I was surprised to listen on Thursday morning to Anssi Honkanen’s and Renne Korppila’s Aamupoika radio program on NRJ about Bulgarian and Romanian Romanis that come to Finland to beg. If you want to find the sources of Finnish racism and loathing for the Romany minority, tune into their morning program.
The program said, and this is not a joke, that due to the high number of Bulgarian and Romanian Roma who are coming to beg on our streets this summer, there’s a direct link with higher crime rates. Moreover, they claimed that these people are directly involved with organized crime and why don’t we forbid these EU citizens from coming here.
If I could, I’d ask Korppila or Honkanen to show me the statistics that reveal how crime rates have risen in Finland because there are more Romanis in this country from Bulgaria and Romania. I haven’t seen one credible source either that has shown me a link between these people and organized crime.
The fact that such claims are made by a radio station with little or no public reaction show the deep roots of hatred and racism that some have of the Romany minority.
Not only does a large radio station like NRJ spreads prejudice and hatred against an ethnic group, but it is done in the same way by the national media. The solutions offered by city officials and politicians to the whole issue only reveal their suspicion and total incompetence in finding any credible solutions for these Romanis.
It’s shameful behavior for a country that should know better and offer instead leadership on how to improve the plight of Romanis in Europe.
Fortunately some are outraged at what is being written by the media and broadcast by radio stations. More of us should, however, stand up against such prejudice.
Maybe they are referring to this? http://www.poliisi.fi/poliisi/krp/home.nsf/pages/DD246162688C7D9CC22578A2003E4724
You cant deny that the romanian romanis often commit crime such as burglaries, thievery, robberies and assaults when they are here. And yes, they are most likely linked with larger crime organizations in Romania. Those organizations fund their little trips to Finland because we have lots of easy targets, people are naive.
I can never trust an east/central european romani. Not because of what YLE says, but even because of first and secondhand experiences. Sure its prejudice but for a reason. I wouldnt want to forbid their access to the country, but there needs to be a way to effectively prevent the crime some of central/east european romanis do here
–You cant deny that the romanian romanis often commit crime such as burglaries, thievery, robberies and assaults when they are here.
Could you show me the evidence?
The way the police and media pictures this issue brings me memories of how far-right groups treat rape.
Certainly if there is crime, it must be addressed. But to go further by victimizing all people from a certain nationality or ethnic group is simply wrong. We know that the police in Finland has little sensitivity concerning the latter.
There is a solution – work on fixing the discrimination and poverty of Roma in Romania and Hungary!
-Could you show me the evidence?
See the link posted above by Joonas
-The way the police and media pictures this issue brings me memories of how far-right groups treat rape.
Well id say its a pretty serious issue. Especially when its easy for the criminal romanis to quickly leave the country without much chance of getting caught
-Certainly if there is crime, it must be addressed. But to go further by victimizing all people from a certain nationality or ethnic group is simply wrong. We know that the police in Finland has little sensitivity concerning the latter.
I agree. But please understand that the romani’s community is clan-based, a large part of those who come here are more or less involved.
–Well id say its a pretty serious issue. Especially when its easy for the criminal romanis to quickly leave the country without much chance of getting caught.
I agree but the way you, the media and police are presenting this is pretty serious as well. So what should I do, Jssk? If I see any Romanian I should shoot and ask questions later. That’s good advice and meant for people who don’t know better.
If you would treat black people in the United States or even in England the same way as the Finnish public does, there would be widespread outrage and condemnation.
Suspected criminals are always a very small minority.
Absolutely, but its easier said than done. Both romanis and the majority need to change their approaches.
Agreed. A nomadic lifestyle in Europe in this day and age is hardly practical or possible. The key is getting the children into schools and keeping them there.