Finland Times

The International Workers’ Day, widely known as May Day was observed almost peacefully excepting some sporadic incidents in the country as elsewhere around the world commemorating the 1886 uprising of Chicago workers to institute their rights.

Although the celebration of May Day, locally called Vappu Day, began on Wednesday evening through washing and crowning of the Havis Amanda statue in the capital, with around 25,000 people witnessing the ceremony, the main celebration and May Day rallies held on Thursday at different parts of the country.

Several thousand of people found to participate in May Day procession in Helsinki on Thursday ignoring the chilly weather.

Police arrested 10 anarchist protesters , when the traditional May Day march started in the capital city Helsinki, news agency Xinhua reported quoting Finnish national broadcaster YLE.

Meanwhile, disruption reported during the celebrations at Tampere and Pori and police held two persons from Tampere when they staged demonstration against the Finance Minister Jutta Urpilainen, also chief of Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party), the second largest component of the five-party alliance government, according to local media.

The incident took place when the Finance Minister started a presentation at Jugend Square in Tampere in observance of May Day and continued unlit her departure of the venue.

In Pori, miscreants hurled a smoke bomb in the rally of Vasemmistoliito (Left Alliance), local newspaper reported, saying the bomb was thrown from the nearby building.

The agitators bearing banners and festoons also chanted slogans against a leader of the party contesting for the upcoming European Parliamentary polls.

The celebration was peacefully in other parts of the country.

International Workers’ Day marks the 1886 Haymarket Massacre in Chicago, when Chicago police fired on workers during a general strike for their legitimate rights, including an eight-hour working day. The firing resulted in the deaths of several demonstrators and police officers.

May 1 was adopted as International Workers’ Day by socialist delegates in Paris in 1889. More than 400 delegates met in Paris on the centenary of the French revolution at the Marxist International Socialist Congress, the founding meeting of the Second International.

The 1889 resolution called for a one-time 

emonstration but it became an annual event in the course of time. May Day was celebrated in Russia, Brazil and Ireland first in 1891.