Lukewarm response from UiO and Government
The Norwegian Students' Union and Norwegian politicians want to give students from Belarus the opportunity to study in Norway. Neither UiO, nor the Government wants to make any promises.
– Students fight for democracy with a high element of risk. Thus, we think it is only natural that we, the rest of Europe, do what we can to help, Jørn Henriksen, leader of The Norwegian Students' Union (NSU), says.
In a general meeting resolution from last weekend, NSU recommends that Belarusian students be given student asylum in Norway, in other words that grants and studentships be allocated to students who have lost their status due to political reasons.
Arrests
Following the Presidential Election in Belarus on 19 March, there have been massive protests against the election procedures, and several hundred people have been arrested. According to Jon Ivar T. Eikeland, responsible for international affairs in NSU, students make out the majority of the arrested.
The deadline for applying to Norwegian educational institutions has expired for international students. Exceptions therefore have to be made if Belarusian students are to get studentships this autumn. What is more, possible grants would have to be financed. Henriksen cannot comment in any great detail on how many students who have lost their status due to political activity. However, he points out that there is no intention of bringing them all to Norway.
– Every student would hardly want to leave Belarus. We are perhaps talking about, give or take, ten people who would want to move to Norway, Henriksen says.
Positive politicians
– I think this is the way to go. The opposition in Belarus is depending on our scrutiny of the situation, Ola Elvestuen says. He is representing the Liberal Party of Norway (Venstre).
Spokesperson for educational affairs from the Conservative Party of Norway (Høyre), Ine Marie Eriksen, is also supporting NSU.
– I think the proposal is positive. If there is a political will, there should also be a way of funding those who have been deprived of their studentships due to reasons Norwegians perceive to be illegitimate.
Responsible for international affairs from the youth section of the Norwegian Christian Democratic Party (KrFU), Even Westerveld, says that KrFU is supportive of NSU`s proposal.
– It would set a powerful standard if the Government were to guarantee a quota for students who have no future in Belarus.
However, The Ministry of Education and Research is reluctant to make any promises:
– It is a positive contribution, and it is positive that NSU is committed to this cause, Deputy Minister Åge Rosnes, representing The Socialist Left Party of Norway (SV), says, but adds:
– We have no plans of making any arrangements out of the ordinary because it would be difficult to make special arrangements under these circumstances.
Rector at UiO, Geir Ellingsrud, also backs NSU but will not take any initiative.
– We have a great deal of sympathy for the Belarusian students and think the notion of student asylum bears promise. If national interest among students is raised, we are definitely ready to back it up, but we do not want to take the initiative alone, Ellingsrud explains to Universitas.
– It is good that UiO is willing to think about this, Henriksen from NSU says. He is less pleased by the Ministry’s stand.
– I think the Ministry of Education and Research needs to sit down and consider what kind of policy our nation is supposed to have towards a dictatorship that throws out politically active students, Henriksen concludes.
