Eskil Pedersen: Difference between revisions
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a mother who lost her son during the Utøya massacre, asked Pedersen to resign as AUF leader, citing that his plans for refurbishing Utøya "once more shows that he is not an adequate leader |
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On 22 July 2011 Pedersen survived the [[2011 Norway Attacks|massacre]] on the Workers' Youth League summer camp at [[Utøya]] on 22 July 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newsinenglish.no/2011/07/24/faith-and-hope-as-a-nation-mourns/ | title=‘Faith and hope’ as a nation mourns | work=Views and News from Norway | date=July 24, 2011 | accessdate=July 29, 2011 | author=Berglund, Nina}}</ref> Although leaders of AUF are never anonymous, his role in the aftermath as a representative for the organisation has caused a vast increase in media exposure, particularly in the months following the attacks. [[Anders Behring Breivik]], the perpetrator of the attacks, stated that Pedersen was one of his three primary targets.<ref name=db>{{cite news | first=Line | last=Brustad | title=Breiviks hovedmål: Gro, Jonas og Eskil |trans_title=Breivik's primary targets: Gro, Jonas and Eskil | url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/11/18/nyheter/terrorangrep_i_oslo/terrorangrepet/innenriks/terrorangrepene/19066616/ | newspaper=[[Dagbladet]] }}</ref> |
On 22 July 2011 Pedersen survived the [[2011 Norway Attacks|massacre]] on the Workers' Youth League summer camp at [[Utøya]] on 22 July 2011.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newsinenglish.no/2011/07/24/faith-and-hope-as-a-nation-mourns/ | title=‘Faith and hope’ as a nation mourns | work=Views and News from Norway | date=July 24, 2011 | accessdate=July 29, 2011 | author=Berglund, Nina}}</ref> Although leaders of AUF are never anonymous, his role in the aftermath as a representative for the organisation has caused a vast increase in media exposure, particularly in the months following the attacks. [[Anders Behring Breivik]], the perpetrator of the attacks, stated that Pedersen was one of his three primary targets.<ref name=db>{{cite news | first=Line | last=Brustad | title=Breiviks hovedmål: Gro, Jonas og Eskil |trans_title=Breivik's primary targets: Gro, Jonas and Eskil | url=http://www.dagbladet.no/2011/11/18/nyheter/terrorangrep_i_oslo/terrorangrepet/innenriks/terrorangrepene/19066616/ | newspaper=[[Dagbladet]] }}</ref> |
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In September 2012 a mother who lost her son during the [[Utøya massacre]], asked Pedersen to resign as AUF leader, citing that his plans for refurbishing Utøya "once more shows that he is not an adequate leader".<ref>[http://www.vg.no/nyheter/innenriks/22-juli/artikkel.php?artid=10060874 Utøya-mamma: - Eskil Pedersen må gå av]</ref> |
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==Early life and education== |
==Early life and education== |
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Revision as of 10:39, 8 September 2012
Eskil Pedersen (born 6 March 1984 in Skien) is a Norwegian politician and leader of the Workers' Youth League (AUF), the youth organisation associated with Norway's leading Labour Party.[1][2][3]
On 22 July 2011 Pedersen survived the massacre on the Workers' Youth League summer camp at Utøya on 22 July 2011.[4] Although leaders of AUF are never anonymous, his role in the aftermath as a representative for the organisation has caused a vast increase in media exposure, particularly in the months following the attacks. Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the attacks, stated that Pedersen was one of his three primary targets.[5]
In September 2012 a mother who lost her son during the Utøya massacre, asked Pedersen to resign as AUF leader, citing that his plans for refurbishing Utøya "once more shows that he is not an adequate leader".[6]
Early life and education
Born in Skien in Telemark, Pedersen has studied towards a bachelor's degree in political science, and studied courses in European and American studies at the University of Oslo. He was also elected as the first openly gay leader of the Workers' Youth League.[7]
Political career
Eskil Pedersen has been the leader of AUF since 17 October 2010, when he succeeded Martin Henriksen who was later appointed senior advisor to the Minister of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs Lisbeth Berg-Hansen. He has previously served as the county leader of AUF in Telemark (2001–2004) and Oslo (2006-2008). He was deputy leader of AUF from 2006 to 2010. Pedersen has previously served as a board member in the Telemark branch of No to the EU, and has served as a political advisor to AUF on election campaigns and environmental matters. He was a deputy member of the Oslo city council between 2007 and 2011. A staunch opponent to the policies of the Progress Party, in May 2011 he pressed criminal charges against member of parliament Christian Tybring-Gjedde based on the a statement the latter made regarding integration in Groruddalen.[8] The charges were dismissed by the police.[9]
In May 2012, he publicly declared his intent to run for parliament by accepting a nomination by his local party chapter of Skien to the Telemark district list at the upcoming 2013 parliamentary election.[10] He would seek the seat of retiring veteran Sigvald Hansen, however according to analysts he would face stiff competition to secure the party nomination. Among his challengers in the primary are health department state-secretary Robin Kåss and the recently elected mayor of Hjartdal Sven Løkslid. He was however quickly endorsed both by the AUF and his local Skien party chapter.[11]
It soon became apparent that Pedersen would be a controversial choice, the Labour party chapters from Porsgrunn, Bamble and the eastern Telemark chapters vehemently opposed his nomination. This was partly due to him living and working in Oslo, but also because he was born in Skien, a city which already was represented in the parliament.[12]
Utøya massacre
On 22 July, the day of the 2011 Norway attacks, Eskil Pedersen was present at the annual AUF summer camp on Utøya. As leader of the organization he was one of the assailant, Anders Behring Breivik's, stated targets, along with former prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, who was there that day but had left the island before the killer arrived. Breivik would later state that he had studied Pedersen's physical appearance and facial attributes to be able to recognize him during the attack.[5]
Very soon after the shooting erupted, Pedersen, along with his political aide, sought refuge on the ferry MS Thorbjørn, and along with seven other people decided to make their escape from the island.[13] Pedersen later stated that while being at the Hønefoss police headquarters he feared a coup d'etat had taken place, and that he could not trust any member of the police. In an interview with TV2 he stated: "I thought the entire country was under attack […] if we docked anywhere we would be killed."[14]
M/S Thorbjørn controversy
There has been widespread speculation in forums and independent blogs about the conduct on the ferry, but most professional media outlets have refused to participate in the criticism.[13] A news website, Nettavisen, published a story raising questions about the conduct a day after the massacre, but received fierce reactions from other members of the press as well as the AUF itself.[15]
More recently, one survivor and employee of AUF who himself was wounded wrote of his reaction to seeing the ferry leave, saying that it was "unbelievable" and that they felt "helpless and abandoned" watching it disappear. The survivor, 22-year old Adrian Pracon from Telemark later published a book detailing his ordeal.[16] which he claimed the AUF tried to block,[17] a claim the organization denied.[18] The book was later withdrawn by the publisher[19] only to be re-published a week later with minor edits[20] after the sister of one of the deceased had discovered that details about her little brother had been included without consent or notification of the family.[21] He also accused the leadership of AUF of trying to silence him, by ordering him to not speak to the media.[22]
Another survivor, 20-year old Bjørn Ihler from Oslo said of Pedersen in an interview with the BBC: "This was the leader of the group, it was as if the Captain abandoned his ship".,[23] but later stated that his quotes were part of a broader context, and that he had described his feelings of being abandoned, more than criticising the actions.[24][25][26] Pedersen defended his actions in the same programme, stating: "I think I acted normally given the situation. I acted according to instinct. I did what I was told and boarded the boat" and countered "I have been criticized for my actions, and for my views on the multicultural society by people who supports the gunman's views".[27]
The movements of MS Thorbjørn was subject of investigation as a part of the broader inquiry into the attacks by the official July 22 Commission.[28] In the final report, the police received harsh criticism for failing to utilize the ferry early in the rescue effort.[29]
References
- ^ "Eskil Pedersen vant kampen om ledervervet i AUF". Verdens Gang (in Norwegian). 14 Oct. 2010.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ "Eskil Pedersen ny leder i AUF" (in Norwegian). TV 2.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ "Eskil Pedersen ny AUF-leder". Trønder-Avisa (in Norwegian). 14 Oct. 2010.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ Berglund, Nina (July 24, 2011). "'Faith and hope' as a nation mourns". Views and News from Norway. Retrieved July 29, 2011.
- ^ a b Brustad, Line. "Breiviks hovedmål: Gro, Jonas og Eskil". Dagbladet.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ Utøya-mamma: - Eskil Pedersen må gå av
- ^ "Homo og stolt!" (in Norwegian). Eskil Pedersen.origo.no.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ "AUF-leder annmelder Tybring-Gjedde". NRK.no. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2011.
- ^ "Christian Tybring-Gjedde refser statsministeren". tv2.no (in Norwegian). TV 2. 1 July 2011.
- ^ Løset, Kjetil (28.05.2012). "Eskil Pedersen vil på stortinget". Tv2.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 14.07.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Løkkebø, Lars (23.05.2012). "Vil kjempe om tredjeplassen". Ta.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 14.07.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Dale, Kurt Inge (30.08.2012). "Eskil Pedersen skvises ut av Telemark Ap". Nrk.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 30.08.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ a b Lindgren, Lena (14 November 2011). "Eskil Pedersens valg". Morgenbladet.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 23 April 2012.
Siden har det vært stille. Arbeiderpartiet og AUF har resolutt avvist å kommentere ledelsens valg. Avisene har tiet om netthatet og latt være å trykke kritiske leserbrev om Eskil Pedersen.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ Mari Torsdotter, Hauge (14 August 2011). "AUF-leder fryktet statsskupp". Aftenposten.no. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
- Jeg tenkte at hele landet var under angrep., hvis vi la til noe sted på land ville vi bli skutt, sier Pedersen i intervjuet med TV 2.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) - ^ Stavrum, Gunnar (2012). "Hull på verkebyllen MS Thorbjørn" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen.no. Retrieved 17.04.2012.
Vi opplevde hard motstand fra sentrale folk i Arbeiderpartiet, og pressekolleger skrev kommentarer om at «det finnes spørsmål ingen journalister bør stille». I kulissene ble det utøvd press fra AUFs rådgivere om å la saken ligge, og de store mediene valgte å etterkomme ønskene.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Arneberg, Henrik (2012). ""MS Thorbjørn" var vårt eneste håp" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen.no. Retrieved 15.04.2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Nilssen, Ida Dahl (03.04.2012). "AUF ville hindre Utøya-bok". nrk.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 22.04.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Thorvaldsen, Lars (2012). "Hevder AUF ville stoppe hans bok om Utøya" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet.no. Retrieved 22.04.2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ "Boken "Hjertet mot steinen" trukket tilbake".
- ^ Stensholt, Anette (22.04.2012). "Vi er lei oss". Nrk.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 22.04.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "Trekker tilbake Utøya-bok". nrk.no. 20.04.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ Fuglehaug, Wenche (12.04.2012). "Auf ba meg stoppe å uttale meg til media". Aftenposten.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 22.04.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ "Får kritikk etter flukten fra Utøya". Dagbladet.no. 15.04.2012. Retrieved 15.04.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ http://www.facebook.com/BjornIh/posts/10150793171340288
- ^ "Pedersen får kritikk for flukten fra Utøya". tv2.no. 15.04.2012. Retrieved 15.04.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "Eskil Pedersen kritiseres for Utøya flukten". Vg.no (in Norwegian). 15.04.2012. Retrieved 15.04.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Auestad, Gunn Evy; Peter Svaar (15.04.2012). "Snakker ut om Utøya-flukten til BBC". Nrk.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 15.04.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); More than one of|author=and|last=specified (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Andersen, Ingunn (25.10.2011). "Kommisjonen gransker MS Thorbjørn". Nrk.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 22.02.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) - ^ Stølan, Jorunn (13.08.2012). "22.juli-rapporten politiet kunne ha brukt MS-Thorbjørn". Vg.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19.08.2012.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)