What's missing in the global debate over refugees | Yasin Kakande

譯者: Lilian Chiu 審譯者: Adrienne Lin

I am an immigrant from Uganda living in the United States

我是住在美國的烏干達移民，

while waiting for my asylum application

正在等待我的政治避難申請被批准。

to go through.

Migrants do not enjoy much freedom of movement

在我們現今的世界上，移民者不太有

in our world today.

移動的自由。

This certainly applies to those who are desperate enough

對於那些絕望到得坐上船， 在狂風暴雨中、

to navigate choppy and stormy seas in boats.

在怒海上航行的人而言， 肯定是如此。

These are the risks my cousins from West Africa and North Africa face

我在西非和北非的同胞 試圖前往歐洲時

while trying to cross over to Europe.

就是要面臨這種風險。

Indeed, it is a rare but fortunate opportunity

的確，對於一個移民者而言， 能在這樣的會議上發表演說

for a migrant to address a gathering like this.

是個稀有但幸運的機會。

But this also signifies what often is missing

但這也表示，

在關於難民、移民、 移入移民的全球辯論中，

in the global debate over refugees,

migrants and immigrants,

voices of the disenfranchised.

通常都遺漏了被剝奪公民權者的聲音。

Citizens of many host countries,

許多移民目的國的公民，

even those that previously welcomed newcomers,

甚至那些先前歡迎新住民的國家，

are uneasy about the rising numbers of individuals

對於有越來越多人移入，

coming into their countries.

都感到有些不安。

The immediate criticism is that the newcomers upend the stability

立即的批判就是，新來者會擾亂

of social welfare and employment in their countries.

國家中社會福利和就業的穩定。

Uncertain and skeptical citizens look towards politicians

充滿不確定性及懷疑的公民， 會指望政治人物做事，

who are competing against each other to see who can claim the prize

政治人物互相較勁，看看誰才能成為

of the loudest voice of populism and nationalism.

民粹主義和民族主義中最大的聲音。

It is a contest of who is the toughest on migrants,

這是項競賽，比誰對移民政策最強硬，

the most willing to impose travel bans

誰最願意實行入境禁令，

and the most eager to propose projects in building walls.

誰最熱衷於提出建立圍牆的方案。

All these restrictions simply address symptoms of the problem,

所有這些限制，只是在治標，

not the causes.

沒有治本。

Why are they coming?

他們為什麼要來？

Migrants can share perspectives,

移民者可以分享觀點，

if only politicians would be willing to listen.

但前提是政治人物要願意傾聽。

In Dubai, I chronicled injustices and inequalities inflicted regularly

在杜拜，我記錄了 移民勞工階級經常受到的

on the migrant labor force.

不公正和不平等待遇。

As a result, pressures from the governments

因此，來自各國政府的壓力

of the respective countries

led to me being forced out of my career as a journalist in the Middle East.

迫使我失去了 在中東擔任記者的工作。

I was deported to Uganda,

我被驅逐回烏干達，

where economic deprivation puts everyone at the risk of starvation.

在那裡，經濟剝削讓 每個人都面臨挨餓的風險。

I fled Uganda to come to the United States

我逃出烏干達，到了美國，

in the hope of sustaining a voice for my brothers and sisters

希望能夠替我的兄弟姐妹發聲，

who experience a more serious plight as migrants.

同為移民，他們所經歷的情況更困苦。

My father told me he was not happy about me writing a book

我父親告訴我， 他很不樂見我因為寫一本書

that risked deportation and unemployment.

而遭驅逐出境和失業。

He had been diabetic for many years when I still worked in Dubai,

我還在杜拜工作時， 他已罹患糖尿病多年，

and my salary was always sufficient to pay for his treatments.

我當時的薪水足以支付他的治療費用。

After I was expelled,

在我被驅逐之後，

I could not afford to sustain his treatment,

我無法繼續負擔他的治療費，

and even in the last days of his life,

即使在他人生最後的日子，

I could not afford to take him to a hospital.

我也沒錢送他去醫院。

As I carried his body in my hands to lay it in the ground

我親手抱著他的遺體，將他埋葬，

in June of last year,

那是去年六月的事，

I realized I had paid a profound price

我了解到，為了大膽發聲

for amplifying my voice.

我付出了很大的代價。

The act of speaking up against injustices that are multilayered is never easy,

大聲發聲，對抗層層交疊的不公正 從來就不是一件容易的事，

because the problems require more than just rhetoric.

因為問題需要的不只是華麗的言語。

So long as gold mines, oilfields and large farms in Africa continue to be owned

只要在非洲的金礦、油田， 以及大型農場的所有權都是屬於

by foreign investors

外國投資者，

and those vital resources are shipped to the West,

且那些重要資源被運送到西方，

the stream of African migrants will flow continuously.

非洲移民者的流動就會持續不斷。

There are no restrictions that could ever be so rigorous

沒有任何限制能夠嚴格到

to stop the wave of migration that has determined our human history.

足以阻止決定了人類歷史的移民潮。

Before border controls can be tightened

在邊界管制變得更嚴，

and new visa restrictions imposed,

及新的簽證限制上路之前，

countries that have long received migrants

長期以來一直在接收移民者的國家

should engage in a more open discussion.

應該要進行一場更開放的討論。

That is the only practical start for reconciling, finally,

只有這樣的實際起始做法， 最終才能夠去調解

a legacy of exploitation,

開採的遺產、

slavery,

奴隸制度、

colonialism

殖民主義，

and imperialism,

及帝國主義，

so that together, we can move forward in creating a more just global economy

同心協力，我們就能向前走，

在 21 世紀創造出 更公正的全球經濟，

in the 21st century --

one that benefits all.

讓所有人受惠。