Coalition criticizes demonstration rules in the canton of Fribourg
Published: Friday, May 24th 2024, 16:10
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A coalition of trade unions, collectives and left-wing parties has criticized the canton of Fribourg for its rules on demonstrations. The canton restricts the right to demonstrate. Among other things, the coalition found it offensive that the organizers had to pay for the costs of police operations.
According to a press release issued on Friday, the licensing procedure with its associated fees, the obligation to provide a security service and the need to take out liability insurance are already hurdles for the organizers of demonstrations.
According to the coalition's criticism, it is common practice in the canton of Fribourg for the cantonal and communal authorities to charge the organizers for high police costs. Such a practice is unique in French-speaking Switzerland. Many demonstration organizers did not have sufficient financial means to do so. In this way, they are denied the right to demonstrate.
The coalition consists of the Anti-Capitalist Collective, the Feminist Strike, the Palestine Solidarity Collective, the SP, the Greens, the Federation of Trade Unions and the trade union Unia.
For its part, the Swiss section of the human rights organization Amnesty International has called on the authorities to "consider the Fribourg law in the light of the international obligations that Switzerland has entered into. The right of manifestation must be guaranteed. If this is not possible, the current law must be revised.
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