In an earlier version of this case, it was stated that 20 shareholders must appear in court. This is not correct – the correct number is 18. news apologizes for the error. Loga sámegillii dás. In February 2023, Elle Rávdná Näkkäläjärvi (23) and several other activists put their lives on hold. They occupied the lobby of the Ministry of Oil and Energy (OED) for almost four days to draw attention to the Fosen case. Now she and 17 fellow shareholders are on trial for breaking the law. On Monday, they will appear in the Oslo District Court. This happens because they did not want to pay the fines they received in connection with the occupation of the OED and the blockade of the Ministry of Finance and Keysers gate 6. Shareholders occupied the lobby of the Ministry of Oil and Energy when 500 days had passed since the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in the Fosen case. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB – The state is breaking the law, and is not following its own Supreme Court ruling, says Elle Rávdna. She believes that the campaigners should not be punished. – You are going to the district court because you have carried out so-called civil disobedience, and that is actually an offence. Isn’t it right then that you should be fined? – In relation to civil disobedience, one must look at what is the cause of it. We have always had the Supreme Court verdict as an argument that we have used our own bodies to break the law, she replies. Read about when the Fosen activists got an audience with the king. Robbed of youth Elle Rávdna claims that it is a gift to be born as Sami, but that it comes with one disadvantage in particular. – It comes with the fact that you are born into these battles then, she says. Ideally, she would have had more time to be out in nature, doing Sami crafts and other traditional knowledge. In a way, it feels like our youth is being stolen from us because of this. Photo: Håkon Mudenia / news The responsibility she feels towards the Sami cultural heritage has meant that she has several times had to put aside what she thinks is fun. – The Sami society, reindeer herding and the language are a big part of who I am. Then I also have a need to secure it further, and I feel a responsibility to fight for our rights. Elle Rávdna also adds that it is important for her to respect the struggles the generations before her have fought. – Sometimes I can feel that the state has taken my youth away from me, she says. The Alta actions put the spotlight on the Sami’s rights. Read about it here. Think the Fosen actions were decisive Last Wednesday, it became clear that Nord-Fosen for the first time has ended mediation with Fosen Vind and the state. Terje Haugen, head of Nord-Fosen sïjte, believes that the agreement would not have been finalized without the shareholders. – If the young people had not sat down in Oslo’s streets, we would probably have kept going, he says. Terje Haugen also showed up during the actions in Oslo. Photo: Alf Simensen / NTB – The state has actually committed a major offense by not complying with the Supreme Court judgment and stopping the wind turbines as long as the case was ongoing, because they had an invalid licence, he adds. The agreement means that Nord-Fosen sïjte gets an additional pasture, in addition, the wind power company must pay 7 million in annual compensation for the remainder of the concession period, until 2043. Feeling no remorse When it became known that the shareholders were fined, it didn’t take long before they announced that they would not accept the fines. – It was unnatural for us to just accept the fines in this case, Mihkkal Hætta told news. Read about when Mihkkal Hætta lived in a lavvo outside the Storting for five weeks in protest against the government’s handling of the Fosen judgment. Mihkkal Hætta moved into a lavvo outside the Storting when 700 days had passed since the Fosen judgment. Photo: Javad Parsa / NTB Elle Rávdna Näkkäläjärvi says that she has always been aware of the consequences the actions could have. – I don’t regret for one second that I have campaigned and done everything that I have done. If America doesn’t let me in or things like that, it seems like a small price to pay for what you can compare it to, she says. Why do Fosen activists have to go to court? 20 activists were fined for occupying and blocking entrances to ministries in February and March last year. Now 18 of them are going to court because they have not accepted the fines they received. The fines are between NOK 3,000 and NOK 5,000. The public prosecutor in Oslo decided to fine the activists, even though the police recommended the public prosecutor not to fine them. Most of the 18 defendants are young Sami. What will the court decide? The case will go to court in Oslo district court on March 11 this year. the court will decide whether the young campaigners should have complied with the police’s order to leave various action locations. In court, the defender will also have to try whether the young campaigners had the right to protest against the authorities in this case. As it is a question of protests against the authorities’ lack of follow-up of the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Fosen case. The legality and necessity of the police’s intervention against the demonstration will be the subject of the trial. If the district court convicts the activists, in the worst case they can be punished with up to 3 months in prison. Which activists must go to court? The public prosecutor fined several activists from the actions in February and March last year. 18 of these have not accepted the fine and must therefore appear in court. The defendants are connected to the actions inside the Ministry of Oil and Energy, outside the Ministry of Finance and Keysers gate 6 in the government quarter. Among the defendants are both young Sami activists and supporters from Natur and Youth. – Prepared for future cases. The trial does not seem to scare Elle Rávdná and the campaigners. – When there are such big issues, we are able to collaborate and work in the same direction. That is very good to know. I also know that we are very well prepared for future cases, she says. Potential future issues could be the development of wind power in Porsanger municipality. She hopes that the Fosen actions contribute to building up the Sami movement, and that young people in Sápmi dare to fight for their issues. – That other young people in other parts of Sápmi can also learn from it. And knowing that there are resources, and that you can fight in your areas, concludes Elle Rávdna. news has tried to get a comment from the OED.
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The Fosen campaigners refuse to pay fines: Now they are charged in the district court – news Sápmi
