On Wednesday, police removed environmental activist Greta Thunberg and others from Oslo’s finance and environment ministries during a rally for Indigenous rights.
Thunberg protested Monday to remove 151 wind turbines from reindeer meadows used by Sami herders in central Norway. They argue green energy should not compromise Indigenous rights.
The center-left minority administration is in turmoil after protestors blocked access to several government facilities, forcing Energy Minister Terje Aasland to cancel a visit to Britain.
In 2021, Norway’s highest court found that the turbines on two Fosen wind farms, part of Europe’s largest onshore wind power complex, infringed Sami rights under international agreements. Nevertheless, they continued in operation more than 16 months later.
When hundreds of protesters yelled, finance ministry police hoisted Thunberg, carrying a red, blue, yellow, and green Sami flag.
She told Reuters that the Norwegian state abused human rights minutes before her removal.
The Swedish activist and other imprisoned demonstrators were freed.
Reindeer herders say the wind turbines scare their animals and break centuries-old customs.
The president of Norway’s elected consultative Sami parliament will meet with the energy minister on Thursday and demand an apology before negotiating a solution; she told Reuters.
“We need the government to openly state that there is a breach of human rights, and then act accordingly and honor the subject with the gravity it deserves,” Silje Karine Mutoka said.
Notwithstanding the supreme court judgment, the energy ministry says the turbines offer a legal dilemma and hopes to find a settlement. However, a fresh Fosen case decision might take a year.
Tuesday, activists reported raising almost $100,000 to assist protests in paying police penalties.
