Category: Enrique Tessieri

How the Finnish Immigration Service’s fast-track scheme will deport thousands of asylum seekers from Finland in 2016

Posted on by Migrant Tales

What would a country like Finland, which prefers to be an island in Europe and where too many still see cultural diversity with suspicion, do if a record number of asylum seekers from countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia came here in 2015?

Add to that question a government that has a party that is openly hostile to cultural diversity and asylum seekers and two right-wing mainstream parties that need the latter’s support to downsize the welfare state, and a clear picture emerges.BashyQ-5

Asylum seekers are not only victims of the violence in their home countries but the hostility and poor treatment they have face in Finland. Photo by Enrique Tessieri.

In other words, this is what probably happened in the fall behind government closed doors. The anti-immigration Perussuomalaiset (PS)* turned to their partners in government, the Center Party and National Coalition Party (NCP), and asked them for help after their popularity plummeted in the polls.

“Our standings in the polls have gone into a tailspin ever since we joined the government,” a PS minister like Timo Soini would probably say with Juha Sipilä or Alexander Stubb interjecting: “Let’s make a deal. We’ll help you regain your popularity in the polls by supporting your plans to tighten immigration policy and you support our plans to downsize the welfare state.”

It’s a simple and clear-cut deal between the ruling partners.  You scratch my back and we’ll scratch yours.

The Center Party and NCP allow the PS to have a free hand at promoting its xenophobic policies in government and in return the PS supports the Center Party’s and NCP’s plans to downsize the welfare state.

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The face of fascism in Finland: Before and after

Posted on by Migrant Tales

There is a fascinating book published by Olli Silvennoinen, Marko Tikka and Aapo Romelius titled Suomalaiset fasistit (Finnish fascists).  One of the authors, Silvennoinen, states in an interview with Helsingin Sanomat that the same arguments used in the 1920s to feed fascism are used today. 

The argument is a simple one: Before, in the 1920s, the threat was communism. Today that threat is migration and Islam, according to Silvennoinen.

If there is a party that has given a political forum to fascism in Finland that party is without any doubt the Perussuomalasiet (PS)* with politicians like MEP Jussi Halla-aho, Defense Minister Jussi Niinistö, MPs Olli Immonen, Juho Eerola, Laura Huhtasaari and others.

Just like fascism in the 1920s and 1930s was a violent and hostile force, the PS’ anti-immigration and Islamophobic rhetoric have the ability to match the violence and hostility we saw in the 1920s by fascist groups like the Lapua Movement.

Before…

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Source: Helsingin Sanomat.

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Scaremongering by the PS of Finland is always at full swing

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Finland’s Perussuomalaiset (PS)* defense minister, Jussi Niinistö, believes that up to one million “illegal” immigrants could come to Finland from Russia, according to YLE News. Niinistö, a historian who has played down the role of fascist associations like the Lapua Movement (1929-32), fearmongers to shore up support for his ailing party. 

Moreover, it’s interesting to note that Niinistö calls asylum seekers “illegal” immigrants. He doesn’t call them asylum seekers never mind undocumented migrants but “illegal” immigrants.

The use of such labels is nothing strange coming from Niinistö, who said recently that that integrating all Muslims into Finnish society is a difficult challenge.

“In practice the potential is limitless,” he was quoted as saying in YLE News. “From hundreds of thousands to a million people, who are ready to move out of Russia. In that sense the situation is worrying. Not just for Finland but for other European countries.”

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Read full story here.

Can we believe Niinistö scaremongering in light of his far-right credentials and populist party’s nosedive in the polls?

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Finland’s xenophobic Denmark slippery slope

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Considering that the anti-immigration Perussuomalaiset (PS)* party is in government and that the two other ruling partners, the Center Party and National Coalition Party (NCP), need the support of the PS to downsize the welfare state, it’s clear why Finland is tightening its immigration policy. 

What is happening in Finland has been happening in Denmark for a number of years and serves as a clear warning to Sweden. This is what your country will become if ever the Sweden Democrats got into government.

Apart from officially scapegoating migrants and polarizing society, Islamophobia and fear-mongering would be king.

The saddest aspect of the latter is that most of the politicians, the media and society would care less since they incorrectly believe that tighter rules that will foster social Darwinism won’t apply to them.

Considering that the Finnish government is doing everything possible to discourage asylum seekers from coming to Finland, it’s clear that they are doing everything possible on this front publicly and behind the scenes.

One of these disgraceful examples, like in Denmark, is checking the asylum seekers’ assets and then determine now much reception allowance the person will get.

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The anti-immigration narrative of politicians, the police and President Sauli Niinistö is no mistake

Posted on by Migrant Tales

From the fall we have heard the police service, politicians, government ministers, the media and recently the head of state of Finland, Sauli Niinistö, give statements that bolster racist and far-right ideology  that label and victimize asylum seekers, migrants, and minorities in this country. 

Every time these so-called poorly planned statements are made the first ones who feel the brunt of their hostilities are people who may look like asylum seekers. In this group, there are children as well who get a taste of our xenophobia.

President Niinistö is the best recent example of how politicians give space to far right ideology and racism in Finland. Such public figures do so to further their political careers. Hint: Niinistö is courting the anti-immigration vote for the 2018 presidential elections.

Those who have followed Niinistö know that he’s no friend of our ever-growing culturally diverse society never mind asylum seekers.

What he said Wednesday at the opening ceremony of the new parliamentary session shouldn’t surprise us too much. The pattern is clear: feed the public with the usual dose of anti-immigration rhetoric and then retract and act surprised by stating that “it wasn’t what I meant.”

What did Niinistö state?

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Read full story here.

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Apart from pronouncing the term “asylum” incorrectly, he stated:

“At some point, someone has to recognize that, here and now, we cannot fulfill all of our obligations under international agreements,” according to the Helsinki Times.

Continue reading “The anti-immigration narrative of politicians, the police and President Sauli Niinistö is no mistake”

President Sauli Niinistö claims that asylum seekers threaten Finland and Europe

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Speaking to MPs at the opening of parliament’s spring term, President Sauli Niinistö didn’t surprise a lot of people by stating that the amount of asylum seekers coming to Europe are putting under threat our values, reports YLE News. He even went as far as to suggest that if the Geneva Conventions were written today they’d be stricter.

If the government, politicians and President Niinistö have been blamed in the past for giving mixed statements about asylum seekers and immigrants, the latest speech by Finland’s head of state left nobody guessing.

“Migration is a serious problem,” he said. “Europe, Finland, the western way of thinking and our values have all been challenged by it. This is a stark transformation; just a few years ago we were exporting our values and regarded them as unquestionable, now we are having to consider whether even we ourselves can preserve them.”


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President Niinistö not only revealed his anti-immigration views clearer than ever before but the source of Finland’s xenophobia: Migration should be seen as a threat and not as an asset.

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Nobody in Finland seems too concerned about the ever-xenophobic and hostile climate against asylum seekers, migrants and minorities

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä of Finland when he announced in September that he would offer his home to asylum seekers but has now put on hold such plans due to security reasons, reports the BBC. What is surprising is that nobody seems to care too much why it’s no longer safe to house asylum seekers in the prime minister’s home in Kempele. 

What this news reveals, and the reaction of the Finnish media to it is that xenophobia and anti-immigration nationalism aren’t considered threats.

Disagree?

Why doesn’t any editorial in Finland ask if the mixed statements by the police and the government concerning vigilante street gangs in Finland  weren’t due to poorly planned statements but that there are bigots in the police and government who see immigration and immigrants as a threat.

 

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Call the Loldiers of Odin if you see anti-immigrant vigilantes patrolling the street!

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Thanks to the mixed statements by the police, Prime Minister Juha Sipilä’s government and President Sauli Niinistö concerning asylum seekers, we have today as well vigilante groups like the Soldiers of Odin and neo-Nazi Kansalinen Vastarinta patrolling our streets. Many of the members of these vigilante groups have criminal and far-right backgrounds.

The hesitancy of the police, the government and the president to condemn what is and what isn’t racist and far-right behavior is at the heart of the problem. Their mixed statements have not only fed xenophobia and far-right groups in this country but are tarnishing our international image.

Aren’t we supposed to be a beacon of hope to those fleeing war and poverty? Aren’t we supposed to have one of the best educational systems in the world? Haven’t we built a successful Nordic welfare society based on social equality? Why are we then acting like a bunch of scared people who have never seen foreigners before?

My experience, and I’m certain that of many others like me, with the police has eroded trust in this public service. One only has to read a few lines of former Perussuomalaiset (PS)* councilman Olli Sademies’ Facebook page or hear MP Tom Packalén’s bigoted views about migrants and minorities understand that there is a deep suspicion of anything that isn’t white and Finnish.

Does the police treat me fairly or is my background a factor? Honestly, I don’t know. The police have done little to ensure me of the contrary.

How many black policemen are there in Finland?

Probably one.

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Finland’s wishful thinking of populism and racism

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Compared with four or six years ago, the level of xenophobia and anti-immigration sentiment has reached fever pitch in Finland. There is so much news and labeling against asylum seekers and our ever-growing culturally diverse community that it’s sometimes difficult to keep up with all that’s being written. 

Moreover, perceptions like rising crime and rape cases caused by asylum seekers are being constantly reinforced by one party in the government – the Perussuomalaiset (PS)* – with the blessings of the two other partners,  the Center Party and National Coalition Party (NCP).

Like the Center Party and NCP, the police drags as well its feet and plays down the rise of racism and the threat of far-right groups in Finland with their silence and tacit ideological support of anti-immigration groups.

Looking at Finland today and its eroding international image due to xenophobia the government and institutions like the police service have fueled the growth of racism and far-right groups in Finland with their silence and mixed statements.

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Does Luona treat asylum seekers with dignity or as livestock?

Posted on by Migrant Tales

Finland saw a record number of asylum seekers come to the country last year. These 32,500 people that traveled far from countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia, have found temporary housing in asylum reception centers. Who watches over, never mind defends, their rights?

Like there are many types of people there are as well many types of asylum reception centers. Some do a good job with their limited resources while others, like Luona, a private company, receive a lot of complaints.

Luona, which is a subsidiary of Barona, houses 3,000 asylum seekers at its reception centers in Helsinki, Espoo, and Vantaa. Paavo Voutilainen, Luona’s director of the board, is a former Helsinki social manager who got fired for infringement of duties.

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Luona’s web page claims that it strives to take into account the person’s background, special needs, and dignity.

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Two politicians sit on Luona’s board: former MP Ulpu Iivari of the Social Democratic Party and National Coalition Party MP Sanna-Liisa Lauslahti.

Business is booming these days for Luona thanks to the crisis in the Middle East. Some estimates claim that the state pays the company 40 euros a day per each asylum seeker, or about 1,500 euros a month. The total annual cost amounts to about 35 million euros.

Luona has been the center of controversy. In early January, an Afghani asylum seeker died of a brain hemorrhage. Did Luona do enough to avoid the death of the Afghani? Was their inadequate treatment? We don’t know.

There hasn’t been an independent investigation to clear up the matter.

Another source of complaint by asylum seekers is their poor and humiliating treatment by Luona. One of them told Migrant Tales that they are treated like livestock.

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