Because of a threat against the Federal Council – the Federal Prosecutor’s Office is investigating against climate activists – News


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With a “rebellion” they wanted to persuade the Swiss government to do more climate protection. A criminal case is now underway.

Zurich will be paralyzed in October, according to the announcement of a “rebellion” in summer 2021. In fact, some streets were occupied, it was hardly an actual “rebellion” – but the attempt to force the Federal Council to act with an ultimatum.

This could have legal consequences: there is a suspicion of attempted violence and threats against authorities and officials. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office (BA) has opened criminal proceedings against several people, as confirmed by research by “SRF Investigativ”.

Why is the federal prosecutor investigating now?


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Criminal proceedings are underway in several cantons such as Bern, Vaud and Zurich for actions by so-called civil resistance for more climate protection, such as occupations or blockades. Some of these have now been taken over by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office because they are responsible when federal authorities or officials are affected by possible threats or coercion.

This suspicion arises after the rally of the group “Extinction Rebellion” on June 22, 2021 in Bern. According to the BA, the Federal Council was presumably requested in writing and through appropriate manifestations to meet various climate policy demands, and otherwise the city of Zurich would be blocked from October 3, 2021 until the demands were met.

The criminal proceedings of the BA are directed against several people and relate to several allegations: attempted violence and threats against authorities and officials, possibly attempted coercion, obstruction of an official act, trespassing, damage to property, disobedience to official orders and violation of the rally regulations of the city of Bern.

The criminal proceedings are still open, and the presumption of innocence applies to all accused persons.

“You can send me to jail”

In the course of the research by “SRF Investigativ”, one of the accused revealed himself to be a victim of the BA criminal proceedings: the climate activist Cécile Bessire. She was part of the group who glued their hands to the Bundeshaus with superglue in June 2021.

In an interview, Bessire says what really threatens humanity is the climate crisis: “We have to do everything we can to prevent our children from starving in a few years.” She is ready to face the consequences for that. ‘You can take my money. They can punish me, they can send me to jail. If I don’t do anything now, I’ll lose everything anyway.”

A representative of “Extinction Rebellion” wrote on request that there was “not the slightest bit of violence” at the demonstration in Zurich, and no damage to property was caused. The criminal investigation shows, writes “Extinction Rebellion”, how the state is investing a lot of money and energy “to intimidate activists who have simply exercised their basic right to assemble peacefully and try to inform about the climate and environmental catastrophe ».

Violence and threats against authorities and civil servants are punishable by imprisonment of up to three years or a fine. Since it was an unsuccessful attempt without the use of physical force, the sentence should be less if convicted. The criminal proceedings are open, the presumption of innocence applies to all suspects.

The frustration in the climate movement is increasing

Like Cécile Bessire, many other activists in the radical part of the movement consider illegal actions to be legitimate because humanity is in an emergency and politics and the economy are not acting appropriately.

On the road with radical climate protectors


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“SRF Investigative” met various groups and activists from the climate movement over a period of several weeks in April and May, documenting some of the actions.

It became clear that a radical wing has formed within the climate movement, which considers the democratic and constitutional path to more climate protection to have failed. Some therefore feel obligated to act and consider what is illegal to be legitimate. In 2021, there were several acts of sabotage against Holcim plants.

In addition, points of contact between radical climate activists and left-wing extremists, some of whom are prepared to use violence, have emerged, as can be seen, for example, in calls for unauthorized rallies from left-wing extremist circles: the calls are also disseminated in social media by groups such as the climate strike.

In this radicalized part of the climate movement, frustration at the alleged lack of climate protection measures is particularly great, which is why, according to research, more and more direct action is wanted. Other parts of the climate movement continue to participate in the democratic process or continue to organize approved rallies – some activists combine all forms of action.

The more radical actions should no longer only have a symbolic character, as in bank branches or on the Bundesplatz, but aim to have an effect: like the blockade of a large tank farm in the canton of Zurich by the climate strike in May. The truck drivers also attacked activists who wanted to stop the delivery of oil and petrol.

«Rundschau»


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More on the topic in the «Rundschau», on Wednesday at 8:05 p.m. on SRF 1.

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