TFF Associates & Themes Blog

Media release
Lund and Oslo, April 25, 2014

The management of the Nobel Peace Prize has become a case for the Norwegian police, following a request for criminal investigation from 16 prominent Scandinavians, parliamentarians, lawyers, authors and peace activists, 10 Swedes and 6 Norwegians, to the authority on economic crime, the ØKOKRIM.

The move is based on the research of Norwegian lawyer Fredrik S. Heffermehl who in his books has called for respect for Alfred Nobel and the peace plan he wished to support.

– “In his last years Nobel joined the peace movement and wished to support financially its idea of co-operation on disarmament to replace military force and forces. The Norwegian Parliament appoints the five-member selection committee that must step down and be replaced by people who favor the idea of the prize,” says Heffermehl.

He claims that his demands through 6 years, and even an order in March 2012 from the Swedish Foundations Authority have not led the awarders to show any interest in Nobel and what he really wanted.

– “This is unlawful and criminal, and the requested police investigation comes as a last resort to secure justice for “the champions of peace” Nobel specified in his will.

The letter of accusation points in particular to Thorbjørn Jagland, the chair of the Nobel Committee and the incumbent Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and to Geir Lundestad, the powerful secretary of the committee.

– “The laws must be respected also by politicians, it is particularly worrisome that the Nobel awarders act as if they were above the law and seem to feel confident that society will not enforce the law against them,” says Sweden´s Tomas Magnusson, a former president of the International Peace Bureau.

– “Ignoring dissent and mowing down dissidents is a dangerous path to embark on. If we allow such norms to become political standard, how much democracy do we then have?”

Contacts for further comments:

Fredrik S. Heffermehl, Email: fredpax@online.no
Phone: +47 917 44 783

Tomas Magnusson, Email: gosta.tomas@gmail.com
Phone: +46 708 29 31 97

Info
Background, Foundations Authority decision, books etc. here.

The 16 persons signing the request for criminal investigations are:

Anna-Lisa Björneberg, Sweden,
Chair of Fredsam (Gothenburg),

Nils Christie, Norway,
professor, University of Oslo

Erik Dammann, Norway,
founder “Future in our hands,” Oslo

Thomas Hylland Eriksen, Norway,
professor, University of Oslo

Ståle Eskeland, Norway,
professor of criminal law, University of Oslo

Erni Friholt, Sweden,
Peace movement of Orust*

Ola Friholt, Sweden,
Peace movement of Orust*

Gunnar Garbo, Norway,
ex MP, leader of Venstre, the Liberal Party

Fredrik S. Heffermehl, Norway,
lawyer and author on the Nobel Peace Prize

Lars-Gunnar Liljestrand, Sweden,
Chair of the Association of FiB lawyers

Tomas Magnusson, Sweden,
ex President, International Peace Bureau

Birger Schlaug, Sweden,
author, ex MP

Sören Sommelius, Sweden,
author and culture journalist*

Maj-Britt Theorin, Sweden,
ex President, International Peace Bureau*

Gunnar Westberg, Sweden, Professor,
ex Co-President IPPNW (Nobel peace prize 1985)*

Jan Öberg,TFF, Sweden,
Transnational Foundation for Peace and Future Research*

* TFF Associate.