Environmental activist Greta Thunberg has been detained twice during a demonstration in favour of Indigenous rights in Norway.
- Protesters are calling for the removal of 151 wind turbines from reindeer pastures used by Sami herders
- Norway's supreme court ruled in 2021 that the turbines violated Sami rights
- Ms Thunberg was removed by police while blocking the entrance to the climate and environment ministry
On Monday, Ms Thunberg joined protesters demanding the removal of 151 wind turbines from reindeer pastures used by Sami herders in central Norway.
She said a transition to green energy should not come at the expense of Indigenous rights.
The demonstrators have have blocked access to some government buildings, which prompted Energy Minister Terje Aasland to call off an official visit to Britain.
Norway's supreme court ruled in 2021 that the turbines, erected on two wind farms at Fosen and part of Europe's largest onshore wind power complex, violated Sami rights under international conventions.
They remain in operation more than 16 months later.
Holding a red, blue, yellow and green Sami flag, Ms Thunberg was lifted and carried away from the finance ministry by police officers, while hundreds of demonstrators chanted.
"We want to make it very clear that it is the Norwegian state that is committing the real crime here, for violating human rights," Ms Thunberg said.
Ms Thunberg and other demonstrators later blocked the entrance to the climate and environment ministry and were again removed by police.
She was released along with other activists who had also been detained.
Reindeer herders say the sight and sound of the giant wind power machinery frighten their animals and disrupt age-old traditions.
The energy ministry has said the turbines present a legal quandary despite the supreme court ruling and is hoping to find a compromise, but that it could take another year to make a new decision in the Fosen case.
Activists on Tuesday said they had raised close to $148,000 in recent days to help individual demonstrators pay police fines.
Reuters