Greenland celebrating the beginning of their self-rule
Inuit choirs gathered around the port of Greenland’s capital sang traditional songs Sunday to welcome a new era of self rule after 300 years under Danish authority.
The prospect of global warming opening up access to Greenland’s potentially rich oil and mineral wealth put an international spotlight on the ceremonies which saw thousands of the island’s 57,000 citizens pack the port of Nuuk for the day.
Denmark’s Queen Margrethe and her husband, Prince Henrik, were strongly applauded as they walked in Inuit traditional costume to a church that overlooks the port for a service of commemoration…
Greenland’s Prime Minister Kuupik Kleist said in a speech: “This morning we awoke with new hope in our heart…”
The new status took effect as Greenland celebrated its national day, six months after 75 percent of voters approved a referendum demanding more power for the local government and control of the island’s vast natural resources — gas, gold, diamonds and oil…
The social democratic Siumut party was ousted from power after 30 years amid allegations of misuse of public funds and corruption.
Spurred on by deepening social and economic problems, voters rebelled against Siumut, putting the extreme-left Inuit Ataqatigiit (Community of the People) party into power with some 44 percent of votes.
Inuit Ataqatigiit, which wants complete independence from Denmark, is led by 51-year-old intellectual Kleist who has vowed to improve public services.
I probably have too much experience with this sort of struggle. Even through a jaundiced eye I can see much been achieved through the ballot box instead of bullets.
I presume Denmark will help – and hang onto – a big chunk of the prospective mineral wealth of Greenland. That helps. In Copenhagen, anyway.
