A rare ray of light
There are four chaplains that work at the centre. Their freedom to move about is limited to a small part of the building. They do not have the authorization to go to the dormitories even if a person cannot leave their bed.
Even though most of the asylum seekers are Muslim this Christian presence is sometimes the only ray of light for these people who are desperate and fearful about the incertitude of their futures. In the beginning the chaplains would often try to bring to the attention of the directors of the CEP the worst cases but they were told “it is not your problem”.
The chaplains say they offer to listen patiently, respectfully and confidentially. They know how much the asylum seekers need to talk about their distress. They help them to prepare for their interviews and give them a brochure explaining the procedure and the laws on asylum. They are often called in to support and comfort asylum seekers who have just been refused. They act as a go between for the asylum seeker and the help organizations, associations for people without papers and the legal advice for asylum seekers association (SAJE). The chaplains think that they are not really appreciated by the ODM, who try to limit the amount of help the can give.
Pierre-Olivier, Protestant chaplain
"On the outside not many of my parishioners ask me about what goes on here. I also have trouble explaining. I even have problems talking about it with my wife. When I get home I wonder how I’m going to share those experiences. It’s very hard. What keeps me going is that above all I believe in life. I believe that what these people are living has a purpose. I have never felt such intensity as I have here.
People who end up here have lost it all. They come here with the idea that they are coming to the United Nations building or the Red Cross. The have the impression of being not wanted. The say to me “you are tough. After all we have been through you don’t welcome us. Switzerland is a hard country”. They are put into camps, in big dormitories; they are confronted with the violence and racism that is present between the communities. When they get refused that’s the final blow. They are stunned and feel like they have just been slapped.
The whole process here is set up to limit immigration. It doesn’t matter what they have been through, menaces, even torture; they are not going to become refugees. Their applications will not even be treated because they are from “safe” countries, Congo, Kosovo, Nigeria where life isn’t worth much if you aren’t on the right side. It’s hard to listen to there stories and know that they don’t stand a chance.
We are in the same situation as in 1942 when we turned people away at the border. If we let people in, the fortress won’t last a day. In 1942 people must have been in the same situation. If we let people in it’s all over for us. Who knows who is right and who is wrong? It is this situation in the world where you have the rich on one side and the poor on the other that is dramatic.
When there is a crisis in Kosovo we welcome masses of people. The problem is after, what do we do with them? Can we welcome them momentarily and then send them back forcibly to lives that are no longer theirs. It is not much better now in Kosovo then during the war. We are sympathetic during a major crisis and then it’s over.
It is never over. I don’t like the right, I hate the UDC but if I ran the country my way it wouldn’t work. I am therefore thankful to the right and the UDC for saying Stop. You have to listen to different opinions; maybe that’s how we can best manage the situation."
"I feel like I am living in a fortress where no one else is allowed to enter."
