Police in Basel are billing two activists CHF 90,000 for the cost of an operation to remove them from a former chemical site in Klybeck in Basel, reported SRF.
The eviction in early July attracted attention beyond Basel. Two activists, a man and a woman, remained on the edge of the roof of a high-rise building at the former Klybeck chemical plant in Kleinbasel while police officers tried to persuade them to come down. They did so only the following day.
The activists occupied the empty buildings after turning them into a self-managed cultural centre, organising concerts, meals, film screenings and other activities. They argued that Basel lacks affordable, non-commercial spaces where cultural and social projects can develop freely. They said there was no justification for leaving the buildings empty when demand for such space in the city is so high.
The pair are now being asked to pay CHF 90,000 (US$ 112,500). Adrian Plachesi, a spokesman for the Basel-Stadt cantonal police, says the charge is not a fine but reflects costs actually incurred during the operation. Several officers had to remain deployed for longer because the activists refused to leave the roof, significantly extending the operation and adding to its cost.
Whether the authorities may pass the cost of policing occupations and similar protests on to those responsible remains contentious in Switzerland. Mr Plachesi says the Klybeck case was unusual. It is not an everyday occurrence, he says, for two people to remain on a roof for hours and refuse to leave.
When police cleared the Klybeck site in early July, an unauthorised demonstration also took place in Basel. Protesters sprayed slogans on several buildings, including the town hall on Marktplatz. Basel police have since said that a suspect was stopped and questioned. A criminal complaint has been filed against him, and he will be required to pay for the clean-up. Police have not disclosed the total cost. The authorities had previously said that removing graffiti from the town-hall façade alone would cost CHF 17,000.
An online poll conducted by SRF suggests strong public support for making organisers bear the cost of policing demonstrations that turn violent. Asked whether organisers should pay police costs in the event of rioting, 76% of respondents said yes.
More on this:
SRF article (in German)
For more stories like this on Switzerland follow us on Facebook and X.
Leave a Reply