Group for a Switzerland without an army
The Group for a Switzerland without an army, (GSwA;
Means and objectives
The group is politically active and spreads awareness of its cause in several ways:
- using the direct democratic tools in Switzerland to propose constitutional amendments and stimulate the public debate;
- practical and legal information, such as alternatives to Switzerland's mandatory military service, e.g. conscientious objectors;
- media work, covering subjects such as arms equipment sales.
Currently, the group focuses on the following topics:
- opposition to arms trade: In 2007, the group filed enough signatures for a national initiative against arms trade. The Swiss would vote in a referendum on an amendment to the constitution that would ban the export of any weapon from Switzerland. This national referendum was held on November 29, 2009.
- opposition to arms procurements, for example against the fighter jets which the Swiss army is about to purchase;
- constant criticism of Switzerland's militaristic traditions.
Initiatives and referendums
In early 1986 the group launched its first
In Spring 1992, both chambers of the Swiss parliament decided to procure 34
In 1999, the GSoA assisted in collecting the 50,000 valid signatures necessary for a referendum on whether Switzerland would join the United Nations. The Swiss electorate approved this proposal in 2002. In 2001, the GSoA gathered more than 60,000 signatures for a referendum against the revised legislation regulating the structure and deployment of the armed forces. The GSoA especially opposed the option to send armed troops abroad — a concern that was shared by some right-wing traditionalists. On 10 June 2001, the revised legislation was approved by 51% of the voters.
On 2 December 2001, Swiss voters considered two additional GSoA initiatives, called "In favor of a credible security policy and a Switzerland without an army" and "Solidarity instead of soldiers: In favor of a voluntary civilian peace service". In contrast to the first initiative to abolish the Swiss army, there was only sparse public debate on the issue - another topic dominated the media and the minds of the people: The September 11 attacks which occurred a few weeks before the vote took place. Both initiatives were rejected by 78% and 77% of the voters.
On 21 September 2007, the GSoA submitted an initiative that required a ban on all arms exports from Switzerland. This initiative was rejected in a referendum on November 29, 2009 with 68.2% of the voters casting a no.[3]
Another initiative required stricter legislation on private possession of firearms and a stop to the
GSoA's initiative to abolish conscription was rejected by 73.2% of the Swiss electorate on September 22, 2013.[5]
In 2008 the
On 27 September 2020, the GSoA narrowly failed to defeat the next proposal to purchase new fighter jets. In another referendum, 50.1% of the electorate approved an appropriations bill providing for CHF 6 billion for aircraft of an unspecified type, to which the GSoA led the opposition.[8] When the government selected the U.S.-made F-35 in June 2021, the GSoA announced another popular initiative intended to prevent the purchase.[9]
References
- ^ "Groupe Suisse sans Armée". www.gssa.ch. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "English | GSoA - Gruppe für eine Schweiz ohne Armee". Gsoa.ch (in German). Retrieved 2016-04-05.
- ^ "Eidgenössische Volksinitiative 'für ein Verbot von Kriegsmaterial-Exporten'". Admin.ch. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
- ^ "Volksinitiative "Für den Schutz vor Waffengewalt"". www.ejpd.admin.ch. Archived from the original on 7 February 2011. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- ^ "Eidgenössische Volksinitiative 'Ja zur Aufhebung der Wehrpflicht'". Admin.ch. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
- ^ Swiss Face Fighter Vote, Aviation Week & Space Technology, 170, 25 (22 June 2009), p. 12
- ^ Geiser, Urs (2014-05-18). "Wings of air force clipped in nationwide ballot - SWI". Swissinfo.ch. Retrieved 2016-04-05.
- Swissinfo. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
- Swissinfo. Retrieved 2021-06-30.
External links
- (in English) Official website