This Saturday, the tiny village of Vao, in Väike-Maarja Parish of Lääne-Viru County was stirred while waiting for arrival of bikers riding to voice support. On that day of historic crowds for the place, refugees went missing.
Bikers rally turns out calm and quiet
6th July 2015, 12:41
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At midday, fifty bikers rolled in as early birds, the main group catching up by one o’clock. As the people stood clapping and waiving, a villager called Rein drew parallels to the very Song Celebrations.
The bikers rode from refugee centre to where a horse-riding competition was taking place. When passing by the centre, they did turn on the «volume» somewhat but otherwise showed restraint.
Village needs support
Though the bikers avoided media, one was willing to say some few words.
With the ride, Guido was altogether satisfied. «I was surprised at how many showed up to see us coming,» he said. «Turns out we were welcome.»
Guido was happy so many bikers came out. «That boosts unity.»
He underlined the village of Vao needs support as there are too many refugees in the centre as it stands. «[We] must show support. With the entire nation against refugees, we must support the nation,» said the biker.
As echoed by the locals, they are unhappy with the numbers of refugees at the village. Rein said the entire attention, therefore, is on the house of the refugees. He feels like too much money is going to the refugee centre while the rest of the village forgoes support.
«Look at the appearance. It’s only the refugee house that is fixed up,» said Rein. He went on to say that while the refugee centre had geothermal heating installed, that could have been extended to other houses.
But Veronika, another villager, thinks the problems spring from envy in hears of locals.
400 bikers
As the sides of the street were packed with onlookers, locals hinted at all time record crowds. In addition to villagers, people had come from near and far.
Eastern police prefect Vallo Koppel said the event featured 400 bikers and some dozen cars. «As for police forces, we had as few as possible and as many as necessary. Doubtless, in case of need, there’d have been many more,» he said.
Waiting on the wayside, Rein the villager did not think there would be problems with the bikers. In the morning, he had seen the refugees taken away in two buses. In the house, only security guys remained stationed at the doors.
The refugee accommodation centre manager Jana Selesneva said all the refugees were taken to excursions, all over Estonia. «They went to the Christian Song Festival, the Ukrainian Culture Centre, Open Air Museum, the Zoo, and to a lakeside,» said the lady, affirming the inhabitants of the centre had their day planned out and returning only in the evening.
Who will learn which language
The only problem that was actually up according to Rein was that the local kids did not get along with the children of the refugees. The latter were throwing stones at the local ones, said he, so they were keeping away from the playground. On Saturday, however, the playground was filled with children.
Rein said he was trying to communicate with the refugees. He said he’d had a longer conversation with a black man who seemed to be a nice guy. Despite the slight language barrier. The refugee had even mastered an Estonian radio hit, from decades ago.
Through the grapevine, the villagers had heard they were supposed to start studying English. «I think it would make better sense for the refugees to learn Estonian,» said Mati, a man in the village.
According to Mati, the confusion is mainly because language and cultural barriers. Having done construction work at the centre, his contacts with the refugees have been frequent. «My own partner lives at the refugee centre. He’s a diligent guy. But for the most part they do not want to work, that’s a problem,» he said.
Veronika said the heightened attention bothered the locals not. She did note, however, that the media had overblown the Vao Village refugee problem.
«It ain’t that bad at all. The locals are striking so they would not bring more people here,» said Veronika. «These may come who have suffered in wars, not the people who did not have it so bad actually so as to come here.»
Meanwhile, the lady was worried about the fate of the donated money. She said Vao used to have a sports grounds but the horses have invaded the area.
Veronika said the horse-riding club chief Jaanus Mehiste has been promising to prepare a new sports grounds at his own expense – and so four years. «So now they intend to build a playground for the donations. I hope the money will be used right,» she said.