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Norway apologises to reindeer herders over wind farm after Oslo protests | World News


The Norwegian government has apologized to reindeer herders after protests over a wind farm being built on land they have used for centuries.

Activists, mostly teenagers, began protesting a week ago and have cordoned off several government buildings in the capital, Oslo.

They say the presence of 151 turbines violates Sami rights and is operating contrary to a 2021 Supreme Court ruling.

The wind farm is located in the Fosen district, nearly 300 miles north of the capital, Oslo.

Police removed protesters from the finance and culture ministry on Thursday as some activists sang a Sami hymn and dressed in their colorful traditional clothes.

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg talked to the crowd after being one of them detained this week.

Greta Thunberg was among those taking part in Thursday's protest.  Photo: AP
Image:
Greta Thunberg was among those taking part in Thursday’s protest. Photo: AP

“I have apologized to the reindeer owners on behalf of the government,” Oil and Energy Minister Terje Aasland said after meeting parliament speaker Sami.

“They’ve been in a difficult and unclear situation for a long time. I’m sorry about that,” he said.

The speaker, Silje Karine Muotka, welcomed Thursday’s apology and said it was “very important” to move forward and that “it is important that we now have a common sense that we are dealing with dealing with a human rights violation”.

Norway's Energy Minister (right) and Agriculture Minister (centre) meet Parliament Speaker Sami Silje Karine Muotka (left).  Photo: AP
Image:
Norway’s Energy Minister (right) and Agriculture Minister (centre) meet Parliament Speaker Sami Silje Karine Muotka (left). Photo: AP

A solution has yet to be reached but the Norwegian prime minister will meet Ms Muotka next week as part of a previously planned visit to the north. Norway.

The Sami are recognized by several international groups as the only indigenous people of Europe because their cultural roots predate the creation of Norway.

Formerly known as Lapps, between 40,000 and 60,000 people live in Norway after settling in Arctic Europe about 9,000 years ago from Central Asia.

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