SAFKA

The Finnish Anti-Fascist Committee commemorated the 74th Black Ribbon Day on 23 August 2013 by paying respect to a great Finnish statesman who worked all his life to defend the law and civil rights against enemies of democracy — Finland's first President, Kaarlo Juho Ståhlberg.

Curiously, this seems to have been the only public event to mark the date in Finland, despite the fact that our nation was one of the main victims of the ignominious pact between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia that plunged our continent into a bloody and destructive world war.

At the same time, statesmen, civil society organisations, and ordinary citizens in several European countries, Canada, the United States, and elsewhere made statements, held public events, and raised awareness of the importance of the Black Ribbon Day to our understanding of history and its meaning for future generations.

The European Parliament has designated 23 August as the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism. The Finnish Anti-Fascist Committee calls on the Finnish Government to recognise Black Ribbon Day and take steps to include the date in the calendar of official events. We call on the Government to declare 23 August a flag day.