Three animals killed after the Sami village’s appeal: “Crushed” • Police are investigating hate crimes
Prior to this year’s Rally Sweden, the tensions between the competition organizers and Rans Sami village have increased.
The reason is that several of rally’s planned distances go through important reindeer grazing lands and the Sami village, which have 6,000 reindeer in the areas around Umeå, believe that there are too much disturbances for the reindeer during a critical period.
On Thursday, Rally Sweden starts, which is expected to attract 120,000 spectators to Umeå, but this year’s competition is bordered by an infected conflict. Despite attempts at dialogue, no solution has been reached, and dissatisfaction with the authorities’ decisions is great.
– This is a very good winter grazing area for us around Umeå. This year the bait is extremely limited further west and we must be able to use our pastures, says Maidi Eira Andersson, reindeer owner and board member of Rans Sami village.
Sami village: “Disturb the reindeer for a critical period”
Rans Sami village, which has around 6,000 reindeer in the area, believes that the rally means serious disruptions during a decisive period of year.
Winter is a sensitive period for the reindeer. The loud sounds from the cars and the audience are at risk of stressing the animals and affecting their pattern of movement, says the reindeer owners who have appealed three of the routes to the Swedish Transport Agency.
– The whole of Västerbotten is reindeer herding so there are many Sami villages, but we have started a good dialogue now so I hope we can hold it, says Erik Åström, Event Director for Rally Sweden.
Green light from the authorities – but the decision is appealed
The County Administrative Board in Västerbotten has approved the competition’s route, but the Sami village has appealed the decision and considers that their views have not been sufficiently taken into account.
Rally Sweden’s organizers say they sought dialogue to find a solution, but the contradictions remain.
– It has probably been a light for them now that there are actually reindeer on one of the routes that runs on Saturday, says Maidi Eira Andersson, reindeer owner and board member of Rans Sami village.
Hate crime is investigated after killed reindeer
After the Sami village submitted the appeal on the decision, three dead reindeer were found outside Sunday. Now reports DN that the police are investigating hate crime motifs behind the incident.
The reindeer had had their throats cut and at least one of them must have been given bullet holes in the body.
– I was devastated. My whole life is about doing what is best for the animals. It is for their sake that we have opposed these rally stretches. But they are the ones who have to pay the price when we say away, says Maidi Eira Andersson to DN.