Risks prison for Monolitten littering – gets support from UN Nestor – NRK Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country

This week, two climate activists sit on the dock in the Oslo district court.

Joachim Skahjem (25) and Anne Klenge (25) received a lot of attention when, on 18 November 2022, they poured buckets of paint on the protected sculpture Monolith in Vigelandsparken.

Both are accused of cultural heritage crime. They risk several months in prison.

– I was shocked when I saw it, says Anne Klenge to NRK.

I think they acted out of necessity

The German master’s student from NTNU believes the indictment is nowhere near in line with the act she and the fellow activist admit to having committed.

– Considering the scale of the natural crisis we are facing, I see this as the last democratic tool I have.

The shareholders deny criminal guilt. They believe they acted out of necessity.

– As individuals, we have tried other measures, such as signature campaigns, using the right to vote and political involvement, without any success. The climate crisis compared to some paint on sculptures is quite a lot more important, says Skahjem.

There was a storm around Skahjem after the action, when he opened up on the Debate about the use of violence in the climate fight.

This led to the organization Stopp Oljeletinga, to which Klenge still belongs, breaking with Skahjem.

– I still stand by the fact that sabotage of the oil industry is a legitimate, desirable and likely form of action in the future.

He emphasizes that he does not support violence against people.

Estimates damages at 30,000

The action in November 2022 smeared the Monolith and six other granite sculptures with orange paint.

Seven people started the clean-up work the same day. The Vigeland Museum has estimated the damage at NOK 30,000.

– We have concluded that the sculptures have not suffered permanent damage, but there are still some remnants of pigment in the stone, writes head of Vigeland Museum Jarle Strømodden in an e-mail to NRK via an adviser.

He is concerned that the park should be open and accessible to everyone.

– We understand that the environmental issue is engaging, but this is vandalism that cannot be defended.

UN Special Rapporteur: – Deeply concerned

Michel Forst, the UN’s special rapporteur for environmentalists, is concerned that the two campaigners risk long prison terms.

– I am deeply concerned about the serious consequences that Kleng and Skahjem are facing, for having participated in a peaceful environmental demonstration that could result in punishment, writes the UN veteran in a letter to the Oslo district court.

He emphasizes that civil disobedience is legal as long as it does not cause harm to other people or significant damage to property.

– Based on the pictures I have seen, the damage to the Monolith sculptures is extremely minimal.

That is why he believes that it is disproportionate with a prison sentence for the campaigners.

– I also do not see how a prison sentence regardless of length will serve a legitimate public purpose.

– Across the border

State attorney Kristin Røhne disagrees that the campaign is protected by freedom of expression.

– If you want to commit acts of civil disobedience, you are free to do so. But the Supreme Court has set limits for what you can do in the name of freedom of expression and here I think we are way over those limits, says Røhne to NRK.

The discussion is not just about how much damage the sculptures were caused, she believes.

– The most important thing is the nature and object of the damage. The sculptures have national value and are important to many people.