Military Province denounces proposals on residential area for Santahamina island
Seppo Kääriäinen
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Brigadier General Jan Laukka, the Commander of Helsinki Military Province has roundly rejected the City of Helsinki's aspirations to replace the island of Santahamina's military garrison with a new residential area.
In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat yesterday, Finland's Minister of Defence Seppo Kääriäinen (Centre) urged state and city representatives to meet and have a profound discussion on the future of Santahamina. According to Kääriäinen, the island can accommodate both the military garrison and a new residential area that the city needs.
Kääriäinen's proposal was a reply to Deputy Mayor Pekka Korpinen's (SDP) assumption that housing production in Santahamina would be a reality in 2020 after the Helsinki districts of Jätkäsaari, Sörnäistenranta, the western coast of Laajasalo, and Central Pasila have all been built up.
The island of Santahamina now accommodates several units of the Finnish Defence forces including sections of the Army, the Navy, the National Defence College, and the Frontier Guard.
In terms of personnel, the largest unit in Santahamina is the Guard Jaeger Regiment with about 450 employed FDF personnel and an average of 1,200 conscripts. The regiment performs target practice with all infantry weapons on the island. Because of the firing ranges there, military officials have strongly opposed the idea of a new residential area.
In answer to the question of whether the Guard Jaeger Regiment should leave, Brigadier General Laukka says "Definitely not, because the regiment is currently just in the right location, exactly 3,700 metres from the most eastern border of Helsinki's Kaivopuisto Park."
The Commander of the Guard Jaeger Regiment Colonel Pertti Laatikainen notes that the regiment is highly significant as regards the peace- and wartime security of the entire Helsinki capital region. It is evident that the Jaeger Regiment wishes to stay in Santahamina.
Even Helsinki's Mayor Eva-Riitta Siitonen (Nat. Coalition) opposes the idea of moving the Guard Jaeger Regiment away from Santahamina. However, she regards it as a good idea to start discussions on the prospect of maintaining the current operations and turning only part of the island into a residential area.
In an interview with Helsingin Sanomat yesterday, Finland's Minister of Defence Seppo Kääriäinen (Centre) urged state and city representatives to meet and have a profound discussion on the future of Santahamina. According to Kääriäinen, the island can accommodate both the military garrison and a new residential area that the city needs.
Kääriäinen's proposal was a reply to Deputy Mayor Pekka Korpinen's (SDP) assumption that housing production in Santahamina would be a reality in 2020 after the Helsinki districts of Jätkäsaari, Sörnäistenranta, the western coast of Laajasalo, and Central Pasila have all been built up.
The island of Santahamina now accommodates several units of the Finnish Defence forces including sections of the Army, the Navy, the National Defence College, and the Frontier Guard.
In terms of personnel, the largest unit in Santahamina is the Guard Jaeger Regiment with about 450 employed FDF personnel and an average of 1,200 conscripts. The regiment performs target practice with all infantry weapons on the island. Because of the firing ranges there, military officials have strongly opposed the idea of a new residential area.
In answer to the question of whether the Guard Jaeger Regiment should leave, Brigadier General Laukka says "Definitely not, because the regiment is currently just in the right location, exactly 3,700 metres from the most eastern border of Helsinki's Kaivopuisto Park."
The Commander of the Guard Jaeger Regiment Colonel Pertti Laatikainen notes that the regiment is highly significant as regards the peace- and wartime security of the entire Helsinki capital region. It is evident that the Jaeger Regiment wishes to stay in Santahamina.
Even Helsinki's Mayor Eva-Riitta Siitonen (Nat. Coalition) opposes the idea of moving the Guard Jaeger Regiment away from Santahamina. However, she regards it as a good idea to start discussions on the prospect of maintaining the current operations and turning only part of the island into a residential area.
Helsingin Sanomat