Het ware gezicht van Europa voor immigranten

vrijdag, 06 augustus 2010

Reacties4

De Oegandese journalist Ssuuna Golooba vertelt in zijn blogbijdrage voor HUMAN waarom hij besloot de documentaire 'Surprising Europe' te maken. 'Surprising Europe' was op 12 augustus om 23:15 te zien bij HUMAN op Nederland 2.

After reading an article about the plight of the 11 illegal immigrants that were killed at Schiphol airport detention I was inspired to come up with a film that would give Africans the true picture of what goes on in Europe.

A fire broke out while immigrants were awaiting deportation at a prison complex outside Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport in October 2005 killed 11 people. This prison was built during a rapid expansion of detention facilities in 2002, and was being used to detain drug smugglers and illegal immigrants caught at entry into Amsterdam, as well as asylum seekers who have exhausted all appeals to stay.

I was one of the people that got shocked by this incident; especially because I thought in a developed country like the Netherlands, there were no such negligent situations.

My original plan was to write articles in newspapers for my people back home after doing research, but after the incident I thought that the message would come out better if I come up with a film about the real life of illegal immigrants.

I wanted to show people the problems that Africans go through especially those who migrate to Europe with an intention of working and become rich. Many people sell their assets in the name of travelling to Europe to make a fortune over night but I want to warn them that the Schiphol incident was one in many that are not even known. There are many unreported crimes that illegal immigrants fall victim of. Many people victimize them because they know they have nowhere to run for rescue.

There is an economic depression in most of the Western countries so the labour laws have been revised and make it almost impossible for an illegal immigrant to earn a living. Employers are threatened with stiffer fines if they employ illegal workers.

During my research, many people told me horrifying stories about how they have risked their lives to come to the land of opportunity and further more to survive in Europe so that the police does not get them.

Lack of information about the reality of Europe and people who are promoting their interests are the major reasons why Africans are increasingly flooding the West illegally. People are lured into abandoning their jobs back home and move to the West without knowing the consequences. They make it seem to them that life is very simple while out there.

I still stress that 'Surprising Europe' is not intended to discourage Africans to go to Europe but rather asking them to weigh their options before they leave their homelands.

I am only trying to create awareness among potential Africans that have a dream of becoming labour migrants in Europe to be ready for the frustrations. My next plan is to promote this film and give the real information about Europe to my fellow Africans using our slogan 'Be informed before you go'. In order to achieve this goal, I kindly ask for any financial assistance to reach African countries. 

Ssuuna Golooba.

Wilt u meer weten over dit project? Bekijk de website van 'Surprising Europe' en lees het programmabericht van HUMAN. Om in contact te komen met Ssuuna kunt u hem direct emailen per: ssuunagolooba@hotmail.com

'Suprising Europe' is ook online te bekijken.

In 2006 zond HUMAN de documentaire 'Cellenblok K. Daar is mijn hoofd gebleven' uit. Hierin volgt filmmaker Kees Vlaanderen zeven mensen die de brand in het cellencomplex op Schiphol-Oost overleefd hebben.