Folketing politicians react to rejection of adoptees: – Really resentful

The fact that the Danish state has now rejected a claim for compensation from four Greenlandic adoptees does not sit well with the two parliamentarians, Aaja Chemnitz (IA) and Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam (N).

It is not only the four adoptees who are demanding compensation from the Danish state who are dissatisfied with the rejection that has now been received from the Ministry of Social Affairs.

The two parliamentarians, IA’s Aaja Chemnitz and Naleraq’s Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam, are also incomprehensible about the rejection.

– It’s reallybad news, says Aaja Chemnitz and continues:

really

– I would be really offended if someone gave a flat refusal without acknowledging that there is something here that needs to be investigated or addressed in some other political way.

The four adoptees, represented by Pramming Advokater, are each demanding compensation of 250,000 kroner from the state for violating their human rights when they were removed from their biological parents during the period from the 1950s to the 1970s.

What the four adoptees have in common is that they lost their Greenlandic roots, family and language when they were adopted by Danish families.

It was on Greenland’s National Day on June 21, 2024, that the claim for compensation totaling one million kroner was sent. But now the Ministry of Social Affairs has rejected the claim. And if you ask Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam, she is not surprised.

– There is a lack of will on the Danish side to take real responsibility for the colonial structures and acts that the Danish state has committed against the Greenlandic population. If there was actually political will for that, a solution would have been found, she says.

A sad signal

In recent years, several dark chapters of the past, such as the spiral case, the case of the legally fatherless and adoptions without consent, have come to light and put the relationship between Greenland and Denmark under scrutiny.

At the same time, in the past six months in particular, there has been a lot of attention paid to the two countries and the Commonwealth, after US President Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire for Greenland to be in American hands.

But this case certainly does not help the relationship between Greenland and Denmark, believes Aaja Chemnitz.

– We are a vulnerable place where there has been extraordinary pressure from the American side, but where we have also failed to ensure a better and renewed commonwealth.

– Therefore, I think that this is going in a different direction, where we do not dare to acknowledge the historical cases that have occurred between Greenland and Denmark, and the importance it has for the relationship today.

– So it is at least a reconciliation effort that the Danish side does not acknowledge that these adoptions are a part of. And I think that is a really unfortunate signal to send to the Greenlandic population, she says.

Will demand new law

Therefore, Aaja Chemnitz will now look at whether other threads can be pulled to obtain recognition from the Danish side, she says.

The same goes for Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam, who demands that Greenland put its foot down towards Denmark where necessary – and that is what this is, one must understand.

– The pain of the Greenlandic population from the colonial structures that ran through the 70s, 80s and even up until today is being neglected, she says.

If it were up to the Naleraq politician, a new law should be made in the Folketinget that ensures that Denmark takes responsibility for “all its colonial deeds towards Greenland.”

Aki-Matilda Høegh-Dam herself looks to the Victim Compensation Act as inspiration.

– Where those who have experienced these injustices will be able to seek compensation and be entitled to compensation immediately without having to go through a court case.

– I think this kind of law is a precedent for Denmark taking full responsibility for the colonial structures that have eternal harm for those affected in Greenland.