Enrique Tessieri Archives - Page 34 of 245

Katja Marova: Living next door to Russia

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Migrant Tales

As war rages on in Ukraine and we near the first anniversary of that tragic conflict on February 24, one question we should ask is how Finland’s Russian-speaking community is faring. Katja Marova, who lives in the border city of Lappeenranta, says that matters have not changed much in her home city, even if war rages in Ukraine.

“It seems that as there are now sanctions against Russia,” she continued, “it’s ok to discriminate freely as well [against Russians].”

**Katja Marova lives in the border city of Lappeenranta.**

Apart from discrimination, some Russians complain about racist harassment in public.

Marova, a Left Alliance candidate for parliament in Lappeenranta, wrote on Facebook about an incident at a bar when she spoke to a Russian friend.

“On Friday, we were at a bar in our city [Lappeenranta] when a man walked by us and purposely bumped into my friend,” she said. “The man apologized, and my friend said it was ok. But then he started to say Slava Ukraini (Respect Ukraine).”

Marova said that her friend was shocked by the man’s reaction.

A question for Ilta-Sanomat: Why didn’t you mention the name of the security company and who was in the video?

Posted on February 23, 2023 by Migrant Tales

An example of you-can-eat-your-racist-cake-and-have-it journalism: The chief executive of a private security firm posts a video wearing a uniform about how a member of the Romany minority shoplifts. The security firm’s representative uses his personal TikTok account to publish the racist post.

The security guard chief executive took down the video after a representative of the Romany community confronted him.

An apology follows: “Since my motive wasn’t racist, I was surprised [by the reaction]. When the representative [of the Romany organization] justified its case, I understood that it [the video] could be seen that way. I promised them that I would remove the video.”

In Finland, white privilege is so ingrained in society that one can make a racist video and claim ignorance.

Stealing is one of the oldest stereotypes about the Romany minority.

Even if the media will not publish the chief executive’s name and company, it is FS Security.

Since the end of December, security companies like Avarn Security and Securitas have been under close scrutiny concerning the use of excessive force. In January, they caused the death of a victim they apprehended.

The present story is only a further example of the challenges faced by security companies.

The story’s author did not reply to an email by Migrant Tales on why the tabloid did not publish the name of the security company and its chief executive.

Finland’s youth gang story is a close relative to the USA stolen election lie story

Posted on February 16, 2023 by Migrant Tales

Looking at the number of stories written about the so-called youth gang problem in Finland, it is interesting to note that reporting of the issue by Yle doubled compared with the eight months of the year.

Stories about Sweden’s youth gang problem started to pick up in the fall after Sweden’s 11 September parliamentary election. Before the election (during 1 January-10 September 2022), Yle published 29 stories, but from 11 September to 16 February, the number of stories soared by 124% to 65.

The number of stories during those periods under review remains stable for Helsingin Sanomat, MTV, Ilta.Sanomat and Iltalehti.

Why did Yle its coverage of the topic? Are politicians pulling some strings behind the scenes?

Considering that we are in an election year and, due to past actions of the police and media in cities like Oulu, is the whole gang “problem” in Finland a storm in a teacup. Is it something that politicians from the Perussuomalaiset – excuse the language – pulled out of their asses? Is it similar to the stolen election lies spread by MAGA Republicans?

If it is true that the whole youth gang story is grossly exaggerated for political purposes, what responsibility does the media have for perpetuating the story?

Law enforcement institutions like the police, Finnish Border Guard, and others must make a case to acquire funds. What better way than to warn the public of a danger that does not yet exist but needs resources?

The media should do a better job and void being taken for rides by politicians and the police.

Media Monitoring Group of Finland [1]: How big is the PS’ crocodile tears?

Posted on February 12, 2023 by Migrant Tales

They are pretty big if you look at the latest tweets by Perussuomalaiset (PS)* head Riikka Purra and former party secretary Simo Grönroos. MTV broke a news story Saturday about human trafficking in Finland. . A sensible politician would look at the story, side with the victims, and ask how this could happen in Finland.

But not the PS. They are out to prove that if you bring labor migrants from outside the EU, these people will work for low wages and not even understand that they are exploited.

The PS lesson?

Don’t bring labor migrants from outside the EU.

Now shed some big crocodile tears for public consumption.

A rebuttal by Riikka Purra that exposes the PS’ arrogance and desperation

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Migrant Tales

A rebuttal by Perussuomalaiset (PS)* head Riikka Puura to a recent Helsingin Sanomat editorial reveals arrogance and desperation. If the PS’ favorite talking points about immigrants are challenged forcibly as today, matters do not bode well for the party that has based its election fuel on spreading xenophobia.

Helsingin Sanomat rebuked PS’ anti-immigration rhetoric: “When the PS refuses to accept [hard] facts, it no longer makes sense, even from a purely selfish point of view. And when the party suggests that Finland should learn from Japan’s population policy, it sounds downright desperate.

PS MPs Lulu Ranne and Riikka Purra posing with the radical-right party’s latest policy statement on immigration. The suggestions made by the PS aim to worsen the situation and further disenfranchise the rights of migrants and minorities. Even so, Randen and especially Purra are smiling.

A common strategy of the PS’ and Purras’ arrogance and desperation became clear in the rebuttal: “Unlike other parties – or the media – the True Finns base their immigration policy on research and statistics, not on building castles in the sky. A permanent increase in net immigration will only help reduce the sustainability gap if the newcomers’ employment rate and income level do not differ greatly from the native population.”

A party that is out of touch with the times

Posted on February 9, 2023 by Migrant Tales

A good editorial by Helsingin Sanomat about how the radical-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* is the only party against bringing labor migrants to Finland and the threat such intransigency implies for the country.

It writes: “When the PS refuses to accept [hard] facts, it no longer makes sense, even from a purely selfish point of view. And when the party suggests that Finland should learn from Japan’s population policy, it sounds downright desperate.”

Contrary to the three parliamentary elections of 2011, 2015, and 2019, the PS faces a dilemma: Will its xenophobic message carry and encourage voters to vote for the party? Being called the only party against labor migrants could be a liability that will cost the PS dearly in April.

Moreover, the political atmosphere has also changed thanks to Covid, economic uncertainty, graying of the Finnish population, and the war in Ukraine.

Allowing bias to take over Yle’s A-studio

Posted on February 8, 2023 by Migrant Tales

THE STORY WAS UPDATED

When you leave out the context in a news story, you leave the door open for bias.

One topic in Tuesday’s A-studio talk show was whether it’s ok to burn the Quran in Finland. Contrary to other Nordic countries like Sweden and Denmark, burning the Koran in Finland is illegal.

While it’s generally known that it is illegal to burn the Quran, the talk show’s choice of inviting Perussuomalaiset (PS)* MP Sebastian Tynkkynen with Marja Sannikka hosting raises some questions.

PS Tynkkynen, a radical right Islamophobic party member, was convicted three times for ethnic agitation. Sannikka, specializes in editorializing topics like youth gangs and not even stopping a guest from using the n-word repeatedly on her show.

From left to right: Professor Kimmo Nuotio, Perussuomalaiset MP Sebastian Tynkkynen, and host Marja Sannikka. Source: *Yle*

Rambling on about freedom of speech and why hate speech should not be persecuted, Tynkkynen claimed that “it looks like this [present law] is going to be a kind of Islam-protecting article.”

Apart from the shallowness of the talk show in treating such a sensitive topic, the program never answered the question it posed: Can the Quran be burned?

Sannikka never revealed to us what Tynkkynen thought about that question. She did not even ask the guest what he thought if burning the Jewish holy book, the Torah, was ok.

What would Tynkkynen say if she asked him such a question?

Would he ramble about “free speech” and that such an act, committed in front of the Israeli embassy, would be fine?

Kokoomus and Perussuomalaiset: Two different views on labor immigration

Posted on February 7, 2023 by Migrant Tales

On Monday, we saw the stances of the radical-right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* and National Coalition Party’s (Kokoomus) views on the role of labor immigration outside the EU. On MTV, PS’ Sakari Puisto faced off with Pia Kauma of Kokoomus, while on A-studio, Leena Meri of the PS debated with Elina Valtonen.

It is depressing to watch the debate about Finland’s need to attract labor migrants from outside the EU. The adjectives used to describe them are insulting: social welfare migrants and low-income migrants who will accept low pay and any work offered.

It is a bad standing point: Why would I want to come to a country that wishes me so much harm and intends to relegate me to second-class and marginal status?

The most surreal debate between the two shows was on MTV.

While there was a difference of opinion on labor migrants between Puisto and Kauma, both favored limiting or excluding newcomers from getting social welfare.

The debate between PS MP Sakari Puisto and Pia Kauma was surreal. Puisto spoke against migrants from outside the EU, and Kauma who is in favor. Both were, however, of the same opinion about the social equality of such migrants. Both would take away their rights, so they can’t use social welfare. Would I move to a country that sees me as a second-class member of society? Source: *MTV*

When such a suggestion was made, the host didn’t even bother to ask if excluding non-citizens from getting social welfare was unconstitutional, which it is.

Kauma strongly criticized PS leader Riikka Purra’s statements against labor immigration outside the EU.

Finland’s fictitious search for the ideal foreigner

Posted on February 6, 2023 by Migrant Tales

Contrary to the last three parliamentary elections in 2011, 2015, and 2019, the upcoming parliamentary election on April 2 is different for several reasons: war rages in the Ukeraine, Finland has sought Nato membership, economic growth, and chronic labor shortages are just a few.

Apart from labeling people from outside the EU as “harmful” migrants, the radical right Perussuomalaiset (PS)* attempts to argue with several CEOs of Finnish companies that rely on foreign workers that the party has nothing against qualified immigrants but is against what it labels “social welfare” immigrants.

“Finland is not very successful in attracting immigration that is economically beneficial, but it receives a lot of immigration that is economically detrimental,” Riikka Purra, the head of the PS, was quoted as saying in Kauppalehti, adding that she is against what she calls “social welfare” migrants.

Purra’s argument reminds me of a story I published in Savon Sanomat in 2012.

Back then, I wrote in the English version of the story that anti-immigration groups were using the same arguments. It’s like eating and having your cake at the same time while you put a picture of Sleeping Beauty and Prince Charming.

The PS has viciously labeled some migrants in Finland as “harmful” and “social welfare” recipients. They will tell you with a poker face that as long as the newcomer is a “super” migrant, things are ok.

Who are the so-called super migrants that some wish for in Finland?

The Perussuomalaiset could face a counter “jytky” in April

Posted on February 5, 2023 by Migrant Tales

Then Perussuomalaiset (PS)* head Timo Soini celebrated the party’s historic 2011 election victory as a “jytky,” or a loud bang. We may witness in April a counter “jytky.”

I live in a small city of about 53,000 people 230km north of Helsinki’s capital. It is a good example of the demographic challenges facing Finland. Occasionally, you may read in the local daily, Länsi-Savo, the threat of an ever-growing population of pensioners is threatening the region’s future.

None of the stories in the daily ask if Mikkeli has awoken too late to challenge the demographic problem.

To give you some fast figures, in 2022, 27,2% of Mikkeli’s population was over 64 years old and growing!

In many respects, Mikkeli is an extreme cosmos of Finland.

As we know, migration is a hot topic, especially during an election year. The PS, traditionally bases its popularity on the topic. Instead of making our society more welcoming to foreigners and offering them inclusive paths towards being a part of it, the medicine it prescribes is far worse than the illness.

Below are some of PS head Riikka Purra’s latest policy statements:

Eight years of residence, speaking near-perfect Finnish, and work, before granting a permanent residence permit;
Raise the residence requirement for citizenship to 10 years from five years now;
Tighten further language requirements for the naturalization test;
Only citizens of OECD countries can have dual citizenship;
Exclude foreigners from getting social welfare;
Tighten further already strict family reunification requirements;
Only people within the EU can apply for asylum;
End labor immigration from outside the EU;
Only highly educated people from outside the EU can move to Finland.

**Source: ETLA, an independent, private, non-profit economic research institute. Read the original posting here.**

As any sensible person can understand, following the PS’ advice on immigration policy would be a disaster that would impoverish Finland economically, socially, and politically.