We hang a banner outside the Finnish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Helsinki. Today (19 April 2005), Greenpeace activists and campaigners from six countries (1) dumped a truckload of logging waste inside the Helsinki offices of the Minister of Forestry, Mr Korkeaoja. Climbers unfurled a banner from the roof of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) reading: "Don't Finnish the Sàmi forests."
In northern Lapland, many Sàmi indigenous peoples still practice traditional reindeer herding, relying on remaining old-growth forests to provide vital food for their reindeer during the cold winter months. However, for many decades, MAF has sanctioned the wholesale destruction of reindeer forests by allowing Metsähallitus, the State's own logging company, to profit from this human rights conflict. (2)
"Minister Korkeaoja is ultimately responsible for the forest conflict in the Sàmi Homeland," said Matti Liimatainen, Greenpeace forest campaigner. "His Ministry is jeopardising the future of the Sàmi forests and reindeer herding, all in the name of making a profit for Metsähallitus. This is a disgrace."
To date, MAF has been unwilling to solve the conflict. They have pushed their responsibility and solutions back to local level of Metsàhallitus, despite of the fact that it has no genuine will or tools to solve the conflict. MAF is even unwilling to answer a letter sent in February by Inari reindeer-herding co-operatives regarding pre-conditions for negotiations. Similarly, MAF has not responded to a joint letter by Greenpeace, Finnish Association for Nature Conservation and WWF Finland on this conflict.
On 2 March, Greenpeace established a Forest Rescue Station in one of the threatened reindeer forest areas to highlight the role of Metsähallitus and those paper companies that buy this destruction. In recent weeks, the conflict has escalated into scenes of death threats and intimidation against Greenpeace activists, local reindeer herders and other people who have visited to express their sympathy and support for the campaign. (3)
On 7 April, Metsähallitus workers set up a so-called ''Anti-Terror Info Centre' close to Greenpeace's Rescue Station in Nellim forests. Despite the name 'Anti-Terror,' workers at the camp have tried to intimidate Greenpeace activists during the night by brandishing chainsaws and horns, banging metal drums, or driving snow-scooters around the Station blasting an air-raid siren. A heavy forest machine has been illegally driven around the Rescue Station, dumping tree trunks and stumps close to people, violating safety regulations for such machines.
For more information, please contact:
Matti Liimatainen, Forest Campaigner, +358 400 346 329
Mikael Sjàvall, Press officer, +358 50 3696 202
Phil Aikman, Forest Campaigner, +358 40 879 2472
Notes to editor:
1. Finland, Sweden, The Netherlands, the UK, Spain and Germany
2. In November 2004, the UN Committee on Human Rights gave clear recommendations to the Finnish State to resolve this conflict.
3. Two weeks ago, a Greenpeace campaigner working in the region received a death threat from a local logger, who has recently worked for Metsähallitus. Mr Jarmo Pyykkö received the call on his mobile phone, which was witnessed by his wife. The individual, who gave his identity and did not hide his own phone mobile number, said: "If you will not remove the camp in 48 hours, some people will be killed. Me and some others will do it.... You will be the first one... I can kill if needed... There's no harm if I'll end up in prison." The local police in Ivalo have failed to take urgent measures to ensure the safety of Greenpeace activists from many countries across Europe. Many reindeer herders have also received threatening phone calls in the middle of the night.
