According to the judgment of the Supreme Court of Norway published in 2021, the country violates the human rights of the Sami people.
2.3. 16:49•Updated 2.3. 16:50
Demonstrations against the Fosen wind farm in central Norway have continued for a week in Oslo.
On Thursday, the police arrested several protesters who were sitting in front of the ministries with chains attached to each other. In addition to the arrested protesters, there are plenty of their supporters on the streets of Oslo.
Operations Manager Tore Barstad said the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation for NRK (you switch to another service) earlier today that quite high fines await the protesters.
In their press release, the police said they had arrested 12 protesters in front of the Ministry of Finance. In addition to that, protesters were arrested at least in front of the Ministry of Culture.
The Fosen judgment was already given in 2021
The demonstrations started a week ago, when 500 days had passed since the Norwegian Supreme Court’s decision on Fosen, and the state had not reacted to the decision at all. In its October 2021 verdict, the Supreme Court of Norway stated that the Fosen wind turbines were built without a valid license and that they violate the human rights of the Sami people.
According to the verdict, the Norwegian state violates Article 27 of the UN Convention on Civil and Political Rights, which protects the culture of the indigenous Sami people. The agreement is legally binding in Finland as well.
The demonstrations started when the youth organization of the Norwegian Sami National Union and the environmental organization Natur og Ungdom demanded that the Norwegian state comply with the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The minister canceled his trip
In Oslo, the demonstrations have already expanded in front of several ministries. Support demonstrations have also been organized at least in Stockholm and Bergen.
In addition, Norway’s Minister of Oil and Energy Terje Aasland canceled his planned UK trip due to the Fosen protests.
On Thursday, the Minister of Oil and Energy will meet representatives of the Norwegian Sámi assemblies in Oslo.
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Saami youth demonstrate against wind turbines in Oslo, because Norway has not followed the Supreme Court’s decision