Racism: one of many problems in Karhuvuori district of Kotka

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By Riikka Lamminmäki
     
      "I have nothing negative to say about the immigrants. I wouldn't want anyone to be treated like that",says Eeva Piiparinen, commenting on a racist attack the previous week, in which the windows of apartments where refugees live were broken.
      For the past 30 years Piiparinen has lived with her husband Teppo Piiparinen in Karhuvuori, which recently emerged into the public eye in a negative light.
      Even though the incident took place in the Suulisniemi neighbourhood, police said that racist attacks have increased specifically in Karhuvuori, where Kotka has settled most of its immigrants and refugees.
     
Nevertheless, the early evening on Saturday seemed like any other in this suburb dominated by concrete apartment blocks. The local watering-hole was full of regulars with their faces flushed, young people gathered at a skateboard ramp, and many who were taking an evening stroll were carrying the familiar "dachshund" - a 12-pack of beer.
      Racial intolerance is certainly not conspicuous. None of the symbols often linked with racism - swastikas, shaved heads, or parkas - are to be seen on the street.
     
However, when asked, many begin their sentence with "I'm no racist, but..."
      "But there are quite a few of those blacks", says Alena Vasyutina, a Russian who moved from Vyborg to Kotka five years ago.
      "But I've heard that they stalk vending machines and take the money", Teppo Piiparinen says.
      "But the dark ones have attacked whites. We should have a law to send back those who commit crimes", says Pasi Helminen.
      Helminen's girlfriend Mia Järvisalo shakes her head.
      "We always argue about this subject. To him, all foreigners are criminals. He's a racist. I'm not."
     
Many see racism as just one of a multitude of problems that have been anchored in the Karhuvuori area. The Piiparinens are also aware of the poor reputation of their neighbourhood.
      "Already in the 1980s there was a saying that even the crows fly upside-down when they go over the area, so they wouldn't have to look at the squalor", Teppo Piiparinen laughs.
      "Junkies, dope, alcoholics, and little kids smoking cigarettes. The crappiest part of a crappy city", says 22-year-old Satu Sipari.
      "Everyone wants to get away from here."
      It would seem to be the same old story: general malaise has found a new, unpleasant outlet in the form of latent - and at times open - xenophobia.
     
The targets of the hostility find it difficult to understand the attitudes of these Finns.
      "Please don't fight with foreigners. Please write this", says Maung Soe, from Myanmar.
      "I just want to be quiet. I don't want problems. It is difficult enough to have to learn a new language and find work."
     
Svetlana Hätinen, who moved to Kotka from Russia, and Anna Sugier, who is originally from Poland, say that prejudice cuts both ways.
      "Still, I think that the problems linked with racism have been exaggerated. Finnish drunks are a bigger problem", Hätinen says.
      "There are idiots of every race. Prejudice can be overcome only by getting to know each other", Sugier adds.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 28.8.2006

More on this subject:
 BACKGROUND: Several race-related clashes during summer

Previously in HS International Edition:
  Revenge established as motive for racist attack in Kotka (29.8.2006)
  Mob smashes windows of apartments housing refugees from Myanmar (28.8.2006)

RIIKKA LAMMINMÄKI / Helsingin Sanomat
riikka.lamminmaki@hs.fi