Fear of being charged with human trafficking by picking up Ukrainian refugees – NRK Oslo and Viken – Local news, TV and radio
– It is not an alternative that we should inform the refugees that they are not allowed to cross the border into Norway. We have no «plan B», says Jørn Kvist.
He is the director of Fyllingsdalen Theater. The Children’s Theater has sent buses to the Ukrainian border in Poland.
According to the plan, they will pick up 100 named refugees and take them to Norway.
All the refugees have a connection to Western Norway. But not everyone has brought with them biometric passports on the run from the war.
– We have Ukrainian colleagues, and we know that these passengers are the few who have, it is reserved for a small, rich elite in Ukraine, says Kvist.
The whole journey is planned in detail. But now he fears that they will have to leave the undocumented on the ferry quay in Hirtshals in Denmark.
Refugees without passports can seek protection in Norway by seeking police after crossing the border. But those who transport them can, according to Norwegian law, be charged with human trafficking.
Will consider each case
According to the itinerary, they will cross the border into Norway via the sea on Wednesday. But it is not at all certain that they will get all the refugees on board the ferry.
– The message from Fjord Line is that they must relate to the UDI, and can therefore not accept the passage without a biological passport. That a ferry should be the last obstacle, it makes no sense, says Kvist.
Fjord Line has so far not denied any refugees boarding. But refugees according to the membership do not get into the ship without a biometric passport.
– Fjord Line complies with current rules from the UDI at all times, says Brian Thorsted Hansen in Fjord Line to NRK.
Several Norwegians have already taken in many Ukrainian refugees. The UDI has so far registered 700 asylum seekers.
The police directorate says they assess each case if someone transports refugees from Ukraine without valid ID papers into Norway.
– Whether an investigation will be initiated and possibly given a punitive response will depend on a specific assessment in the individual case, where the nature of the current aid action and the relationship between the person assisting and the person fleeing may be important for the assessment, says Chief of Staff Lars Aune .
At present, the police have no indication that anyone has transported refugees illegally across the border.
– But the police are following, as always, the situation and will take action if necessary.
Punished for transporting Syrian refugees
Senior adviser Jon Ole Martinsen in the Norwegian Organization for Asylum Seekers (Noas) says that it is fantastic to see the commitment to help Ukrainian refugees.
– This commitment is just to take off your hat for. Not least that you travel into Ukraine and get people who need assistance to get out, is a fantastic engagement.
The topic was discussed in Dagsnytt 18. There he warned against a provision in the Immigration Act. It says that if you assist someone to travel illegally to Norway, you can be punished up to three years in prison.
– It is a theoretical possibility of being punished. Because there are also other exceptions where you can not be punished for providing assistance to people in such a situation, says Martinsen.
– But, we see from when Syrians who were helped to Norway, that not an insignificant number of people were punished for helping even close family to come to Norway.
– Stupid to stop by foolish rule
The two buses, and a semi-trailer with 33 pallets of vital food and equipment from Bergen, are now approaching the Ukrainian border in Poland.
The crew consists of drivers, players and an interpreter.
– We are prepared for most things, and have planned for all worst scenarios, says Kvist.
Well, he should expect to be changed before Wednesday, so that they are not allowed to leave anyone in Denmark.
– One thing is our initiative and that it is good, but it is probably just as much about everyone else who wants to help. It is foolish for this to stop as a result of a foolish rule.