Switzerland: laws against racism debated
01 January 1991
Switzerland: laws against racism debated
artdoc June=1993
The Swiss parliament has been discussing proposals for new laws
to clamp down on racism. A report on the right-wing scene in
Switzerland has led to criticisms of the police and judiciary
whilst the far-Right have reacted fiercely to the Swiss
government's proposal to join the UNO Convention Against Racial
Discrimination and to make it a criminal offence to deny the
holocaust ever happened.
Report on racism and fascism
A parliamentary committee on racism and xenophobia commissioned
a report on the right-wing scene in Switzerland which details 400
incidents of right-wing motivated activity that occurred between
April 1985 and March 1993. The parliamentary group want the
appointment of an ombudsman against racism, but it seems that
such a proposal is being resisted at the moment.
The author of the report, Regula Bahler, a journalist, is
critical of politicians, judiciary and police. Several months
ago, Justice Secretary, Arnold Koller said: `Fortunately a
reduction of asylum seekers has caused a reduction in violent
acts of this nature'. Bahler, in describing this view as `trite',
goes on to criticise the Swiss Democrats, the Auto party, the
Lega dei Ticinesi and the right-wing of the SVP for contributing
to the rise in xenophobia.
The police and judiciary's response to racial harassment is
also found wanting. Geneva MP, Jean-Nils de Dardel
criticises their `Leniency and extreme sloveness'. `Mere laws are
insufficient' he said, adding that what is necessary is the
education of official bodies.
One documented incident concerns an attack on a Tamil man
during a demonstration in Bern on 27 February. The perpetrator,
it seems, escaped from the scene in a police car. `Just
accidental' said a police spokesperson in reply to criticisms.
Police say they are taking right-wing attacks more seriously. But
the author of the report said that victims of xenophobic violence
`are not taken seriously at the police station, but are laughed
at, or simply got rid of' (Bund 23.4.93).
Far-Right to fight new proposals
The Action for Free Expression of Opinion, who accuse the UNO of
`making up our minds for us' has been formed to fight the new
proposals against racism. Walter Fischbachter from St. Gallen has
been elected as president.
Many far-Right leaders stand to be prosecuted under a new law
which will make it a criminal offence to deny the existence of
the Holocaust and nazi concentration camps. The 69-year-old
revisionist, Max Wahl, who sent his pamphlet, the `Swiss
Citizen', to the parliamentary commission examining the new
proposals, which he describes as `a serious parliamentary scandal
has already been fined for his views by a German court. His
printer was also fined. Another person who stands to be
prosecuted is ex-SVP member Ernst G. Dunnenberger from Neftenbach
in Zurich, president of an obscure organisation called the `Swiss
Freedom Union'. He has written an open-letter to the Upper
Council in Simmen saying that the holocaust should be exposed as
a `poor, cynical forgery, and accusing 'criminal Jews' of ruining
people `psychologically, physically, existentially and socially'.
Three politicians who were vocal in support of a new law against
incitement to racial hatred have themselves been singled out for
a hate-campaign. Verena Grendelmeier, the LDU member of the
National Council from Zurich was called `a damn Jewish whore' in
an anonymous phone-call. The CVP member of the Upper Chamber from
Solothurn, Rosemarie Simmen, received a written certificate
calling her a `cynical rogue'. Whilst the SP member of the
Federal Council, Ruth Dreifuss, is accused in an open letter of
`subversive, anarchistic plans against our own people' (SOZ
2.5.93).
Far-Right leader tried in secrecy
The trial of Marcel Strebel, the leader of the Patriotical Front,
was held in secret by a court in Schwyz Canton provoking a