Comment: Rajkumar Sabanadesan, a consultant who sought asylum in Finland in 1994, writes that even though the authorities claim that asylum seekers are fighting to get into Finland, there are few (1,000-9,000) compared with 20,000 to 40,000 in Sweden.
This is try about immigration as well. Even though we are constantly speaking about the need for skilled immigrants to move to Finland as more Finns retire from the workforce, there are few takers.
Sabanadesan says that nothing has changed in the ongoing debate on immigrants and refugees in Finland. It has been dominated by “ostentatious, greedy and manipulative politicians and civil servants who think too much of themselves and care little about those in need.”
He states that even Minister of Economy Jutta Urpilainen has stated that foreigners must respect the laws and live like Finns. “Asylum seekers cannot live like Finns since this type of an opportunity hasn’t been given to them,” writes Sabanadesan.
Sabanadesan suggests that a referendum should be carried out on asylum seekers. Finland can take two roads: help people (refugees) in need or turn its back on these people and be self-centered and egoistic.
Do you agree?
________________
Turvapaikanhakijat tulevat vaikeista oloista. Monet ovat menettäneet kotinsa, perheensä, kokeneet kidutusta ja kohdanneet kuolemaa, sekä mahdollisesti tulleet raiskatuksi. Heidän ongelmansa ovat erityislaatuisia.
By my reckoning, 144 countries have ratified the 1951 Geneva Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. All of the EU Member States have ratified the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which is a cornerstone of European Community law. The key provisions of the Geneva Refugee Convention are normally understood as specific consequences of the general provisions of ECHR, so merely renouncing the former would not discharge Finland from the relevant legal obligations.
Withdrawal from the Council of Europe, on the other hand, would undermine key provisions that support the operations of international businesses in Finland, and reciprocally damage the operations of Finnish businesses elsewhere in Europe and the rest of the world.
The “option” of trying to remain in the club while breaking all of its rules and hoping that nobody will notice (a strategy arguably applied in Finland until about 1970) is no longer viable unless we can work out some way to uninvent the Internet. Essentially the question boils down to whether the entire country should choose to accept sustained pariah and backwater status because some (or even most) of its people are chronically narrow-minded and selfish.
I don’t think it would be a bad idea. Lets show the world what the majority of us really think about taking in refugees.
Btw, Jesus was a refugee.
This quote is relevant here: “If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we’ve got to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that he commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don’t want to do it.” – Stephen Colbert
BlandaUpp
Great point. While many people are not religious in anything but name, the point still stands. Finland wants to be seen as a civilised, decent, well-organised, industrious and innovative people, in which case this ‘turn your back on the problems of the world’ attitude cannot be supported.
The world is full of problems. It’s not Finland’s responsibility to fix all these problems. But Finland can and does stand up and say ‘we stand for human rights, for freedom from persecution’. But we cannot say that and then persecute those refugees that we invite here.
If Finland wants to be measured amongst the most civilised countries of the world, and as a foreigner, I’d be happy to accept they are, then they must also match that with the actions of a civilised country.
The solution is the same as for all of the problems that Finland has managed to overcome – work, innovation, perseverance – dare I say it – and some sisu.
–But we cannot say that and then persecute those refugees that we invite here.
Very well said, Mark! And the persecution happens many ways, starting from some politicians and public officials that lack the leadership to improve the situation. One matter that I do not get about parties like the PS is that they claim to be for social equality but immigrants and refugees are not included. Shameful.
The blogger seems to be a big fan of PS. Oh well, we all are entitled to choose our own bogeyman.
However, one detail in the writings seems striking to me. A statement “Foreigners must respect the laws” is taken up multiple times in many posts as an evidence of racism.
Yes, this kind of requirement is outrageous. To comply with laws! I know so many examples where I too would be much better off without laws!
I am not glad for success of any party. I deeply distrust any individual who openly in a broad daylight while possibly even sober claims that he supports a party. But if some scoundrels must success, I’m glad when the scoundrels are anti-establishment.
Hi Kemijoen Atomikivivoimala, interesting name and welcome to Migrant Tales. Why do you assume that immigrants don’t respect or comply with the laws? That is an assumption and by making such a claim you think that most foreigners that move to Finland are potentially dangerous. Not a nice way to welcome people considering that our society is based on benefit of doubt.
Now I see. Interesting thought.