Parties demand investigation after revelations about cryolite revenues
Greenland politicians are reacting strongly to a documentary film that reveals that Denmark and the U.S. together have had a turnover of up to 800 billion kroner ($110,8 billion) at the cryolite mine in Ivittuut.
DR's documentary "Greenland's White Gold" has aroused strong emotions among the Greenlandic population. And Siumut's chairman, Erik Jensen, feels great disappointment about the historical circumstances:
I am very touched that the Danish government has made so much money on our country. It hurts inside. It is incredible that other countries have made so much on our values, he tells Sermitsiaq.
He will therefore demand that all mines and military areas in Greenland, including Maarmorilik (Black Angel, ed.) and other mines be investigated to map out how much other nations have earned from them.
It must be investigated how much they have earned and how they have behaved towards the people of Greenland. I do not want to spread anger, but the truth must come out, emphasizes Erik Jensen.
The same position is held by Atassut's chairman, Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen, who demands full transparency about the matter.
Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen. Photo: KNR
What has happened is in no way acceptable. All similar cases must also be investigated, says Aqqalu C. Jerimiassen and calls on the Danish government to take responsibility.
In contrast to Siumut and Atassut, Naleraq's chairman, Pele Broberg, believes that the revelations merely confirm something that has been known for years.
Everything we have said is now documented. I don't know how to react – the question is rather how the voters will use that knowledge, he says.
He sees no reason to spend resources on further investigations of other mines, as Siumut and Atassut want.
We don't need to keep looking back. We already know it, he insists.We don't need to argue that we really want to be a state, says Pele Broberg.
Everything we have said is now documented. I don't know how to react – the question is rather how the voters will use that knowledge, he says.
He sees no reason to spend resources on further investigations of other mines, as Siumut and Atassut want.
We don't need to keep looking back. We already know it, he insists.
We don't need to argue that we really want to be a state, says Pele Broberg.
Disappointment, anger and a desire for action are the emotions that citizens of Sisimiut felt after watching the documentary "Greenland's White Gold", which tells that Denmark and the USA have a turnover of up to 800 billion kroner on cryolite in Ivittuut. Sermitsiaq has spoken to the citizens.
The thoughts are running through the minds of citizens of Greenland after watching the documentary "Greenland's White Gold".
Sermitsiaq has been on the streets of Sisimiut to ask the citizens' reaction.
You can clearly feel that people want to say something and they are not holding back with their opinions.
Among those who have seen the documentary is Miki Geisler, who is deeply affected by the revelations:
I am very touched. Thinking about the Greenlanders back then... I don't know what to say. It's hard to put it into words. We have been so abused. Block grants are always used as a weapon, but now the Danes no longer have to mention it. The future politicians must investigate and investigate other mines, how much other countries have exploited – for example Sorte Engel and everyone else.
Jens Bech has also seen the documentary and recognizes the reactions among the citizens of Sisimiut:
I can feel that our fellow citizens are reacting strongly – they are angry. I feel the same way. To learn how we have been treated is very difficult to swallow. When the President of the Greenlandic Parliament says that he will demand an investigation after the election, I think that they will not let it go. I hope we achieve something. I will follow suit.
Kristian Kreutzmann does not know how to react:
I do not know how to react at all. Thoughts are flying around. Our ancestors must have been very patient. They had to live in peat houses while the wealth was taken out of our country. Now we need a strong leader who dares to say something.
Not all citizens are surprised, however. Morten Siegstad believes that the information has been known for a long time:
We have known it for a long time. There was a documentary about it in 1987 – "A Hole in the Ground". All the information is in the film. I am therefore not surprised. This just shows that we as a population must have more courage to do something. We don't have to be afraid to extract raw materials – the money will come, he says.
For Bolethe Jessen, the documentary's revelations are difficult to comprehend:
The money that has come out of our country has been kept quiet. I think about how it has helped Greenland - if at all. The value of the cryolite in Ivittuut is enormous. I think about it a lot. So what? How can so much money have been kept quiet?
Based on:
Partier kræver undersøgelse efter afsløringer om kryolit-indtægter / Sermitsiaq (in Danish)
Vi må have mere mod til at gøre noget / Sermitsiaq (in Danish)
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