Pål Steigan

Pål Steigan

Pål Steigan lecturing at Parkteateret at a seminar about author Tron Øgrim in 2007
Leader of the Workers' Communist Party
In office
1975–1984
Preceded by Sigurd Allern
Succeeded by Kjersti Ericsson
Leader of the Red Electoral Alliance
In office
1975–1979
Preceded by Sigurd Allern
Succeeded by Hilde Haugsgjerd
Personal details
Born (1949-05-31) 31 May 1949
Oslo, Norway
Nationality Norwegian
Political party Red Party
Other political
affiliations
Workers' Communist Party
Red Electoral Alliance
Residence Oslo, Norway

Pål Steigan (born 31 May 1949, Oslo) is a Norwegian communist and former leader of the Maoist Workers' Communist Party, AKP (m-l), from 1975 to 1984, and jointly leader of the Red Electoral Alliance (RV) until 1979.[1][2] He is also a writer and editor.

Workers Communist Party, AKP (m-l)

During his leadership of AKP (m-l), Steigan traveled to several countries ruled by communist regimes, such as China, Czechoslovakia, Albania and Cambodia (Democratic Kampuchea).[1] He personally met Mao Zedong, Enver Hoxa and Pol Pot.[3]

Steigan met the Khmer Rouge dictator Pol Pot in 1978, and eagerly supported the regime after his visit.[4] Later, he has admitted that supporting the Khmer Rouge regime, responsible for the deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians, was a mistake,[5] although he has continued to be criticised for bearing a personal responsibility for his political support to the regime.[4]

Books

His memoirs, En folkefiende ("A public enemy") was released in 2013.[3]

Steigan, Pål, Veiskille : finnes det noen vei ut av miljøkrisa? Oktober Forlag, Oslo, 1990, 244 s.

References


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