– Police acted for political reasons and not for crime prevention, says Erik “DJ Friendly” Eriksson, who played at the festival.
– the musical experiences stood in line during the festival, says Elisabeth Lystad.
Photo: Private
Festival Attendees at electronica festival Midnight Sun Festival in Værøy react to police will shut down music party after 55 people for drug offenses during the weekend. Most people who were taken were foreign tourists at the festival visits.
– It is tragic that someone may destroy all of us who were at the festival to enjoy music and socializing. But to shut down the festival is completely wrong. There must be other ways to deal with the problem on which to weed out people before they arrive at the island, Festival participant Elisabeth Lystad from Bodo.
She tells of a fantastic festival weekend where the musical experiences stood in line.
– We had a great time. This is an international music festival which keeps high level. There was no sign of trouble, no drunks who staggered around. Just yummy ambiance and fabulous cuisine, says Lystad.
– Finest ever
– this the best festival experience I’ve ever had, says Dave McGregor.
Photo: Private
Music producer Dave McGregor in music collective Draug Media Bodo says that weekend in Værøy is the best festival experience he has ever had.
– Those who initiated and organized this festival truly deserves praise. It is unique to have something like that in northern Norway. It was a sheer delight to witness a wide range of fabulous artists and I can honestly say that Bjørn Torske its set is one of the very best I have ever attended.
He also boasts of the approximately 2000 audience members who came from around the world.
– I have rarely felt so confident and relaxed as I did here. I saw many children in the area and they seemed all that they had the fight pleasant. I saw not a single fight, not a single pond with vomit, no urinating on tents and nobody else made it uncomfortable for people who attended. The area was almost clinically cleared of garbage and it had most of the participants to do.
– Police have a political agenda
The festival held at Værøy 29 June to 7 July attracts audiences from all over the world. This year there have been about 1,700 participants and 350 to 400 vehicles on the small island.
Photo: Frode Kristian Mathiassen
Tuesday warned the police that they do not want multiple editions of electronic music festival, and that they will take this up with Værøy municipality.
According to the artist Erik Eriksson – better known as DJ Friendly – there has not been anything on Midnight Sun Festival which does not happen at any festival in Norway.
The known dj-en Erik Eriksson rage against the police and the media for stories of drug seizures. – I have not seen a single human being on Midnight Sun festival that has been intoxicated in a way that I have perceived as disturbing or unpleasant, he said.
Photo: Glen Karlsen
Eriksson , who participated as an artist at the festival, says that policemen obviously found it embarrassing to verify festival participants.
– This is not about enforcing law and order. There was no order issues at the festival. The police have their agenda, and it is political. Namely to get fine clarification numbers and thus more money in their budgets next year. It is cowardly of police and calloused by the media that only focus on drugs.
He believes that the most serious is that the police use the Armed coastguard vessels to bring their crews, dogs and publicans to Værøy.
– police have scarce resources, and they must use them where they give the greatest results. End users in drug cases presents no major crime problem in Norway. But they are simple and take and give good statistics, says Eriksson.
Robin Sweden and Noemie from Chile produced and sold jewelry at the festival. – They sold self-service basis, and people could put money in a box. It was brilliant, says festival participant Elisabeth Lystad.
Photo: Elisabeth Lystad
Police : – A civilian mission Coast Guard
police Chief Bent are Eilertsen Bodo denies that drug campaign before and during the festival is about to embellish the statistics.
– for the police it is absolutely unacceptable to have a festival with so much drug use in a small community. We have a zero tolerance of drug abuse, and it will be festival next year must be under a different regime, and a completely drug-free festival.
At the police come to Værøy with coastguard ships all about logistics, according Eilertsen.
– We’d need transport and accommodation for personnel and dogs. This was a civilian military missions.
station commander Bent-Are Eilsertsen showcases seized drugs after Midnight Sun festival in Værøy. We have even fined a 71 year old man from Japan for possession of drugs, he said.
Photo: Vilde Bratland Erikstad / NRK
Travelling home again
most people who were arrested and fined were foreigners, traveling home after a festival weekend. Nevertheless defends police chief resource usage in a police district, which has 50 vacant police posts they can not afford to staff.
– It was a costly action, but Værøy and Røst are entitled to the same police service as people in the city. We do not draw up drug offenses against crime for profit, says Eilertsen.
– Frames all
If the police get stopped festival, it will not be the first time. After 182 people were doptatt under electronica festival Extrema Outdoor on Kalvøya in Baerum, said the mayor stop.
– By prohibiting a festival, frames can anyone who does not violate the law. It’s sad, says music director Mats Borch Bugge in P3.
– by prohibiting a festival, frames can anyone who does not violate the law. It’s sad, says music director Mats Borch Bugge in P3.
Photo: NRK
He believes the acceptance of drugs both at festivals and parties has increased in recent years. The reason is that MDMA and other drugs have become part of today’s popular culture whether you want to or not.
– Drug use in music is nothing new. It was used drugs during Ragnarock Festival in the 1970s as well. But I note that the use becomes more normalized. It is becoming more common with marijuana and MDMA at parties. Whether this will eventually force a change in legislation that will legalize marijuana, remains to be seen, says Mats Borch Bugge.
NRK has had contact with one of those behind the festival, and he writes in a short text message:
– No comment. Cooperation with the local authorities has been excellent.
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