hello everybody

maybe you've already heard that a lawsuit has been filed against alleged
"editors" of switzerland.indymedia.org, because of violation against the
anti-racism law.

FEPA (the group who flooded ch.indymedia.org in december) has the political
responsibility for this action. we suspect that somebody of the leftist scene
gave the names of alleged indymedia activists to the AKdH. however, people from
FEPA support the accusation, what means that they support a criminalisation of
own people.

we need solidarity and ask to give everybodies opinion. we'd like to get
political statements against this action and betrayal.

here (below) is our first opinion/comment.

regards,
indymedia switzerland

---------------------------

Statement by Indymedia Switzerland regarding the lawsuit against it

Since Friday 2 February we were informed through a posting to the
site  http://switzerland.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=8134
that a lawsuit has been filed against switzerland.indymedia.org.
The posting was signed by the spokesperson for AKdH (Action
Children of the Holocaust), see  http://www.akdh.ch/indymedia.htm.
One day later he specified in a posting on
 http://switzerland.indymedia.org/display.php3?article_id=8235 that
the lawsuit is targeting the moderators and editors of
switzerland.indymedia.org personally.

We have contacted the person responsible at the AKdH via
telephone in order to approach the existing problems other than
through a lawsuit. Regrettably, it was not possible to find a
satisfying solution for both sides with Mr. Althof. Instead he gave
us two names of alleged Indymedia "Editors" against whom he has
filed a lawsuit. He furthermore informed us that there will be
judicial steps against some more alleged "Editors" of
switzerland.indymedia.org, even though he declined to specify such
steps or informations.

We see juridical steps against Indymedia as a wrong way to go.
Indymedia is a leftist medium and aims to speak out against racism
in all forms. But as it is an open medium, it can't be guaranteed
that the opportunity to publish opinions and articles is not
misused. To acknowledge this we have introduced a "censored trash"
area into which we ban discriminative posts. By doing this, we
clearly distance ourselves from any content in this area. We think it
important to criticize and challenge the content of such postings
and to take a stand against their inhumane ideologies. We are
strongly objecting to a point of view which describes this is as
re-publication. The "censored trash" area is exactly what it's name
stands for: A publicly viewable wastebasket in which discriminating
contents are moved in order not to be found in the main Indymedia
site anymore.

The filing of a lawsuit is a further step against Indymedia. After
the newswire was flooded with postings in December, Indymedia is
now attacked via judicial channels. We will maintain our commitment
to a public discussion about content and aim of Indymedia in order
to do our bit for a movement against any form of oppression, be it
racism, antisemitism, sexism or other. We don't want to carry out
this discussion in court rooms.

ch.indymedia.org