Support international law and Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland).
I address Tromsø Municipality and the The Arctic University of Norway with a strong appeal to clearly demonstrate solidarity and support for our friends in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland).
The entire population of Kalaallit Nunaat is now living in a mix of fear and anger under daily threats to their nation’s future and right to self-determination. With great courage, political leaders from all parties in Kalaallit Nunaat have united in protest through a joint declaration. In this declaration, they strongly distance themselves from the U.S. President’s statements about annexing and taking control of Kalaallit Nunaat. On Saturday, this was followed by the largest demonstrations in history in the capital Nuuk and the cities of Sisimiut and Qaanaaq.
Our friends in Kalaallit Nunaat should not stand alone and experience the rest of the world remaining silent. In this situation, we as fellow human beings cannot refrain from speaking out clearly against the injustice. Tromsø has a sister city agreement with our Kalaallisut (Greenlandic) friends in Nuuk, signed by both mayors. Furthermore, a cooperation agreement has been established between UiT in Tromsø and Ilisimatusarfik (the University of Greenland), which includes, among other things, exchange opportunities for students and research activities.
I truly hope with all my heart that the municipality of Tromsø and UiT, in addition to all of us who live here, will as quickly and clearly as possible say that enough is enough. We must not continue to silently watch the injustice that is taking place. The fact that the new NATO chief, Mark Rutte, has such great fear of authority and diplomatic nervousness that he cannot speak out clearly against a new U.S. President does not make the situation any less difficult.
When the U.S. President is allowed, unchallenged and openly, to repeatedly threaten everything from annexation to the use of military force against Kalaallit Nunaat, it is time for all of us—each and every one of us—to wake up and recognize the urgency of the moment.
Kalaallit Nunaat has been under colonial rule for centuries and has clearly stated that in the future, they want to end being subjected to foreign powers.
With friendly regards
Henrik Broberg, author, Tromsø
The declaration from all party leaders in Kalaallit Nunaat, translated to English:
“Kalaallit Nunaat will never become USA. We will never, in any way, become part of the USA or become Americans. Greenland is one country, and we all stand behind it. The parties are united against the unacceptable behavior of the American leader, and we will continue the fight for our land. Let us, as a people, use this as a strength.”