In 2016, the Swedish Tower Declarations National Federation (STR-T) demanded that the government appoint a Truth and Reconciliation Commission and two years later a feasibility study was presented which the Ministry of Culture financed.

And it is about, among other things, shell measurements and Finnish language ban in the Swedish school.

"Extremely important"

But now the government has decided to start the survey of race biologists' progress in Tornedalen in the spring.

According to the feasibility study, 154 people in sixteen communities and villages have been subjected to shell measurements and registrations until 1952.

- It is extremely important that we make visible the abuses, both for something similar not to happen in the future and to build a new trust between the minority and the Swedish state. Because there are deep wounds within the minority group, says Culture Minister Amanda Lind.

The announcement that there will be a Truth and Reconciliation Commission came after the government's consultation with the Swedish Torre Valley National Federation and according to its objective, the mapping of the abuses will be completed in June 2022.

May be an excuse

Will the Swedish state apologize to the tower dwellers?

- We'll see what the Truth Commission comes up with. It should both highlight the story and give suggestions on what can lead to reconciliation, says Amanda Lind.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission's conclusions and measures will affect at least 70,000 people in Sweden who speak the minority language Meänkieli (Tornedal Finnish).