London Indymedia

Human Rights Scandal in Austria

Varda Mehrotra | 25.06.2008 14:16 | Animal Liberation | Repression | Social Struggles | London | World

Non-governmental organisations express concern about what may be a case of state repression of social activism

On 21st May 2008 at 6 a.m., heavily armed police officers from an elite unit stormed 21 homes and the offices of a number of non-governmental organisations in Austria. Breaking their way in, the masked police surrounded frightened civilians in their beds at gun point. Ten people were arrested and have been held in custody without specific charge since that day. Despite the statement by the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior that "The measures taken by the police (.) were in no way directed against animal welfare or animal welfare organisations", the removal of computers, documents and other assets has effectively crippled some of the organisations involved.

Those asking the media to look at this case draw attention to the fact that Amnesty International (1) and the Austrian Green Party have reacted strongly, questioning police methods and the treatment of detainees, particularly the absence of actionable evidence justifying "strong suspicion" (dringender Tatverdacht) or the "reason (or grounds)" (Haftgrund) for the arrests. Detainee accounts of what has happened are alarming: see, for example, this appeal sent out by Martin Balluch on June 9.

In recent years, milestone reforms in animal law have been achieved in Austria including bans on fur farms, battery cages for hens and the use of wild animals in circuses.

Should those who have achieved advances that are an example to the rest of the world be blamed for all the unsolved cases of damage to property in Austria over the last eleven years?

"All citizens have the right to actively stand up for or demonstrate against something. It is particularly important to stand up for animal rights because animals cannot stand up for themselves. People must do it for them. Animals, like all the defenceless, rely on this protection." (Elfriede Jelinek, Nobel Prize for literature 2004)

Should organisations acting for animals that have always operated peacefully and within the law have their functioning hampered by the seizure of their material?

The undersigned (4) express deep concern at what appears to be an attempt to criminalise the animal advocacy movement and to stifle the political freedom of those involved in it.

(1) Statement by Amnesty International  http://www.vgt.at/presse/news/2008/news20080605_1_en.php
(2) Appeal sent out by Martin Balluch  http://www.vgt.at/presse/news/2008/news20080613_2_en.php
(3) Nobel Laureate Elfriede Jelinek comments Austrian police raids  http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=34576〈=en
(4) Signatories
Organisations:  http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=34906〈=en
Individuals:  http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=34907〈=en

***CONTACTS***
Varda Mehrotra
Bunny Huggers. 54 Manor Place, Edinburgh, EH3 7EH e-mail  varda@bunnyhuggers.org.uk

Varda Mehrotra
- e-mail: varda@bunnyhuggers.org.uk
- Homepage: http://www.bunnyhuggers.org/uk

Additions

UK demonstration in support of Austrian Prisoners

26.06.2008 09:43

SUPPORT THE AUSTRIAN PRISONERS:

Demonstration outside the Austrian Embassy Friday the 27th of June from 10am-12pm (Midday).

Meet in Belgrave Square. Nearest stations are Victoria and Hyde Park Corner.

 http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Practical_Information:/Austria/07a4/#MAP

We will then be moving on to The Austrian National Tourist Office which is located at;

9-11 Richmond Buildings
London W1D 3HF

 http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&dq=austrian+tourist+office+loc:+Soho,+Greater+London&daddr=9-11+Richmond+Buildings,+London,+W1D+3HF&geocode=5768242359056728392,51.513991,-0.133456&ll=51.513991,-0.133456&iwstate1=dir:to&iwloc=A&f=d


For more information please contact 07866879851, 07724002054 or 07899775493


Please bring up to date placards and banners (if you can) and let's make ourselves heard!!

Solidarity


Comments

Display the following comment

  1. if they treat animal rights activists so bad - how can they treat their humans? — -

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