G8 Evian 2003 and police impunity
aubonne Support Group - 06.09.2006 23:15
6.9.2006
G8 Evian 2003: Tribunal confirms police impunity in Switzerland
Final appeal in the Aubonne Bridge Case against the police rejected
Seven months after a judge found two policemen not guilty for nearly
killing two anti-G8 activists in 2003, the tribunal of the Canton of
Vaud today decided to reject the appeal filed by activists Martin Shaw
(English) and Gesine Wenzel (German).
Following on from the shocking «Innocent» verdict against Claude Poget
(Vaud Canton) and Michael Deis (Schaffhausen) of 17 February 2006, the
tribunal of the Canton of Vaud decided today to reject the appeal.
Gesine Wenzel, whose life was only saved when the activists on the
bridge quickly grabbed her climbing rope as it was being cut by Officer
Deiss, said, « I hope this decision has made it clear to everybody that
this system is corrupt. All this talk of impartial justice and equality
in front of the law is pure hypocrisy. We were found guilty for
endangering the lives of the car drivers, and yet the police officers
who very nearly killed us have had their violent actions whitewashed
once again by the courts. Now the court of appeal has proven beyond
doubt that there is no way to hold the Swiss police accountable for
their abuse of power even when they are caught on video. Our case is
only the tip of the iceberg. This is what passes for « justice » in
Switzerland. »
Martin Shaw will never fully recover from the 23-m fall where he
shattered his foot and broke his back. In principle it is the
responsibility of the government of the Canton de Vaud to pay
compensation since they are responsible for the actions of their police,
but now this juridical whitewash might give them an excuse to refuse
payment. Until now the government of the Canton de Vaud did not even
apoligize or show any attempt to review their police strategies despite
the fact it became obvious during the court case that there was a
complete lack of information, communication and coordination on the part
of the police.
Martin Shaw says « I will be crippled for the rest of my life. I have
had to give up my work as an electrician. While all the shop keepers got
compensation for broken shop windows, activists who had their bones
broken by the Swiss police will never see a penny. This is what their
« democracy » looks like.»
This appeal was the final judicial possibilty to hold the police
accountable for their actions. There is no possibilty to appeal to a
higher court due to a restrictive law that prohibits citizens from
making direct claims against a policeofficer at the federal level.
The activists’ lawyer, Jean-Pierre Garbade declared « It is clear that
the two police officers violated the law. The fact that now the court
of appeal also grants them impunity for very questionable reasons raises
big concerns about the protection of civil rights in Switzerland as did
the attitude of the general prosecutor who refused to uphold the
accusation.»
The activists point out: “This is the exactly the reason, why we believe
in direct action and self-management. This system is only pretending to
be democratic. The G8 is the best example for their hypocrisy. This
decision made us even stronger in our beliefs. Our struggle continues.”
This is the information we have at the moment. As soon as we receive the
details of this unjustifiable judgement we will let you know.
For further information, see:
www.aubonnebridge.net
Background Information:
Martin Shaw and Gesine Wenzel nearly lost their lives during the Aubonne
Bridge Action against the G8 in Evian 2003 when the police cut the
climbing rope that held both activists. Martin survived the 23m fall
only due to sheer luck but was crippled from the extensive bone breakage
he suffered. Gesine Wenzel had her life saved in the last second by her
collegues on the bridge. Both activists were found guilty and sentenced
for blocking the road and endangering life in 2004. They filed a
complaint against the police, which was initially rejected. It was only
after an appeal was upheld that a courtcase against the senior officer
on the bridge, Claude Poget, and the officer who cut the rope, Michael
Deiss, took place in January this year. After three days the judge found
the police not guilty without being able to produce any reasonable
arguments. The judge, Pierre Bruttin, stated that it was the activists’
own fault saying if they had not been hanging from the bridge, the
police could not have cut the rope. Secondly, the prosecutor, Daniel
Stoll, admitted that objectively seen, the police had made several
mistakes, but that subjectively this was understandable due to the
stress they were exposed to and by the fact that this form of protest
action was unknown to them. He withdraw the accusation.
Press Contacts:
Lawyer Jean-Piere Garbade (fr, de, en, es): 0041 22 32 957 52
Gesine Wenzel, (de, en, fr, es):  aubonne@no-log.org
Martin Shaw (en, es)
 Website: http://www.aubonnebridge.net
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