The 6th of December, which is the “independence day” of Finland, has become a central day of demonstrations in Finland.
This year different anti-cuts, anti-imperialist and revolutionary forces gathered to the Kauppatori near the President Castle to a rally during the celebration held at the Castle, which is a significant celebration in corporativist spirit in which “politics is put aside” and the bourgeoisie with its guests gathers around the president to celebrate the Finnish State and “national unity” while the media glorifies this celebration to the masses. What the people get is the soup line of Hursti (a traditional celebration organized by a soup kitchen) which was reported by Yle to have gathered a large participation this year.
The demonstration of Joukkovoima, which gathered 50-100 people and in which it was denounced that the misery of the people increases while the rich celebrate at the President Castle. Anti-imperialist Collective took part in the Joukkovoima demonstration, in which it held a speech against unemployment, and in addition to this it took part to the rally at the President Castle with the slogan “End unemployment! Down with the system of genocides!”
There is a video on the Joukkovoima demonstration, on which the speech of the AIC is seen:
In addition, a demonstration of 30-50 people against Finnish imperialism was seen at the square. The Red Action took part under the slogan “Down with the butcher State! Forwards in the construction of the revolutionary movement!” and agitated against the Finnish State. The celebration was also opposed on the basis of Palestine solidarity. A banner with the slogan “Down with capitalism!” was also seen.
The police was heavily present at the President Castle. According to the reports we received, there were around 15-30 police and border patrol officers. Vehicles of the military police were also observed at the surrounding area. The streets leading to the Kauppatori had been blocked by the police. After an half an hour, the police encircled the peaceful rally and demanded it dispands without any justification. The demonstrators then made a controlled retreat with no losses. The right of assembly is a fundamental right, and the people have the right to exercise this right without permission from the police, even though the police often claims otherwise. The arbitrary dispersion of a completely peaceful demonstration criticizing the Finnish State and the constant worsening of the living conditions of the people with threats of violence shows what the bourgeois democracy truly is, the “freedom” Finnish imperialism boasts about, and which it claims to have defended in the World war II alongside Nazi-Germany against the Soviet Union.
The police arbitrariness was also seen at the Töölöntori, where the traditional Helsinki without Nazis demonstration which opposed the reactionary 612-march. There was 2000-3000 participants according to the police. The police encircled and contained the demonstration to Runeberginkatu to protect the demonstration of the reactionaries. At least four were arrested. During the demonstration, police cars were vandalized and eggs and a brick were thrown at the police.
