[Media-watch] BBC Q&A on asylum system overhaul

[Stephen McKee]

BBC Q and A: Asylum system overhaul "What's the thinking behind the 
government's latest changes to the asylum system? 27/10/03 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3218031.stm

The overall effect of this piece is reasonably positive, but the opening 
section parrots the tired old bogus/genuine line.   Some thoughts -

“its ability to sort the genuine from the false”.
- “False” is a value loaded word.  Don’t they mean “applications they are 
disallowing”?

“whether it will prove faster and fairer for the genuine.”
- Again, this constant pushing of the notion of “genuine” and “bogus”.

The BBC Q&A correctly identifies why the distinction is misleading: 
“Firstly, history shows those genuinely in fear of persecution would be 
foolhardy to flee with their own paperwork.
Jews who escaped from Nazi Germany did not walk up to the border and ask to 
be let out.
Those who could afford it obtained false documentation; the rest chanced it 
without papers.
Secondly, it is impossible to claim asylum abroad at a British Embassy (as 
is the case with many other industrialised nations).”  But knowing all this, 
still continues to try to push the “genuine” vs “bogus” line.

“The last decade has seen an explosion in the smuggling of people across 
borders.”
- Being smuggled isn’t the same as being “bogus”.  In fact, the system the 
UK operates only encourages – some might say necessitates – smugglers.  (C/f 
American Prohibition and the effect on organized crime).  Teresa Hayter’s 
book “Open Borders” is an excellent study on the effect of immigration 
controls in causing problems.

Steve

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