Siege and Destiny

Bright B. Simons is a UK based Ghanaian film-maker and migrants rights activist. His research feature about Malta has just been published in WorldPress. He takes a historical look at the "ethnic stock" of the Maltese islands, interviews key stake holders and experts and takes a close look at the way Malta is handling the challenges posed by immigration. From World Press:

..So, on the issue of the desirability of increased European involvement to offset some of the pressure on the Maltese government, there does appear, thankfully, to be some sort of national consensus evolving. In the case, however, of how to treat migrants detained by the military during the course of attempts to enter Malta without the requisite paperwork, or after being rescued from sinking vessels off the islands' coasts, the situation is entirely different..

..I took it to mean he was referring to that ancient habit of islanders to be wary of the "change" that inevitably must follow in the wake of the stranger; to the crippling anxiety that attends getting "used to" this change and "sense of change." For people so used to associating change with conflict, and subsequent resistance, as the Maltese historically have been, such an attitude is clearly a collective defense mechanism. But like any defense mechanism the transformation to self-harm can often be subtle, and insidious.

It recalls a similar incident towards the end of the 18th century, The Bonapartists who had initially been welcomed as saviors from the unjust, unfair aristocratic status quo had been relieved of their favor in a general insurrection and Valetta was once again under siege. But this time it was the Maltese doing the besieging.

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