Finland renews human rights violations by forcing non-Sámi people into the Sámi parliament

Aslak Holmberg. PHOTO: SAAMI COUNCIL / PIERA HEAIKA MUOTKA

The Supreme Administrative Court of Finland (SAC) has renewed its decisions, which have been found to violate the Sámi people's right to free political organisation.

SAC once again forces 72 non-Sámi people to be on the electoral roll of the Sámi parliament and thus threatens the legitimacy of the Sámi parliament as a representative body of the Sámi people.

– Finland keeps tormenting the Sámi people. SAC knowingly violates the human rights treaties that bind Finland and undermines Finland's credibility as a constitutional state. This shows that the Supreme Administrative Court considers itself above international law. This is a stark example of colonial dominance, says Aslak Holmberg, president of the Saami Council. 

In violation of the Sámi people's right to self-determination, the Supreme Administrative Court has through the so-called ”overall consideration” forced non-Sámi people to the electoral roll of the Sámi parliament. SAC does not have the competence to assess whether a person is a Sámi or not, and the overall consideration has been found to be arbitrary and in violation of international law (Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination: 59/2016 and Human Rights Committee: 2668/2015). With these decisions, the Supreme Administrative Court has already been found guilty of racial discrimination and weakening the Sámi Parliament's ability to genuinely represent the Sámi and their interests. 

– It is incomprehensible that SAC renews the violation. The only way for Finland to save its face is to reform the act on the Sámi parliament, which leads to violations of rights, before the new elections. Otherwise, resources will be wasted by organizing elections, undoubtedly leading to a situation where the Sámi parliament does not represent the Sámi with full legitimacy. Right now it feels like we're living in a mockery of a constitutional state,  Holmberg concludes.  

Vice President and head of the Swedish section of the Saami Council Åsa Larsson Blind states:
– The right to define our free political representation is part of our right to self-determination as an Indigenous People. This right is violated in Finland with this decision. The right to define criteria for admission to the electoral roll of any Sámi parliament is an internal matter of the Sámi. We must have Sámi parliaments that are legitimate representative institutions in each country throughout Sápmi.