'Send them away'

WHERE on earth is Eswatini? It is one of the smallest countries in Africa, a landlocked kingdom ringed by South Africa and Mozambique. It is now the new home for five criminals (from Vietnam, Laos, Cuba, Jamaica and Yemen), deported recently from prisons in the US.

- BY F. S, AIJAZUDDIN

Why Eswatini? Perhaps, the reason lies in its national motto: “We are a fortress / We are a mystery / We hide ourselves away.’

Deportation to a third country is not anew practice. In the 19th century, the British sent their criminals to Australia. Between 1788 and 1868, 162,000 convicts were transported there. Recently, one visitor entering Australia was asked whether he had any convictions. He replied wittily: “Why? Is conviction still a prerequisite to enter Australia?”

Normally, convicts and undesirables used to be deported to their home country. Today, they can be sent anywhere. Countries in the Global North have begun exporting their human detritus, like unwanted waste, to poorer ones in the Global South.

For example, Denmark, to ease overcrowding in its jails, has signed a 10-year deal with Kosovo worth millions, leasing 300 cells in a refurbished prison. Belgium is considering a similar deal with Kosovo. The Netherlands may send up to 500 foreign inmates to Estonia from next year. Austria wants to follow suit. Sweden is studying the export of both Swedish and foreign prisoners.

In March this year, President Donald Trump deported more than 200 Venezuelans held in the US to a mega prison in El Salvador, some 2,500 kilometres away from their home.