Month: March 2019

Shed an alligator tear for me: Foreign Minister Timo Soini condemns terrorist attack in New Zealand

Posted on by Migrant Tales

After creating a hostile environment against Muslims and migrants in Finland, Blue Reform* Foreign Minister Timo Soini has the audacity to condemn what happened in New Zealand as “cowardly,” according to Yle News. We condemn him and the actions of the Finnish government of cowardice in the face of defending and making every Muslim and migrant feel secure in Finland.

Disagree?

Check out the news coming from Oulu, which is named in the manifesto of the white supremacist that killed in cold blood about 50 Muslims during Friday prayers in Christchurch, New Zealand.

 

Read the full story here.

* The Perussuomalaiset (PS) party imploded on June 13, 2017, into two factions, the PS and New Alternative, which is now called Blue Reform. Despite the name changes, we believe that it is the same party in different clothing. Both factions are hostile to cultural diversity never mind Muslims and other visible minorities. One is more open about it while the other says it in a different way.

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.

The price of hate and words have consequences: What goes round comes around

Posted on by Migrant Tales

The atrocity that struck Christchurch leaving about 50 people dead has its roots in Norway, Oulu and in other places where anti-Muslim hatred was challenged by silence. 

An eerie silence has befallen Finland’s biggest Islamophobic mouthpieces: the Perussuomalaiset,* Blue Reform and National Coalition Party.

A tweet by New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

There is absolutely nothing except for silence coming from Jussi Halla-aho, Laura Huhtasaari, Sebastian Tynkkynen, Leena Meri, Kike Elomaa, Teuvo Hakkarainen, Petteri Orpo, Kai Mykkänen, Wille Rydman, Antti Hälkkänen, Susana Koski, Sampo Terho, Simon Elo and a long list of other politicians ready to sell their souls in order to get elected in April.

Read original tweet here.

Atrocities such as what happened in New Zealand not only instilled fear in the Muslim community of Finland but is a warning that this will happen again until the media and politicians take a tough stand against Islamophobia.

We need such leadership in Finland today and now.

* The Perussuomalaiset (PS) party imploded on June 13, 2017, into two factions, the PS and New Alternative, which is now called Blue Reform. Despite the name changes, we believe that it is the same party in different clothing. Both factions are hostile to cultural diversity never mind Muslims and other visible minorities. One is more open about it while the other says it in a different way.

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.

The wrong question by Helsingin Sanomat that feeds anti-immigration sentiment and undermines human rights

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Helsingin Sanomat’s election or vote compass questions say a lot about how the Finnish media approaches and writes about asylum and migration issues. Martin Scheinin, international law and human rights professor at the European Institute University, raises an important point about how the newspaper approaches asylum policy. 

Scheiin tweets: “Hesari [Helsingin Sanomat] feeds anti-immigration sentiment that ignores Finland’s human rights’ obligation by juxtaposing[political] parties wrongly [on topics like] asylum. [The proper] question one should ask is whether Finland should comply whole-heartedly with its human rights obligations.”

Read the original tweet here.

While the Helsingin Sanomat election compass asks potential voters two questions about migration policy, an article by it publishes the following questions answered by the different parties. One of these is should Finland tighten asylum policy.

Most of the parties (National Coalition Party, Center Party, Blue Reform, Perussuomalaiset (PS)*, Christian Democrats, Seitsemän tähden liike) said they would tighten asylum policy. The Social Democrats and Liike nyt stated that asylum policy should remain unchanged while only the Greens, Leftwing Alliance and the Swedish People’s Party were in favor of loosening asylum policy.

The view that Helsingin Sanomat takes about asylum policy sheds light why human rights are on the defensive these days. It also shows why most mainstream parties are eagerly parroting the PS’ Islamophobic and anti-immigration rhetoric.

* The Perussuomalaiset (PS) party imploded on June 13, 2017, into two factions, the PS and New Alternative, which is now called Blue Reform. Despite the name changes, we believe that it is the same party in different clothing. Both factions are hostile to cultural diversity never mind Muslims and other visible minorities. One is more open about it while the other says it in a different way.

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.

 

 

 

Newly appointed ombudswoman for children talks only about the plight of white children

Posted on by Migrant Tales

THIS STORY WAS UPDATED

The Helsingin Sanomat headline of the newly appointed Ombudswoman for Children, Elina Pekkarinen, says it all: “the new Ombudswoman for Children knows the needs of Finnish children. OK, fair enough. Newspapers decide on the wording of the headline. Even so, there is not one word mentioned how the new ombudswoman will protect the rights and situation of non-white Finnish children. 

One gets the view after reading the article that only white children who live in Finland matter. These cliens are served by other white officials who smile in pictures.

But all of this could be a mistake, right? Here is Migrant Tales overreacting again.

I visited the Ombudswoman for Children website and all the pictures portray the ideal family and smiling authorities who are all white.

If the webpage was anything to go by, there are no non-white children and parents living in Finland.

Read the full story (in Finnish) here.

The fact that the article is all smiles and all white tells me which groups calls the shots in Finland. It is another example how non-white children are treated and represented as second- and third-class members of Finnish society.

Comments Christian Thibault, Liikkukaa CEO: “Although we have to give Elina Pekkainen the benefit of the doubt, the attitude displayed in the HS article must raise eyebrows. Over 20% of the children in the Helsinki-Vantaa-Espoo region have at least one parent who was born in another country than Finland. It is naive, or even negligent, to maintain color blindness towards the situation of those children.”

And adds: “The statistics about discrimination and experience of violence by children [of color] with at least one immigrant parent speak volumes.”

Ahti Tolvanen, chairperson of the Forum for Foreign Scholars, writes on Facebook: “What exactly is the condition of underaged children seeking asylum in this country? Seems many are kept with their parents in the same substandard reception centres in overcrowded conditions. Are suspect kids of parents with asylum refusals often get separated from their parents just like in the US? This lady has an assignment waiting for her.”

Susannah, a member of Migrant Tales who writes on condition of anonymity, writes: “The constitution also guarantees rights to migrants. One of these rights is not to be returned to a country where your life would be in danger.”

Congratulations on your appointment, Elina Pekkarinen, but what are you going to do about improving the plight of non-white Finnish children and families? This question is not addressed in the Helsingin Sanomat article.

Just asking.

See also:

Exposing Finnish white privilege #61: #NoRacismInUniversity #WeAreNotSkinColour

Posted on by Migrant Tales

The fact that a group of black researchers headed by Dr Faith Mkwesha are challenging institutional racism at Åbo Akademi reveals a lot about the nature of the beast and how too little is done today to tackle racism. Dr Mkwesha is a researcher at Helsinki University and Åbo Akademi. 

A petition, which has already received over 1,100 signatures, requests the rector of Åbo Akademi University, Mikko Hupa, and the Minister of Education Sanni Grahn-Laasonen to put an end to all forms of racism against black, brown and racialized students at Finnish universities.

You can sign the petition here.

According to Dr Mkwesha, a black researcher at Åbo Akademi University found a racist card in the mailbox of her office. When a complaint was filed to the head of the gender studies department, there was nothing done to support and protect the researcher.

Continue reading “Exposing Finnish white privilege #61: #NoRacismInUniversity #WeAreNotSkinColour”

A song by Enrique Santos Discépolo that refuses to die: Cambalache siglo 20

Posted on by Migrant Tales

The 1930s are known by Argentinean historians as “the decade of infamy” due to the widespread political-insitutional corruption and fraudulent elections. Enrique Santos Discépolo (1901-51) composed a song in 1934 to mirror those terrible times called Cambalache siglo 20, 20th Century Bazar. The song, written 84 years ago, refuses to die since it mirrors what is happening in the United States under Donald Trump and with the rise of nationalist-populists parties in Europe. 

Like so many Argentineans who came as migrants to Argentina believing in a better and more just world, Discépolo like many of his countrymen was also attracted by anarchism.

Discépolo died of a stroke on December 23, 1951.

Cambalache sung by Julio Sosa (1926-64), one of the great tango singers of his era.

Continue reading “A song by Enrique Santos Discépolo that refuses to die: Cambalache siglo 20”

NCP’s Petteri Orpo and his infamous xenophobic and anti-immigration statements

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Economy Minister Petteri Orpo, who is also the chairperson of the National Coalition Party (NCP), was and is instrumental for having tightened Finland’s immigration policy when he was the interior minister (2015-2016). As a minister in Prime Minister Juha Sipilä, he was instrumental in undermining the rights of asylum seekers and migrant community. 

One of his many infamous anti-immigration statements was when he equated asylum seekers coming from the Russian border as water from “a leaking roof.”

In light of the Oulu sexual assault cases, Orpo jumped on the populist bandwagon again by stating that migrants should embrace Finnish values. Iraqis, according to him, are “a challenge” to Finland.

Finance Minister Petteri Orpo considers Iraqis “a challenge” to Finland. He suggests that all Muslim men are chauvinists who oppress women (sic!). Read the full story here.

Continue reading “NCP’s Petteri Orpo and his infamous xenophobic and anti-immigration statements”

Police officer who insulted and hit a woman gets suspended for three months

Posted on by Migrant Tales

A police offer who insulted and hit a woman in a taxi line in Turku was suspended for three months from work, according to tabloid Iltalehti. Considering the racist statements made by the police officer, who in his words was too drunk to remember what he said, why wasn’t he sacked?

National Police Commissioner Seppo Kolehmainen tweeted in February that racism has no place in the Finnish police service.  He announced the following steps to tackle racism in the police service. These included a new equality and diversity plan approved in June 2017; an “ethical channel” where police can anonymously report racism; and mandatory social media training for the police to reinforce rules of good conduct, among other measures.

A hate crime report published by the National Forum for Cooperation of Religions (CORE) Thursday stated that one problem in reporting hate crime to the police is the lack of trust.

Read the full story here.

A survey published in 2016, showed that 25.1% of 2,489 policemen surveyed voted for the conservative National Coalition Party (Kokoomus) and 24.4% for the Islamophobic Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party. Long Play, an investigative online website, revealed in June 2017, a secret Facebook group consisted of mostly police officers and which made racist statements about Muslims, minorities and migrants.

* The Perussuomalaiset (PS) party imploded on June 13, 2017, into two factions, the PS and New Alternative, which is now called Blue Reform. Despite the name changes, we believe that it is the same party in different clothing. Both factions are hostile to cultural diversity never mind Muslims and other visible minorities. One is more open about it while the other says it in a different way.

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.

 

Good riddance to Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s government!

Posted on by Migrant Tales

…a thousand people in the street singing songs and carrying signs singing mostly say, hooray for our side. 

Buffalo Springfield, For What It’s Worth (1967)

The downfall of Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s government on International Women’s Day Friday was not only good news for social equality in Finland but a ray of hope for the country’s most vulnerable groups like single mothers, women, the unemployed, migrants, minorities and others. It is the end to right-wing party politics and to its health reform bid, which ended in failure. 

During his government, the tightening of immigration and asylum policy affected not only refugees but the entire migrant community. Sipilä’s government was the most xenophobic that Finland has seen in a long time.

Read the full story in Helsinki Times here.

It’s not rocket science to figure out that their problem, although many, was attributable to a far-right partner, the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* until 2017 and then to Blue Reform.

Amnesty International writes in its 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 report:  “Support services for women who experienced domestic violence remained inadequate. Legislation on legal gender recognition continued to violate the rights of transgender people. Draft constitutional changes limiting the right to privacy were proposed.”

Continue reading “Good riddance to Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s government!”