Proceedings for forming a criminal organization
against supporters of the last generation
Mirjam Herrmann and Henning Jeschke provide the statements at
Neuruppuin public prosecutor's office from (c) Last generation
You can find more pictures here
Neuruppin, March 28.03.2024, 9, 45:XNUMX - “Stunned”, “horrified”, “outraged”, “ashamed”, “shocked” – paraphrase like this 2000 people their reaction to the possible indictment of 5 Last Generation supporters for forming a criminal organization by the Neuruppin public prosecutor's office. They all respond to the call of the alliance People against oil followed and have written statements in which they call on the public prosecutor's office not to press charges. (read here)
The very idea of ​​bringing charges against peacefully protesting climate activists is “absurd”, “inappropriate”, “excessive”, “destroying democracy”, “a scandal”.
The deadline for the lawyers of the 5 accused to comment on the possible charges ends today. During the campaign People against oil Civil society was also called upon to take a stand on the allegations within this period. [1]
Two of the accused - Mirjam Herrmann and Henning Jeschke – provided a large part of the over 2000 comments received, marked with the file number and stapled in numbered folders, today in a handcart in Neuruppin. The public prosecutor's office will receive further statements by email or fax today.
After a formal complaint to Michel Forst, UN special rapporteur for climate defenders, has also promised to act on the basis of its mandate under the Aarhus Conventionby contacting the Neuruppin public prosecutor's office. In their complaint, the 5 defendants accused the Neuruppin public prosecutor's office and the Brandenburg Ministry of Justice that the proceedings for forming a criminal organization violated fundamental and human rights and the Aarhus Convention.
The authors of the statements include legal scholars and teachers, doctors of physics, biology, medicine and social sciences, craftsmen and engineers, students and pensioners.
But also companies like that GLS Bank or the mobile phone provider WEtell, the electricity providers EWS, natural electricity and Green Planet Energy as well as representatives of numerous organizations and associations such as Amnesty International, Greenpeace and European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR) have taken a stand.
Public figures also commented on the process, including the children's and young adult book author Cornelia funke, the cabaret artist and author Marc Uwe Kling, the cabaret artist Anny Hartmann, the activist and politician Carola Rackete and Heinrich Stößenreuther, co-founder of the KlimaUnion.
In addition to numerous legal arguments, one point of view in particular prevails: Democracy needs an active civil society and protest – even if it is disruptive. The investigations into the 129 case are associating peaceful climate protests with organized crime and deterring people from exercising their right to protest and express their opinions.
This type of restriction of fundamental rights undermines the pillars of our democracy and is extremely dangerous, especially in times of escalating crises.
It remains to be hoped that the public prosecutor's office will take both the outcry from the population and a warning from the UN seriously and refrain from pressing charges.
Ultimately, it is in all of our interests to uphold the values ​​and principles of a vibrant democracy in order to be prepared against current and future crises.
Or in the words of Marc-Uwe Kling: “Punishing the messenger who brings news of an impending catastrophe is a surefire strategy for sealing that very catastrophe.”
[1] Press releases | People against oil (menschengegenoel.org)