Record compensation to Norwegian UN veteran
6. Juni 2005
Several thousand former Norwewgian UN soldiers may now demand compensation for occupational injury, after UN vetweran Paul Smines was awarded compensation in the NOK millions for his traumatic experiences in action.
He was among other things held hostage by Serbian soldiers in Croatia, and was first offered a NOK 200,000 compensation.
– An insult, Smines said, and took the case to court. In the end a compromise was reached.
According to NRK, the veteran received a sum in the NOK millions, which according to the agreement will be kept confidencial. Smines is still troubled by his experiences in the UN service.
– During the last 18 months seven of those I formerly served with (in the UN forces) have taken their own lives because they could not stand it any more, he says to NRK.
This could open for compensation to more veterans, NRK states.
Smines’ lawyer, Jon Olav Holvik, says he had had contacts from a large number of UN and NATO veterans who want to claim compensation for occupational injury from the state.
(NRK)
http://www.norwaypost.no/content.asp?folder_id=1&cluster_id=27867