This morning guards outside the Mines and Money conference in London tried to suppress Saami protests over mining on traditional Saami lands. Saami community representatives were told they were not permitted to protest and were forced away from the Conference centre. With the assisstance of Richard Solly from London Mining Network – a partner organisation in London – the Saami delegation maintained that they were permitted to excerise their democratic right to public protest. After being forced away three times, the Saami delegation were finally able to continue their peaceful protest, outside the conference, without further interventions by the guards.
The Saami delegation are representing the Saami communities of Sirges, Jåhkågaska, Lainiovuoma, Saarivuoma, Laevas and Girjas and are protesting over mining plans by Australian backed Scandinavian Resources and British based Beowulf Mining.
For reporting by Swedish Radio in Swedish and Saami click here
Saami community representative, Carl-Johan Utsi, handing out information leaflets to conference delegates at 'Mines and Money', London.
