Human Rights Scandal in Austria.
Naresh Kadyan, Rep. of OIPA in India | 05.07.2008 15:41 | Animal Liberation
Ten animal rights activists has been arrested by the Austrian Police & till date there is no allegation & charge sheet against them.
Demonstration in Delhi arranged by the OIPA INDIA
In the early morning hours of 21 May 2008, a concerted country-wide police operation in Austria, raided and searched the homes of 23 animal protectionists. Ten people were remanded in custody. To date no concrete or substantive grounds have been announced for those arrests and remands in custody.
I strongly protest against this course of action. Both the police operation and the remand in custody of these people are completely disproportionate. For example, doors were rammed open without warning; masked police
officers stormed homes with drawn guns. This was followed by grievous verbal and physical harassment and humiliation.
As justification for the raids, the Public Prosecutor's Office cites § 278a Austrian Penal Code (The formation of a "criminal organisation"), a paragraph, which is otherwise used solely in relation to people smuggling rings and Mafia organisations. Proof of the existence of the alleged "criminal organisation" by the authorities is still outstanding. The Public Prosecutor's Office has also not made any clear statements about the concrete connections that the detainees supposedly have with this ominous organisation.
It cannot be accepted, that a state under the rule of law remands people in custody without convincing argument. It cannot be accepted that the police confiscate computers, mobile telephones, member lists and documents on the off chance. Four Animal Protection Associations have been robbed of their functional existence in this manner. These facts are
all serious violations of civil rights.
It appears that there is an attempt to criminalise the Austrian Animal Protection and Animal Rights movement. The police operation is causing lasting damage to the image of the Animal Protection movement. By depriving the NGOs of their infrastructure and lists of potential donors, they are deprived of all chances to continue to working for and representing their concerns.
Please take on this case and commit yourself to bringing transparency to this issue before Austria's international image is seriously damaged.
Unless the Public Prosecutor is able to bring immediate proof of the serious accusations that have been made, the detainees must be released without delay!
Representative of OIPA in INDIA Naresh Kadyan
OIPA INDIA
ROHINI
110085 Delhi
INDIA
I strongly protest against this course of action. Both the police operation and the remand in custody of these people are completely disproportionate. For example, doors were rammed open without warning; masked police
officers stormed homes with drawn guns. This was followed by grievous verbal and physical harassment and humiliation.
As justification for the raids, the Public Prosecutor's Office cites § 278a Austrian Penal Code (The formation of a "criminal organisation"), a paragraph, which is otherwise used solely in relation to people smuggling rings and Mafia organisations. Proof of the existence of the alleged "criminal organisation" by the authorities is still outstanding. The Public Prosecutor's Office has also not made any clear statements about the concrete connections that the detainees supposedly have with this ominous organisation.
It cannot be accepted, that a state under the rule of law remands people in custody without convincing argument. It cannot be accepted that the police confiscate computers, mobile telephones, member lists and documents on the off chance. Four Animal Protection Associations have been robbed of their functional existence in this manner. These facts are
all serious violations of civil rights.
It appears that there is an attempt to criminalise the Austrian Animal Protection and Animal Rights movement. The police operation is causing lasting damage to the image of the Animal Protection movement. By depriving the NGOs of their infrastructure and lists of potential donors, they are deprived of all chances to continue to working for and representing their concerns.
Please take on this case and commit yourself to bringing transparency to this issue before Austria's international image is seriously damaged.
Unless the Public Prosecutor is able to bring immediate proof of the serious accusations that have been made, the detainees must be released without delay!
Representative of OIPA in INDIA Naresh Kadyan
OIPA INDIA
ROHINI
110085 Delhi
INDIA
Naresh Kadyan, Rep. of OIPA in India
e-mail:
kadyan.ipfa@gmail.com
Homepage:
http://www.pfaharyana.in