The Moscow Times informed that “RusHydro” will not decide on whether to build a dam in Evenkia this year, the company said Friday, after the project was lambasted at public hearings in Krasnoyarsk.

The Energy Ministry has finished work on the 2020 general plan of power generation, which predicts a growth in annual power consumption of up to 3.1 percent through 2030, Prime-Tass reported Thursday. A ministry representative said last week that the Evenkia dam was not included in the plan, which is expected to be submitted to the Cabinet for approval this summer.

Removal of the $21 billion Evenkia dam from the government’s official plan would once again put a hold on the controversial project, which met with fierce resistance from local residents and environmentalists.

Regional lawmakers and scientists discussed the dam Wednesday in the Krasnoyarsk legislative assembly, which said RusHydro had not sufficiently researched the consequences of constructing the dam and asked the government to look into alternative energy sources, according to the draft resolution. RusHydro did not attend the hearing.

The Moscow Times

Project of Evenki Hydropower Station in Krasnoyarskiy Krai

The construction would flood about 1 million hectares of the unique deciduous forests and pastures traditionally used by the Evenki reindeer herders and hunters. It would also flood a chamber that contains the radioactive brine left as a result of at least one of the underground nuclear explosions fired in the Lower Tunguska’s floodplain in 1970s.

The hydropower construction can bring to the population of Evenkia: destruction of the key traditional nature use territories; flood of the settlements including Tura, the capital of Evenkia; impossibility of  navigation of the Lower Tunguska, which means a destruction of the transport system; huge influx of strange population that is well-known for its destructive influence on the indigenous peoples’ life.

In their complaint the Saami Council argue that the project is socially unsustainable and in breach of Saami rights.

The Swedish government has granted planning permission for the world’s largest land based wind power park to be built in the municipality of Piteå, Sweden, where the Saami community of Östra Kikkejaur have their winter reindeer herding pastures. The wind power park will consist of over 1000 wind turbines, an 800 km road, and extensive infrastructure, which means that reindeer herding in the area will be severely restricted.

”The Swedish state has admitted that the project will destroy at least 25% of the Saami community’s winter reindeer herding pastures, but the state has argued that renewable energy is more important than Saami rights. The financier of the project’s first phase, the German bank KfW IPEX-Bank, has defended their investment by referring to the Swedish state’s approval of the project. But the state planning permission, and thereby KfW IPEX-Bank’s financing,  are in breach of international law because Saami rights are not being respected”, says Mattias Åhrén, president for the Saami Council.

Download the Press Release 1004 Press release Markbygden

Download the Letter of Noticification to the Bank KfW IPEX 1004 Markbygden OECD

Text of the full press release below

German bank finances giant wind power project in breach of Saami rights

Saami Council has today lodged a complaint over the German KfW IPEX-Bank’s financing of a giant wind power project on Saami reindeer herding territories. The wind power project risks making reindeer herding unviable in the area and is therefore in breach of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. In their complaint the Saami Council argue that the project is socially unsustainable and in breach of Saami rights.

The Swedish government has granted planning permission for the world’s largest land based wind power park to be built in the municipality of Piteå, Sweden, where the Saami community of Östra Kikkejaur have their winter reindeer herding pastures. The wind power park will consist of over 1000 wind turbines, an 800 km road, and extensive infrastructure, which means that reindeer herding in the area will be severely restricted.

”The Swedish state has admitted that the project will destroy at least 25% of the Saami community’s winter reindeer herding pastures, but the state has argued that renewable energy is more important than Saami rights. The financier of the project’s first phase, the German bank KfW IPEX-Bank, has defended their investment by referring to the Swedish state’s approval of the project. But the state planning permission, and thereby KfW IPEX-Bank’s financing,  are in breach of international law because Saami rights are not being respected”, says Mattias Åhrén, president for the Saami Council.

The Saami community has been in contact with the German bank, KfW IPEX-Bank, and highlighted the fact that the bank’s financing of the project is not in line with the bank’s commitments regarding human rights, indigenous rights, and environmental sustainability. The Saami community has also requested a meeting with the bank, but the bank has ignored the community’s request. In their communication with the community KfW IPEX-Bank claim that the bank’s commitments do not apply to projects in OECD countries, and therefore are not relevant to Sweden. The bank argues that they follow Swedish law and the decisions of Swedish public authorities, and that this is guarantee enough that Saami rights are respected.

”The OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises apply of course to projects in all countries, and Sweden is no exception. We look forward to a dialog with the German government regarding KfW IPEX-Bank’s investment in this controversial project. It is a myth that Sweden respects human rights”, says Mattias Åhrén, president for the Saami Council.

Sweden has received repeated and harsh international critique from the UN Committee on Elimination of Racial Discrimination and the UN Human Rights Committee because Sweden breaches Saami land rights by not regulating resource development activities on traditional Saami lands and does not give Saami communities the opportunity for effective participation in decisions that affect them.

Contact: Mattias Åhrén, President, Saami Council +47 47 37 91 61

Как сообщается на специализированном земельном портале ЗЕМ.РУ 20 января 2010 года Государственная Дума Российской Федерации рассмотрит проект федерального закона № 217488-5  ”О внесении изменений в статью 24 Земельного кодекса Российской Федерации, в статью 3 Федерального закона “О введении в действие Земельного кодекса Российской Федерации” и в статью 10 Федерального закона “Об обороте земель сельскохозяйственного назначения” (в части предоставления находящихся в государственной или муниципальной собственности земельных участков в безвозмездное срочное пользование лицам, относящимся к коренным малочисленным народам Севера, Сибири и Дальнего Востока и их общинам).

На рассмотрении Государственной Думы Российской Федерации находится проект федерального закона № 217488-5  ”О внесении изменений в статью 24 Земельного кодекса Российской Федерации, в статью 3 Федерального закона “О введении в действие Земельного кодекса Российской Федерации” и в статью 10 Федерального закона “Об обороте земель сельскохозяйственного назначения” (в части предоставления находящихся в государственной или муниципальной собственности земельных участков в безвозмездное срочное пользование лицам, относящимся к коренным малочисленным народам Севера, Сибири и Дальнего Востока и их общинам).

Законопроект имеет целью реализацию закрепленных в статье 8 федерального закона «О гарантиях прав коренных малочисленных народов Российской Федерации» прав лиц, относящихся к коренным малочисленным народам Севера, Сибири и Дальнего Востока, и их общин, безвозмездно пользоваться в местах традиционного проживания и традиционной хозяйственной деятельности малочисленных народов землями различных категорий, необходимыми для осуществления их традиционного хозяйствования и занятия традиционными промыслами.

Так, в пояснительной записке в данному проекту закона сказано: «Для собственников земельных участков – лиц, относящихся к коренным малочисленным народам Севера, Сибири и Дальнего Востока, а также общин этих народов, это право реализовано статьей 395 Налогового кодекса Российской Федерации, в соответствии с которой они освобождены от уплаты земельного налога  в отношении земельных участков, используемых для сохранения и развития их традиционного образа жизни, хозяйствования и промыслов.

Законопроектом предлагается установить в земельном законодательстве право безвозмездного пользования земельными участками для лиц, относящихся к коренным малочисленным народам Севера, Сибири и Дальнего Востока, и их общин, пользующихся в этих же целях земельными участками, находящимися в государственной или муниципальной собственности, в местах традиционного проживания и традиционной хозяйственной деятельности указанных коренных малочисленных народов».

Таким образом, предлагается внести дополнение в перечень, закрепленный в части первой статьи 24 Земельного кодекса Российской Федерации, устанавливающий случаи предоставления земельных участков в безвозмездное срочное пользование.

Одновременно с этим  в статье 10 федерального закона «Об обороте земель сельскохозяйственного назначения» сказано, что земельные участки из земель сельскохозяйственного назначения, находящиеся в государственной или муниципальной собственности, могут передаваться общинам коренных малочисленных народов Севера, Сибири и Дальнего Востока Российской Федерации для осуществления сельскохозяйственного производства, сохранения и развития традиционного образа жизни, хозяйствования и промыслов этих народов только на правах аренды. Также только на праве аренды могут быть переданы гражданам и юридическим лицам  земельные участки, занятые оленьими пастбищами в районах Крайнего Севера и отгонными пастбищами.

Так, в целях преодоления возникающих противоречий поправки предлагается внести  и в данную указанную статью. Изменения будут носить следующий характер: земельные участки, используемые общинами коренных малочисленных народов для осуществления только сельскохозяйственного производства, могут передаваться им на правах аренды, а для сохранения же и развития традиционного образа жизни, хозяйствования и промыслов земельные участки могут передаваться лицам, относящимся к коренным малочисленным народам Севера, Сибири и Дальнего Востока, и их общинам, в безвозмездное срочное пользование.

Данный документ нижняя палата российского парламента планирует рассмотреть 20 января текущего года.

Источник

В статье сказано, что Комитет Государственной Думы по аграрным вопросам одобрил законопроект, позволяющий коренным малочисленным народам севера получать земельные участки на праве безвозмездного срочного пользования. Как стало известно «Крестьянским ведомостям», этот законопроект будет рассмотрен Госдумой в первом чтении.
На сегодняшний день у коренных малочисленных народов севера земельные участки для традиционного образа жизни и промыслов существуют на праве постоянного бессрочного пользования. Пользуются этой землей они безвозмездно, поскольку по налоговому кодексу коренные малочисленные народы освобождены от уплаты налога на землю.

С 1 января 2010 года постоянное бессрочное пользование прекращается по всей России. Землю необходимо либо оформить в собственность, т.е. выкупить, либо взять в аренду, которая также не может быть бесплатной. Денег ни на то, ни на другое у общин нет…

За сохранение традиционного образа жизни коренных народов севера выступил Совет Федерации. Верхняя палата российского парламента предложила внести поправки в статью 24 Земельного кодекса Российской Федерации, в статью 3 Федерального закона «О введении в действие Земельного кодекса Российской Федерации» и в статью 10 Федерального закона «Об обороте земель сельскохозяйственного назначения». Эти поправки позволят коренным малочисленным народам севера получать земельные участки на праве безвозмездного срочного пользования.

Источник

Фото Svein Mathiesen 2009

(pic: Carl-Johan Utsi) Per-Erik Marsja from Girjas Sami village and the leader of the Association of Swedish Reindeer Herders, Per-Gustav Idivuoma, submitting the application to Gällivare District Court.

The Sami Radio in Sweden reports that Girjas Sami village together with the Association of the Swedish Reindeer Herders yesterday left in a lawsuit against the Swedish state in Gällivare District Court.

Peter Danowsky lawyer from Danowsky and partners representing the Sami village and the association, says that they want a decision that says that the Sami village has exclusive rights to hunting and fishing within their reindeer herding area. They argue that since the hunting and fishing rights belong to the Sami village, the State makes intrusion when they sell hunting cards.
- The main objective is about how the state over years without legal support has taken for itself the right of the Sami to hunt and fish, says Danowsky. Now we will find out if Sami can get back the exclusive right which they previously had.

- Why is it so important to the Sami village to have exclusive right to the land?
- For several reasons, says Danowsky. It is a right closely linked to the Sami life, the reindeer husbandry rights. There is also a need to take care of the areas from a sustainable point of view, that hunting and fishing should not be leased out yo anyone anytime without control mean Danowsky.

1993 the State opened up hunting and fishing in the Swedish mountains, which means that anyone who solves hunting card has the right to hunt small game there. The Sami village dóes not believe that this compatible with property protection in the national legislation or the European Convention on Human Rights.

Same Village land-use rights unclear
Today, there is confusion about the Sami villages’ land rights. Peter Danowski hope the trial will give clarity to the case.
- In the investigations made so far is highlighted that the question about these rights is unclear. That is to say that the court ultimately determines how it is – either it is so that it is an exclusive right for the Sami, or so it continues to be a split right – but in any case it will clarify who owns the rights.

Reindeer husbandry moves between different pastures has been going on for centuries and long irrespective of the nation’s borders. In connection with the border drawing between Norway and Sweden in 1751, there was a need to clarify the relationship to the reindeer herders. This resulted in the so-called Lapcodicil, which was an addition to the border treaty between the two countries, and which provided the basis for the reindeer husbandry – that it still should be able to make seasonal moves. The cross-border reindeer husbandry has since that been regulated by various conventions, the latest convention of 9 February 1972 for grazing between Norway and Sweden. The 1972-Convention ceased to apply in 2005.

The proposal to the Convention has at the present a total of 34 articles with the main provisions of the cross-border reindeer husbandry. Convention’s purpose is to promote and develop cooperation between the countries so that reindeer grazing is exploited in a way that provides a long-term basis for an ecologically, economically and culturally sustainable reindeer herding in both countries.

For implementation of the Convention established two permanent bodies, a body and a review body. One of the Annexes to the Convention is a range protocol, that specifies the locations to be included in the cross-border reindeer husbandry.

Before a new Convention can be implemented, there must be a further follow-up through the signature, internal processes in both countries and ratification. A new convention will probably take effect in 2010.

The United Nations has for several years condemned Sweden for not recognizing the Saami people’s right to land and resources. Sweden has ignored this criticism so far taking no single action to end the discrimination of the Saami people identified by the UN. The UN now sharpens its criticism further. The UN Committee on Racial Discrimination released on Monday 18.8 its Concluding Observations on Sweden in which it calls on Sweden to take several concrete actions to end the human rights violations Sweden subjects the Saami people to.

The Swedish government was disapproved with the regard to the burden of proof in cases pertaining to Saami land and resource rights, legal aid and legal protection of reindeer herding rights. The Committee has recommended Swedish Government in particular to:

- Provide Saami villages (samebyar) with legal aid in court proceedings concerning right to land and natural resources.

- In cases concerning Saami land and resource rights amend the rules of evidence, so that the burden of proof no longer vests solely with the Saami parties, but rather is shared between the Saami and the other party.

- Finalize the work of the Boundary Commission (Gränsdragningskommissionen) by providing additional resources so that correct boundaries for Saami reindeer grazing areas can be established. In this work is to be taken into account the oral tradition of the Saami Culture, as well as limitations in written documentary evidence of Saami title. The Committee particularly underlines that the complimentary work must also include land areas to which the Saami have already lost grazing rights in past court proceedings.

The Swedish Government was previously observed by the Committee 2004.

- We are very pleased with the UN’s sharp criticism of Sweden, demonstrating insight in the problems facing the Saami people, says Mattias Åhrén, Head of the Saami Council’s Human Rights Unit. – In particular, we appreciate the Committee’s call for concrete action. Sweden can now no longer ignore the UN. The Saami Council expects that Sweden immediately takes measures to implement the concrete recommendations of the UN, finishes Åhrén.

Pauliina Feodoroff Mattias Åhrén

President, Saami Council Head of Human Rights Unit, Saami Council +4747379161