Archive for the ‘Labor Party’ Category
Labor coalition government law proposal may be unconstitutional and in violation of human rights
The proposed law changes which the Labor coalition government are trying to rush through the Norwegian parliament before the trial against Anders Behring Breivik takes place may be unconstitutional, Aslak Syse, institute leader and professor of public law at the University of Oslo, said to TV2.
Syse told TV2 that the law proposal to introduce a form of life imprisonment consisting of isolation might be in violation of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Syse also explained that the law proposal may conflict with the Norwegian Consitution which prohibits laws from having retroactive powers in relation to crimes that have already been committed when a law is introduced.
The Norwegian Lawyers Association has written in its hearing response that the relationship of the proposed law changes to human rights have been too briefly discussed, and that consideration to justice appears to have been put aside without sufficient reason, writes Bergensavisen.
The Norwegian Doctors Association is also critical of the law proposal. According to Bergensavisen, the association in the hearing response calls for a more thorough evaluation of the changes that are proposed in order to safeguard that they do not violate human rights and Norwegian law.
Google translation:
The bill that will provide Breivik life may be illegal
28.03.2012
The government’s new bill that will ensure that Anders Behring Breivik must sit imprisoned for life may be in conflict with the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights.
This view, one of the most prominent law professors in the country. After the terrorist attacks on 22 July last year, many asked the question of how can one be certain that Anders Behring Breivik not on the street again….
“It’s been too easy on everything Breivik, or condemned, the rule of law in this draft, and put too much emphasis on the police to have overcome both ends,” says head of department and professor at the Institute for Public Law at the University of Oslo Aslak Syse….
But Syse, as one of the foremost experts in the Norwegian welfare law, the opinion may violate both the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and the Norwegian constitution.
ECHR is made a part of Norwegian law. And if other Norwegian rules are contrary to the provisions of the ECHR, the ECHR obligations take precedence over other Norwegian rules.
“It is envisaged that this could be one of life imprisonment where large parts shall be made in isolation. It is both prohibited against inhuman treatment in the European Convention on Human Rights. In addition, it also questions whether or not this is retrospective in relation to the Constitution’s ban on retroactive punishment because the crime was committed in what we now adopt new sanctions,” saying Syse to TV 2….
Original article: Lovforslaget som skal gi Breivik livstid kan være ulovlig
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Google translation:
“Lex Breivik” meets resistance
3/29/2012
The Government’s proposals for a mental health care encounters resistance from a variety of sources.
“Small through work,” “rush through” and “strong concerns”, says worrisome feedback.
The law has colloquially been referred to as “Lex Breivik.” Health and Care Services has not hidden the fact that it is important to establish a stricter set of rules that can be used if the terrorist suspect Anders Behring Breivik is sentenced to forced transfer to mental health care….
From academic communities in both law and psychiatry are cautioned strongly against introducing a law that seems to be specially made to provide increased security around one person….
Bar Association says the bill appears to be low throughout the work.
“Relationship to human rights has not been much discussed. On the whole, seems of law to be set aside without sufficient justification,” writes Berit Reiss-Andersen and Merethe Smith Bar Association in its response.
Bar Association believes such a law requiring better preparation and more detailed environmental impact assessment. This is supported by the Norwegian Medical Association. They have requested a more thorough, principled discussion, followed by a national, comprehensive plan.
“The described measures must be regarded as very radical, and it must be ensured that they do not violate human rights and our own legislation,” writes General Geir Riise.
Only three weeks’ notice
Many of the bodies consulted have an understanding of the need for new rules for the special situation that has arisen following the terrorist attacks. Yet ask many questions in that work is progressing so quickly.
The proposed amendment was only out for consultation for three weeks. Normally, the period shall be three months and not less than six weeks. The Ministry has an opportunity to depart from the rules under special circumstances….
Original article: “Lex Breivik” møter motstand
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Related post: Lippestad: Law changes for Breivik would be a democratic problem and a threat to justice
Lippestad: Law changes for Breivik would be a democratic problem and a threat to justice
TV2 has gained access to a confidential hearing note that reveals that the Labor coalition government is trying to rush through law changes to the psychiatric healthcare law (psykisk helsevernloven) that seem tailor suited for Anders Behring Breivik and that would make it legal for Norwegian authorities to construct a prison-like psychiatric hospital for a single person. According to the document, the government has issued a much shorter deadline for the hearing on the law proposal than normal.
According to TV2, in addition to what has been previously reported, the proposed law changes would make it possible for the authorities to hold a patient in a high-security mental hospital for as long as the police considered there to be “particularly high risk for attacks against the patient.” No specific threat would need to be present; it would be sufficient that the police be of the opinion that the patient was at risk. The new regulations would, therefore, in reality give Norwegian authorities the power to place an individual, for example a political prisoner, in solitary confinement for life without this being specifically sanctioned by a court.
“What one in reality is doing here is to introduce life-imprisonment in Norway,” Anders Behring Breivik’s lawyer Geir Lippestad told TV2. Lippestad says that, in his opinion, the proposed law changes appear to have been tailor suited for a single person (Breivik), and that the proposed law changes should be thoroughly discussed.
“I question how this [the law proposal] has been evaluated, and that one is using hearing deadlines that are much shorter than is normal,” Lippestad explains. “If these rules are proposed on the background of this case, and with a wish to punish this person [Breivik] in particular, then it is both a democratic problem and a threat to justice,” Lippestad said.
The Labor coalition government appears increasingly desperate to silence Breivik, who has explained that he represents the Norwegian resistance movement. Before the current law proposal was made, Dagbladet reported that the Justice Department was considering law changes that would make it illegal for Breivik to publish his book. The Justice Department also denied a BBC journalist access to Ila Prison to interview Breivik. In addition, the Attorney General has expressed a desire to introduce greater press restrictions.
Google translation:
How to keep Breivik locked up for life
21.03.2012
The government hastily introduces a new law that will keep Anders Behring Breivik locked up for life. It is in the interests of his own safety.
When TV 2 met the Minister of Justice Grete Faremo some time ago, she was clear about what the government had to do as she asked herself the question:
“How can we be certain that we do not meet the offender again?”
The answer to that is now available as a consultation document from the Health – and care ministry, which TV 2 has access to.
This paper is a proposal for ending the law on mental health care, and describes a high-security treatment institution with communication control, wiretapping, strip searches, detector scanning of all that goes in and out, glass wall between Breivik and visitors….
[Psychiatrist Thor Kvakkestad] believes the government by introducing the law in this way violates the duty to report, and defendant case to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.
“This is so make serious changes to current legislation, to be able to detention sick people on the basis that the police have a feeling that the person is exposed to a threat from the public,” he said to TV 2
“These are changes that require an open debate in society, the consequences of it and whether it is something we should implement in Norway must be studied thoroughly,” he adds….
Original article: Slik skal Breivik holdes innesperret resten av livet
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Google translation:
Thinks the government sneak introduce life imprisonment
22.03.2012
Anders Behring Breivik defender Geir Lippestad believe the government is trying to impose life imprisonment in Norway.
TV 2 could reveal Wednesday that the government hastily introduced a new law that will keep Anders Breivik Behring locked up for life.
Now responds Breivik defender, Geir Lippestad.
“What we do here in practice, is to impose a sentence of life imprisonment in Norway,” says Breivik defender, Geir Lippestad, to TV 2….
He said the situation must be discussed thoroughly before rules are adopted.
“I really question how this is assessed, and that you are also using the consultation deadlines are much shorter than normal,” says Lippestad….
Original article: Mener regjeringen snikinnfører livstidsstraff
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Related post: Justice Department considers law change that will make Breivik book illegal
Related post: Norwegian Justice Department blocks Breivik interview with BBC
Related post: Norway’s Attorney General expresses desire to introduce greater press restrictions
Norwegian government considers strict regulations of chemicals to prevent further bomb attacks
The Justice Department believes Norway needs particularly strict regulations on the purchase of chemicals and substances that can be used to make bombs and explosives, reports Fædrelandsvennen.
According to the paper new, stricter regulations went into effect on November 17th of last year preventing the sale of fertilizer with a high concentration of ammonium nitrate to private individuals. The Justice Department, however, believes it may be necessary to introduce even stricter regulations in Norway than in the EU, writes Fædrelandsvennen.
Fædrelandsvennen also reports that the department has established two workgroups which will evaluate stricter regulations on access to chemicals such as those used by Anders Behring Breivik in the bomb that destroyed the Justice Department and other governmental offices in downtown Oslo. One workgroup will evaluate current regulations of access to ammonium nitrate and will hand in its recommendation on June 15th. The other workgroup will be evaluating a new proposal from the EU regarding the regulation of fourteen chemicals that can be used for making bombs. Breivik obtained several of these chemicals. The group will submit its recommendation by October 1st.
The Justice Department was directly hit by the Oslo explosion; the offices were destroyed and four members of staff died on 7/22. Former Justice Minister, Knut Storberget, stepped down in November last year after receiving death threats from a group called “The Organization for a Free Norway” (Organisasjonen Fritt Norge). As a result of the 7/22 attacks, the Justice Department was formally renamed the Justice and Preparedness Department to reflect the new political situation in Norway.
Google translation:
Norway may have stricter rules for the bomb chemicals
09.mar.2012
Two teams will arrive at a uniquely Norwegian and extra strict regulations for the purchase of chemicals and substances that can be used to make explosives and bombs.
The Justice and Preparedness Ministry has asked the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning to set up two working groups, newspaper Bergens Tidende.
One group will consider regulations for fertilizer ingredient ammonium nitrate, and the work will be completed 15 June. The mandate states that the ammonium nitrate should not be “in the wrong hands and be used in harmful activities….”
The other group will consider the EU’s proposed restrictions on access to 14 chemicals that can be used for the manufacture of homemade bombs. Several of the chemicals Anders Behring Breivik acquired, are among these, including those he imported from Poland. This group will submit its report by 1 October.
Original article: Norge kan få strengere regler for bombekjemikalier
Norwegian government proposes law changes to allow one-man psychiatric hospitals, strict control of political prisoners in psychiatric institutions
Verdens Gang (VG) reports that Health Minister, Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen (Labor), has submitted a new law proposal for hearing rounds. In the new law proposal, the Labor coalition government proposes major changes to the rights and treatment of citizens committed by the court system to psychiatric care.
The proposed changes to the psychiatric healthcare law (psykisk helsevernloven), which appears tailor-suited for political prisoners, would allow for the creation of special high-security psychiatric institutions. “We open for the establishment of health facilities with particularly high-security, but where the main focus shall be treatment,” Strøm-Erichsen told VG.
According to the new law proposal, it would be legal to construct a psychiatric hospital for a single person. It would also be possible to place such a one-man psychiatric hospital inside an existing prison. In addition, the new law would make it legal for high-security psychiatric hospitals to search patients’ belongings, read their mail, and control phonecalls and visits, writes VG.
According to VG, the government has proposed a rapid time schedule for the hearing so that the new law can be approved by parliament before the verdict against Anders Behring Breivik is ready. Strøm-Erichsen, however, claims that the new law is not created specifically for Breivik. “This is not a special law for this [court] case, but shall be a general possibility for people that need extra hight security around them,” Strøm-Erichsen said to VG.
Google translation:
The Government will build Breivik hospital
03/01/12
The Government will establish a high-security hospital, which can accommodate Anders Behring Breivik – if he is sentenced to compulsory psychiatric care.
An entirely fresh bill allows for such a short hospitalization can be built inside the walls of Ila Prison….
The government would not build a hospital just Breivik, but also for other particularly dangerous psychotic persons sentenced to compulsory psychiatric care….
High security hospital will have far greater powers than psychiatry has had to date, among other things, to examine the patients, checking personal belongings, and to check mail, visitors and telephones.
Original article: Regjeringen vil bygge Breivik-sykehus
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Hearing document – in Norwegian [opens pdf].
Related post: Government evaluating legality of construction of one-man psychiatric hospital inside prison for Breivik
Related post: Norway’s Attorney General expresses desire to introduce greater press restrictions
Related post: Justice Department considers law change that will make Breivik book illegal
[post title edited 03/23/12]
[second paragraph edited 03/26/12]
National Police Union leader warns Justice Department about appointment of new PST head
Arne Johannessen, leader of the Norwegian Police Union (Politiets Fellesforbund), gave a strong warning to the Justice Department regarding the appointment of a new head of the Police Security Service (PST), the Police Union wrote on its website, pf.no.
“To hire a new PST-chief with little leader experience and no [police-]professional background from the area of responsibility of the PST is a risk sport. We cannot afford to make another miss; confidence and calm around the PST have to be created so that they can do the important job they have been assigned to do,” Johannesen said in an interview with the newspaper, Verdens Gang (VG), the Police Union writes.
“I and many others were critical when Janne Kristiansen [former head of PST] was appointed, and there was no lack of critique against the many jumps around by Storberget [the former Justice Minister]. PF (The Police Union) was very critical of the so-called [application] process. There were good applicants with strong professsional integrity and experience on the application list, but Storberget went around and got Kristiansen. I hope the politicians have learnt something from this,” Johannesen said.
The appointment of Janne Kristiansen by Knut Storberget (Labor) in 2009 as head of the Police Security service was regarded by many as a political one. Storberget was controversial as Justice Minister because of his attempts to make blasphemy illegal and to introduce the use of the hijab to the Norwegian police force. He stepped down in November 2011 after having received death threats from a group called “The Organization for a Free Norway” (Organisasjonen Fritt Norge).
Google translation:
Warns against gambling with new PST chief
23.02.2012
Arne Johannessen, head of the Joint Police Association, warns the justice minister against to gamble with the appointment of a new PST boss.
“Hiring a PST manager with little management experience and no academic background in PSTs area of responsibility is a risk sport. We can not afford another blunder, it must be created confidence and peace around the PST so that they can do the important job they are meant to do,” says Johannessen to VG….
Original article: Advarer mot å gamble med ny PST-sjef
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Related post: Head of PST steps down, PST staff do not want another political appointment
Labor Youth Organization (AUF) cancels Utøya camp this year
The Labor Youth Organization (AUF) will not be arranging its annual summer camp at Utøya this year AUF-leader, Eskil Pedersen, confirmed to Verdens Gang (VG). Instead, a memorial ceremony is planned for the one-year anniversary of the 7/22 attacks.
“It is practically impossible, and neither does it feel right, to have a political summer camp at Utøya this year. The new Utøya must stand ready before we have a camp there,” Pedersen says.
VG writes that, the day after the attack, Pedersen made it clear that the AUF should take Utøya back. “It was difficult to understand there and then how much long-term work would be needed for us to be able to take Utøya back. But the ambition still stands firm; we shall do it, and we shall have political summer camps there, but not this year,” Pedersen said to VG.
“I understand not everyone thinks this way, but I do. I understand that people can think it is strange and wrong to arrange camps at Utøya again; but as an organization, I believe it is the only right [thing to do]. We experience a fantastic engagement in the organization now, and have more active [members] than in many years. It feels right that they, too, shall experience summer camp at Utøya,” Pedersen explains. He also pointed out to VG that the Labor Youth Organization has a sixty year long tradition at Utøya.
Google translation:
AUF drops Utøya camp this year
22/02/12
Planning a ceremony commemorating 22 July
Even if it were practicable, would not AUF organized political fun at Utøya this year.
This confirms AUF leader Eskil Pedersen. Recently determined leadership in the youth organization summer camp’s fate.
“It is practically impossible and it feels not right to have a summer camp for political Utøya this year. The new Utøya must be completed before we have a camp there,” says Pedersen….
Original article: AUF dropper Utøya-leir i år
Labor Party established dedicated mourning room at party headquarters after 7/22 attacks
Speaking to 300 representatives from police and rescue services at a preparedness and training conference arranged by the Directorate for Societal Security and Preparedness (Direktoratet for samfunnssikkerhet og beredskap), Party Secretary, Raymond Johansen, said that a dedicated crying room had to be established at the Labor Party headquarters in the days following the 7/22 attack, writes Verdens Gang (VG). “We established a crying room in the party office. People broke down [in tears] all the time,” Johansen said.
The Labor Party headquarters are located a couple of hundred yards away from the building housing the Prime Minister’s office and the Justice Department where Anders Behring Breivik detonated a 2000 pound bomb. The front of the Labor Party headquarters building faces the governmental offices, and the destruction caused by the explosion can be seen from many of the Labor Party offices. Several windows in the Labor Party headquarters building were blown out by the strong pressure wave, and the office building was evacuated for four days after the attacks.
“This was not a coincidental attack, but a political assasination. Wounds will heal, it will take time, but the scars will be there forever,” Johansen said, according to VG.
VG writes that Johansen, himself, heard the bomb over the phone. Two hours later he travelled to Sundvollen Hotel and assisted injured survivors from Utøya. Since then, he has travelled around the country and spoken about what happened. According to VG, he says it will take a long time before the after effects of the terror passes, and that for the Labor party the attacks will never be forgotten.
“It is still very demanding for me to talk about this. It is like the crust of a scar that you tear off every so often. But I will not distance myself when I, as the highest leader in the party, am invited to talk about this,” Johansen said according to VG.
Google translation:
Labor office had to have crying room
16/02/12
“People broke down all the time,” says Party Secretary
In the days after 22 July, it established a separate crying room at the office of the Labor Party at Youngstorget.
In front of 300 representatives from the various emergency services in the community told party secretary Thursday about the experiences he and the Labour Party did to keep the party on track in the aftermath of terrorist attacks on Utøya and in the government quarter 22 July.
“This was not a random attack, but a political assassination. Wounds will heal, it will take time, but the scars will be there forever,” said Raymond Johansen….
Original article: Ap-kontoret måtte ha gråterom
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Related article: Labor established its own crying room after the terror (Ap etablerte eget gråterom etter terroren)
Norway’s Attorney General expresses desire to introduce greater press restrictions
Attorney General (Riksadvokat), Tor-Aksel Busch, known for his expressed wish to get rid of the jury system, is of the opinion that lawmakers should consider making it illegal to publish leaked information that someone else has obtained by illegal means, reports Dagbladet. According to Dagbladet, Busch writes this in a letter to The Media Responsibility Commission (Medieansvarsutvalget) which was appointed by the Labor coalition government to come up with proposals for more extensive legal regulations of the media and bloggers.
Dagbladet also reports that Busch is also in agreement with the The Media Responsibility Commission’s view that there should be no legal restrictions on the police investigation of a leak.
Per Edgar Kokkvold, Secretary-General of the Norwegian Press Association, is very critial of the ideas aired by Busch. “It is very unfortunate. Today’s system works well. The consequences will be that people hesitate to go to the press with their information. Protection of sources is, and should be, close to absolute,” Kokkvold said to Dagbladet.
The editor of Nettavisen, Gunnar Stavrum, writes in an opinion piece that the Attorney General is mistaken when he wants to punish the media for publishing leaks and that this would be tantamount to state censorship:
“But today Attorney General Tor-Aksel Busch takes a dangerous step further: we believe one should look closer on whether it should be illegal for the media to redistribute information it has received by others having committed an illegal act of [someone's] duty of confidence, it comes from the State Attorney’s office.
“The proposal from the Attorney General is dangerous, totalitarian and ought to be placed in the drawer immediately.
“The press has a legally-based role of being guard dog. It has laws that protect this role, among others a legally-based protection of sources and a constitutionally founded freedom of expression.
“Even if leaks can be unfortunate, we have long traditions for how it goes when regimes with law in hand can tame the media and decide what should be written in the newpapers.”
Google translation:
Will open to punish the media for leaks
02/15/2012
Public Prosecutor Tor Aksel Busch for all 22 July leaks
Now he opens that the media can be prosecuted for passing on information gained through the other has committed a criminal breach of confidentiality.
In response to Media Legal Committee’s report Busch writes that “it is not necessarily obvious” that the media’s dissemination of information they have gained access to the breach of confidentiality, should be penalty-free….
Original article: Vil åpne for å straffe mediene for lekkasjer
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Google translation:
Source Hunting and press criminal
February 15, 2012
Attorney General Tor-Aksel Busch will punish the media who publish leaks. Is it not easier to impose state censorship first as last…?
Original article: Kildejakt og pressestraff
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Related: Tor-Aksel Busch on Wikipedia (in Norwegian)
Related: Per Edgar Kokkvold on Wikipedia
Political commentator says it appears the political goal of the Labor Party is to make ethnic Norwegians a minority
In an opinion piece on the Verdidebatt website, which is run by the newspaper Vårt Land, right-wing author, blogger and political commentator, Ole Jørgen Anfindsen, argues that Øyvind Strømmen, a left-wing journalist and author frequently used by the Norwegian media as an expert on right-wing politics, exaggerates the relevance of right-wing extremist political ideas and the Eurabia theory to the current political debate in Norway about mass immigration.
According to Anfindsen, Strømmen writes in his most recent book that right wing politicians are borrowing ideas from the extreme right: “[T]he borrowing from the extreme right has not ceased.” Anfindsen says that Strømmen uses quotes from the blog of Progress Party politician, Kent Andersen, to illustrate this point.
Anfindsen points out, however, that, as Andersen has written about on his blog, the Labor Party as early as 1980 stated in parliamentary documents that it is a political goal to transform Norwegian society into a pluralistic, multicultural society. Those that complain that these major policy decisions were not clearly communicated to the Norwegian people, or not debated in a democratic fashion, are simply opposing Labor Party policy, Anfindsen argues.
Anfindsen also writes that the Labor Party appears to applaud the fact that ethnic Norwegicans are soon to become a minority in the capital, Oslo, and that it is reasonable to conclude that the political goal of the Labor Party is exacly that: to make ethnic Norwegians a minority.
Below are excerpts from the article translated from Norwegian:
“In the same blog post from which Strømmen chose to quote an excerpt on pages 162-163 of his book, Andersen also writes the following:
The thought about the ‘multicultural Norway’ is rather not new. It shows up in Parliamentary report number 74 (1979-1980) ‘About immigrants in Norway’ (under Oddvar Nordlie’s [Labor] government). Here we can read quote: ‘To develop one’s own language and own culture as central tools in an intergration process that shall result in the goal of a multicultural/pluralistic society.’
…
“It is, therefore, just to go to the sources Strømmen gives in his book, as well as follow a weblink or two, and one finds in a few minutes documentation that the situation is more or less how Andersen claims, namely that the Labor Party has desired to break up the unique Norwegian culture and replace it with multiculture. This is, therefore, not the ‘Eurabia thinking,’ as Strømmen claims (page 163), but quite simply the Labor Party thinking.
“The Labor party has, apparently, believed that Norway was too poorly inhabited, and has desired to fix this serious shortcoming by the aid of significant immigration from the Third World. This immigration is subject to a certain regulation from year to year, but in the long run it does not look like there is meant to be any limits to how many should come here.
“And since it is obvious to anyone with a minimum of mathematical schooling that ethnic Norwegians, in a not too distant future, necessarily will become a minority in this country if today’s policy is continued, then it is reasonable to assume that this is exacly the Labor Party’s long-term political goal. And there are not that many years left until Norwegians become a minority in Oslo; a development the Labor Party appears to be applauding.
…
“So what does this have to do with Strømmen’s book? Not so little. To Strømmen, it is important to portray as right-wing extreme anyone who believes that the Labor Party (and its supporters) lacks respect for Norwegians and Norwegian culture and, therefore, wishes to replace them and it with something else.
“But then it turns out, when one digs a bit in the sources that Strømmen himself refers to, that the Labor Party itself, even in a parliamentary report, makes it clear that it is considered as unfortunate that Norway is dominated by Norwegian culture and that, therefore, they wish to supplement this with a line of other cultures from the whole world. And, in practical politics, the Labor Party each and every day shows that they believe that there should be an end to Norwegians being a majority in this country.
“Now many will, of course, agree with the Labor Party that it is exactly a policy such as this that will make Norway a better country to live in, which is what their youth politicians claimed on NRK news Feb 6, 2012 (in a comment to statements from Breivik’s court hearing the same day, where he repeated his claim that Labor Party politicians are traitors, a statement that the aforementioned Labor Youth [AUF] politicians perceived as incomprehensible).
“But if Norway is a democratic society, one must be allowed to be in disagreement with the Labor Party. In addition, it must be allowed to put forth strong critique of the Labor Party, and it must be allowed to ask critical questions. Yes, it must actually be allowed to be of the opinion that the Labor Party ideologists either are incompetent (and, therefore, do not understand what the long-term consequences of the party’s politics will be) or, alternatively, that they have goals that they rarely admit fully in public.
“For example, it must, as Kent Andersen and Christian Tybring-Gjedde did in a subsequently quite well-known opinion piece in Aftenposten, Aug 25, 2010, be allowed to ask ‘What was wrong with Norwegian culture, since the Labor Party wants to replace it with multiculture?’
…
“There are just about four million Norwegians in the country, but there are several hundred millions of people in the countries from which our largest immigrant groups have their roots. In some time we are, therefore, — with today’s rules of the game — sentenced to lose the demographic competition; something that, in other words, happens with the Labor Party as an active promoter. The attitude behind this is readily summarized in Thomas Hylland Eriksen’s well-known words: ‘The most important white spot now consists of deconstructing the majority, and do it thoroughly so that it can never be called a majority again (Culcom, June 18, 2008).’
…
“Strømmen’s book is, thus, referring to sources that document the Labor Party’s responsibility for the (in many people’s opinion, irresponsible) immigration policy that has been conducted in Norway the last decades, and that is even larger than what many of us have been aware of. Since this has relevance for the upcoming trial against Breivik, and since the terror on 7/22 is the backdrop for Strømmen’s book, I’ll include a few words about the defense of Brevik.
“With a possible exception of some Labor Party polticians that NRK has spoken to, it seems to be the broad agreement that Breivik has the right to a trial that is as fair as possible, including a best possible defense. Not at least has his lawyer, Geir Lippestad, repeatedlly underlined the importance of this.
“This means, the way I view it, that Lippestad will fail his task as Brevik’s defense unless he makes sure that the court receives full information about the circumstances Strømmen (implicitly) documents, and that I have outlined above.
“Why so? Yes, because Breivik’s major point is that the Labor Party’s policies in reality constitute treason, and that the party members, therefore, are legitimate targets for actions of the type that he carried out last summer. Let me here, to avoid misunderstandings, rush forward and repeat what I said in several interviews in the weeks after 7/22, namely that I believe it is necessary to tone down the rhetoric in light of the terror tragedy, hereof to cease calling immigration supporters ‘traitors.’
“What is clear, on the other hand, is that the Labor Party has the main responsibility for a policy that many are of the opinion has placed our country in a very problematic situation. As I have emphasized before, this does not give Breivik the right to blow up bombs or excecute AUF [Labor Youth Organization] members. But as his lawyer, it is Lippestad’s duty to put forth all arguments that can indicate lenient circumstances (to the degree this is possible) for Breivik. And he is, unfortunately, right in that there are several aspects of Norwegian democracy that are not functioning as it should.”
…
Øyvind Strømmen refutes Anfindsen’s critique in the comment field on Verdidebatt, titling his comment “Four points about mendaciousness”:
“In the case of the Progress Party [FRP], I have, to the contrary, both in the book and, for example, in this interview with Nettavisen, criticized the perception of the Progress Party as right-wing extreme, as one ought to: such a perception is idiotic. What I have done, on the other hand, is to criticize specific Progress Party politicians for a simplification of right-wing extremist thought matter, something I have used a chapter in the book to exemplify.”
Original article: Arbeiderpartiet, Lippestad, Breivik og Strømmens mørke nett
Google translation: The Labor Party, Lippestad, Breivik and Strømmen’s Dark Web
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Ole Jørgen Anfindsen’s blog: HonestThinking.org
Øyvind Strømmen’s book: The Dark Net. On Right-Wing Extremism, Counter-Jihadism and Terror in Europe.
Related blog post: When started Arbeiderpartiets attack on Norwegian culture? (Når startet Arbeiderpartiets angrep på Norsk kultur?)
Related article: Dream of Disneyland – “What was wrong with the Norwegian culture, since the Labor Party will replace it with multiculturalism?” (Drøm fra Disneyland – “Hva var galt med norsk kultur, siden Arbeiderpartiet vil erstatte den med flerkultur?”)
Related article: This is the FRP code (Dette er Frp-koden)
Related link: Culcom
Breivik in court: “We shall fight against the traitors in the Labor Party”
The courtroom buzzed with the sound of cameras as Anders Behring Breivik entered the Oslo District Court (Tingrett) today for the last incarceration hearing before the trial begins on April 16. As he entered the courtroom, Breivik performed the Knights Templar clenched fist salute described in his compendium, “2083: A European Declaration of Independence.”
As in the previous court proceeding, Breivik objected to the neutrality of the court and Judge Wenche Fliflet Gjelsten. “You have received your mandate from organizations that support multiculturalism, and for this reason I have objections regarding your neutrality,” Breivik said according to VG.
During the proceeding, Breivik asked permission from the judge to say a few words about why he admits to committing the 7/22 attacks, but does not admit legal guilt for them.
“The attack against the governmental offices was directed against traitors that commit cultural destruction, the deconstruction of the Norwegian ethnic group. It is the same as ethnic cleansing,” Breivik said according to NRK.
“I am a militant nationalist. I represent native Norwegians. I am a commander of Knights Templar Norway. We in the Norwegian resistance movement are not going to sit still and watch us become a minority in our own capitol and country. We shall fight against the traitors in the Labor party,” said Breivik.
The judge, then, tried to interrupt Breivik, who said: “Now I am about to come to the conclusion. I cannot acknowledge legal guilt. I acted in emergency defense of my people, culture and country.” He then requested that he be released immediately.
According to Norwegian media, many of the plaintiffs present in the courtroom laughed out loud several times when Breivik was addressing the court.
Google translation:
Demanded to be released immediately
02/06/12
Anders Breivik Behring says he acted in self-defense, and therefore requires to be released immediately. He also believes he should be awarded war cross with three swords. The terror suspect met with scattered laughter in the courtroom today.
Anders Behring Breivik started the hearing to protest the judge, because he thought she is disqualified.
Breivik said that the attacks were meant to those engaged in ethnic cleansing.
He made it clear that he is familiar with the charges.
“I recognize the actions, but I do not acknowledge guilt. In this connection I wish to explain to me. So if I could get a minute, I had been greatly praise it? Is it okay?” said Brevik.
The judge agreed that he could have one minute to explain himself.
“The attacks against the government quarter was directed against traitors who commit cultural destruction, deconstruction of the Norwegian ethnic group. It is the same as Norwegian ethnic cleansing,” said Breivik, and it sounded ridiculous in the auditorium.
“I am a militant militarist, a commander of the Knights Templar Norway. We in the Norwegian resistance movement is not going to sit and look at deconstruction. We shall fight against the traitors of the Labour Party,” said Breivik.
The judge tried to interrupt him.
“Now I come to the conclusion,” stressed Breivik.
“I can not admit guilt. I acted in self-defense for my people, culture and my country,” said Breivik and petitioned therefore released immediately.
“I do not accept detention and demand to be released immediately, he said to laughter from the audience….”
Original article: Krevde å bli løslatt umiddelbart
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Google translation:
Utøya-victims laughed at Breivik in court
02/06/12
- Lippestad: Breivik showed right-wing greeting
- Called expert report laughable
When Breivik entered the courtroom in the Oslo District Court raised his hands and showed handcuffs in what looked like a planned gesture.
After the meeting, explained the detention Geir Lippestad, one of his defenders, that it was a kind of right-wing message.
“He showed a kind of right-wing greeting, but I do not know anything more about it,” says Lippestad, who said he did not see all the greeting when his client performed it in the courtroom….
This is the last time Breivik presented for custody before the trial starts on 16 April. Police have requested that the court keeps the mass murderer locked up until trial, because there is a risk of new offenses….
Original article: Utøya-fornærmede lo av Breivik i retten
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Related post: Breivik’s statement in court February 6, 2012
Related article: Breivik made right-wing gesture in the courtroom (Breivik gjorde høyreekstrem hilsen i rettssalen)
Related article: How Breivik gave his reasons for his demand (Slik begrunnet Breivik sitt krav)
Related article: Minutes of the meeting of incarceration Breivik (Referat fra fengslingsmøtet for Breivik)
Breivik considered attacking the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK), Aftenposten and VG
The Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) writes that, during the planning phase of the 7/22 attacks, Breivik reconnoitered around the NRK offices at Marienlyst in Oslo. In police questioning, Breivik explained that the media company and its journalists were highly prioritized targets.
According to NRK, before Breivik decided to attack the governmental offices and the Labor Youth Organization (AUF) camp at Utøya, he considered attacking the state owned media company, NRK. In addition he considered the Norwegian newpapers, Aftenposten and Verdens Gang (VG), as possible targets.
Breivik says he thought of the NRK offices at Marienlyst as a “bonus” operation. Through his reconnoitering, he established the location of the entrance for the political and foreign sections. Breivik thought about the possibility of delivering two bombs weighing between 50 to 60 kilograms (110-130 pounds) while disguised as a Federal Express worker, but concluded that since he had little knowledge of the layout of the NRK buildings, it was unlikely that he would succeed in killing more than fifteen people. He decided that Utøya was a more suitable target since the water surrounding the island would make it a death trap.
NRK also writes that, according to police questioning, Breivik has said that he considered also attacking Aftenposten and VG after setting off the bomb, but he rejected the idea as he thought it would prevent him from reaching Utøya afterwards.
NRK is Norway’s state-owned media house and had an exclusive monopoly on nation-wide television broadcasting until 1992 when TV2 was established. Several NRK leaders have been former Labor Party politicians, for example Bjartmar Gjerde and Einar Førde who held the leadership position consecutively from 1981 to 2001. Many Norwegians are of the opinion that NRK has a socialist-leftist bias in its news reporting and program selection.
Google translation:
“Breivik surveilled NRK employees”
04/02/2012
Anders Behring Breivik (32) surveilled NRK’s offices in Oslo. The terror suspect considered media house and the journalists as “high priority”.
In questioning the Breivik explained in detail about the other goals he considered during the planning of terrorist attacks.
Before he decided to attack the government quarter and Utøya, assessed the 32-year-old long to attack the largest media houses in Oslo.
According to NRK understand, Breivik should have wanted to frame both Aftenposten, VG and NRK….
Original article: “Breivik spanet på NRK-ansatte”
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When chief editor of Aftenposten, Hilde Haugsgjerd, answered questions from readers on September 4, 2009, a person with the signature “Anders B” asked her the following two questions:
“What do you think about Norway joining the ranks of countries that no longer have any major cultural conservative newspapers (newspapers critical of multiculturalism)?”
“What is the reason that Aftenposten, after 1972, gradually began to support multiculturalism (Cultural Marxism) and, therefore, in effect no longer continued to be a culture conservative media alternative? Was is because of pressure from the Labor-movement?”
Aftenposten used to be a conservative newspaper. Today’s chief-editor, Hilde Haugsgjerd, was politically active in her youth in the very left-wing Red Electoral Alliance.
Google translation:
Chief editor replied [in Norwegian]
04.sep.2009
What do you think that Norway joins the ranks of countries that no longer has any great cultural conservative newspapers (newspapers that are critical of multiculturalism)? Anders B
I also think it is a problem that the Norwegian media are too similar in their analysis and views. I think it is because conflicts in Norwegian politics is not really that big. Greeting Hilde
What is the rationale for the newspaper Aftenposten, after 1972, gradually began to support multiculturalism (kulturmarxisme) and thus in practice no longer continued to be a cultural conservative media alternative? Was it because of pressure from the labor movement? Anders B
Aftenposten is an independent newspaper, with a liberal-conservative worldviews. Hilde….
Original article: Sjefredaktøren svarte
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TV2 writes that, according to police investigation documents, Breivik called Norwegian media companies several times complaining that certain news stories were not reported. For example, during the 2009 riots in Gothenburg, Sweden, in which many cars were set on fire by immigrant youths, Breivik called both NRK and TV2 asking why there was no coverage of this news. Breivik has explained to the police that he was told that the riots were not newsworthy.
According to TV2, Breivik was also of the opinion that similar riots by immigrant youths in France received too little coverage by the Norwegian media. Further from TV2, Breivik thought the Gothenburg riots were not mentioned on Norwegian news because of the upcoming election since the riots in Sweden might result in increased support for the Progress Party (FRP) which has a more restrictive view on immigration.
Google translation:
Breivik called TV 2 to complain about the news
04.02.2012
Did the media silent about the riots in Sweden and France to prevent the FRP would make a good election.
TV 2 has access to investigation material shows that the terrorist accused Anders Breivik Behring on several occasions to have approached the media to complain about coverage of news stories.
One of the cases was during the riots in Gothenburg in 2009, where it was set fire to several cars. The rebellion started after police threw two immigrant youths from an occupied premises in the city.
Then Breivik have called both TV2 and NRK and asked why they did not cover what happened. According to Breivik, the editors then have replied that it was not “news worthy”.
Breivik even think that this incident was under cover in the Norwegian press as it was approaching parliamentary elections, and that one did not want to increase support for the Progress Party to describe the noise in the immigrant communities….
Original article: Breivik ringte TV 2 for å klage på nyhetene
March phone threats were made to the Justice Department
Stavangeravisen writes that the March telephone threats were made to the Justice Department.
Previous Justice Minister, Knut Storberget (Labor), stepped down in November 2011, a week after he and several other Labor Party leaders received threats posted on a Russian website from a group called The Organization for a Free Norway (Organisasjonen Fritt Norge). Storberget had been a controversial Justice Minister due to his attempts to introduce law changes that would make blasphemy illegal and proposing that the hijab should be allowed in the Norwegian police force.
The Justice Department was located on the seventh floor of the same building as the Prime Minster’s office and was amongst the most severely destroyed offices in the building. Four Justice Department staff members were killed in the 7/22 attacks, three were at work inside the building and one was attending the Labor Youth Organization (AUF) camp at Utøya.
Google translation:
Now do not talk anymore Breivik
24/01/12
Behring Breivik refuses to talk to police before they can guarantee him computer access for the whole sentence after trial. It will not the police do….
The police would, among other things, Breivik asked if it was he who called the Justice Department in March last year and threatened to kill AUF-ers….
Original article: Nå snakker ikke Breivik lenger
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Related post: Caller to government offices in March mentioned shooting Labor Youth members
Related post: Breivik admits he called goverment department, does not confirm he was March caller
Related article: Storberget about death threats: “Unpleasant for me and family” (Storberget om drapstruslene: – Ubehagelig for meg og familien)
Related article: Tearful Storberget: “I have four good reasons to resign” (Gråtkvalt Storberget: – Jeg har fire gode grunner til å gå av)
Related article: The clock stopped when the bomb slammed (Klokken stanset da bomben smalt)
Related article: Killed on the job for the Ministry of Justice (Drept på jobb for Justisdepartementet)
Related article: To see the meeting room of the Ministry of Justice out (Slik ser møterommet til Justisdepartementet ut
Head of PST steps down, PST staff do not want another political appointment
Janne Kristiansen, head of the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST), announced last night that she is stepping down as leader of the PST. The announcement came hours after her apparent slip of the tongue during the 7/22 hearing in parliament in which she revealed that Norway’s military intelligence service has operative agents in Pakistan.
Google translation:
PST boss: “I said wrong”
19.01.12
When VG confronted Janne Kristiansen with the statements immediately after the hearings, she tried to dampen the impact of what she had said.
“I said wrong, I thought the police liaison officer. He is our point of contact in Pakistan,” said the PST-chief to VG.
Late yesterday afternoon, when Parliament set out its shorthand minutes of the hearing, it was not made any corrections. There was also no correction of Kristiansen’s statements on the PST website.
During the hearing revealed Kristiansen, the Norwegian intelligence service has agents on the ground in Pakistan. Within hours after refereratet was published, she pulled out as head of the Police Security Service (PST)….
Original article: PST-sjefen: – Jeg sa feil
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Janne Kristiansen’s leadership of the PST has been turbulent. Former Justice Minister, Knut Storberget (Labor), encouraged her to apply for the position, and NRK writes that her appointment has been considered by many as a political decision.
Second-in-command, Roger Berg, will act as head of PST for the time being. Employee representative, Lasse Roen, says to NRK that they wish to have a say in who becomes the new leader of their organization, and that they oppose another political appointment.
Google translation:
Many tears when Janne Kristiansen said goodbye to their employees
1/19/2012
The appointment of Janne Kristiansen as the new manager of PST was also turbulent.
Kristiansen was appointed by Storberget after she had been encouraged to seek the job of the same minister.
Many believed that Storberget had a pure political appointment.
Now ask the employees that they also may be heard when a new chief to be elected.
“Trade unions now expect to be consulted on who should be appointed CEO of PST,” says Lasse Roen.
According to the representative, Roger Berg, who will now serve as chief until further strong support in the organization, and that he therefore should be one of several candidates.
“It is nevertheless important that a new pst manager has experience of leading an emergency response organization PST,” and the least experience in our sector, says Roen.
Does that mean that a new political appointment would be undesirable?
- Yes it will say, answer Roen.
Original article: Mange tårer da Janne Kristiansen tok farvel med sine ansatte
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According to Aftenposten, the special unit of the police force (Internal Affairs) has begun investigating whether Kristiansen’s remarks regarding strictly confidential matters constitute a criminal offense.
Google translation:
Bureau begins investigation of PST-chief statements
19.jan.2012
Retired PST manager Janne Kristiansen’s statements in Parliament Wednesday investigated by the Special Unit for Police Affairs.
It confirms the Special Unit Manager Jan-Egil Presthus to Aftenposten.no.
PST Manager Janne Kristiansen revealed highly classified information in Parliament on Wednesday confirmed Justice Grete Faremo (AP) during a press conference Thursday morning….
Original article: Spesialenheten starter etterforskning av PST-sjefens uttale
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In his compendium, “2083 – A European Declaration of Independence,” Anders Behring Breivik commented on the appointment of Janne Kristiansen, describing her as a Labor Party plant without relevant expertise:
“The head of PST, Janne Kristiansen, has never even worked as an intelligence officer, and is nothing more than a planted Labour Party agent, placed to lead the PST, against the will of most PST employees.”
“2083 – A European Declaration of Independence” [opens pdf]
Governmental committee positive to hijab in the police force
Norwegian newspaper, Vårt Land, reports that a government-appointed committee, the Faith and Ethics Policy Committee, that was established a year and a half ago by Culture Minister, Anniken Huitfeldt (Labor), will likely propose that judges and police officers should be allowed to wear the hijab.
The question of whether the hijab should be allowed in the court system and police force has been a matter of heated debate in Norway. A proposal by previous Justice Minster, Knut Storberget (Labor), to allow the use of the hijab in the police force was withdrawn after it received strong negative reactions.
Google translation:
Wishes hijab in the police
01/16/12
Police and judges with the hijab may be the result if the government’s belief political committees gets its way….
Non-French. Stålsett [the committee chairman] is clear that Norway is in a different direction than France, which is the longest in Europe to ban the use of the hijab.
“So, the committee will not come down on any French, secular solution?”
“It will affect our conclusion that we in no way want to hide away or reduce the presence of religious symbols. We want to facilitate that diversity should be strong,” says Stålsett….
Original article: Ønsker hijab i politiet
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See also: Committee recommends hijab in the police (Utvalg foreslår hijab i politiet)
See also: Veiling the Police in Norway at Gates of Vienna.
Labor minister Trond Giske: “We are losing control over TV2″
A-pressen has sold its 50% share in Norway’s second largest TV station, TV2, to Danish Egmont Group for 2.1 billion Norwegian kroner (US$350 million). A-pressen is Norway’s second biggest media house, established in 1948 as Norsk Arbeiderpresse (Norwegian Labor Press).
The sale has upset Labor Party Minister of Business, Trond Giske. Previous head of TV2, Bjørn Atle Holter-Hovind, however, says to E24 that he believes it is good to increase the distance between politicians and TV2.
Google translation:
“Well that sales increases the distance between Giske and TV 2″
01/10/2012
Former CEO of TV 2 says the sale of the media house to the Danish Egmont is a good solution….
“I have to admit that I jumped in the chair when I read that Minister of Business, Trond Giske, went out and said, and I quote, ‘We are losing control over TV2.’ Then I ask myself, who are ‘we’ and what is he thinking of when he believes that ‘We are losing control?’ Then it is not such a bad idea that this agreement [the sale] increases the distance between him [Trond Giske] and TV2,” says Holter-Hovind til E24….
Original article: “Godt at salget øker avstanden mellom Giske og TV 2″
More on A-pressen at Wikipedia (in Norwegian).
More on TV2 at Wikipedia (in Norwegian).
Labor Party wants law changes in order to prevent possible early release of Breivik
If the court finds Anders Behring Breivik to be not legally accountable for his actions, he will be committed to forced psychiatric care. According to Norwegian law, a person who is committed to forced psychiatric care may petition the court for release every year. This provision is in place to ensure that someone who is not mentally ill cannot be detained in a psychiatric hospital.
Now the Labor Party’s foremost justice politician, Jan Bøhler, has suggested reconsidering the right of people committed to psychiatric care to petition for early release in order to prevent Breivik from making use of this legal right should the court determine that he is mentally ill.
Previous Labor Party Justice Minister, Knut Storberget, indicated in Autumn of last year that changes to the law might also occur should Breivik be sentenced to a regular prison sentence with detention, a special type of sentencing for people considered to pose a danger to society, and where release from prison depends on an evaluation by the court.
Google translation:
Want amendment to keep Breivik locked
10.01.12
Possible, but unwise, according to law professor
According to law professor Hans Petter Graver, it is possible to change the laws to prevent to prevent Anders Behring Breivik come out in society a few years.
Jan Bøhler, Labor justice spokesman in Parliament, said in the Times today that there is a political readiness for change – just to prevent a rapid release of Breivik if he is sentenced to compulsory psychiatric health care….
Bøhler believe that such changes will not be in conflict with the Constitution’s prohibition against giving legislation retroactive….
Original article: Vil ha lovendring for å holde Anders Behring Breivik innelåst
Norwegian blogosphere responds to Prime Minister’s New Year’s speech
At Document.no, political commentator Christian Skaug responds to Prime Minister and Labor Party leader Jens Stoltenberg’s New Year’s speech.
Google translation:
The Prime Minister on free speech responsibility – what about listening?
02.01.2012
Jens Stoltenberg … did not come unexpectedly into the concept of freedom of responsibility in his New Year speech last night. Here he urged people to discuss extremist views on the web:
It is not necessary to spend so much effort to find good arguments for why people should not lend an ear to the British National Party or the like. One should ask why a politically relevant number of people doing it despite the obvious good reasons not to. It is a far more difficult exercise, because it will expose how even fail. In order to fashion the appropriate use of neologisms, it shows how to not have to listen responsibility.
Original post: Statsministeren om ytringsansvar — hva med å lytte?
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Written by Admin1
January 3, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Posted in Labor Party
Tagged with Freedom of Speech, Jens Stoltenberg, Norwegian blogosphere, Political commentary