To the Austrian Minister of Justice I have recently been informed

Wien, 10. Juni 2009
To the Austrian Minister of Justice
I have recently been informed about the final reports
of the police investigation into the animal advocacy
movement in Austria. I understand that after more than
two years of investigations, and with all technological
means at the disposal of the police, including phone
tapping, email surveillance, vehicle tracking, concealed
informers and four extensive electronic tracking
operations, as well as 26 house searches of activists’
homes and 7 NGO offices, no direct evidence of any
criminal activity has been found. The information
presented on which the accusations are being based
appears to fall into one of three categories: Personal
opinions from private conversations, investigative work
done by NGOs into the conditions in which animals
are kept in and acts of civil disobedience. None of the
aforementioned are criminal offences.
It is of great concern to me that Austria is attempting
to criminalise legitimate campaigning practices. This
would indeed be the case should the final reports be
followed up with charges against a whole section
of the movement of being a criminal organisation
according to section 278a of the penal code.
NGOs in the country I live in have used the practices
brought forward by Austrian police as evidence for
many years to achieve improvements in society,
indeed, many of the aspects which we regard as
inherent in a progressive society can be traced back
to just this kind of campaigning. Should Austria
attempt to criminalise what in other countries is
regarded as legitimate social activism, it will be
widely seen as departing from the standards of
tolerance expected today of liberal democracies.
I therefore ask you as the Minister of Justice in Austria
to reconsider such a move. Any free democracy must
allow space for protest and the free expression of
dissent. A protest movement for such important issues
as animal welfare and animal rights is an essential
part of any modern society. The right to protest must
be upheld and no person should be prosecuted
without evidence of criminal wrongdoing. We are very
concerned that in Austria, these basic principles of
freedom, justice and democracy are being eroded.
Yours faithfully
BELGIUM
NICOLE VERBIST, BELGIEN
NANCY PETITJEAN,
BELGIEN
CHANTAL BUSLOT,
BELGIEN
JEANNINE LIBERTON,
BELGIEN
MARTINE POLAIN,
BELGIUM
LIBRONT FRANÇOISE,
BELGIUM
BUNGENBERG
VÉRONIQUE, BELGIUM
LEONARDO BENUCCI,
BELGIUM,
FRANCE
MARK SANDERSBARWICK
BRIGITTE GOTHIÈRE
YVES BONNARDEL
GERARD MICHEAU
MELLE RAMON
VÉRONIQUE
ERIC FREEMAN,
LISE DEFRANCE
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NADIA CHIKH
BERNIER BASTIEN
NICOLAS DESSAUX
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MICHÈLE MESSAGER
ELODIE GAUD
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