamba utegemezi wa vyombo vya habari vya Malaysia kwa vyombo vya habari vya kigeni, Reuters, huunda aina za habari na mtazamo wa ripoti za habari. """ Habari hizo zimezingatia sera za serikali za kigeni na taarifa za ISIS badala ya kuangazia matatizo ya ndani yanayowakabili wakimbizi. Kutoka kwa maoni yetu, habari ya mara kwa mara ya kukataliwa kwa wakimbizi ni pembe kuu ya hadithi ya habari. The Star ina maoni machache sana ya hali ya sasa na inaripoti tu sera za ukweli. "Kulingana na ripoti ya The Star, ""mashambulizi ya Syria yanaendelea katika mji wa Aleppo, lakini kwa sasa ni vigumu kugundua chanzo cha mashambulizi hayo.""" Hii inaweza kuwa kwa sababu ya Malaysia haijaathiriwa sana na mgogoro huo, lakini The Star ilionyesha msaada wao katika kulaani vita vinavyoendelea. The Guardian daima huendeleza maadili ya kibinadamu na inashiriki ukosoaji wa wazi kwa nchi husika ambazo zilikataa wajibu wao juu ya misaada ya kibinadamu. Si tu kueneza habari, pia zinaangazia maoni ya mwandishi anayeunga mkono misaada ya kibinadamu ya wakimbizi inayohusiana na maadili na imani ya mahali hapo ili kupunguza mvutano na maoni hasi ya umma juu ya masuala ya sasa. Katika makala yao, mara nyingi walijadili majibu ya kigeni na athari za kuwakaribisha wakimbizi. Makala zao pia ziliungwa mkono na viongozi wengi wa maoni katika kuwashawishi wasomaji wao kuelewa na kuwashawishi kutoa mkono wa kusaidia kwa wale wanaohitaji. "Hii ni kwa sababu gazeti la The Guardian, ambalo ni la Uingereza, limekuwa likikabiliwa na ""madhara makubwa"" kutokana na mgogoro huu." Kwa hiyo, chanjo ya mara kwa mara na utetezi ni lazima. Ripoti ya 2015 ya Dawa za Kulevya ya Dunia (WDR) iligundua kuwa matumizi ya dawa za kulevya ni ya kawaida, na upatikanaji wa dawa za kulevya na matibabu ya UKIMWI bado ni wa chini. (N.d.). "Kama ilivyoelezwa na Ofisi ya Umoja wa Mataifa ya Dawa na Uhalifu (UNODC) katika ripoti yake ya Juni 2015, ""Upatikanaji wa madawa ya kulevya katika ulimwengu bado ni wa chini.""" (Mwanzo 12, 2016). Mgogoro wa wakimbizi na Wagiriki: Mwaka mmoja baadaye. Aljazeera.com: http: www.aljazeera.com http: www.aljazeera.com http: www.aljazeera.com http: www.aljazeera.com http: www.aljazeera.com http: www.aljazeera.com http: www.aljazeera.com http: www.aljazeera.com http: www.aljazeera.com Televisheni na watazamaji wake: Nadharia ya Kilimo na Utafiti. Cambridge: Chuo Kikuu cha Cambridge Press. Mlinzi. (N.d.). "Kutoka kwa ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The Guardian"" na ""The"" na ""The"" na ""The"" na ""The"" na ""The"" na ""The"" na ""The"" na ""The"" na ""The"" na ""The"" na """ (N.d.). "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika taarifa ya Oktoba 1, 2016 kutoka The Star: ""Hii ni taarifa ya kwanza kutoka kwa Umoja wa Mataifa kuhusu biashara haramu ya dawa za kulevya." (N.d.). "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika taarifa ya Umoja wa Mataifa ya Utekelezaji wa Sheria za Uhalifu na Uhalifu (UNODC) iliyochapishwa mnamo Novemba 1, 2016, ""Utekelezaji wa Sheria za Utekelezaji wa Sheria za Utekelezaji wa Sheria za Utekelezaji wa Sheria za Utekelezaji wa Sheria za Utekelezaji wa Sheria za Utekelezaji wa Sheria za Utekelezaji wa Sheria."""