(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
[18. April] Sometimes a damp past returns, appearing as a forgotten lump on the foot, before it manages to develop a lump in the throat.
Seal Capture Inspector Odd F. Lindberg (62) and nuclear engineer Mordechai Vanunu (53) are representatives of two such cases. This spring, it is 20 and 22, respectively, since they revealed important and accurate information about something their home country, Norway and Israel, were trying to keep hidden.
In the spring of 1988, Lindberg went out with the sealer M / S Harmoni in the Vestisen outside Greenland, where he documented with film and pictures how Norwegian sealers drove a primitive hunting for seals. In 1986, Vanunu revealed via British newspapers that Israel had developed nuclear weapons, which was possible with the help of 20 heavy water that Norway sold to the Israelis in 1959.
And now both cases about these two notifications reappear. On the symbolic date 9. In April, Fredrikstad District Court came with a killing order against the publicly appointed "seal Judas", the enemy of the people and the countryman Lindberg. District Court Judge Tina Bergstrøm denies the petition for compulsory debt settlement for the approximately 500.000 kroner he still owes the prisoners. These went against Lindberg's statements on television and in the inspector's report he handed over to the Ministry of Fisheries. In 1990, the prisoners in Sarpsborg won court, but in 1999 the human rights court in Strasbourg revoked it with reference to freedom of speech.
Lindberg was a hero of the people
However, such does not make an impression on the judge in Østfold. She refers to the 18-year-old district court ruling and rejects a debt settlement, despite the fact that the private creditors have not objected to it. The grounds are interesting. The district court believes that it "would seem obviously offensive to both the prisoners and their descendants and to society at large to confirm the proposal for a forced debt settlement".
If this were to be true, that is, a debt settlement for Lindberg would be obviously offensive to the Norwegian “society at large”, we live in a society we cannot be aware of. But this is unlikely to be true. Already ten years ago, Lindberg was met with understanding and support in Norway, which soon allowed him to move back from exile in Sweden, where he had to flee after the house was painted Nazi symbols.
Forgiveness should then only be lacking. Before the famous "Harmony" journey, Lindberg was known as "the famous Amundsen researcher", the Aftenposten writer and polar author who launched the idea for the Roald Amundsen exhibition at the Ski Museum in 1986. Everything changed after he reported what he saw, to despite the fact that he delivered the most thorough and best inspector report in several years. A large number of Lindberg's proposals to improve seal hunting and in accordance with the legislation, were then also implemented with the authorities' change in the catch regulations three years later.
Lindberg's fate after he, as state inspector, warned of legitimate abuse, is a tragedy. And it is a scandal that someone who uses freedom of expression and speaks directly against the then uninformed public, can still be prosecuted by Norwegian courts with such an outdated and problematic argument. Until the Norwegian state has ended its harassment of Lindberg and his statements, Norway speaks with weakened moral weight about violations of freedom of expression in other countries – including China.
New price
Then it is easier to welcome Israeli Vanunu, which more and more people should take for granted. His 18 years in prison are directly linked to the Norwegian state's contribution to the Israeli nuclear weapons program. Many strong forces are now following up Fredrik S. Heffermehl's many years of Vanunu efforts, so that a future asylum in Norway seems increasingly likely.
But we still see that it is easier to honor those who cost us the least. It is worth noting that the Fritt Ords Pris 2008 goes to the Siemens whistleblower Per-Yngve Monsen, who in 2005 reported fraud of NOK 70 million in the international large group. Like few others, the brave Monsen has earned the award he receives at the Opera on 5 May.
However, we have not documented that we have real freedom of expression for enemies of the people in Norway until Odd F. Lindberg can stand in the same place with the Fritt Ord statuette in his hands. And then gladly with Mordechai Vanunu by his side. Such an award next year will cost Norwegian society far more.
But then in the long run we will also be able to get far more back.
