Category: Communiques

Yesterday we were informed that the municipality has officially applied to demolish our house. This is being done by Mayor Conradi bypassing the municipal council and thus acting deeply undemocratic in a politically charged issue like this.

We are not surprised by this effort to silence our legitimate protest. This procedure goes in the direction of how an oppressive regime would act, and stands as an example of the sad state of democracy in Norway. At the same time, this was to be expected as another step in the broader false democratic process and AI hallucinations, which the local population has already experienced, to push through Chemring’s new factory despite all local resistance.

In order to avoid a political discussion with the members of the coalition, she made it a purely administrative task. This means that none of the members of the municipality had the opportunity to vote against the demolition of what has become an important symbol for protecting Hurummarka. They are hiring a private contractor because then they don’t need an official reason to demolish. Conradi’s attempt to silence this protest and remove us without having to be held accountable indicates that she and her supporters lack a basic understanding of the important role protest has for a vibrant democracy.

We urge all residents of Hurum and Asker and those concerned about the forest and the fjord to ask themselves:

• How can it be that the municipality is willing to invest so much tax money in demolishing this building, but refuses to restore the poisoned areas in Hurumlandet?
• How can a municipal council, which claims to be sustainable, demolish a fully functional house that after our protest has succeeded will be reused by the public, school and university excursions and other gatherings?
• What value does the argument of defending democracy with ever more explosives have, when this is how the municipality treats legitimate protest?

As another sign of the municipality’s inconsistency, they demanded from their former tenants protection of the culturally valuable painting by local painter Rolf Røskestad (1962), which they are now ready to destroy in silence. This is shown by a quote from the previous lease issued by the municipality: «The walls in the main house are painted by a local artist, directly on the wall, and are being looked after to the best of their ability. The same applies to the fireplace in the main house.»

After finally reaching an agreement with the Asker fire department and agreeing to find an inspection date for the coming week, we are informed of the municipality’s demolition plans. How is it that the municipality first claims to take care of our and others’ safety when it comes to fire safety, and now continues to want to demolish our house without an assessment or a valid reason? We have therefore made another plan to ensure that fire safety is taken care of. We are contacting reliable, independent people from the fire department and an independent electrician to achieve the necessary standards.

Given how our protest is being handled by the municipality, we urge all residents to be vigilant and outspoken in all upcoming steps to enable Chemring’s mega-factory for destruction, a process where even the State Administrator expresses serious concerns for the safety of residents if Tofte harbor becomes a militarized zone and part of an explosives transportation route.

We, the occupiers from Knus Krigsmaskinen, remain courageous and will continue our fight for Hurum. We want a world where future generations, instead of drowning in an increasingly fear-driven, chaotic, egocentric and warmongering world, can live in security, with values ​​such as community, self-determination, care, true democracy and accountability at the center.

Once again, the municipality has come up with a reason to remove us from Avgrunnsdalen. After nearly three months in Avgrunnsdalen, suddenly safety has become a concern for the municipality.

Here are some important points regarding fire safety:

• The fire department was willing to provide us with the equipment we needed to improve fire safety in the house, but the municipality refused.
• We have also contacted the fire department and are open to reaching an agreement to explore how we can improve fire safety together.
• The gate is open to the fire department but not to the police, the municipality, or Norconsult, which is conducting fieldwork.
• No one sleeps in the house anymore. The house has become a gathering place for opponents in the fight against Chemring Nobel and the war machine. Many of us have also made ourselves at home in the nooks and crannies of Avgrunnsdalen. That’s why different fire safety measures apply — something the municipality doesn’t seem to have realized.

Caring about safety means not building one of Europe’s largest explosives factories, which would put the local population, the forest, and the animals on Hurum at risk.

The fieldwork to be carried out by Norconsult between June and September this year also says a lot about where this is headed. The planning program is not yet complete, and Tofte has not yet been confirmed as the chosen location.
The planning program is supposed to establish the framework for the environmental impact assessment, which is not happening here. This process is being carried out on behalf of Forsvarsbygg, and we know what the outcome will be. We’ve seen it before, and nature and people are losing once again. The process is far from transparent, and drilling for environmental samples likely began on December 9, 2024, without a permit. Several witnesses have reported this.
We cannot trust this sham process, which keeps coming up with new
reasons to drive us out. We are not going to budge, and the fight
against the explosives factory has only just begun.

Knus Krigsmaskinen

Around fifty people have gathered for a protest camp against Chemring Nobel in Hurummarka. Workshops and Concerts aim to bring joy to the occupied forests threatened by the planned war explosives factory. As the existing production plant in Sætre has dumped toxic waste into Oslofjord on multiple occasions, local critics are expecting similar pollution from the new facility.

Laila Faraj, spokesperson for Knus Krigsmaskinen, explains: “We have gathered to defend Hurummarka forest with our bodies. Chemring Nobels expansionist plans are a threat to water, birds and people. As long as we are living on the land, the factory cannot be built.”

During the camp, the activists will host “Direct Action Workshops” and “Talks with Local Community” to teach people how to block the construction of the war explosives factory. 

“We’re happy to see many people willing to take action against Chemring Nobel. We are standing at a site of future destruction and can only imagine the pain felt by those suffering the impacts of war today. It’s our responsibility to stop wars before they are even produced.”, says Fred Haugland, spokesperson of Knus Krigsmaskinen.

More Information and Contacts:
Email: knuskrigsmaskinen.camp@systemli.org
Website: knuskrigsmaskinen.noblogs.org

Journalists are welcome to visit the camp from 22.-28.06. Press representatives can get briefings at the “Info Point”.

Hurum, Monday 11 May: What was supposed to be a model for democratic participation and transparent planning from Forsvarsbygg and Chemring has turned out to be exactly the opposite: a well-directed sham process. The newly launched planning report and the so-called “open meeting” are nothing more than a play designed to give citizens the illusion of influence, while the decisions have already been made.

In a true democratic process, the citizen’s vote is a piece that can change the outcome. In Forsvarsbygg’s case, the citizen’s vote is only decoration. The “People’s Meetings” are held to fill a legal quota, not to hear. The report is presented as a prepackaged truth, where the discussion points are so narrowly defined that real criticism is made impossible. The process was never meant to be open to change.

Lack of transparency and predetermined outcomes

How has Forsvarsbygg reached its conclusions? Have they changed the criteria or were the criteria decided in advance? We cannot accept that Forsvarsbygg continues to use “open meetings” as an excuse for a lack of real dialogue. A planning process that is not willing to accept criticism and adjust its course is not a planning process, it is a decision-making machine. When Chemring Nobel, Asker municipality, Forsvarsbygg and the state stand together to not let the local population take part in deciding whether there will be an explosives factory in Hurum or not, the local population should take matters into their own hands.

In light of this, people from the recently occupied house in Avgrunnsdalen are invited to a film screening at Forsvarsbygg’s pop-up cinema. A ticket costs NOK 50 and includes popcorn. Tickets can be bought directly in front of the theater at Tofte secondary school. At the entrance, visitors are greeted with “Welcome to the film performance “Democracy! Brød og Sirkus!” directed by Forsvarsbygg, Chemring and Asker Municipality. All decisions have been made, come in to watch the play Democracy!”

We also invite you to our open meetings in Avgrunnsdalen. Boycott or disrupt all of the fake processes that Forsvarsbygg and Asker Municipality set up, support us in Avgrunnsdalen and help build up direct democracy and proper resistance to the war machine! For more information about the time and place of open meetings, send us an email to knuskrigmaskinen@disroot.org.

Crush the War Machine!

Stop Chemring Nobel!

Long live Hurummarka!

Last Monday, Forsvarsbygg and Norconsult sent their new “proposal” for the site plans for Chemring’s explosives factory to Naturvernforbundet (Norwegian Society for the Conservation of Nature). They immediately criticized these plans, as they suddenly affect a much larger area of ​​the forest, nearby sites, streams and lakes than first suggested. In addition, certain criteria have been adjusted in such a way that Hurummarka appears to be the only possible location for this project.

Calling its plan a “proposal”, nothing essential about this factory is up for debate. A “no” to the factory is not – and has never been – a possible answer. The process itself is also set up so that any “investigation” will lead to some minor adjustments to appear as if they care about the environment and the local population.

Instead of being honest about this process, Forsvarsbygg continues the “democratic theater” by inviting citizens to “open meetings”. Later, they also plan special events for children, so that they can have their “opinion” about this explosives factory. We urge everyone to no longer accept this theater and normalize this procedure. We encourage people to boycott and protest this to show how ridiculous it is!

We appreciate Naturvernforbundet’s clearly formulated criticism, but we are not surprised at all. The past months of this pseudo-democratic process, systematically erroneous reports and secretive construction plans should have prepared us for this as the logical next step in the factory’s planning process.

During the last few weeks, there has been strong local support for Knus Krigsmaskinen’s clear anti-militaristic message and creative form of action – especially as a response to the locally strongly criticized democratic process.

This new plan makes it clear under which financial interests and time pressure this project must be pushed through.

They claim that they must produce more weapons to ensure peace. But what is their peace if it costs human life and the environment? Peace in a rich capitalist society like Norway is simply war by other means, in other countries. Security for people does not occur through governments’ war policies. It arises through self-organisation, discussion and solidarity between people. States produce wars, people defend lives.

Crush the War Machine!

The Municipality of Asker has given us a short deadline to vacate the old military barrack at Rødbyveien 43. This deadline has now expired, and we remain open to engage in a dialogue with the municipality regarding the military barrack and our presence here.

When we arrived the building was in a terrible condition and we have since cleaned and tidied it up. Us being here will help preserve a building that was already dilapidated and had not been in active use for several years.

Many local residents support our presence here, and we plan to continue giving back to the local community. We encourage everyone to stop by for a cup of coffee.

During this year’s Hurumsprinten, we will help ensure that spectators in Avgunnsdalen have a safe and enjoyable time through various fun activities. We will also be serving waffles.

In addition to supporting the Hurum Sprint, we’re hosting the Extreme Renovation event, which runs from Monday the 13th to Sunday the 19th. Here, you can join by building structures, camping, and taking part in various activities around the camp. This invitation is open to anyone who wants to show solidarity with the fight against the war machine. Bring a tent, food, and a mask if you like.

Knus Krigsmaskinen AFS

Squatted house in Avgrunnsdalen, Hurummarka, where a planned explosives factory is supposed to be built.

Today we established an Actively Defended Zone (Aktivt Forsvart Sone – AFS) in the abandoned military barrack in Avgrunnsdalen, Hurummarka.

We support the local community in defending Hurummarka against the Ministry of Defence and Chemring Nobel’s plans for Europe’s biggest explosives factory. If built, this factory would become an essential part of the profit oriented military industrial complex.

While Chemring Nobel gets permission to increase their pollution of the Oslo Fjord, people who have fished and nourished themselves from the Fjord their entire lives will be criminalized if they continue to do so. The Norwegian State is running a sham democratic process and supports Chemring Nobel with hundred of millions (NOK) meanwhile the local municipalities have to pay for the restoration of the Fjord themselves.

The woods will be destroyed, despite the 53 red listed species registered in the construction area. All of these species are fundamental for the ecosystem in the area.

The factory will further enrich shareholders and owners and is not being built for self defense despite their claims. In turn, they keep expanding the war machine and the US Empire. Chemring Nobel is 100% owned by British Chemring Group PLC, where american BlackRock is the biggest shareholder. BlackRock is accused of serious human rights violations while also destroying ecosystems globally. 90% of Chemring Nobel’s production is exported to other countries, most of it going to the US weapons industry like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and SpaceX, and is therefore directly linked to the genocidal regime called israel.

We know that the explosives produced by Chemring Nobel are used in the american produced Hellfire-missile. These are widely used in israel’s genocide on Palestinians. Chemring Nobel and Nammo secured themselves a twelve year agreement with german Diehl Defense last year, which entails exporting ammunition to the German military. Diehl Defence itself is in close cooperation with the israeli weapons industry.

Militarization also amplifies Norway’s internal colonialism of Sápmi. Multiple mines, highways, power development and military bases (the US has access to 15 military bases in Sápmi) have been built on traditional grazing areas; all this to cover Norway’s and the war machine’s materialistic needs. Norway and the war machine will profit off of genocide and colonialism right here at Hurumlandet, and this needs to be stopped immediately.

The US and NATO are already the biggest military empire the world has ever seen. The narrative of self defense is a distraction from NATO’s and Norway’s ongoing imperialistic and bloody war over land and resources. We need to realize that capitalism and the power hungry elite will never share the peoples’ interests. History has thought us that to follow the state’s rules for protesting will never tear down the structures that dominate, exploit and oppress.

While Trump, Musk, the NATO, EU and the rest of the western power elites talks in the same tone as Goebbels. Their vision is to defend western “civilization” and create jobs in the war industry – WE have visions of a more beautiful world in harmony with the beings around us. One where we can walk through lush forests, listen to birds singing and live alongside the trees, the flowers and all who live around us. One where rivers run free from lead and nitrogen, where kids can swim and play in the fjord, where the people can share nature’s gift fairly amongst each other and with nature itself. This does not only feel like a vision for us, it feels more like a whispering drop of the future.

Rather than becoming a factory of war, our new occupied house in Avgrunnsdalen will become a self-driven social center for a more solidary world, a good neighbor for Rødbysetra Activity center. Armarment and fear mongering does not create safety for humans, animals and the environment, rather it increases the risks for war. Chemring Nobels factory will be a clear target in a potential war~~.~~

Rather than going down in a spiral of apathy and hopelessness we find deep meaning in a loving community that fights for the beautiful world we know is possible. And we need you! Let’s stand side by side in this fight.

Down with all states and their bloody wars!

No peace price to Chemring Nobel!