Tag: Social Democratic Party

Ahti Tolvanen: Most of what Kimmo Kiljunen said is well substantiated

Posted on by Migrant Tales

It is also obvious the non-action of the government on what their plan for the Finnish-Riussian border needs to be addressed.

Just keepiing the Saimaa Canal closed costs the Finnish economy millions, now even billions if road transport is added to it. Not to mention the disrupted family lives from which the largest immigrant community in Finland, its Russian speakers, are suffering due to the government’s, in security terms dubious, and indefinate border closure.

The government refers to secret intelligence that there is a security threat at the border. This has gone on for over a year now and the reasons remain secret. One can only conclude that the continued secrecy is really because there is no real evidence and the embarrassment potential-if that is revealed- keeps mounting. Some day the government will have a lot of explaining to do. 

SDP leader Antti Lindtman’s incapacity as a leader is stunning, matched only by his cowardly whipping of his MPs to vote for the ridiculous Pushback Law- ridiculous because it throws into question the whole idea that Finland is a champion of human rights or even the basic tenants of its own constitution. All because of the same undefined fantasy of a border threat.

Lindtman’s past behaviour  explains why Kiljunen had to step down because the SDP leader has made it clear his own party would not back him if the SDP leader had anything to say about it.

In fact its unclear if the SDP is nowadays willing to do anything significant to provide the kind of opposition politics the parliament needs and the Finnish people deserve in these troubled times.

Perussuomalaiset support heads south

Posted on by Migrant Tales

There was good news if you are against us-and-them rhetoric, Islamophobia, and support for US President Donald Trump’s policies and persona. A poll published Thursday by Yle showed that the southward direction of the Perussuomalaiaset (PS)* party continued to head south.

Compared with a similar poll on December 9, 2019-January 8, 2020, support for the PS dove by 6.4 percentage points from 24.3%, followed by the National Coalition Party (19.3%) and Social Democrats (14.9%).

One of the reasons why support for the Social Democrats has soared is Prime Minister Sanna Marin. Her government’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic has met with approval from the public.

Contrarily, the PS has not offered anything better except for its usual bickering and scapegoating of migrants, especially Muslims.

Read the full story here.

Some have referred to the PS as an elevator party since it rises and drops in the polls.

Even if it has done well in 2011, 2015, and 2019 parliamentary elections, much of its success rides on scapegoating Muslims.

In 2015, a sexual assault case in Tapanila a month before the election gave the PS a needed boost as did in 2019, when it took full advantage of the sexual assault cases in Oulu.

Two PS MPs, Vilhelm Junnila and Veikko Vallin giving the thumbs up to former President Urho Kekkonen (1956-82). With or without disinfectant and beams of light, the PS is Finland’s most pro-Trump party. Source: Facebook

What is interesting to note is that when a sexual assault case erupts as in the parliamentary elections, the media, police, and politicians help the PS to spread their message of hate.

Abdirahim Husu Hussein: One matter is the racist attacks but far worse is the indiffernce of the SDP and other political parties

Posted on by Migrant Tales

In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)

THIS STORY WAS UPDATED

Setting aside the racist attacks and harassment that Social Democratic (SDP) Helsinki city Councilperson Abdirahim Husu Hussein received due to a tweet, why are members of his party and other politicians near-silent offering token support if any to defend a politician of color?

We could ask what is worse, the racist attacks Hussein has endured or the indifference of Finland’s political class?

Hussein tweeted last month that all members of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party, their voters and supporters are racist. The tweet raised a storm during Finland’s vacation month of July.

On July 19, Hussein tweets from India: “Was yesterday’s tweet update too much for you. Let me be more concrete. All of the Perussuomalaiset and their voters/supporters are racists. Yes i said it. Do you need proof? Look at your history and how you were elected as Finland’s second-biggest party [in parliament].”

While Hussein denies that his tweet aimed at provoking the PS and its followers, it’s clear that Finland does need a long-overdue debate about its racism issues and why politicians and political parties have failed at containing and challenging the rise far-right populism.

How low has Finland stooped? Why is the country’s political class near-silent in the face of a black city councilperson who is being attacked in a racist and hostile manner? In my opinion, it reveals a scared and racist nation unwilling to take leadership and do what is right.

Hussein published on Facebook Thursday an especially vicious attack against him from a person who claims to be a PS supporter:

Racist: “Hi n-word.
You will soon be HISTORY N-WORD!!!
If I am a racist then you are an n-word:
Do you understand????
N-word.
N-word. If I support the persut (Peususualaiset party) then you are an n-word.
Go back to where you came from.”

So why aren’t the leaders of other parties saying anything substantial to defend and support Hussein who had the guts to speak out? Where is Prime Minister Antti Rinne, who is a member of the same party as Hussein? Where is Pekka Haavisto of the Greens, Left Alliance, Swedish People’s Party, and Center Party leaders? What about the National Coalition Party?

The indifference and near-silence of these parties and their leaders is deafening and reveals why populism has entered Finnish politics big time during this decade. It also shows us that our mainstream parties and society as a whole are at a loss in dealing with such a threat.

* The Perussuomalaiset (PS) party imploded on June 13, 2017, into two factions, the PS and New Alternative, which is now called Blue Reform. In the last parliamentary election, Blue Reform has wiped off the Finnish political map when they saw their numbers in parliament plummet from 18 MPs to none. A direct translation of Perussuomalaiset in English would be something like “basic” or “fundamental Finn.” Official translations of the Finnish name of the party, such as Finns Party or True Finns, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and racism. We, therefore, at Migrant Tales prefer to use in our postings the Finnish name of the party once and after that the acronym PS.

Vote in the European elections but not for the “let them drown” candidates

Posted on by Migrant Tales

EARLY VOTING: 15.-21.5. (FINLAND) 15.-18.5. (ABROAD)
ELECTION DAY: 26.5.

36.3%* of Finnish MEP candidates who answered Alma Media’s election compass stated that they either “strongly disagree,” “disagree” or are “neutral” (have no opinion) concerning the following claim: “Is it the obligation of the EU to save all those migrants who attempt to come to Europe and who are at risk of drowning in the Mediterranean?”

In my opinion, such an answer is shameful and washing one’s hands of the problem. Statement #13 of the election compass reveals to us without a doubt what politicians think about human dignity.

Source: Facebook.

Vote in the European Parliament elections but not for “let them drown” candidates (see list below).

Here is Migrant Tales’ “let them drown” list of shame:

Perussuomalaiset [1]

TOTALLY DISAGREE (LET THEM DROWN, IT’S THEIR PROBLEM)

SIMO GRÖNROOS
TEUVO HAKKARAINEN
ILPO HELTOMOINEN 
LAURA HUHTASAARI
ASSERI KINNUNEN
LAURA KORPINEN
OLLI KOTRO
MAURI PELTOKANGAS

MIKA RAATIKAINEN
MIRA NIEMINEN 
 SAMULI SIBAKOFF
SEBASTIAN RYNKKYEN
TANJA VAHVELAINEN 
MATTI VIREN 

DISAGREE (LET THEM DROWN)

ARTO LUUKKANEN
MINNA REIJONEN
PIRKKO RUOHONEN-LERNER

NO OPINION (I DON’T HAVE AN OPINION IF PEOPLE DROWN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN)

KARRI OLLILA
MINNA PARTANEN

National Coalition Party

TOTALLY DISAGREE (LET THEM DROWN, IT’S THEIR PROBLEM)

PIIA KURKI

DISAGREE (LET THEM DROWN)

HENNA VIRKKUNEN
LEENA ZITTLING
JYRKI KOIVIKKO
KIMMO SASI
SAMI YLI-RAHNASTO

NO OPINION (I DON’T HAVE AN OPINION IF PEOPLE DROWN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN)

EIJA-RIITA KORHOLA
JANIKA TAKATALO
MATILDA AF HÄLLSTRÖM

Center Party

TOTALLY DISAGREE (LET THEM DROWN, IT’S THEIR PROBLEM)

Continue reading “Vote in the European elections but not for the “let them drown” candidates”

Abdirahim Husu Hussein: It’s time for change

Posted on by Migrant Tales

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Have you applied for a rental property from your city but have had to wait for years simply because of your foreign name, while witnessing Finnish names get served within max 6 months? Over 100 cases have been recorded so far.

Have you applied for hundreds of jobs without even getting invited to an interview? Positions that are suddenly filled, once you contact them and they hear your name? Jobs, that are being given to people with half your qualifications… but with a Finnish background?

Have you been stopped and searched by the police supposedly randomly?

Have you had your dreams of higher education slashed by your guidance counsellor and other authorities; been told that you wouldn’t make it and should instead apply to ammattikoulu? Have you worked hard towards becoming a doctor, professor, engineer and so on, only to be recommended you become a lähihoitaja?

Have you been disrespected, called names, abused (verbally, physically, online…) and made to feat that sort of treatment simply because of your name, religion, colour of your skin or the language you were heard talking?

Continue reading “Abdirahim Husu Hussein: It’s time for change”

Nasima Razmyar and the Social Democrats: Do one thing, say another

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Could somebody explain how a politician like MP called Nasima Razmyar of the Social Democratic Party can speak against deportations when her vote in parliament last year was partly responsible for the deportation that took place on Monday?

Razmyar as well as the majority of Social Democratic MPs, the Center Party, National Coalition Party, Perussuomalaiset* and Christian Democrats voted to do away with residence permits on humanitarian grounds.

Scrapping such a law now means that after three rejections asylum seekers can be deported back to their countries. Before, they were given a temporary residence permit that allowed to stay in Finland.

Even if it is a good matter that MP Razmyar speaks out against deportations at Monday’s demonstrations, it is disingenuous of  her since her vote made the Afghan family’s deportation possible.

Considering her background as a refugee, we need an explanation from Razmyar why she voted against the bill that did away with residence permits on humanitarian grounds.

 

 

 

 

 

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Posted on by Migrant Tales

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?????? ??? ????? ?????? ????? ??????? ???? ????? ??? ?????? ???????? ??? ????? ( ??????)? ???? ?????????? ??? ?????? ??? ? ??????? ??????? ?? ?? ??????? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ?? ???? ????? ???? ? ?????????? ??????? ???? ???. ???? ?????? ?????????? ?? 3 ????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ?? ??????? ??????????? ????. ??? ??? ?? ??? ?? ????????? ????? ???? ? ????? ????? ?? ?????? ???? ????.

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Finland’s ever-growing crisis of undocumented migrants is the government’s and Social Democratic Party’s doing

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Thanks to the 107 MPs listed below that voted on April 13 to approve law 2/2016 that did away with granting residence permits on humanitarian grounds, Finland faces today an unprecedented rise of undocumented migrants.

According to various estimates, the number of undocumented migrants is seen rising from a few hundred to thousands, even by as many as tens of thousands.

Prior to scrapping residence permits on humanitarian grounds, an asylum seeker who got a negative decision from the Finnish Immigration Service (Migri) was granted a temporary residence permit if there wasn’t a repatriation between Finland and his country.

Law 2/2016 is poorly thought-out and is an example of how populism and xenophobia are guiding the government by the leash when it comes to immigration policy. Thus Finland’s immigration policy doesn’t hinge on whether countries like Iraq are safe or not, but on anti-immigration politics.

I am astounded many times to watch officials of the Migri, politicians who are interviewed by complacent journalists state that these people only came to Europe to search for a better life.

So?! Is it is a crime to flee a failed state like Iraq embroiled in violence and search for a better life in Europe?

Anti-immigration rhetoric in Finland has become so extreme that we label whole groups for fleeing countries that we destroyed directly and indirectly in the first place.

Continue reading “Finland’s ever-growing crisis of undocumented migrants is the government’s and Social Democratic Party’s doing”

PS MP Tolppanen’s defection to the SDP is a good example that racism in Finland is still a debate between white people

Posted on by Migrant Tales

A lot of people were surprised Wednesday to hear that former Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MP Maria Tolppanen, who has made some pretty racist statements in the past, has defected to the Social Democrats (SDP). 

There are two matters that are extremely disappointing and shed light on Finland’s ongoing issues with racism: It’s still a discussion between white Finns who aren’t directly affected by it.

Since the racism issue in Finland is a debate between white people, it’s clear that the social ill isn’t treated seriously. There is a lot of lip service and empty claims that “we’re against racism” that don’t mean much.

In one move, the leader of the SDP, Antti Rinne, also given a serious blow to the party’s credibility on anti-racism issues.

Tolppanen’s defection is a good example as well of the former PS MP’s opportunism and her moral caliber. It also exposes, as we have seen in the polls, that the PS is a sinking ship.

Na?ytto?kuva 2016-6-22 kello 14.16.17

Read full story here.

I wonder what SDP MP Nasima Razmyar thinks about the defection.

Will the media even care to ask her opinion about the matter?

* The Finnish name for the Finns Party is the Perussuomalaiset (PS). The English names of the party adopted by the PS, like True Finns or Finns Party, promote in our opinion nativist nationalism and xenophobia. We, therefore, prefer to use the Finnish name of the party on our postings. The direct translation of “Perussuomalaiset” is “basic” or “fundamental Finn.” 

Is Finland swapping Nordic values like social equality for social inequality?

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Social Democratic Party (SDP) MEP Liisa Jaakonsaari gives a good interview to Helsingin Sanomat about the government’s 80-point plan to tighten immigration policy that not only targets asylum seekers but impacts negatively the whole migrant and minority community of Finland. 

According to Jaakonsaari, 70 of the 80 points in the government’s plan has the stamp of the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party. If this is the case, no wonder Finland is having difficulty in focusing on more pressing matters like jump-starting economic growth and creating jobs.

Like the SDP MEP correctly pointed out, the big picture of the new policy is clear: Asylum seekers shouldn’t come to Finland because they’re not welcome.

Imagine, we already have an underclass of people in this country that are so disenfranchised that Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s government can even propose, with a poker face, shelving indefinitely their basic civil and human rights. This is happening in a country that takes seriously human rights and brags about social equality.

Migrant Tales wrote recently:

The government now hopes with the 80-point plan to not only make life difficult for asylum seekers, and in turn for all migrants and minorities in this country, but introduce policy changes that are unconstitutional. PS Social Welfare Minister Hanna Mäntylä has been eager to lower subsidies to asylum seekers that get a residence permit.

Asylum-seekers, migrants, and minorities aren’t the only one’s feeling the brunt of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s government, which is comprised by the PS, Center Party and National Coalition Party. Finns who are pensioners, unemployed and rely on social welfare are the target of massive social welfare cuts that will make their lives harder.

Jaakonsaari said that giving a temporary residence permit to those that get asylum in Finland is a good example of PS anti-immigration ideology. Even if it wasn’t pointed out in the Helsingin Sanomat interview, the idea to offer temporary residence permits comes from Norway, where the anti-immigration populist Progress Party (FrP) shares power with Conservative Party (Høyre). 

The Finnish media hasn’t for some reason connect the dots, but nationalist-populist parties in the Nordic region are following each other’s anti-immigration rhetoric and policies on how to tighten and make life as hard as possible for asylum seekers and their respective migrant communities.

What’s the solution? There is none except that as long as the PS are in government, the anti-immigration climate in Finland will not improve but get worse. Hostility against migrants and cultural diversity is what makes the PS tick politically.

Don’t expect anything to improve in the short-run either.

Massive spending cuts by the government and tighter immigration policy will encourage migrants and refugees to compete and fight against each other and against poor Finns for ever-meager resources. But mark my words: The more space that is given to the PS politically the more hostility there will be against asylum seekers, migrants and our ever-culturally diverse society.

Na?ytto?kuva 2015-12-23 kello 9.02.19

Listen to full interview here.

Even if SDP leader Antti Rinne is quoted as saying that he backs and considers government plans to tighten immigration policy “a very good idea,” such a stance is a big mistake. We saw this type of mimicking of the PS in 2011 with poor consequences for the Social Democrats.

Continue reading “Is Finland swapping Nordic values like social equality for social inequality?”