Relaxation of arms exports planned: GSoA is already threatening a referendum

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The anti-army activists have their rhetorical weapons ready. Because they feel betrayed. What Parliament once promised them is now in danger of coming back. In concrete terms: The War Materials Act must be relaxed again.

The Security Committee of the National Council decided on Tuesday by 14 votes to 9. Just like the Council of States in the autumn session. “If the proposal is adopted in the National Council, we will certainly consider the referendum,” said Anja Gada, the political secretary of the group for a Switzerland without an army (GSoA).

The Federal Council is currently not allowed to export war materials to a country involved in an armed conflict. But the citizens want to change that. They demand that the state government be allowed to export war materials in such cases. However, only if there are extraordinary circumstances. And when it comes to protecting Swiss interests in the field of foreign or security policy.

Swiss war equipment in a civil war

The Federal Council would therefore have greater freedom of action, which it was denied two years ago. The correction initiative at the time called for strict regulations on arms exports after Swiss war materials ended up in several war zones. Also in Yemen, where a civil war is raging. To prevent this in the future, a tight corset should be placed on the Federal Council.

With success: the House of Representatives adopted a counter-proposal in 2021 that incorporates the central demands of the initiators. After which they withdrew the referendum. “The removal of the special arrangement for the Federal Council was a mandatory condition,” says Anja Gada of the GSoA. Without this they would have stayed with the initiative.

But now this “promise” should be broken. “It is a ploy to undermine broad humanitarian concern,” says Gada. This is extremely questionable for Switzerland in terms of democratic policies. And: “The relaxation would only allow arms deliveries to countries such as the Gulf States, where serious human rights violations are being committed.”

“Relaxation will not help Ukraine”

The Federal Council has always denied this accusation and pointed out that international law still applies. Likewise, the export of war materials must comply with the neutrality law. In a war, Switzerland would have to supply both sides – or none. From this, the GSoA concludes: “The relaxation of the War Materials Act does not help Ukraine at all.”

But those in favor of easing restrictions are not in the business of supplying war materials to Ukraine. Instead, they want the domestic arms industry to remain attractive to foreign countries. Otherwise the companies would be financially threatened. And that, in turn, endangers the supply of weapons to the Swiss army.

“We have already warned about such scenarios in the parliamentary debate before 2021,” said Mauro Tuena, 51, chairman of the Council’s National Security Committee. The war in Ukraine proved them to be true and must now be corrected. “That is why no weapons will be supplied to Yemen for a long time,” said SVP National Councilor Tuena.

Clerics protest – but are afraid

Thomas Wallimann-Sasaki (58) sees it differently. As chairman of Justitia et Pax, a lay committee of the Swiss Bishops’ Conference, he says: “The common people are now taking advantage of the world situation to completely reverse the correction initiative.” At the time, the bishops’ conference supported the referendum. Can the GSoA now count on the clergy again? Probably not, says Wallimann. “The credibility of the Catholic Church is in the basement because of the cases of abuse.” Currently the church leadership is quite afraid and is withdrawing.

Aid organization Caritas also clearly rejects any relaxation. “We are doing everything we can to ensure that Parliament does not follow the Commission,” says board member Andreas Lustenberger (37). The board has yet to decide whether they will support a referendum. This means that citizens should expect resistance. The GSoA alone cannot organize a referendum. But the question arises whether she will remain alone.

Source:Blick