If the two disputed wind power plants at Fosen are demolished, the price of electricity in central Norway could increase by ten øre per kilowatt hour in the coming years, wrote E24 last week. Among other things, TV2, Adressa and news have mentioned that there could be a power crisis and higher electricity prices if the turbines at Fosen have to be demolished. That upsets lawyer Constance Jessen Holm in the Danish Bar Association’s human rights committee. – Shortly after the state has acknowledged the human rights violation, the focus shifts to the fact that some people in Trøndelag may have to pay a little more electricity a year, says Jessen Holm. Contance Jessen Holm outside the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy in connection with the Fosen action. Photo: Dan Robert Larsen / news She believes it is wrong for the reindeer owners at Fosen to be blamed for the fact that Trøndelag could end up in a power crisis. – It is not the reindeer herding Sami who are to blame for the fact that electricity can become more expensive, it is the Ministry of Oil and Energy which in 2013 allowed the construction of the wind power plant without the question of the Sami’s rights being sufficiently clarified, says the lawyer. Sami across the country are experiencing harassment and harassment in the wake of the Fosen demonstration. What may start as a discussion about wind power slips out and ends up becoming personal attacks and talking about completely different things. – Trøndelag will lack power Jessen Holm believes that one would think that it is the Sami population that has committed an assault on society at large by existing. – And there is absolutely no rule of law worthy of it, she believes. County mayor in Trøndelag Tore O. Sandvik has been a clear voice for the power crisis. Tore O. Sandvik believes that lawyers who do not want to see the whole picture contribute little to a better understanding of the Sami’s case. Photo: Anne Line Bakken – I think we have to deal with reality as it is. Trøndelag will lack power in 2026, even with the mills at Fosen. If all are taken down, we will lack a further 1.9 TWt of power, says county mayor Sandvik. Critical to remove the turbines Without interim measures, the government continues to violate human rights on a daily basis. Both politicians and the media make statements that are critical of removing the wind turbines: Jessen Holm is worried about which way the debate will take. – Far too many editor-controlled media are helping to convey the narrative that it is the Sami who are settling down and that it is time for them to slow down a bit. I find that simply shameful, she says. She says the Supreme Court judgment shows that the facilities could have been set up elsewhere, which does not infringe Sami rights. But despite protests from the Sami, the state chose to build the wind power plants at Storheia and Roan. The Ministry of Petroleum and Energy visits Storheia in Fosen. Photo: Ingrid Lindgaard Stranden / news – It is portrayed as if the only solution was to build the turbines there and that Sami rights must then give way, but that is not correct, says Jessen Holm. She also points out that the media portrays the case as if the Supreme Court has not weighed up the climate, the need for renewable energy and Sami rights. – But the Supreme Court has done that, she says. Raises many difficult questions Secretary General of the Norwegian Editors’ Association, Reidun Kjelling Nybø, points out that the Fosen case is complex and that it raises many important and difficult questions. She believes that the editor-controlled media had failed in their job if they had not tried to go into these aspects and also asked the demanding questions. – At the same time, we are completely dependent on having an ongoing discussion about the coverage and seeing if there are individuals and groups that are particularly vulnerable, says Kjelling Nybø. She thinks it is good that the debate is also held outside the editorial premises. Secretary General of the Norwegian Editors’ Association, Reidun Kjelling Nybø, points out that the Fosen case is complex and that it raises many important and difficult questions. Photo: Hans Trygve Holm – It is positive that Jessen Holm and others are participating in the debate about the media coverage, and I hope the media contribute to raising the discussion about the media coverage. We are also obliged to do so, since the media must contribute to casting a critical eye on how we ourselves fulfill our role in society. The debate about the coverage must not only take place internally in the newsrooms, says Kjelling Nybø. The Press’ Professional Committee (PFU) confirms to news that they have already received inquiries about the coverage of the Fosen case. Asks politicians to think carefully about whether Samer has historical experience with state discrimination and assimilation policy. – Can the Sami end up in such a situation that they involuntarily choose to leave the wind turbines standing, just to avoid incitement and conflicts with the wider community? – I think that can certainly, unfortunately, be an outcome of that, says Jessen Holm. – I understand if they are tired of fighting, can’t take it anymore and thus, without it being right, choose to let the case die. Simply because the fight is too hard to take. Jessen Holm believes it is unfortunate if you are pushed into a corner, where you choose to let the state violate your rights, in order to avoid becoming a public target. Photo: Advokatfirmaet Lund & Co – Can you say that the state has turned the Sami into targets? – The state has contributed to turning the Sami into targets, through the fact that people have had such difficulties in recognizing that a human rights violation has actually occurred, says Jessen Holm. The reindeer herders on Fosen consist of a southern group and a northern group, Sør-Fosen sijte and Nord-Fosen siida. Leader of the southern group of reindeer herders on Fosen, Sør-Fosen site, Leif Arne Jåma, refers in particular to statements from politicians. – They must think carefully about how they formulate themselves so that there is no incitement, both ways, both for and against wind power, says Jåma. The ministry will not answer Although Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre last week expressed concern about the incitement against the Sami from the Sami Parliament’s lectern, the Ministry of Oil and Energy will not answer whether it is the state or the Sami who must be responsible if the electricity in central Norway is the animals. Nor do they answer the question of whether they are responsible for the Sami being in a pressured situation. Terje Aasland says that they must find solutions that safeguard the rights of the reindeer herders on Fosen and create predictability for the reindeer herders and the concessionaires. Photo: Martin Fønnebø / news / Martin Fønnebø / news In an e-mail, Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland replies that it is the state’s responsibility to find a solution that does not conflict with human rights. – For me, it is important to find a good solution for Fosen going forward that builds trust and respect for reindeer herders and the important knowledge they have, says Aasland.
ttn-69
Believes the state has turned the Sami into “shooting targets”: – They are exposed to pressure and incitement – news Sápmi
